Where we are from it is common to essentially ignore people walking by. No waving or even eye contact. True, some neighborhoods are different than others, and it is a large and varied country. I guess. Because while geographical and societal differences do make for interpersonal differences, at the end of the day, in the US passing drivers are unlikely to non verbally give their regards and it is a more to check in before knocking.

Let me take a step back and explain. Some might be more positive and instead of ignore use give space or indicate the desire to be left alone. Furthermore, this behavior is both more typical and more extreme in cities, in my experience. Though when we stopped at the nearest farmhouse in rural South Dakota to share that a cow was stuck on a barbed wire fence and needed help, we were greeted with a discouraging degree of gruffness.

New Zealand definitely does not come across like that. Here the norm is for people to stop by when passing by. Ironically, while in the States we are outliers due to our potentially excessive and regularly not retuned waves and hellos, in NZ we have been described as reclusive since we only wave and say hello. Not in a negative manner mind you: this is simply accurate.

As it happened, earlier today I passed by our host who had just arrived on her Harley and, among many things, we conversed about these differences. I was assured that if the light is on, 10:30 is not too late to stop by. Not typical where we are from as I’m used to ringing or texting first before most any face to face contact. As we chatted, I even noticed myself attempting to schedule time together, which, once called out, got us both laughing. Nothing wrong with that as, rest assured, prearranged rendezvous are legal here too. Rather, that is what comes naturally to me.

At a former employer, one of my colleagues from India told me a guy simply doesn’t approach a single gal. Instead a mutual friend or a family member will make the introduction. No surprise at the popularity of dating websites as a way around this norm. Unions are described as being from arranged marriages or love marriages.

Groovy post high tide sands after sunset