No kiss on the cheek please

Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 9:45 pm Post subject: no kiss on the cheek please

I see people on here give and want hugs all the time. I know not literally. I am so not a touchy person. Here, where I live, they give a kiss on the cheek all the time. (At least only one cheek). People who know me, don't. I do what I have to do, but I'd prefer to keep an arms length away. Would it bother you to greet pple with a kiss? I know if you're European, it's probably the norm.

Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 9:52 pm Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

oh yeah
opposite gender kissing at shul
so annoying, now bh they've learned I don't do

Apart from that, kisses from girls are not a problem.
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"You will have many many children and make successful shidduchim beh", rebbetzin Esther Jungreis
"It's all cultural, disagree respectfully", me

Gold Member Joined: Jan 09 2007 Posts: 1807

I would only do it at a wedding or simcha. and the other person would probably be the first to offer it, but I dont really have anything against it, im more the hug type than kiss tho.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 26 2006 Posts: 4316

Here many women double kiss whenever they see me, and personally I cant stand it, having someone I barely know, or someone who I have never met but am being introduced to, kissing me.

Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 10:00 pm Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 26 2006 Posts: 4316

South Florida

Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 10:03 pm Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 26 2006 Posts: 4316

Lots of South Americans here and Morrocans/Israelis

Gold Member Joined: Jan 09 2007 Posts: 1807

yes cookie lady. I agree that strangers should not be kissing you. its really gross. but I notice there are ppl that kiss in the air. I like that better. lol

Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 10:29 pm Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

My husband's family is a very very warm family. Whenever one meets each other they kiss 2 times on the cheeks and when they leave another 2 kisses. I come from just an opposite family. Kissing is only at simchas and only one not 2. It's really hard. Everything I go to my shviger or my grandmother I dread all the kissing that's going on.

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 8702

My MIL kisses me on the cheek when she comes and leaves and I can't stand it.
I don't like ppl kissing me, but a hug for a friend I haven't seen in a while is fine. Smile

At a simcha, though I think a kiss on the cheek is acceptable between baalei simcha and close friends and relatives.
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Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 10:48 pm Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

I don't even like it at simchas, not even at my wedding. When I got engaged, one of my sil said that when I get married, I'll have to get used to touching and have someone touch you Laughing

, I told her not to worry and I know Laughing

.

Posted: Tue, Apr 01 2008, 10:48 pm Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

well im english, it really depends on your family and circle. My family is very warm and do kiss on cheeks

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 10429

what, they never heard of air kisses? designed to prevent ladies from smudging ea. others' makeup, it invoves bringing the cheeks in close proximity to each other but not touching, and kissing the air in the general vicinity of each others' ears. it's the only genteel thing to do if one MUST kiss.

frankly, if you're concerned about germs, a handshake is a much more effective way to pass the little buggies around than kissing.

Posted: Wed, Apr 02 2008, 4:59 am Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

We only air kiss, parents kiss their children on the forehead or top of the head, no matter what the age. I kiss my mother's hand (sefaradi style davka) when I see her.

Posted: Wed, Apr 02 2008, 7:05 am Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

I actually don't see anything bad by kissing (the same s-x though) but that is maybe because I grew up in Europe.
No offence to anyone on this forum/thread, but as a European, I find Americans in general a bit cold.
For example when I was in the USA with my dh on holidays, when we walked into a store or hotel, they would automatically say "Hello, How are you?" at the begining I would really answer and say I am ok thank you for asking and so, but then realise they don't really care, they are just asking as a routine kind of thing.... I would find myself talking to the wall as the person in the store was already greeting a new customer or doing something else.
I think it is a cultural thing, there is no right or wrong here, but me personally I prefer the warmth Wink

Posted: Wed, Apr 02 2008, 7:25 am Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

I dont do kisses I have one friend who gives me a kiss when she sees me but that is a very close friend.(in uk) ppl hug at lot here which when I was a lot younger I used to hate but now I dont mind and its usually only close friends anyway.

Posted: Wed, Apr 02 2008, 7:39 am Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

Posted: Wed, Apr 02 2008, 7:47 am Post subject: re: no kiss on the cheek please

Gold Member Joined: Oct 25 2007 Posts: 1607

First a disclaimer: I grew up in Europe, so I'm definitely more used to kisses on the cheek than to hugs.

I actually think that a kiss on the cheek (which is actually more a "rubbing cheeks" with each one kissing the air, iykwim) is less intimate and awkward than a hug, where you embrace the whole body of the other person.

It actually took me a while to get comfortable with hugs from fellow Americans Smile

I have another problem: in Europe and Israel, we usually give 2 kisses (sometimes 4), and I used to get stuck with my face in the air with people used to give only one kiss Laughing