Filip and I left town with my parents last night on short notice. My great-grandmother is in the hospital down here in Tennessee. This was the first time she's seen her great-great-grandson. She acts perky when we talk to her, but you can tell she's pretty sick. So we're going to be here for a few days and try to be of service to my great-uncle, who has been the only one there to care for his mother.
When JR and his boss got back in town, Ravi was talking how nice people are in Dallas. I notice that in Tennessee as well. In fact, whenever I leave town, I notice strangers are nicer there than at home. I love leaving the DC area!
I don't see actual rude people where I live that often. I believe my own attitude will have a bearing on what kind of expressions I see on other people. Therefore, I smile when I walk down the street, and greet people I pass. So most (not all but most) people I see, react friendly back. If I don't do this, the average person will just walk by without making any contact.
Whenever I go somewhere besides my area, I notice more people take the initiative to be friendly. Today, in the Knoxville TN hospital, I had young and old people, men and women strike up conversation with me! 4 people wanted Filip and I to sit and chat with them in their room.
In my experience, it hasn't been just in the South. I've visited Toronto, ON (Canada). People may be more reserved than in TN, but they smile. In upstate NY, people in stores will strike up conversation. I just don't see people smile as they walk down the street at home. It's rare for a fellow customer to chat with you in a store.
Granted, I may not have traveled extensively, so maybe my perspective is limited. But while I'm down here, I'm going to enjoy Tennessee people and their chatty ways. Besides, it kills time, which I have alot of in the hospital right now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I think you're observation is right about southerner being more polite & conversational. When we worked unassigned territory in Alabama, the folks were very polite & wanted to talk. We felt very comfortable there because of this.
Maryland is cool but people are always in a rush. It's like they don't have time to fit in a smile. I've heard that Canadians are pretty polite & like to talk.
Here in the UK, very much so in the countryside/farming areas, you can expect people who pass you down countrylanes to say 'good morning/good afternoon' or just 'morning/afternoon' especially if we're on the ministry in the morning in rural villages.
It's just part of being English, I guess.
(You Yanks are still very friendly though...beats talking to yokel farmers anyday :)
Post a Comment