The regional differences in culture in this great country interest me a great deal.
One of these cultural quirks was the topic of discussion at lunch yesterday. We moved here from Ohio, and we were with couples from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Delaware.
We all agreed that this one local quirk was quite annoying and actually, hard to fathom.
One friend at lunch told how he has purchased gas and a snack at the same gas station for a year. The attendant who waits on him each time has not spoken a word to him. He has challenged himself, all in good fun, to not speak a word to the attendant. And so their business is conducted in silence. Hmmm.
I have a friend from Minnesota who has lived here a couple of years. She jokes about writing a book called, "I am the invisible woman"...because often, when she is out in public, no one speaks to her.
When I have been waited on and I pay the bill, many times there is no "Thank you, come again". I have been known to say, "Nooooo, thank YOU" in response to their silence. It is a bit sarcastic, but really, can't they at least say thank you?
There are many more examples. It is just part of the culture here. It is definitely strange to many of us. Happy Monday! Say hello to a stranger today. LOL
2 comments:
I wonder what that is all about???.....It almost makes you think they are so deep in thought they don't see anyone or anything else.....weird !!!
That would be very hard to deal with...Good Luck :D
I like to make a game of it. I often go out of my way to talk to strangers just 'cuz I know it makes them uncomfortable. On rare instances a person will light up, smile and address me in return. I enjoy those moments... it makes me feel like a member of a secret club ; )
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