Greetings
I spent Memorial Weekend at my Mom's in idyllic Canton, MI. I went for many a walk and was surprised by something in particular that I found in a little alcove of Canton that I call Archland. While strolling along the sidewalks of Archland, practically every person who was out and about would give me a smile and a wave and or a "Hello" or "Hi." It was a modern Mayberry.
Not surprisingly, the attitude shifted on my way out of Archland. Back to the familiar mode of greeting that I've found in most places I've been in the northern United States:
1. With two men, it's the very brief eye contact followed by the stern-faced head nod (very militaristic)
2. With opposite genders, it's the brief "Do we know each other?" eye contact, followed by the half smile
3. Most often (and especially in groups), it's avoiding eye contact altogether to ensure the other person's privacy
I'm not sure how woman on woman greetings work. (And I'll skip right over that lesbian joke.) Please enlighten me, if you'd be so kind.
Do any of you have different greetings experiences than the ones I've described? If so, where? This whole Archland thing has me really curious.
Not surprisingly, the attitude shifted on my way out of Archland. Back to the familiar mode of greeting that I've found in most places I've been in the northern United States:
1. With two men, it's the very brief eye contact followed by the stern-faced head nod (very militaristic)
2. With opposite genders, it's the brief "Do we know each other?" eye contact, followed by the half smile
3. Most often (and especially in groups), it's avoiding eye contact altogether to ensure the other person's privacy
I'm not sure how woman on woman greetings work. (And I'll skip right over that lesbian joke.) Please enlighten me, if you'd be so kind.
Do any of you have different greetings experiences than the ones I've described? If so, where? This whole Archland thing has me really curious.