I can see that. But vise versa, I felt weird visiting Sweden where everyone seemed distant but stared constantly at me... In New York City, that means someone is going to attack you, so it was nerve wracking for me.

As an American that likes my own personal space I will be very friendly to you without invading your space.

Well, I'm Greek and i hate people not respecting my personal space! I'm definitely in the wrong country lol

I live here in the U.S. and I hate it! Then again, I have a bubble of personal space like 15 times the size of normal people's. I often avoid hugging my family; they know hugs stress me out.

Well, it's sure better than being belittled, harassed, and feeling like a social outcast for not being able to speak a European language (i will just keep the country anonymous) fast enough. Nobody even said anything about constantly "entering your private space" 🙄 It says that strangers are FRIENDLY to you, and that strangers even treat people nice not that everyone gives you hugs all the time. I miss being treated like a human being while shopping, and having a nice&bubbly waitress (i was one of them before I moved here out of love). THAT is what they mean.....not whatever you seem to define "friendly" as.

I need to relocate to Sweden lol I like my bubble and hate it when people try to get into my bubble uninvited

The picture shows a hug, but that's not typical with a stranger unless you got to talking and really made an emotional connection. At least for me, and I would also ask first.

Half Russian here, and I hate when people are overly friendly to strangers...takung that I am a stranger. My personal space is my personal space, we share it only with people we love.

I a Finn, totally understand!

Lmao the pic went to far. We only hug you IF after having a deep convo or you start crying.

In america, ppl dont just come up & hug u or get in ur space. Its always just a friendly nod or hello.

Sorry. I'm a hugger. If it makes you feel better, my mom's family is from outside the US, and that's where I got it. There are parts of the US where you're going to be vieewed with suspicion for the first 20 years you're there!

I come from The South™, which is known for being friendly to strangers and I get upset about this. Everyone stands too close and they act like you're the weird one if you tell them they're too close.

I admit, I'm a hugger.

Oh yeah. I’d absolutely HATE it, without being able to be anything than grateful that people are being nice. It’d be awkward. And since these people wouldn’t actually know me, it’d also spontaneously feel very, very false and superficial. I know it’s not, but it would be over here. If you don’t know me, don’t pretend you do and don’t pretend you’re over the moon exhilarated meeting me, you don’t know if I’m an absolute horror of a person or not; that’s how it works here. It’d take some getting used to.

I as an American, love and find it very interesting when I meet someone from a different country. I then like to ask a lot of questions lol

Come to Canada, eh?

I would feel the same too. Maybe all Europeanen Citizen worship their personal space.

Trust me. I'm a born and raised American and I hate it too lol.

I am from Hungary, but I hate that too...

I'm so sad that this was your experience. I, as not only an American, but as a human being as well, would never have treated you, or anyone else that way.

I don't remember people's names after minutes.....that doesn't mean that my friendliness wasn't authentic. Since when do you have to have a perfect memory just to be f*****g NICE to someone!? My god....i might have to ask new people, that i don't see often, their name, like 3-4 times, until it really sticks. If that makes me fake und unfriendly, then so be it, there's enough human beings on this planet 🤷

There are xenophobes, for sure, but most places I've been people seem very friendly/outgoing toward visitors.

Or they just didn't like u 🤷 or they just wanted to give u a friend greeting, not engage in actual conversation. Because, THAT is what we consider friendly If you walk by someone and make eye contact, sit next to someone somewhere, are in line for whatever reason, a waitress or bartender, any kind of cashier, etc., then you say "Hi, how ya doin'" (today)", to what one can say, "Hey! I'm doing fine, thanks". It's just a human recognizing another human and being friendly to them, even if they only have a short exchange. That's what it means to show compassion to others. Being friendly isn't a COMMITMENT to ANYthing I feel like especially MEN complain about this "superficial-ness" of "friendly Americans" (i have been living in Europe for over 10 years, and have a very strong American accent, so men tell me this crap all the time when talking to me about Americans). It doesn't mean i have to carry on a conversation with u, remember your name, give u my number.... it's just being nice 🤷

I don't think so, Richard. I still very much feel that way.

Who cares!? At least you were treated with respect in that short amount of time..... it's called being a good human being in my book

Does it matter?

In my town in the Midwest, there's a few Indian families who run big businesses (gas stations and stores since the nearest walmart is like 2-3 hours away) and the majority of the town loves them. Location doesn't dictate how people act, it's what they were taught. Bigots are found everywhere.