Oddly, I sometimes miss this kind of disconnectedness in the fast-paced urban life. People in where I’m from -Shanghai - is the same way. It’s the attitude I was used to and grew up with.

Interestingly, when I visited London after one year living in Dallas, I started acting like a friendly southerner, making eye contact with people in the tube and even once greeting a fellow pedestrian with a smile.

Of course, that happened on my first day in London. After getting silent treatment in return, I realized, “Hey, I’m in London now. What am I doing? Act like a typical cosmo-woman!”