Stranger Without Candy
Something really bizarre happened to me the other day. Really really bizarre. I was walking toward the bank ATM, when this stranger said "hi." A total stranger. Said "hi." And then kept walking. I did not know this person. Stranger. Total stranger. At first I was confused. Why is a stranger saying "hi?" Normally, I walk with my head down so not to make eye contact with anyone. I guess I do this subconsciously to avoid situations like this. What to do? Run away? Pretend to not understand English? (I often get confused for a non English speaker - I'm not really sure why - In fact today at the laundry, a lady asked for the time in a very loud and slow voice while pointing to her wrist - I pretended to not understand her.) Give up my wallet? I didn't do any of those things. I said "hi" back and continued to walk toward the ATM. I think it's sad that a stranger saying "hi" to me was such a shocking and unnerving thing. I'm going to try to say "hi" to at least one stranger a day. Cross your fingers that I don't get sprayed with mace or the pepper juice.
Something really bizarre happened to me the other day. Really really bizarre. I was walking toward the bank ATM, when this stranger said "hi." A total stranger. Said "hi." And then kept walking. I did not know this person. Stranger. Total stranger. At first I was confused. Why is a stranger saying "hi?" Normally, I walk with my head down so not to make eye contact with anyone. I guess I do this subconsciously to avoid situations like this. What to do? Run away? Pretend to not understand English? (I often get confused for a non English speaker - I'm not really sure why - In fact today at the laundry, a lady asked for the time in a very loud and slow voice while pointing to her wrist - I pretended to not understand her.) Give up my wallet? I didn't do any of those things. I said "hi" back and continued to walk toward the ATM. I think it's sad that a stranger saying "hi" to me was such a shocking and unnerving thing. I'm going to try to say "hi" to at least one stranger a day. Cross your fingers that I don't get sprayed with mace or the pepper juice.
posted by ED GARCIA at 11:12 PM
5 Comments:
See...Californians are so weird. No one says hello here. You know, it is actually normal to say hello to people in some places. Expected even. So sad...
"hi"
Oh my goodness, I say hi to people when I'm walking all the time. I wonder if they think that I'm wierd or something. I always thought it was normal. Wait a minute...me, "normal?"
and who's to say what normal is anyway?
You would find this wierd... in the small city where I grew up and where I am going to visit this month everyone says hi to everyone.And everyone waves at each other(even if you don't know them) The wierd thing is that when I go there even now I still know pretty much everyone, so not only do I have to say hi, but I have to have a conversation with everyone I meet.It gets a little time consuming. I try not to go downtown very much....But here in the big city I am pretty much like you.. I don't say hi or wave, (well not anymore anyway)
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