Smiling faces and helpful people … am I in Wonderland?
Isabella Leland
No wonder Charleston was voted the friendliest city several times in a row.
During my first week in the city where I was born 21 years ago, people waved at me in the street, and even let out an occasional "hey." Either they recognized me from when I was a baby, or they were just very friendly. See, I was raised in France and did all my studies in Paris, where people are far less smiley.
One striking example is the difference between driving in Charleston and driving in Paris. Not that I would be used to it; I have no driver's license yet. It is much more expensive and time consuming to get one in France. A minimum of 800 euros and hours of class and driving lessons.
Anyhow, having been driven around Paris, I am quite familiar with the aggressive driving habits of Parisians. For instance, driving around l'Arc de Triomphe or la Place de la Concorde in Paris would be quite a nerve-racking experience for anyone used to driving in Charleston.
Driving downtown, my friend Ben and I were surprised by the slow pace of cars. Needless to say, we were astonished when we did not see people speeding on the interstate. In France respecting the speed limit is uncommon, despite the radars that are being used more and more.
It was actually pretty convenient, given the shape of our 26-year-old truck. It can barely go the speed limit on the interstate, except when driving down the Ravenel Bridge. The downside is that our truck's engine stalls easily when traffic is too slow. As a result, when driving in downtown Charleston, we tend to swear like French people behind the wheel. … But recently, Charlestonians taught us a lesson of civility.
We decided to go grocery shopping in the afternoon on Aug. 12. In our country, stores are scarcely open on Sundays, expect in the morning sometimes. We had been driving for about eight minutes when our truck collapsed. We ended up blocking traffic in front of the Hagen Dazs ice cream parlor. I must admit my first thought was to run in and get a scoop or two for comfort.
Instead, I went out in the heat. We have no air-conditioning in our truck anyway. My sunburn from the Saturday I spent out in the marshes of McClellanville hurt after a few minutes in the sun. Four people had already come out of their cars or shops to help us push the truck over to the side of the road. Shortly after, a policeman arrived and listened while we were trying to explain in an approximate English the difficulties our truck was facing.
That is when a woman named Kristi started comforting me just as my mother would have done, which prompted my tears to gush down even more. After making sure that I was 21, Kristi, a vendor at the City Market, offered Ben and me a drink at a neighboring pub. Feeling dizzy enough already, I decided to get a Diet Coke while Ben got a beer. That was his way of coping with stress. I gulped down a glass of Diet Coke filled with ice cubes. In France we just put one or two! And he kept refilling the drink for free from a hose with a nozzle on the end. In France, we don't have free refills and I've never seen drinks delivered that way.
The tow truck finally arrived. Our truck was pulled out of the way. The police officer despite waiting around in the heat for three hours was kind enough to drive us back to our place. When we got out of the car he smiled: "Enjoy your stay."
Well, with such a welcoming atmosphere, I cannot see why we would not. Unless our truck breaks down again, which it seems likely to every second. But who knows who we will meet the next time it stops?
One thing is for sure, Charleston is indeed the friendliest city I've come across in a long time. Almost like a village out of the movie "Big Fish" — too fairytale-like to be true. People smile at every corner, and cats bathing in the sun don't run away when you try to pat them. I guess what I mean to say is "merci".
Isabella Monnier Leland is working on her master's in bilingual journalism at the Sorbonne in Paris and is spending five weeks in Charleston as an intern at The Post and Courier. Reach Isa at ileland@postandcourier.com.
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carolinapanther (anonymous) says...
Charleston is for the most part a very friendly city! Just stay away from North Charleston, they arent quite as friendly.
August 22, 2007 at 2:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston (anonymous) says...
carolinapanther, that's rubbish. North Charleston is as fine a city as any other and welcomes all smiling, happy faces. Let's not throw her under the proverbial bus. She doesn't deserve it. Bless your heart.
August 22, 2007 at 3:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
They're friendly if you're a tourist. They surely don't take into consideration much else aside from touristy crap. I'll concede that people here are definitely more likely to greet you somewhere, but that's about the limit. The driving manners are atrocious. Europe's driving manners aren't much better.
August 22, 2007 at 3:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinapanther (anonymous) says...
I have lived in Europe and in Charleston and I can honestly say that Charleston is far more friendly than any place in Europe! As for North Charleston its all about what area in North Charleston you are in, but I guess that is true with any area you go to.
August 22, 2007 at 3:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ln1959 (anonymous) says...
