It is so much different in the US
in my part of the country, it is expeted that you say hello to complete strangers if you pass them while walking......and wave at people you drive past when on streets with very little traffic. If you are at a store, you will generally make small-talk with quite a few strangers. That is just the southern way of life.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Tue 5 Feb 2008, 1:27, Reply)