<p>I didn’t realize those kiss things were common anywhere in America. Very interesting! Always learning new things on here lol.</p>
<p>I’m not comfortable with that whole cheek kiss thing. Not even my family does it. Hugs, yes. I think I just want your mouth out of my bubble :).</p>
<p>I shake hands when introduced to someone new. I think it’s an important skill to teach our kids.<br>
Greeting friends or aquaintences on a daily basis, smile and nod. Close friends whom I haven’t seen in a week or more, hugs. Air kisses or real kisses - never. I have met people who are kissers and avoid getting within arms reach after that. Yuck!</p>
<p>I love the French custom of touching cheeks.</p>
<p>I can’t remember the last time I shook a hand with somebody. I don’t think anyone at school does it.</p>
<p>Im a handshaker and a hugger. I always initiate the handshake when introduced to someone, but I only hug and kiss people I know well.</p>
<p>BTW, MiamiDap, on the flip side, I’m a nurse and really we really dont like shaking patients hands because they are the ones that are sick and we dont want to bring home any germs to our homes or families and unfortunately there is the ick factor… We are more inclined to RUN, to the sink and wash off what might be on our patients hands more than you think. In the course of a day, we may touch up to 100’s of patients a day. My colleagues are well aware. We are known to even wash our hands before we even use the bathroom. And yes there are cameras, hand slapping, and the patients are encouraged to report staff that dont wash their hands. But believe me, staff do RUN to the hand sanitizer machines.</p>
<p>I feel much more comfortable with handshaking than hugging and kissing people I barely know. And it’s amazing how many huggers there are out there. I didn’t even know about the custom of a man waiting for a woman to initiate the handshake - I’ll make sure I extend my hand first if I see any hesitation.</p>
<p>We taught our daughter young how to shake hands and greet someone. We always used the line " Nice to meet you george" in our role playing. So the first time they were called upon to shake hands with a stranger (turns out it was the Country Music Star Brad Paisley) They (they were 5 & 7 yrs old) politely stepped up, looked him in the eye, offered their hand, shook and said “Nice to meet you George”. It was funny!</p>
<p>Ugh. i hate shaking hands or hugs with even close friends . I never initiate either . if someone initiates a handshake i will go along with it . hugs, Ihave backed out of a few. or just waved when i saw one comming.</p>
<p>We taught our daughter young how to shake hands and greet someone. We always used the line " Nice to meet you george" in our role playing. So the first time they were called upon to shake hands with a stranger (turns out it was the Country Music Star Brad Paisley) They (they were 5 & 7 yrs old) politely stepped up, looked him in the eye, offered their hand, shook and said “Nice to meet you George”. It was funny! >>>>>>>>>></p>
<p>Oh my, how cute!!! LOL.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>@OldFort, This made me LOL! Please tell us what country this is so I can make sure NEVER to go there.</p>
<p>But whe you “kiss” as a friendly gesture, you practically do not touch each other, hadshake is very intimate, ir requires washing hands after (in my case at least).</p>
<p>It gets rather confusing in Los Angeles. A homemaker woman might not shake hands. A woman who works usually shakes hands as custom. But if it’s a closer friend, we are supposed to hug. And if it’s a chic friend, we are supposed to air-kiss 1 cheek. And if it’s a chic Euro or pseudoEuro, we are supposed to air-kiss both cheeks. What’s embarassing is if one person goes in for the handshake, while the other person goes in for the hug.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m with razorsharp; I hate shaking hands! I wash my hands as soon as possible afterwards. I used to try to avoid it by not extending my hand, but most people will just grab my hand anyway so I’ve become resigned to it. But I’ll never like it. I think a quick hug and airkiss is probably more sanitary.</p>
<p>Every year in late September I had to stand in line and shake hands with around 900 people coming through a welcome line, following worship services conducted by my H. Some added on the cheek-kissies. I got sick of it all. It felt like one big petrie dish and annual occupational hazard. My H always took in a cold after all this.</p>
<p>A few years ago, I began wearing elegant black velvet gloves with silver designs to all services. They cost me $50 but well worth it. People thought it was a fashion statement. H can’t do this but wishes he could.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I could have written this. I, too, am a big hand shaker and hugger even though I’m a bit of a germaphobe. I always extend my hand to those whom I am meeting for the first time. I am also an extremely frequent hand washer and, for that, my hands have suffered as they are often dry, red and cracked. They were especially in bad shape when I worked in the hospital for several years and wore lots of powdered latex gloves. As a school nurse, I preach hand-washing, coughing/sneezing into one’s crook of the arm instead of hands to prevent spread of germs, and even some manners as they’re entering or leaving the clinic by reminding boys that gentlemen hold the doors for ladies.</p>