American Friendliness

So living in a manic city like London can leave one feeling a bit lonely... Londoners have mastered the fine art of avoiding strangers and crazy people. With so many people crammed into one place, they're bound to be everywhere.

One of my favorite things to do is step onto the Jubilee line by Canary Wharf around 6pm... navy and charcoal clad businessmen with pointy shoes and furrowed brows all play angry birds or read the paper with really serious looks on their faces. Testosterone pours from the open doors and I giggle to myself as these men practically put their neck out, than risk making awkward uncomfortable eye contact with someone on the train.

So when I went to the US for Christmas, I was nearly blown over with the friendliness and hospitality I encountered. Everyone wished me Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Every shop-worker, from the stock boys in the grocery store to the managers of restaurants I went to with my friends smiled and asked me how I was, if they could do anything, was everything to my exacting specifications (as if I have exacting specifications...)

And not just people who get paid to be polite to me... shoppers in stores held doors open for one another. In the mile-long line for train tickets random people started conversations with me, smiling, etc.

In the US people buy snacks for the guys who pump your gas (well in NJ anyway :P). They help you find things in stores. They bring home made cookies to your house when they stop by... they unexpectedly buy your coffee for you (not only when they're trying to ask you out). :)

Even in NYC, people were so polite and happy... I can't even believe it... It's awesome :)

I'm trying to hold onto that friendliness, that smiling at strangers instead of scowling, that holding doors for people, apologizing when I accidentally bump people... even if it completely freaks people out.