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Originally Posted by Le.Monsieur.S
What do you mean by acknowledging their existence? My paranoia is that people are thinking I am being impolite. Though no one has confronted me or showed any hostility toward me looking at them, still the idea is prevailing in my head.
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Imagine a person who looks at you and smiles. Now imagine a person who actively avoids looking at you. Which one is impolite?
I look at people because because I find it rude to ignore people. Besides, smiling at a stranger can brighten their day. I always feel kind of happy when somebody smiles back.
Oh yes, a light smile can be important. If you frown and look at somebody they might think that you don't like them or that you're looking for trouble. Think about the strangers that you remember from the past. Why did they stay in your memory?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Le.Monsieur.S
The following is related to this topic indirectly. For the language part, when you say you don't speak the language well, does it mean that you cannot manage a conversation, or you can manage but you have an accent?
For me, the language is a problem when it comes to speaking to others. I can manage (i.e., I can deliver my message), but I have an accent, too. These two things, not speaking the language perfectly (not using the correct words+not using the correct grammar all the time), accompanied with an accent, is something contributing for me to be more isolated. Like when I buy a ticket for a movie, I think that all people are listening to me, and make fun of me in their heads (some did in my face), not because of my nervousness, but because of my language, which makes me nervous.
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I don't speak the local language well. I can read and understand most of the things I hear, but having a chit-chat is just a struggle. My vocabulary is not so good: I mess up the grammar and I often mix in words from other languages. When it comes to serious things (e.g. talking to somebody in a bank or in a hospital) I switch to English so that I don't miss out on some important information. Most people speak English pretty well here.
When I go to the UK or the US people usually notice I have an accent. They ask me where I come from and that often leads to a casual chat about traveling. Yes, having an accent can be a conversation starter.
Are people chatty where you live?