Vie Miller CP#5

When I met Kubra for our conversation partner meeting, she welcomed me into the space and greeted me in the traditional way which Turkish woman greet Turkish woman: touching cheeks on each side of one’s face and kissing the air. I wasn’t aware of this custom, and I flubbed my hello by not fully touching my cheeks to hers. I asked her what I should have done and we laughed about it afterwards. Interestingly, this mix-up became a subject of conversation between us. The handshake is commonly used in both our cultures, but many Americans give or expect a hug to accompany the greeting of a close friend or relative. Kubra thought the hug was a little too intimate for anyone but a close friend, and I lamented that my culture didn’t have anything in-between a handshake and a hug which we could use during a greeting.