cultural differences
Ok maybe just one cultural difference. Fuck the ’s’.
This is going to be a quick one because I have lots of things to do. I was chatting with FA on-line, and the subject naturally came to the norm behaviour of Asians and non-Asians. So I related to her this story, which I am about to tell you now.
I come from a small town, right? Well it was small when I left. Now I hardly recognise it when I go back home. ANYWAY, I was not very exposed to non-Asian cultures. Sure I watched them on telly, read about them in books, but nothing could prepare you for the real world.
In 2002 or 2003, I got to know this European dude. My friends called him Peter Pan Spiderman, so those present at that outing would remember this story. It was at a now-defunct pub in Bangsar, we had lots of beer, conversations and giggles, then Peter Pan decided to leave the party to go home and crash.
So he stood up, said his goodbyes, then bend slightly over to me. Oh okay, this is one of the non-Asian way of saying goodbye, right? So a kiss on the cheek it is! After all I’d seen it on telly, shouldn’t be a problem, no sir!
I turned my face for him to kiss one of my cheeks, and thought was done. What followed after was a hilarious confusion as he moved to kiss the other side of my cheek as per his customs, and I didn’t know what to do. It was kinda embarrassing; either he thought I was an ignoramus or he thought I didn’t want to be friends with him anymore.
My friends laughed at me of course. But I am getting used to it 
The end, now back to work.
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I rmber slutty dancing wif u in 2002/3.
I rmber the now-defunct bar in Bangsar.
But I dun rmber any Peter Pan wan?
sorry sorry , spiderman, lol! not the now-defunct bar that you and i went to, the now-defunct bar at the corner of the street.
Fuck the ’s’. Indeed, with pun intended. LOL
Did he go to stick the tongue in? Another western culture thing that happens in bars!
He was probably so blasted he doesn’t even remember. Happens to Asians and non-Asians lah.
Wah. Mad uses the lah! And WELL!
One thing remember…….Europeans kiss on both sides of the cheek and Americans only kiss on one side.
irisnsc – and Aussie give an Aussie kiss.
do it Borat style
Dabido…..err…..pardon my ignorance….but what’s an Aussie kiss?
irisnsc – It’s like a French kiss but down under! Bwaahhahaaaa!
My idea of culture shock was when I first moved to Hicksville.
The first woman I met in the office, I extended my hand for a handshake. The look on her face was as if I was going to rape her. No kidding. I didn’t realise it back then until it was pointed out to me that things like that were a no-no.
It would be funny if someone tried the kiss on both cheeks kinda thing with Hicksville women.
tigerjoe: Heh
dabs: nope
mad: hah ! but no
irisnsc: oO didn’t know there’s a distinction. but i’ve seen americans on telly and movies kissing on both sides?
kelvin: and scare the hell out of everyone? heh
dabs: Lmao! good one
vincent: bwahhahaa ! i thought hicksville peps do salam pretty well
i found european, british & esp italian do the “both” cheeks but australian does “one” cheek..american & canadian do “hugs” so it all depends i guess..i welcome all though :p
Some French people will kiss you four times as a way of greeting!
On the cheeks lah.
Alynna – On all four cheeks?
I rather everyone just NOT kiss me as a sign of greeting…