A while ago, Dan and I made plans to play some table tennis yesterday.
It’s been a year since we went to the old recreational club. The venue changes every year, and this season it was too much of a hassle for me to go as it was buried somewhere in the city. For Dan, the new venue was too far to be practical to go on a regular basis.
When we arrived, there were all familiar faces. We greeted them with handshakes and how-you-doings. Yerka, from the Czech Republic, arrived when we were catching up. Along with her Polish husband Andrei, Yerka was one of the new members last year. Andrei was on my league team, and even though I was captain, Andrei was definitely the best player, with Yerka always there to support him from the bleachers.
I extended my hand to her, but in the European fashion she leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. I reacted and adjusted for a kiss as well, but apparently there’s a rule on which side to kiss first.
Then promptly laughed it off.
Hi Jeff,
I have been reading here for a month. I really like your website and how open you are to the world. This piece is actually quite funny because Im from Europe(The Netherlands). Its allways funny how this goes. But, at least not here, there is no rule on which side to kiss first. Its allways, ohh she kisses that side, then i’ll kiss the other. It does tend to go wrong from time to time though.
Really funny.
Thanks, Jaap. I try to be as open as possible; it helps me learn and understand my thoughts and feelings. And being honest with other people means first being honest with oneself.
I think there’s a rule, or perhaps a custom on which side to kiss first, and how many kisses in France. I’m pretty sure there is in Quebec as well. Funny how the different cultures work. I remember reading about how Burmese society doesn’t even have a word for kissing, as it’s not a part of their culture.
I’ve had a similar experience, although with a non-European. Awkward yet really funny.
Interesting Burmese fact.
What’s the Burmese fact?
When I win a competition, I have to kiss every rival’s dance partner so it became a routine thing, at first, it was akward, but later I found that it’s all in the setup. I usually open my arm and tilt my body towards the right first before I approach the girl for a “bec-sur-le-joue”.
French (right cheek first, twice, one on each side) and Russians (3 times, alternate cheek) do this. I don’t know about England and German, we usually just shake hands.
What an interesting part of the ceremony. I’m guessing ballroom dancing has it’s roots in Europe.
What about people from China?
heeheehee
had that happen before..
and while living in europe, it was funny to travel… because, where I lived in holland, the cheek kisses always total 3..but in france its 4 and in england only 2…
funny story…bit of blushing too?
heehehee
That kissing is alien to Burmese culture?
@amy — I’ve been finding out that it’s not just different countries, but different parts of the countries themselves that have their own kissing customs. No blushing, but I was so nervous that it happened, that I thanked her. Hahahah…I don’t know why.
@guili — Ah, I thought you were about to continue on a point, but then I read my own comment above.