Americans in Europe- strange people!

[birlinn]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

[Breakaway]

Its just a euphemism. General purpose, glad to be hear or to see you. Hi, we are here so whats next?

You can answer with a seeming non sequitur, such as, Great, we are about to get started. Or, glad you could make it.

Kevin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Jimmy W]

"Hello, come on in."

[birlinn]

They usually ask me how I am after I have said "Good morning, welcome to the museum", hence the puzzlement about an appropriate reply.

[lupussonic]

[SKIP KILPATRICK]

"Well, thank you for asking."

[WI-Tom]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

How about: "Fine, thanks. And you?"

It's really not that difficult, or that weird. Or that American, even. It's a basic courtesy, not a literal request for you to list your complaints or medical history.

Wie gehts? Como estas?

Tom

[Spin_Drift]

[FONT=Verdana]

6731225]How about: "Fine, thanks. And you?"

It's really not that difficult, or that weird. Or that American, even. It's a basic courtesy, not a literal request for you to list your complaints or medical history.

Wie gehts? Como estas?

Tom

This ^

[bluedog225]

If I were any better, I’d be twins.

or We’re ****tin in high cotton. How’re yew?

[MushCreek]

If I were any better, I’d be twins.

Great line from 'Doc Hollywood'. I use it often. I also sometimes reply, "My wife says I'm about average."

[David G]

I've got friends from Europe. So of course I've heard multiple stories about how having the means to travel doesn't automatically mean you have the class to represent well. And it's not just tourists from the U.S. I hear similar stories about travelers from China, Germany, Japan, and various points in S. America.

Inversely, I've also heard stories about how insular and stubbornly provincial some of the locals are at times. Esp. in Scootlun' <G>

[LeeG]

So many choices. The standards as mentioned above may require effort on your part but it will get them moving on through the quickest. But since they are a captive audience and you are local color I’d go for the strongest incomprehensible accent for twice the time of an American response with fairly flat affect then point in the direction they need to go providing the cue to move on with a sudden smile and raised eyebrow.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

We were the only visitors to the maritime museum in Bergen one morning and the guy in charge was so glad to see us (he'd graduated from a university in Chicago 40 years earlier)) he ended up giving us a complete guided tour as a Docent. We did not arrive "breezily" with "Hi! how are you"?

[Jack Loudon]

For a few years one of my sons would say "Hey, what's up?" as a greeting, and then immediately launch into a monologue without a pause for me to insert a reply.

[David G]

For a few years one of my sons would say "Hey, what's up?" as a greeting, and then immediately launch into a monologue without a pause for me to insert a reply.

One of my sons latched onto "How's it hangin'" for a while. I always responded loudly and enthusiastically, "TUBULAR!!!"

[Dave Hadfield]

The "greeting" that annoys me here in North America is when you pass someone in a hallway and say, "Hello", and their reply is only, "How are ya?"

It's like a subtle one-up-man-ship thing: some kind of point gets scored.

They don't politely say hello back; they exude that hail-fellow-well-met phrase as if they care more than you. When of course they don't give a tiniest rat's asterick.

Several times I have descended to the level of pettiness and responded, "Just _ucking awful", while not breaking stride. But, while temporarily satisfying, that choice is never personal growth...

[David G]

The "greeting" that annoys me here in North America is when you pass someone in a hallway and say, "Hello", and their reply is only, "How are ya?"

It's like a subtle one-up-man-ship thing: some kind of point gets scored.

They don't politely say hello back; they exude that hail-fellow-well-met phrase as if they care more than you. When of course they don't give a tiniest rat's asterick.

Several times I have descended to the level of pettiness and responded, "Just _ucking awful", while not breaking stride. But, while temporarily satisfying, that choice is never personal growth...

Are perhaps just imagining the one upmanship? Or were there other clues? A smirk? A smarmy tone of voice? A half-bow? Perhaps they sounded particularly Canadian?? <G>

[Dave Hadfield]

Are perhaps just imagining the one upmanship? Or were there other clues? A smirk? A smarmy tone of voice? A half-bow? Perhaps they sounded particularly Canadian?? <G>

David, I honestly don't know (although I would actually respect a bow).

