How many kisses?

[MissT74]

LOL, when you see the starlets doing it, it's totally phony.

When you're actually in a country where it's the norm, it's actually a nice warm feeling. I'll try to explain it:

When I got my first (from Barney Boatman or Marcel Luske..can't remember who was first) it was a cool feeling, kind of like, "Great greeting, I like it! I felt liked and respected, as if I had a new friend (not "liked" as in "I want to sex her").

From that point on, I've made it a point to show that I'm in tune with the custom of that greeting from certain cultures. Such as when in St. Maartens. The casino manager greeted me with a kiss/kiss every morning, and other employees/residents did as well. Then in Costa Rica and in Canada. It's really only in the US that we get all funny feeling about it.

However, I'm also a demostrative person so take it as you may. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

T

[diebitter]

[ QUOTE ]
I could be wrong here but I think the Brits think of the air/cheek kiss as a sign of respect whereas Americans think of it as "OMG, she/he wants to do me" kind of mentality (since we're not used to it...)sexual in nature when it's not. Am I way off base here?

T

[/ QUOTE ]

it's just a greeting. Women do it to each other, and men do it to women. Friends + family I mean, not business acquaintances etc.

[katyseagull]

[ QUOTE ]
I could be wrong here but I think the Brits think of the air/cheek kiss as a sign of respect whereas Americans think of it as "OMG, she/he wants to do me" kind of mentality (since we're not used to it...)sexual in nature when it's not. Am I way off base here?

T

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm not sure it's so much a fear of "he wants to do me" as it is more like "whoa, ...invading my private space there bud. Back off about 2 feet why don't ya."

For me it's sort of like the elevator proximity thing. The zone needs to be respected.

[untadam]

Handshakes are pretty standard even outside the business world, right? Usually when I meet someone "important" I almost always initiate a handshake. This habit would drastically decrease if kissing were involved.

[katyseagull]

Blarg, I suggest you start greeting your clients like this from now on,

[Enrique]

In Mexico it is common to greet women with a kiss on the cheek, even when meeting someone, i.e "hi, I am Enrique" kiss "nice to meet you".

When I started High School I was very bothered by this and I would only do a handshake. Some girls thought I was rude because of it. Now I alternate between handshake and kiss when meeting new people depending on my mood (although I do greet my Mexican female friends with a kiss).

In my family we do two kisses (with my sister, my mom and my father) because my mother is Spaniard and the custom over there is 2 kisses instead of one.

[kidcolin]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I could be wrong here but I think the Brits think of the air/cheek kiss as a sign of respect whereas Americans think of it as "OMG, she/he wants to do me" kind of mentality (since we're not used to it...)sexual in nature when it's not. Am I way off base here?

T

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm not sure it's so much a fear of "he wants to do me" as it is more like "whoa, ...invading my private space there bud. Back off about 2 feet why don't ya."

For me it's sort of like the elevator proximity thing. The zone needs to be respected.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, we Americans are pretty into our personal space. I hug close friends, that's about it.

I've got a friend from Cape Verde and he kisses just about any girl he's met once on the cheek. It's funny to watch.

[hanimal]

Parisians kiss twice.
The further south you go in France, the more kisses.
I think 4 kisses is considered "hickish" by most parisians.

[hanimal]

Also, I think all this shows is how we Americans are so phobic about physical contact. We are so into the idea of our personal space.

I actually enjoy the "bise," find it kind of charming. And if you are in the country/culture where it is used, it feels totally natural.

[Aces McGee]

I am surprised that so many despise the handshake.

-McGee