Common Sense If You Are Moving to Nova

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by abcinvan

Thanks for the great post! It seems more and more likely that we will be moving back to VA (we are from Richmond) after 15 years of being away -- 12 of those being in Vancouver Canada. I had to laugh because I have some really good friends who have told me that when they first met me they thought I was "nice but kind of reserved". BUT once I got to know them, the "real me came out." Guess I shouldn't worry about fitting in then!!

The one thing I will have to keep an eye on is hugging and kissing. Here in Vancouver, we hug everyone and kiss on both cheeks! The initial contact, sure - usually a handshake. But by the end of the evening - you got it - hug and double cheek kiss. I do that now pretty much automatically. Of course, my friends from Mexico you only kiss one cheek. My Ismaili friends, you kiss 3 times!

Anyway - it was nice to get a refresher on Virginian mannerisms. Thanks!

LOL, I'm glad you saw this so we could clue you in! I can just imagine the reaction if you tried kissing some people here on both cheeks. They might have gone along with it but then run in the other direction the next time they saw you--and you wouldn't have known why. It wouldn't have been your fault at all, just one of those things that can happen wehn people move here from a place with a different custom.

I think the safest best in Nova is a handshake. A loose hug or a pat on the back type of hug is generally acceptable. Some people do more of a bear hug but it makes a lot of people uncomfortable.

If you're hugging someone hard enough that your cologne gets all on them, that's too much of a hug!