I wouldn't be so quick to judge americans that way. It really is not the same for all americans in all parts of the country. Where I grew up everyone hugged each other all the time. Especially at family get togethers and greeting a friend you had not seen in a longtime. I also spent some time with many friends for years studying different religions and whenever anyone would get together they were always welcomed with a big hug. Many people belonging to the same religion will quite hug whenever they see other at the mall, get-togethers, etc. I grew up in Wisconsin and Oregon and California and Colorado mostly (school years). My relatives up North hug whenever they see each other but my relatives in California and Arizona do not. Sometimes it is dependent on the size of the town or city you live in. I noticed that in larger cities few people hug each other anymore. It can depend on so many things...


>>>Hypersensitive is not the right description.. I would say: The american's values are so pointed to materials.. Values as Friendship, love, etc.. are so distant of your targets.. Naturally you are losing it..
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>yup, I second that.
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>>>Here is some cultural shock not only with americans and brazilians.. But, people of Brazil's northeast area and southeast also.. Here (at northeast) we are very warm people.. I remember in a recent past, I receive here in my home a cousin that I never had contacts before.. My first action was to give him a hug.. Result: during the itinerary of my home.. He was thinking.. Is he become a gay? :)
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>I keep seeing that almost every day... every time I get together with Brazilian friends (or most South American friend for that matter), Americans around us always get shocked by how we *celebrate* the fact that we met a friend, by hugging and showing affection to a friend.
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>>With this last experiences, I am afraid even of speaking with a cop.. :)
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>well, same here... I always avoid talking to cops... you never know what sort of retarded rule might exist that could put you in jail "just because you toched a cop to get his attention and ask for an information". :)