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A rude awakening from polite Seattleites
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(c) Joe Schumacher // Gothamist.com
I'm feeling a little homesick. No one's flipped me the bird, tried to run me over, or openly rolled their eyes at me in a while. It's not that New Yorkers are rude - they're just more familiar (you know, total strangers sharing their medical histories and major failures).
In my opinion, it sure beats the "Seattle Freeze" - people being nice enough, but never personal, which can be exhausting for newcomers seeking friends. And over the weekend, I had several encounters that reminded me why public interaction in Seattle can leave East Coasters feeling like they're in the Twilight Zone:
1.) When I was shopping for used CDs, a store clerk inexplicably handed me a cheaper version of an ablum I was about to buy. He seemed to possess no ulterior motives, nor any alien qualities...
2.) My cab driver and I had a conversation ... enough said.
3.) I was practically awarded a medal of honor for obeying the law by a pedestrian who waved, smiled, and mouthed "thank you" when I stopped at a clearly-marked crosswalk with flashing yellow lights.
Okay, maybe I disproved my own point. I'm glad that every day in Seattle isn't a Darwinian struggle. But I admit it - I miss the adrenaline rush from being a part of the implicit "Who's the most badass New Yorker?" competition and that weirdly familiar banter that leaves you with a smile on your face thinking, "I feel like I've known this person for years."
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