An embarrassing occasion-sino-western culture difference I had experienced a very embarrassing thing, and have a question for u. Long time ago, I was a student. Once, I took a train and heard somebody said there was a foreigner on the next 车厢.I worked there and saw an African American sitting on his chair. A boy student was standing beside him and trying to talk to him. Then I came towards, and began to talk with him. But the man said, “you please say hello to me then you can talk with me”. I was so confused. If I didn’t greet him, I couldn’t open my mouth? I hesitated, and he repeated his requirement. Then I said “Good afternoon” to him. Then we begun to talk. Does “Hello”, ”Good morning” and the like words are so important when you first talk to somebody? In Chinese, you can don’t greet them, and talk directly.