In Japan, upon entering a shop or restaurant I was pelted with this greeting. This was over ten years ago. It remember it like "ashira - shy - ma - zay" My friend, and guide told me this was absolutely obligatory and a staff worker could be fired for not saying this. Where does this come from? There is a restaurant in my neighborhood (brooklyn) where the staff says this (or something, it happens quicly). It seems to be not just a greeting but an alert to other staff "there is a customer present!" What is the purpose? What does this mean most literally? Thank you!
posted by ezekieldas on Dec 30, 2008 - 10 answers

If there was a greeting card with a fuzzy felt mustache on the outside, what would the inside say? [more inside]
posted by Ugh on Oct 3, 2008 - 40 answers

What do you do when you and someone you barely know are approaching each other? Always make eye contact and smile or say hi? Make eye contact and then keep walking? Keep walking unless they say something? Mentally scramble for small talk? Stop and tie your shoelaces? [more inside]
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing on Jul 23, 2008 - 24 answers

Consistently, every single time I come home, my cat will come over to a particular corner of my desk -- I need not be sitting at it or indeed be anywhere near it -- and meow while faux-scratching it. He occasionally will stretch his back after the scratch, but not always. It's extremely cute, and he's such an affectionate cat that I'm even kind of touched by it. But I suppose I find myself curious as to what the gesture breaks down to. I'm assuming it's a greeting, since he repeats it without fail every time I come home after being out for more than a few minutes, but I suppose I'm curious as to what the action signifies. I doubt it's totally random, but I can't quite figure out what "animal world" thing he would be doing by that particular pattern.
posted by WCityMike on Jul 23, 2008 - 11 answers

Are there any languages other than Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, etc.) that have a greeting that means "you (are) good"?
posted by strangeguitars on Apr 16, 2008 - 27 answers

(If you are male) Do women meet your gaze/say hello/acknowledge that you exist when you are out walking? This probably seems like a ridiculous question, but it's been bugging me for a long time. [more inside]
posted by stinkycheese on Oct 17, 2007 - 81 answers

[Homemade Greeting Card Filter] I want to make greeting cards, for friends and family -- mainly for obscure holidays (and just to say hello!) But buying supplies at PaperSource is super expensive -- and stamps are not exactly cheap. Where do you buy specialty stock paper and other greeting card paraphernalia? [mi] [more inside]
posted by moooshy on Aug 13, 2007 - 16 answers

Why do some Americans do the hello/goodbye kiss thing? [more inside]
posted by Elmo Oxygen on May 19, 2007 - 34 answers

People on the street always look at me and say, "Rasta!" [more inside]
posted by dead_ on Jan 5, 2007 - 39 answers

Need help pronouncing some Cantonese (preferably audio) [more inside]
posted by beammeup4 on Sep 5, 2006 - 10 answers

What are some of your favorite ways to say "hello" and "bye"? [more inside]
posted by Sharcho on Nov 9, 2005 - 55 answers