Social Media Post - #6

If there is one thing that I hate more in this world, it's when people invade my personal space. I'm fine if I have a certain relationship with that person, but if they're a total stranger then I feel quite awkward. The United Kingdom is a noncontact culture; meaning in which people tend to stand farther apart when conversing, maintain less eye contact, and touch less often. North America is as well a noncontact culture, but we also have aspects that make us a contact culture as well. I've been told many times by Brits, that we tend to stand too close during conversation, and make too much eye contact. However, if I've learned anything about my time in London, it's that the tube becomes a very contact oriented place, and its something most Americans would find awkward. Earlier this week the picadilly line was down, so the central line, the line I take to school, was packed. I've been on packed lines before, but this one was just insane. For the first time since being here I felt my personal space being completely invaded by total strangers. It was too the point where people were literally leaning on me, yet no one seemed as affect or as awkward as me, because for them this was an acceptable way to break the noncontact culture rules. Most people in America wouldn't have even gotten on the train. By the end of my journey I had to literally push my way through to the door. So although all cultures are either a contact or a noncontact one, there are certain situations where this can get reversed.