Comments on: Culturally Confused

By: Britta

Britta — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:29:02 +0000

Hi Valerie,

Thanks for reading my blog. Glad someone else is going through the same thing. We just have to laugh at ourselves though, no? =)

By: valerie

valerie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:26:54 +0000

Hi
just discovered your blog, so so true overall your perception about Vienna..Am from France an din my region, we kiss on the cheeks (twice, in other regions 4 times) and here they shake hands..so imagine, my surprise when last May i was visiting a really good friend of mine in Nice, and she had a dinner party with people I didn’t know. This girl comes towards me to , leaning towards me for the “cheek greetings “ansd what did i do? i stretched my arm and then it occurred to me that i had been living in Vienna for too long. Same but different, alos last christmas, was the only one waiting at the zebra crossing for the little red man to go green although no cars in sight (a truly bad French habit i must admit but still..)

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:40:36 +0000

I always forget that hugging is a decidedly California thing to do. Whenever we are in London I am accidentally hugging my UK friends — not a problem with women but it totally shocks the men. They get all scared and uncomfortable… I find it amusing and do it anyway.

By: Britta

Britta — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:38:37 +0000

Hi Ron,
I’m glad the CA guys are hugging. I always hated the “gay” phobia.

By: Britta

Britta — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:37:27 +0000

Ha ha Parker. Glad I am not the only one suffering

By: Parker Williams

Parker Williams — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:33:08 +0000

So true!! I am Californian and a recent expat as well, it took me a few awkward situations to figure the whole thing out.

As soon as people would say goodbye and lean in, I would hug them without thinking. After that if it was a long chain of goodbyes and I accidentally hugged the first one everyone regarded me like a serial hugger who might fly off the handle at any moment and could not be predicted. They would meekly shuffle to me to say goodbye, and the relief was palpable when I would get it right.

By: Ron Wolf

Ron Wolf — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:40:45 +0000

Californication – I think what the Pepper’s meant when they coined the term was the use of emotion and fake genuineness for personal or business gain. They were thinking of the Hollywood moguls who use and discard as best for themselves only. Until now, I hadn’t heard the term used to refer to genuine CA warmth (which I do think actually exists).

For me, a hug between friends seems like a real exchange. I can’t help but think of the overly perfumed Aunts of my youth when air kissing – ick! Of course, when in Vienna I do it too, but it doesn’t seem as real or sincere as the CA hug which is even something that CA guys do amongst ourselves at this point. A good thing I think.