I want to share an experience, and ask whether you have encountered similar behaviors.
Once, during my travels in the southern states, I managed to find time and visited a USABDA ballroom dancing in a city of around 40000. The nearest larger city is 60 miles away. God, was I surprised! They treated me like a king! I received nice introductions, maximum effort in dancing, discount, smiles, questions about where did I learn ballroom dancing, interesting conversations, announcement of the guest's visit, lots of interest, praise. Most was undeserved and/or given in advance. Of course I tried not to disappoint them, and reciprocated as much as I could. The whole impression was so good that I still recollect often. If ever I am there again, I will keep in mind their weekly event.
One year later, I visited a similar event near the capital of the North (not the geographical, but the philosophical capital), in a comparable city. Treatment that I, as a first-time visitor, received was horrible. Many ladies planely refused to dance without explanations. One lady said that first she wanted to see how do I dance, and then decide (I am sure she had seen me already). No chats, no questions, no interest. No get-friends attempts from gentlemen. No jokes, no laughs, no smiles. Hardly any introductions. One lady slipped out of my arms without a warning right in the middle of a dance as if I have bitten her. What a disastrous evening that was!
Now, is this a manifestation of North-South differences in treating people, or there is something else?
Once, during my travels in the southern states, I managed to find time and visited a USABDA ballroom dancing in a city of around 40000. The nearest larger city is 60 miles away. God, was I surprised! They treated me like a king! I received nice introductions, maximum effort in dancing, discount, smiles, questions about where did I learn ballroom dancing, interesting conversations, announcement of the guest's visit, lots of interest, praise. Most was undeserved and/or given in advance. Of course I tried not to disappoint them, and reciprocated as much as I could. The whole impression was so good that I still recollect often. If ever I am there again, I will keep in mind their weekly event.
One year later, I visited a similar event near the capital of the North (not the geographical, but the philosophical capital), in a comparable city. Treatment that I, as a first-time visitor, received was horrible. Many ladies planely refused to dance without explanations. One lady said that first she wanted to see how do I dance, and then decide (I am sure she had seen me already). No chats, no questions, no interest. No get-friends attempts from gentlemen. No jokes, no laughs, no smiles. Hardly any introductions. One lady slipped out of my arms without a warning right in the middle of a dance as if I have bitten her. What a disastrous evening that was!
Now, is this a manifestation of North-South differences in treating people, or there is something else?
