Does your culture allow hugging and kissing?

I agree completely with our culture without any bias. First of all, I have heard that shaking hands and hugging strangers or planting a kiss on their cheeks can be quite unhygienic i.e. skin contact is to be avoided with strangers as much as possible. So in our culture you greet strangers with folded hands i.e. Namaste. Secondly, Indian parents are not known to be ‘friends’ of their kids like western parents are…we are more of guides and teachers to our children and for that a sense of awe and respect and a subtle barrier must be their between parents and kids…hugging and kissing seems to break that barrier. Hugging and kissing is OK with very small kids or with very aged parents and grandparents coz in both cases, that sense of awe and respect is not required. On the other hand, kids will sleep with parents or another elder as long as possible so that parents and elders of the family are always in the know of what the kids are doing all the time…the concept of having a separate room for growing children, is a western concept that is now catching on in India too! Touching the feet is a unique Indian concept and you touch feet of elders or of strangers even if you feel that the person is worthy of your respect…like suppose your mother introduces you to her friend…you show your respect (she’s your mother’s friend) by touching her feet. Also we can never imagine calling any elder (stranger or otherwise) by their first names…its an instant show of disrespect. All culture has its own pros and cons…western culture of separating the child (separate rooms i.e) from the parents at young age makes the child independent but somehow I feel that the bonding does not develop and kids are expected to move out of the parents house and be on their own once they become adults. I’ve even heard if as an adult you move back with your parents, you have to pay for your stay. In India however, we can stay with our parents, free, as long as we want to and actually its after marriage that a guy can share expenses with the parents and that also coz he is married and has a wife. On the other hand, the son and his wife is expected to stay with the aged parents (lack of privacy for the young couple) and look after them in old age. This can go on and on but its nice that you wanted to know and share. As they saying goes ‘the east is east and the west is west’…but I feel that thru sites like mylot we come to know each other better.

Wow. Yes, asian cultures are most strict on those things I've noticed. Wow. Once or twice? :O I hug my mom almost everyday! That's very interesting about the feet touching. I've never heard of that! It's unique. And it's very respectful to elders like many oriental traditions i've noticed. How do u feel about these traditions? Do you agree with them or wish it was more like American traditions?

Hmm that's interesting because the response above you, the person is also from India and he/she says that parents only hug/kiss their kids until they are 5 or 6.

India is a diverse country. You will find many religion and culture exist together here. There are some people who live more conservative and traditional life. So you will find different practices here. But as far as know as an Indian most of the Indian don't have an issue with this.

That's interesting.

Oh that is sad. That is sexist in my opinion. I belive in the equality of men and women. I think it's still so unfair that women are still put down and men are more important in other parts of the world. One of my friends, her culture is when there is a party the men sit in one room and smoke, drink, and talk. While the women have to be in a seperate room with the children and talk quietly and NOT allowed to ever smoke. This seemed so foreign to me because when my parents have parties all the friends, both the men and women sit together in one room and all talk to eachother.

Yes, they are conservative. So, how do you feel about these cultures? Because although here nearly everyone agrees to pda, everyone also has different levels of how much they allow. Like some people want to hug all their friends, even ones they don't know so much and kiss their boyfriend/girlfriend in public. While other people, like me, only hug their best friends and their family. Others only hug their family mostly and best friends once in a while. What is your opinion on this tradition?

That is pretty bad I think. I'm a feminist I guess in a way and I believe in equality among men n women. I think it's far from the dark ages now, but I've got to remember that many different cultures are still more conservative. It's good to hear it's getting farther from that rigidity and more open-minded. What du feel about the issue? Are u a man or a woman? If you are a woman do you mind? If you are a man do you agree with the unequality between man n woman?

That's very sweet. :) The elders touching your foreheads is interesting. Yes, I guess PDAs are most accepted in the usa at the moment. It's kind of foreign to think something has too much emotion, especially if its an innocent gesture to your family members or loved ones. Yes, different cultures have very different ways to express love and respect. You write in english very well for having it as a second language. :)

Yes, I totally agree. I can't believe growing up in that sort of environment. I don't think I would be able to take it, I love the closeness in my family with hugging. The traditions and rules in asian societies in general are very strict. I have a vietnamese friend and her parents are very strict compared to mine. I find it kind of ridiculous sometimes, but it makes sense to them and I have to respect that.

Even in a home setting between family? But that's nice about the kissing cheeks, it sounds sweet.

I totally agree. :) I think that strictness like that kind of seems to alienate closeness and love and creates a rigid society where many feel left out or cannot express their opinions.