I registered myself into an ESL class not long after settling down in this country. At the beginning of the first class, the teacher asked each of us to introduce ourselves to the group, and then encouraged us to answer the question of what had been the most impressive thing that we had experienced, seen or felt, considering from our own cultural background. I remembered that I mentioned the smiles from total strangers that I met on and off campus, on street and in shopping malls. She showed interest and encouraged further, “Who do you think smile more, men or women?” “Women”, I answered without hesitation. I do think that it still holds out today.
