h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't work in a communal office, but on my way down the corridor, if the doors are open, I will say "Hello" to my work colleagues individually. I try to do this in their native language, so it goes kind of

Biongiorno! Moein! Bonjour! Morgen! Ola! as I proceed...

And I'll say Bye (Ciao, au revoir etc) on the way home.

If I'm meeting friends for dinner or a drink, it'll be a triple cheek kiss on meeting and departure. A handshake if I'm introduced to someone new.

I smile and say hello when I enter a small shop. But not a big supermarket.

God, try working in a school. There are hundreds of the buggers to say hello to - I think it's the most common word in my vocabulary!!

hi Luckystar,

Quite funny imagining someone greeting everyone in a crowded supermarket - he'd probably get the ol' heave-ho by security

az

"If I'm meeting friends for dinner or a drink, it'll be a triple cheek kiss on meeting and departure"

Oh man- you serious?? I'm sorry, but if anyone did that in my workplace on a regular basis, i would have no choice but to stab them in the heart with a blunt pencil...

However if it works for you...

What sort of job do you have anyway sounds mighty interesting

"Meeting friends for dinner or drink" does NOT equal "in the workplace"! No, those same friends I have coffee with in the canteen without any cheek kissing stuff. I was making the point that greetings differ depending on context.

I work in a large multicultural bureaucracy, famous for its rules on straight cucumbers

Anyone notice this strange phenomenon? :
You can work in the same office with someone for years and never greet each other. Then, you see them out in town and you give them a friendly nod. If you see them the other side of town you give a "hello" and a smile. But if you bump into them abroad or the other side of the country you greet them like they're the best friend you ever had?