Saying goodbyes

It’s again the time of the year when exchange students are leaving to go home. I feel like a complete cold-hearted and emotionally incapable jerk when kissing on the cheek and hugging everyone does not come naturally. Like a ‘common Finn’ I do not feel I have gotten to know the students enough to start hugging them – it would be deception since I have not developed a strong emotional bond with them. How can you hug and kiss someone whose name you do not remember? Well, I suppose that’s a bit over the top, I do remember most names. And I do understand that in some cultures kissing and hugging is simply a common way of greeting almost anyone, just as a handshake is for us Finns. So I suppose this is another example of the cultural stiffness I’m experiencing – not being able to adapt to the customs and communications styles according to the intercultural situation at hand or the counterpart’s culture. I blame my age...