surreal Michigan friendliness

[deathboy]

Well, we'd planned to drive up-state a bit again today, but the weather's been sprinkled with rain, so instead, we popped into a cafe with wifi and uploaded a bunch of pictures, and Kirsten's going to get some printed out to start putting together a scrap-book.

I'm still continually amazed by the absolutely ubiquitous friendliness by basically everyone in Michigan.

The only people I met that were assholes were a couple of TSA guys on the 1st of my trips here this year - I foolishly bothered them by responding to an announcement over the tannoy at Detroit that security rules had changed and travellers should check that they weren't packing anything that would be against the new regulations. So I rocked up and said "Hi, I just heard an announcement about the travel regulations, is there anything I should be aware of before travelling?" to which they responded "WHUT DID YOU SAY, BOY??" (I fucked off and asked someone at the travel desk instead).

However, other than that, everyone's been disconcertingly pleasant again. I suspect they plan my demise.

We were at a gas station and the dodgy-looking bloke in front of me looks at me and says something I don't catch... turns out he was just moving his stuff on the counter, because I was carrying lots and he was letting me know I could dump it all on the side... then I'm trying to find change to pay with and the guy behind us leans across me - my London instincts think UHOH! - and in fact, he's just popping a few pennies on the counter so we can get served quicker.

The whole trip's been like that... some guy at the cafe just told me I'd dropped something on the floor after I'd reached down to scoop up a receipt. Turns out it was my passport! I would, obviously, have been boned if I'd lost it and would most likely have struggled to tell where I had it last.

Some bloke in Meijer, after I asked where the ciggarette counter was, asks "Hey, are you from England?" "Yes... I am indeed..." he pounds his fist on the desk and grins widely, proclaiming "I LIKE THAT!"

It's a real job switching off the London instincts when someone's friendly to you! He spoke to me... STAB HIM! IT'S HIM OR ME!

So yeah!

Am just uploading pics and videos at the moment, this is the longest we've been in civilisation (by which I mean "somewhere with wifi") for the last week. We're starting to plan for the trip home on saturday, now. I could quite happily have another week off here :)

Comments

[internet-sampo.livejournal.com]

If you amazed by Michigan friendliness, you will be frightened by how much nicer people are in Minnesota.

Oh my god: it even has a wiki entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_nice

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

There's a great bit in the DVD extras for Fargo about Minnesota Nice. ;o)

[deeteeuk.livejournal.com]

They all want your arse as a hat.

[alluryth.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling. For some reason, when I dress really Gothy, black people go out of their way to harass me. On several occasions, I've been jumped by random strangers, so I'm always on edge. Then some black guy at the supermarket was like, "hey you!" and I refused to turn around, scared he was going to start something. He caught up with me, and it turns out, I'd dropped my wallet. I was like, "gaaahhhh. I'm an asshole."

[lexica510.livejournal.com]

Heh. I remember once when spiritualmonkey's sister was here in SF visiting. We all went for ice cream, and the customer ahead of us paid for hers and then walked out of the store with her purse hanging open off her shoulder as she stuffed her change back in her wallet. I didn't think anything of it until I realized that both the monkey and T-bird were agape. "In New York," T-bird said, "she'd be mugged before she got halfway across the street."

[kohai.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. I came from a friendly state (yes, if you go south of Austin in Texas, people ARE friendly) and when I moved to Schaumburg in Illinois... they were less so. Down right navel-gazing and hostile. That's what I adjusted to over the course of seven years. Then we moved further north where we're 45min from the Wisconsin border. I damn near reacted to the friendly and kind behavior with hostility because it was so alien to me! We've been here two years now and I'm just now at a comfort level where I don't shriek like I've been scaled with holy water when I come across good natured people.

[the_axel]

Where are you guys going to be on Friday night?

I'll be in Detroit [1] that night, on my way to Chicago on Saturday.

[1] Technically Ferndale, just north of 8 Mile [2] & Woodward [3]
[2] As in Eminem.
[3] Where 30 000 cars, mostly pretty epic looking will be cruising the following weekend.

[witchywillow77.livejournal.com]

You need to come a little further south, but not too far south, if you want to feel a little more "at home."

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania... we'll show you some rudeness. :) And while you're thinking "should I stab her before she stabs me?" I'll have already cut you. And cursed you out for bleeding to slowly. LOL

Congrats!

[craigclare.livejournal.com]

Yeah I like that about the states, even when I went to New York I felt safer and more sociable then I would in London, I think the trick is to try and bring some of it back and not get too disappointed if it don't get reciprocated.

[wererogue.livejournal.com]

Did you notice any evidence of a "Michigan look"...?