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Hugging

Hugging

Date: Oct 16 2009

Themes: How To, Travel

Grammar: Conditionals with "Unless"

Intro

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If you ever visit the U.S., get ready to do some serious hugging. Americans love to hug, and it’s customary for friends and acquaintances to throw their arms around each other when saying hello or goodbye. Of course, you wouldn’t hug a total stranger or someone you just met at a business meeting. But you might be surprised by how often you find yourself locked in a close embrace.

All this hugging can sometimes lead to awkward moments, like when one person goes in for a hug and the other person isn’t expecting it. Plus, not everyone has the same attitude toward hugging, even within the U.S. Some people hug across the board, while others reserve the hug for their closest friends and family members. Find out whether Devan and Ella would hug you if they met you.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Devan

Ella

Ella

Devan:  So I know you’re planning on going to Paris soon. I was wondering, over there, do they hug when you meet someone?

Ella:  I think they do the kiss on each cheek thing.

Devan:  Have you ever had an awkward situation where you went to hug someone and they weren’t accustomed to doing that?

Ella:  Yeah, like in Asian culture hugging’s not very normal unless you’re friends or family, so it’s more like bowing or just being respectful. But it’s kind of hard to remember that when I’m here in the States, ‘cause I hug everyone. But the only awkward moment I had was like hugging an ex.

Devan:  It’s hard to tell sometimes if it’s appropriate to hug or not. Some people are very touchy-feely, other people just need their personal space and it’s like, “Woah, you’re getting in my bubble,” you know?

Ella:  Yeah. Have you ever noticed there’s a whole bunch of different types of hugs?

Devan:  Oh yeah, totally. Like the way girlfriends hug is different from the way guy friends hug, like guy friends will do the bro hug where they lock arms and do the pat on the back.

Ella:  Or like couples, they’ll hold the waist, and then someone will hold the neck. There’s so many styles!

Devan:  Yeah, like the awkward mom hug where she pats you on the back and you’re like “Why are you patting me?”

Ella:  Exactly.

 

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Different countries have different ways of greeting people. In the U.S., people sometimes hug when they meet. In France, where Ella will soon be going, it’s more common to kiss on both cheeks.

Ella loves to hug, but her family comes from Thailand, and she says it’s less common to hug people you don’t know well in Asian culture. Devan thinks it’s hard to know whether you should hug someone no matter what culture they belong to. Some people like to hug everyone, like Ella, but others are protective of their personal space. Even for people who like to hug, there are different types of hugs depending on the situation.

How do people greet each other in your country? Are you touchy-feely, or do you need lots of personal space?

 

Comments

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cheeryli

cheeryli

China

I always hug my friends .  I feel strange for kissing, and i think kissing is too intimate!

01:31 AM Oct 22 2009 |

huynh-kieuoanh

Viet Nam

In Vietnam, we also are not farmiliar with hugging or kissing on each cheek 'cause we are Asian people. You know some Vietnamese young people who returned from studying aroad in EU countries are applying such culture in greeting friends, and farmily members, but actually I dont like to see such manners as caused many awkward situations for people concerned. We should get to know all cultures of many different countries and only apply them at right places, right people, right situations. In fact, when our Office has to welcome some foreign guests who from Western countries, I also have to hug them or kiss on the cheek when greeting or saying goodbye to them, that will show that we are polite business people. I'm really interested in this good lesson 

09:20 AM Oct 21 2009 |

Mr.Bean's wife

Myanmar

In our country, we bend our heads when we go near the elderly people. I have never been hugged.

05:37 AM Oct 21 2009 |

ozgurulas34

Turkey

I dont like handshake – hugging or cheeks kissing is better side to show ur closeness to people x)

06:07 PM Oct 20 2009 |

))~~#~~RO$E~~%~~((

Saudi Arabia

Here, handshake and cheeks kissing r the famous ways 2 greet each other,

but hugging is only between friends..

05:42 PM Oct 20 2009 |

Sandybell

Panama

hi hugging is so beautifull in my country we love hugging people that makes us feel near…..   kissesssss an hugssssssssss

03:00 PM Oct 20 2009 |

heidi cheng

China

i feel strange for hugging because we are conservative here,but now people become more open-minded that can accept that already

02:27 AM Oct 20 2009 |

amany7

amany7

Saudi Arabia

well here we usually use cheeks kissing and shaking hands with friends and family. hugs mostly between friends most ppl dislike it. even the kiss it goes to the air :P and if it does to you cheek you just want to clean it up hehe what bothers me is that some ppl kiss you many times in each cheeks and you just think it won't come to end :\.

nice lesson.

01:20 AM Oct 20 2009 |

qq_baby

qq_babySuper Member!

Taiwan

kissing or hugging is strange to me!

11:17 PM Oct 19 2009 |

Stitch

Stitch

Taiwan

i have many friends from different countries, so we get confused sometimes between shaking hands, kisses, or hugs at the end of a big party. It's funny!

10:51 PM Oct 19 2009 |

dmchaming

Tanzania, United Republic Of

Hi baby were are u from

07:34 PM Oct 19 2009 |

zeinabou

zeinabou

Egypt

In my country there is a lot of different cultures,it is totally personnel,some people like to show their affection by a warm hug and a lot of kisses if they meet you for the first time which is exaggerated in my opinion.for me hugs are for lovers, close friends and family,it makes sense.

04:32 PM Oct 19 2009 |

merganius

Viet Nam

There is a cultural diversity regarding the issue. But as the society grows modern, hugging becomes quite common even in Asian cultures. 

03:27 AM Oct 19 2009 |

Cadia

Cadia

Taiwan

IN ASIA IS PUBLIC ITS HARD TO TELL BROTHER OR FRIEND SOMETIMES  IF ITS APPROPRIATE TO HUGGING THAT IS TOUCHY-FEELY.

04:56 PM Oct 18 2009 |

wishtolearn

El Salvador

In el salvador we dont do much hugging. some friends and close pals do some though. Some people get surprised whe you go in for hug actually.

04:17 PM Oct 18 2009 |

Bodeloiro

Bodeloiro

Brazil

In Brazil  is commonly hugging each other. Ove'n over

01:49 PM Oct 18 2009 |

willwan

Taiwan

Hugging is not very normal action

12:58 PM Oct 18 2009 |

Sherry shih

Taiwan

Hugging is private action in Asia, it must be with closet friends.

12:11 PM Oct 18 2009 |

your adviser

Saudi Arabia

Hugging or handshake are  lead to greeting but the ways to do them is different and the feeling too..


Here in italy the handshake is famous than hugging..and use hugging in farewell someone…etc


In Saudi Arabia the handshake with kissing on cheeks..Smile

11:17 AM Oct 18 2009 |

isef mert

isef mert

Turkey

ıf you like hugging,you will like turkish people.because we really kke hugging.when we every meet somewhere,we hug and kiss each other:D

10:48 AM Oct 18 2009 |

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