Meet and Greet

I never realized the difference of how people say hello when they meet each other for the first time until I arrived to Tijuana.

I have always grown up shaking the hands of people I met for the first time.

But, when I arrived to Tijuana and started to meet people, I was greeted with a hug and a kiss. This greet and meet was different and new to me, especially coming from people I have never met. I wasn't against it and I still am not, but sometimes it is a little confusing to me because I do not know if I am suppose to hug and kiss everyone I meet or if everyone does it automatically.

Sometimes I'll be thinking am I suppose to do it or not? Will I look weird id I do it?

The only reason why these thoughts go through my head is because it is not something I am used to.

The only other time I have experienced the meet and greet with a hug and a kiss was when I went to Guadalajara in December. I had not been there since I was a little girl and did not know my family very well. When I arrived I was greeted with a hug and a kiss. The only thought that went through my head was, they must be greeting me with a hug and a kiss because we are family. After all, I only tend to hug and kiss my family members.

But now it makes me wonder if that is just how they greet everyone they meet?

After hearing Mariana's lecture on the differences between American and Mexican culture, it all makes sense to me. Mexico is very united and greeting a person with a hug and a kiss makes them feel welcomed and forms a close relationship from the start opposed to a hostile relationship.

Although it has been quite confusing at times for me, I seem to enjoy it because it is something different and there is that sense of closeness although I may not now the person.