[splitimage]

My parent company is German. But we report in through Switzerland which is run by an Italian guy. I met him while he was getting off the elevator, and yep it was 3 kisses to the cheek (alternating). Same thing when he left. I really don't want to kiss my boss' boss' boss.

And I swear everytime I go to an international conference in Germany at least 2/3'rd's of the attendees want to do the whole greeting kiss thing rather than shake hands, even on FIRST meeting you.

I know I'm being narrow minded and north american centric here, but personally I think a handshake is good enough in business.

--splitimage

[VickiesPath]

Yeh, I know. My husband's family is English and Danish. They do the cheek, cheek thing. It's obligatory. There's one nephew who gives me the creeps. And every time we see him he insists. Yew!

[possum220]

Eskimos rub noses and some African Men hold hands in public. Isn't it a wonderful word?

[michele#3]

Personally, I think we north americans are too uptight about kissing. I think we are too rude (at least us Americans are) as well. I like the European way of doing this. Much more civilized.

[lynn P.]

For you Splitimage your Italian boss is just doing what his culture is accustomed to. It doesn't mean anything and is just a formality to him. I do understand your awkwardness since you're not used to it. My inlaws do the kissing greeting but the men don't greet the women - just the women do it to each other. If you don't do it they think somethings wrong or you're not friendly. I just go along with it. With the swine flu - I would be content with not even shaking hands and keeping my distance LOL. It also becomes very confusing when I greet other non ethic friends because I forget that they don't do the kissing thing. I'm left with having to remember does this person shake hands, kiss once, two or three times on the cheek, or simply say "hi" LOL.

Possum220 - funny you mention about the holding hands in Africa. In 1987 I travelled to Syria and was touring the city at night. They have some nice parks with colorful lights. All through the park there were men, holding hands happily walking - they were just friends (not gay) and this was their way of showing they like each other.

[VickiesPath]

I don't mind it basically, but this nephew is a thug, thank you very much. And shaking hands with him would creep me out, let alone kissing him. My boundries have a problem with it; it's not me, it's them.

[paddym22]

Ilive in the netherlands and we kiss each other three times on the cheek when greeting, though it is normally with friends and families, the French kiss each other twice and the British and Irish kiss each other once on the cheek both in formal and informal situations, I cant imagine a world without doing it, a handshake is just too cold and distant.

[VickiesPath]

That's us, cold and distant!!!!

[paddym22]

I didnt mean any offence in that Vickie, its just different cultures, you could hardly call an american citizen cold and distant, they are so open hearted and welcoming compared to us in europe.

[VickiesPath]

I know, Paddy, was just kidding. Should have . I know that to people east of us, our customs do seem a bit stand-offish. There's a well-known habit that westerners have of the 3 feet of space around them that we don't like to have invaded. I'm not sure that's fair but it seems to be more true of persons who are not comfortable with people. It does take some westerners some time to get used to things when they visit Europe for the first time.

Originally Posted by lynn P.

Possum220 - funny you mention about the holding hands in Africa. In 1987 I travelled to Syria and was touring the city at night. They have some nice parks with colorful lights. All through the park there were men, holding hands happily walking - they were just friends (not gay) and this was their way of showing they like each other.

i saw this in nepal too.

i'm not sure i'd feel terribly comfortable with all that kissing for business events, but socially i don't mind. i think the european 2 or 3 kiss thing is kind of sweet.

one thing i noticed is that in some european countries they don't naturally move to the side when you pass by people closely or are in a store and want to get to some item they are blocking. as a pedestrian i almost got mowed over a few times, lol. maybe we americans are good at that sort of thing because we have so much more space here so we like to spread out when we can and give people lots of space without really thinking about it.