When you greet a French person you know in a friendly way, you do so with a kiss. Or two. Or three. (depending on where you are in France) Always those silly air kisses by the cheek.
This morning I went to my monthly cafe of French and others… where I was promptly air-kissed by the two women in charge. And a couple others I know. I wasn’t too sure what to think, though, when an older woman who had never been to a meeting before air-kissed two other ladies on her way out, but limply shook my hand. Like an old lady forced to be friendly to those sitting around her at church. I was somewhere between offended and relieved.
This afternoon, I had a French lesson. I walked in and the teacher greeted me with the usual Bonjour, ca va? Then he tossed in a Bonne Annee, since it was the first lesson since the holidays. Then I got an air-kiss. I can only figure it was connected to the whole new year greeting. Because even though I feel to some degree like I am friends with my French teachers, this was weird. Americans don’t kiss each other as a way of saying hello. Even in the air. Unless you are some wannabe socialite on a reality show… maybe. I guess this is part of learning the French culture. Because, I guess, at some point you know a person well enough. Or not.