everyone is so nice

I've said before that I find the overwhelming friendliness of people over here in the States quite amazing, and it's hard to gauge how genuine it is. I think it's pretty genuine - it's not at all unusual here in the Silicon Valley to see a complete stranger stop another in a street and exclaim, "that's a wonderful shirt!" - I've seen it happen twice. Amazing.

In shops and restaurants, it's more excessive, but it still feels pretty genuine, despite all the cliches. Since I've been in the US I've been charged - dunno why - with static energy, giving myself shocks on every plug socket, escalator and door handle I've come into contact with. I think it's because I'm walking round on trainers all day on the conference centre carpet. Just now I went into a shoe shop (titled 'Shoe Palace', no less), wondering if I should find some alternative footwear. I am immediately approached by a member of staff, who says something quickly which I don't quite catch.

"No thanks", I say, in a rather clipped English way, not meaning to be rude, and assuming he'd asked if I wanted help.

He looked at me with absolute astonishment.

"What?", he said, disbelieving.

I tried to be a bit more friendly. "No thanks, not right now", I said, smiling.

He still looked amazed. "No thanks to Hi?!", he asked.