This is in response to mac0cm4. I don't know where you think the driving manners are atrocious in Charleston, but if you would like. You can come and take my place in Northern Virginia and take 1.5 hours to get 20 miles every morning to work. People not using blinkers to get over, and don't care if you let them in or not, there coming. Please, you have not seen atrocious driving until you take 95N, 395N in Virginia.
August 22, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
ln1959: I know how you feel. I used to live in Virginia Beach and have to commute to downtown Portsmouth every morning. Talk about HELL! In my opinion, Charleston is not the friendliest city. Nor is it close. The wealthy are obnoxious, the poor are hateful, and the working middle class are grumpy because they work and work and work, and still live pay check to pay check. That's anywhere though. How can you label a city "friendliest" any way? I would say that the city with the fewest crime is friendliest. Ha!
August 22, 2007 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Edwin435 (anonymous) says...
Ok what is the friendliest city? I have lived all ove rthe US and find that this is by far the best. WHile no city is perfect, the rich are the same way everywhere, the poor and the middle class are the same as well. It is what you make it.
August 22, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DCartisan (anonymous) says...
According to bhippey, ALL of the independent services that ranked Charleston as the MOST or one of the most friendliest places are WRONG? Please read about the criteria for being selected before throwing stones.
Having traveled all over the US and living here all my life, we are head and shoulders above almost everyone. In other cities people would soon as spit on you than to make eye contact with you. They would soon as give you the finger than tell you hello. They would rather hold their horns on you rather than help you move your car.
Have a great day!
August 22, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. ALL I CAN DO IS LAUGH. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED ALL OVER THE WORLD AS WELL, THIS IS NOT THE FRIENDLIEST PLACE THAT I HAVE LIVED. I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 9 YEARS NOW. I EVEN SAID THAT IT IS MY OPINION. PLEASE READ MY WHOLE POST BEFORE THROWING STONES.
August 22, 2007 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bribetaker (anonymous) says...
bhippey....you seem to like the caplocks button. It's not friendly.
August 22, 2007 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
I use caps at work and didn't realize until after I submitted that I was still using them.
August 22, 2007 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Meurine (anonymous) says...
Sounds nice, the Charleston lifestyle...Wish I were with you, guys !
August 22, 2007 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gcs (anonymous) says...
I guess there are some locals still around!! Does this mean that there aren't as many Yankees as I thought there were? If we aren't friendly, then why do you stay?
August 22, 2007 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
Trust me, I don't like it here. But I can't get my husband to move.
August 22, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
I grew up here and frankly it only seems that friendly when you are not from the area. I find that people in SW Virginia (no matter how bad the meth problem) were probably more friendly. Now, that is a place that is basically still untouched. The beautiful mountains and fresh air were wonderful.
August 22, 2007 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Edwin435 (anonymous) says...
You still have not said where is the friendliest place bhippey? I would like to know. That and the reasons why you like that... its easy to say no this place sucks but bring some justification to the conversation and not the flaming bs.
August 22, 2007 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhippey (anonymous) says...
If I had it my way I would move back to Japan. Since you absolutely need a place I think is friendliest. I lived over there for 6 years and loves every minute of it. The people are WONDERFUL.
August 22, 2007 at 4:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinapanther (anonymous) says...
bhippey go back to Japan and quit complaining!
August 22, 2007 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
exorcist_pencocky (anonymous) says...
It is surprising what a determined, local, small minded, city of charleston centric news media can do.
If you were to actively denigrate a large region of an area, make people believe its not safe to be or live there, you could drive down the value of property there. Since people would then be led to seek housing in other areas of the region you could artificially drive up property value there.
Now think of the tens of thousands of City of North Charleston residents who have led quiet, peaceful lives in homes just like "yours"(except affordable), excellent Fire and Police protection just like "yours"(except affordable),
violent crime exists in their city, just like "yours".
Are the high costs of housing, insurance and "taxes" getting you down, well take comfort in the thought "at least I don't live in the City of North Charleston" and remember 30+ years have been spent instilling that thought into your mind.
August 23, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston (anonymous) says...
Well spoken, exorcist_pencocky.
August 24, 2007 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ray (anonymous) says...
I was born in Charleston in 1959, but soon moved to the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. I returned to Charleston in 1983 and soon began a family. I moved away in 1993 on a job promotion. I'm not sure if I'm a Southerner or a Yankee. I absolutely loved my time in Charleston. It is indeed a beautiful and friendly city to live in. I return to visit as often as I can. At the presesnt time I am considering a move back. I will join those friendly people anytime.
August 27, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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