Is this a thing that you experience in the USA?

[David G]

David, I honestly don't know (although I would actually respect a bow).

Is this a thing that you experience in the USA?

Not really. The only thing I can think of, is I used to have a foreman who appreciated how much authority I delegated to him on most things... but whenever I surprised him by insisting on 'my' way on something, he'd look at me, laugh, and say, "You're the shortest human I've ever seen who ducks to go thru 7' doors." That seems like the opposite of smarmy...

[Jack Loudon]

The "greeting" that annoys me here in North America is when you pass someone in a hallway and say, "Hello", and their reply is only, "How are ya?"

It's like a subtle one-up-man-ship thing: some kind of point gets scored.

They don't politely say hello back; they exude that hail-fellow-well-met phrase as if they care more than you. When of course they don't give a tiniest rat's asterick.

Several times I have descended to the level of pettiness and responded, "Just _ucking awful", while not breaking stride. But, while temporarily satisfying, that choice is never personal growth...

I have a similar confession. I don't like it when people say 'have a nice day'. As if I'm powerless have a nice day with out their magnanimous pronouncement.

Petty and cynical, but there it is.

[johnw]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

"Medical science is doing all it can for me."

[Jim Bow]

A local bird watcher was in Botswana on a birding trip. The greeting there seemed to be versions of, “Hello, how was your sleep?” In the morning and “ How was your morning?” in the afternoon.

[SKIP KILPATRICK]

Well ……I now have some ideas of how I’d greet you S.O.B’s if I ever meet you!

[Gerarddm]

New Yorkers will ask " how ya doin'? They do not expect an answer.

[AndyG]

"Hoiabootye?" is the Belfast equivalent.

I've learned that it doesn't require detailed personal medical information in response.

Myself? A silent nod and momentary eye contact does the business.

Andy

[McMike]

"Hoiabootye?" is the Belfast equivalent.

I've learned that it doesn't require detailed personal medical information in response.

Myself? A silent nod and momentary eye contact does the business.

Andy

This would be what I'd prefer to do but for the reality that I'd be considered rude, anti-social. So I play along and lie, like everyone else I suppose. I'm fine, and you? As if I really want to know. Actually, I'd want to know if there was a genuine reciprocation . . . there rarely is. Bunch of fake a55ed mugs here.

[Yeadon]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

Good ‘n you?

[HRDavies]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

This is a standard greeting in China.

Ni hao ma ?
How are you ?

Hen hao, ni ne ?
Fine, thanks. And yourself ?

So there's at least another billion people guilty of this outrage

[Joe (SoCal)]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

Buongiorno, come stai? - Bene.

[elf]

Some might dish a bit more info. Like "I'm OK. Today"

[David G]

I've thought about it some, and I don't understand how some folks here don't understand the purpose of the 'social lubricant' that such greetings represent.

[LeeG]

I've thought about it some, and I don't understand how some folks here don't understand the purpose of the 'social lubricant' that such greetings represent.

Enlightenment may come to you. Or not.

[Tom from Rubicon]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply. They do not know me, so why are they interested?
I could list my rheumatism, my hernia, etc, etc, but I doubt they would really want to know.
So what is the correct reply?

I can't vouch for Scotland, but in SE Wisconsin. If someone asks. Tell em what you told us .Embellish on your personal history and ailments at will. The reply will be in kind. If I so much a nod kindly to a lady ahead of me at a grocery cashier counter, hernias and spleens are a common ice breaker.

[gypsie]

On the desk last week, greeting visitors to our museum.
Americans always come in breezily, with "Hi, how are you".
I confess I do not know how to reply....

What would be a typical greeting from a UK visitor?

[birlinn]

Good morning (or afternoon)
If it's local people I know, and meet in the street, it usually goes like "How'r ye doin?"
"I'm good, and you?"
But never anything other than Hello or Good Morning with strangers.