So, news flash: Living in a larger city means you interact with a lot of people you don't know. Not that I was in a complete bubble in Minnesota. I spoke to strangers. But there tended to be a spectrum of rituals when you approached a stranger. In rural Minnesota, you would make eye contact as you were passing them on the street, smile and nod, and if you needed to ask them a question, you'd do a small wave before you started talking. In the Twin Cities, you would make brief eye contact, look away (as if deciding whether they are the person to ask), and then do the small wave or an "Excuse me." In Boston, there is no rhyme or reason. This partially seems to be because homelessness is a serious issue--no surprise,
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