I have spent the past month doing research work in the city. It’s the longest I have spent in an office environment since my days booking hotel rooms in London six years ago. I’ve adjusted to the commute. I’ve adjusted to the lack of sunlight. And I’ve adjusted to eating lunch out every day. But I’m still struggling with the office greeting.
Not content with “hello” I’ve noticed many people prefer the “how are you?”. By the time I have answered “fine” we have already passed each other and the opportunity for me to return the question has gone. This leaves me feeling selfish and somewhat egotistical since I am spending my days telling everyone I am fine but never managing to inquire as to their wellbeing.
I have resolved for today, and next week, to pop the question first.
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cute, has it worked thus far?
you know, it is just a greeting therefore instead of trying to converse I typically reply with a hello or any other type of salutation/acknowledgement.
It was all going very well until about 30 mins ago.
Him: (Approaching)
Me: “Hi. How are you?”
Him: “How you doing?”
Me: “Fine”
Him: (Leaving) “Are you good?”
Me: ?
Just try to ignore everybody, you’ll be out of there soon enough.
This sounds just like the sort of problem faced by the benighted Dostoevsky or Gogol Russian bureaucrat. Hope this isn’t going to lead to any dreaded overcoat moments, or you coming across another Mr. Berger, only slightly younger, in your office…
This is so NY You’ll get used to it.
The other day at work I heard someone ask another person his name saying “I’ve seen you for 3 years, what’s your name?” About time don’t you think?
Re: the greeting - try some highbred version like “Fine-you?”, or you could just stop them with “hold on a minute now, sloooow down… what’s your name?”
Gentleness, Sobriety Are Rare In This Society
Paul Berger, a self-described Englishman In New York, seems somewhat surprised by, as he calls it, The Greeting:I have spent the past month doing research work in the city. Its the longest I have spent in an office environment since…
Hey, try to get a chuckle out of ‘em with your replies, which you will of course vary daily. You coud start with the reply, “Fiiiine as frog hair! How are you?”
I have a bit of the opposite problem as a former New Yorker living in England.
Whenever I accidentally bump into someone or try to pass someone on the sidewalk, (definitely a New York thing), I say, “Excuse me,” and people turn to me, as if I want to talk to them or have a request.
The proper term used in England in this situation is “Pardon” so I am always surprised when people turn to look at me when I say “Excuse me,” as if they are thinking, “Did that woman want something.”
Very interesting Psychobarb, although I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say “pardon” in England for quite some time. You must be living in a very polite corner of the land…
You could go for the classic English ‘Alright’, which is hello and how are you all wrapped up in two easy syllables (or one if you’re from the North). What’s so great about it is it works as the greeting and the response.
Yes, it is a favorite of mine. And shall be the subject of a post to come…
In my Dads village people greet each other by stating their profession. I accompanied my Dad out for a drink at the local pub over Christmas. We entered the pub with a farmer friend of his to a volley of “farmer”, “farmer”, “councilor”, “farmer”, “farmer”, “counciler” and finally “is this yer lad?”. At that point my dad introduced me to the farmers and they all replied in unison with “HOWDO?”.