I’m asking because it’s a very normal thing to do here.
When you enter a room, but also things like a hairdresser or say a small cafe, you say hello to the people there and say goodbye when leaving. Or when taking a bus, you say hello to the driver and goodbye or thank him when getting off.
I was only recently told by some online friends of mine that this is pretty weird in other places. So I’m wondering if I’m (or my country) is the weird one or them
Do you live in a smaller community, where it’s likely that you know the people there?
American here. Really it’s about context. On busses is can be polite to thank the driver when exiting. Depending on the barber saying hello to everyone might be normal too. But no I don’t think I’ve ever walked into a dentists office and been like’ hi! Everybody!” It’s more a walk in tell someone you’re here and sit on your phone until called.
In America, you might greet a single person that acknowledges you, like a worker, but not the general room.
I live in the UK so this would be greeted with suspicion. 😆
Same here in America. People are going about their days and don’t want random people sticking their noses into other people’s business.
Maybe if you’re sitting next to someone for awhile you might strike up a conversation. Maybe. (“Boy, they’re taking a long time today. Must be short staffed!”) But I don’t recall this ever happening with me and I’ve been to my fair share of doctor’s offices over the years.
Germany/Switzerland:
You might muffle a very faint “good day” or something and that’s what you might get back. But other than that, the waiting room of a doctors office might as well be a funeral. Dead silence. Well, unless there is kids. Then you might get kid noises and the parent occationally saying things to keep the kid quiet.
Same goes for public transport. Drivers usually have their own cabin on trams and I never use the front entrance of the bus. But still, no talking to strangers.
