While in the city and waiting for a friend to show up, a group of tourists approached me and asked me for directions to a popular landmark and my recommendation for somewhere to eat. I directed them to the path they were looking for and offered a nearby tourist hotspot as a surefire place to find something for everyone. "A tourist place, huh? What do you mean by that?" one of the men said jokingly while he gave a firm pat to the upper part of my right arm. Then he and his companions thanked me and went off in the direction I had pointed. I felt pleased with myself that I was helpful, useful.
Immediately after I starting thinking about that body contact the man had made. It was a friendly gesture, spoken concurrent with light-hearted words of mock-offense. I didn't mind that he had touched my shoulder; it seemed to come naturally to him to make that kind of action toward me, a stranger. The man didn't seem to have any accent--nothing to attribute his friendliness to the "Southern gentleman" character. I'm not a touchy-touchy person, not with complete strangers. But it doesn't bother me much to, say, ride a crowded bus or train car where I have no choice but to bump up against people I don't know (I usually end up staring at people's chests and armpits).
No comments:
Post a Comment