Greetings and Pucker Up!

Greetings all!!

Where I live out in the country, kisses and the fields are not fancy, kisses are quick like chickens and the fields are filled with horses. The social set out here kisses once and mostly on the side of the cheek. Sometimes there is a quick hug as we are a small community. Guys or gals, married or not, kisses are all fairly fast and a generic chicken peck.

In some chic US cities, such as Palm Beach, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, social sets do the double air kiss on each cheek like in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and most other Mediterranean countries. Again, gals or guys, married or not, it is all two quick and harmless set of pecks.

In Latino countries, kisses are seen as well as the abrazo ; friends hug and pat each other on the back.

In the Middle East, men may air kiss on both cheeks and even hug, and women may air kiss also on both cheeks, but never with the opposite sex. Opposite sexes never touch each other, ever. Not even a hand shake. Orthodox Jews also avoid all body contact with opposite sexes.

In Asia, body contact is avoided always, and eye contact should be brief. Americans, best to keep your hands down at your sides, nod your head and say "Hello." Some Asian business people have adapted to the Western handshake, but best to wait for their cues.

Persons from India and some in Buddhist Asia use the namaste gesture, (palms together under the chin then a slight nod of the head), for greetings and goodbyes as a sign of respect.

xoxo!