Hello, Good morning! Does this always require a reply? Or just a smile back is enough, or a head nod?
Alternatively, does the response require a handshake or a hug? Or maybe a kiss on the chick is the best option in a given setting. And if a kiss on the chick, how many? Where do one has to start from, right or left. Ok, when gender comes in, how many kisses for a lady or a gentleman. This is how diverse Aston is even just at the level of greetings. I hope you wouldn’t want to know about that of ‘Good afternoon!’ and ‘Good evening!’ They also have their own responses. However, this is what makes life very interesting at any point in time. One gets to learn about different cultures and expected ways of doing things. And I think this is what international exposure is all about, learning new things and appreciating other cultures. This Aston offers both students and workers just under one umbrella.
One amazing thing for me here in Aston is address terms for both fellow students and our professors. Those of fellow students are usually easy to negotiate just by referring to the person by the first name. What of our professors? Is it by their first names, surnames, or title and surnames? When it comes to ‘cultural crossing’ from this perspective, I think I have not crossed yet and I assume some other colleagues too. Actually, I can admit that culture is a very complex phenomenon, and as far as it is dynamic, one cannot get it all. All these and other experiences make life here in the Uni very interesting.
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