Quote:
Originally Posted by yumi
I can see your point on how fake people are here, putting on masks and faking smiles, etc...
As a teen, we visited New Zealand a couple times. There is a HUGE difference in the warmth there than here. I felt like the people in New Zealand were far more genuine in their salutatioms and overall demeanor than people are here. I suppose here, it feels more obligatory. It feels like people almost mutter to themselves in their heads (omg, i gotta smile now)"when seeing a person approaching into their space and are forced to put on a jolly smile. In New Zealand, I didn't get that impression. The genuine scope of their friendliness not only came out of their mouths, but also very much showed in their eyes as well as their posture. Theywwouldn't just ramble the obligatory hello and look straight at the floor afterwards, but they would hold their eye contact.
I'm sorry you've experienced this culture shock. I don't know what to tell you on how to handle it. I suppose you will get used to it in a way. If you are a friendly person by nature, just keep being yourself around people. Maybe they can learn something from you  |
Its funny but you reminded me...a year or so ago I had a gf come and stay with me for about a month and in that time we'd gone to walmart and I bought a dvd...when we got back home, I discovered it was a blue ray (and did not come with the regular dvd also) so I told her we had to return it, the next day as it was getting late and I didn't feel like going back up there that night. She made a face and said, 'ok' but without a lot of conviction.
The next morning we went back, and walked up to the return desk--we were lucky, as it was early so no line--I told the lady what I wanted to do, she marked off the receipt and said, "just show this to the clerk before you leave" We walked to the electronic area, I chose the correct dvd, I showed the marked receipt to the clerk...took the new dvd and receipt back to the return counter, she gave me the difference (the blue ray was more expensive) and we left.
When we got outside the store, my gf was flabbergasted. She said, "that would NEVER happen in Britain!! They would argue with you for a month before grudgingly giving you an exchange!!"
I hadda laugh. What a country!!!