Back in my Boston days, I worked with some people from the Midwest. I remember them saying that people from the area were not very friendly. At the time, I thought we were friendly and didn’t really understand what they meant.

Later, Trish and I were at Lake Tahoe and had an enlightening experience. We were at Starbucks and I ordered a Chantico drinking chocolate. It came in a little cup that was noticeably different than their other drinks.

When I got my drink, a stranger next to me asked what I had. Their curiosity spread like wildfire until the whole Starbucks was talking about my beverage. It was at that moment that I realized why people think East Coasters are unfriendly. It would be unthinkable for this situation to occur in a Boston Starbucks. Talking to the person next to you in line is unusual, never mind a group conversation with the whole Starbucks.

It’s all relative to what you consider appropriate. Some people try to engage with everyone to be friendly. Other people leave strangers alone to be polite. Whichever group you’re in, the other group seems odd and maybe even rude.

When has someone else’s normal seemed unusual to you or your normal seemed unusual to someone else?