Quote:
Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi
My first visit to the UK to study, I had a few unpleasant comments about why couldn’t I keep my hands to myself. It did hurt, then I learned to read the ‘signals’ and go from there. Going from one country to another with different attitudes to touching and being affectionate is stressful; especially when I felt almost straight Jacket-ed because being touchy-feely wasn’t the done thing.
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I think it is fascinating how much our experiences can vary.
I am a very affectionate person (see previous wanton kissing post) BUT I am a bit shy when meeting new people and it takes me a little while to warm up & feel I know someone well enough to extend an affectionate gesture.
I was taken aback when I first moved to the UK to find that people were so affectionate with out really knowing me/having met me before - warm hugs & cheek kisses (instead of handshakes) were the normal introductory exchange and bigger hugs and enthusiastic cheek/lip kisses were the standard after that -- and it surprised me. Perhaps I was just adopted by a very affectionate group of people. I acclimated quite quickly, of course,
but it was completely contrary to what I expected from the stereotypical stiff upper lip British reserve.