That farewell kiss which resembles greeting,
that last glance of love which becomes
the sharpest pang of sorrow.
- George Eliot
I love the way that kisses can be so different from culture to culture. When travelling I had to remember what to do when I met people in each country. In Spain; one kiss, left cheek. France; I think it was three kisses - left, right, left. Switzerland; either two or four, depending upon how enthusiastic you were feeling.
It seems so odd to me that there are such strict rules of greeting within each country. I don’t think we have such universal rituals within New Zealand. Some of my groups of friends do kiss each other on the cheek – mostly my queer or hippie friends – but it doesn’t seem to be general practice here.
I find it strange kissing a stranger. In Costa Rica there was a lot of kissing. Here, it’s unusual to be kissed by someone I don’t know – but still, it happens. At a waiata session recently a few people kissed me on the cheek when meeting me for the first time. Perhaps it comes more naturally in Māori circles? When I’m meeting someone in an environment like that, where we are meeting to learn and share something beautiful, it’s nice to be greeted with a kiss. But sometimes it felt uncomfortable in Costa Rica, especially when I was meeting seedy old guys…
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Where do the noses go? I always wondered where the noses would go.
- Ernest Hemingway
If you’ve never really worked out the logistic, don’t panic, there are plenty of places you can go to learn How to Kiss. It’s really quite simple. If you want boys to kiss you, just
- Dress right
- Smile and act friendly
- Flirt.
I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do to get girls to kiss you – obviously there isn’t enough of a market for that kind of video. But never mind that; the new HOW TO FRENCH KISS video actually shows you how to dress right, flirt right, and exactly how and where to touch a guy to get him to kiss you. You can’t go wrong!
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That’s obviously my problem. I haven’t watched the video. I’ve been flirting and smiling a lot, and I think my clothes are passable, but it hasn’t resulted in any lip-tingling action. (Something to do with not wanting a relationship… but of course I’m taking it personally).
The sunlight claps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What are all these kissings worth
If thou kiss not me?
-Percy Bysshe Shelley