Is that my face or yours?

For anyone who has traveled, or received international travelers as visitors, you’ve learned empirically about the phenomenon social scientists call ‘personal space’. North Americans–and especially those of us from New England–demand a large buffer zone. Should anyone walk within 3 to 4 feet of hallowed ground, the response is instantaneous. The hairs on the backs of our necks stand at attention, our eyes bulge, and we involuntarily take a step (or two) back from the perceived onslaught. Citizens of Great Britain demand even more space. To experience the opposite attitude, try starting a conversation with someone from the Middle East, southern European countries, or the Caribbean. Most of these people are considerably more sensual than we are: their attitudes about what constitutes acceptable fragrances, the placement of one’s body, and the rules about touching may differ considerably from our own. Think about this scenario: you’ve just been introduced to a married couple from Puerto Rico. You’ve assumed your comfortable space in the corner of a crowded room. The next thing you know, the pair is standing the length of an index card from you and, horror-of-horrors, they have their hands on you as they’re explaining why the garlic ice-cream just consumed is superior to vanilla. For many of us norteamericanos, this is akin to the landing of the Slim Whitney-fearing aliens in Mars Attacks. Every fiber in our bodies is telling us to retreat! Has anyone ever had such an experience: who were the invaders and how did you react?