Perceptions of friendliness

New travel writers are constantly warned about the pitfalls of using clichés and adjectives to describe an experience.  The writer is expected to convey a sense of realism and feeling by choosing words that show, not tell, the reader about travel.

Things are different in travel conversations. Clichés go in free fall, adjectives describe everything and anything in flowery format and are often categorised in degrees of satisfaction alongside a noun — great time, good food, nice weather and awesome man! Nothing or no-one is left unscathed by such language because eager travellers want to share their new discoveries with any available ear.

One such conversation — which amuses and also bugs me –  is “the friendly people” conversation. In an attempt to convey a great discovery, the traveller pulls out every possible superlative, to compare and contrast their recent experiences with past experiences — louder than others, the rudest ever, the funniest, the most easy-going I’ve met.

These opinions are largely formed from small interactions or observations and nothing more. Politeness is viewed as kindness, a surly face is regarded as cold, pushy is considered rude and smiles are all too often revered.

Travellers speak of these local encounters as though it were a new phenomenon, forgetting the possibility that friendly people exist everywhere: neighbours, street vendors, teachers, drivers, business empire builders.

My observations: emotions don’t discriminate, people choose how they feel, the only difference in the level of friendliness is — perception.

by Cate

Caffeinated Traveller