On the first day of our trip in Raleigh, I noticed how relaxed and calm everyone is. When you go into a shop, the cashier will give you a cheery dissertation on the weather, the basketball game and the latest highway smash-up; When I respond, this is followed by “And how do y’all like the area?” At first, I’m a bit nonplussed (it’s such a far cry from the Massachusetts counter service of “NEXT!”), but soon I come back with an all-purpose response:
Sure is nice/sunny/warm/rainy. From Jersey, but we met in Massachusetts. Yeah, for college. Oh your cousin/brother-in-law/neighbor went to UMass? That’s awesome. Yeah, we might move down here but not for a few years. His folks live in Raleigh. No, we’re not married yet. No, no kids.
It’s very friendly and cheerful. Of course, this is slightly less cute when I’m in line to buy tampons and Advil.
