Reply to Advice for a west coaster moving to the east coast

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You will pass people in the street who when you smile and say hello, will simply stare back at you, silently, as if you are a martian.

Signed someone who has lived on both coasts.[/quote]

Many people on the east coast don't say hi even when you say hi to them. There is just this blank stare. It's the weirdest thing. [/quote]

My experience was pretty much the exact opposite. I moved to DC from Palo Alto, and was blown away that everyone I passed on the street in DC seemed to say, "Hi--how you doin?"  I got into the habit of doing it, too.  When I went back to Palo Alto, I swear the first lady I said "How you doin?" to on the street called the police on me.  I am a white woman, so it was not a race or gender thing--it just freaked her the hell out.[/quote]

D.C. is a Southern city and south of the Mason/Dixon line. Transplants often have to get used to the culture of speaking to strangers in passing on the streets and when entering rooms it’s common practice to address everyone with a greeting. If you mean people on the east coast that don’t speak, you are talking about NY/NJ and the New England areas. I look for people who are able to adapt to the DC Southern culture when making decisions about hiring interns for full time staff positions.

Signed,
A DC Native [/quote]

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