I just thought I'd share a couple of my experiences over the last few days, mostly because both were really surprising to me, and both contrast with one another quite a lot.

Mods - sorry if this is in the wrong forum - please move it to the correct place if so

I returned from a trip to the UK on Sunday evening, and was walking through a park on my way back to my apartment. There was a young-ish man approaching me. As he got closer to me, he started staring at me like a lunatic and completely without provocation (as far as I know) flipped me the finger in a fairly aggressive manner. I didn't make anything of it - may have murmered something under my breath and carried on.

Completely contrasting, on Monday I was just putting my groceries into those flimsy poly bags that they have in the Coop when a different young-ish man (of about the same age as the first) came over and gave me one of the paper carrier bags - a very kind gesture.

Both incidents were a suprise, the first one not least becase it was my first experience of any unpleasantness since I've been in Zurich.

If it helps, it really isn't anything to do with you as an individual, rather them as individuals

Plenty of nutters everywhere; the same can be said for *nice* people

Agreed Uncle Max - it was more of a surprise that it happened than a deeply upsetting experience. OK, I felt a little intimidated at the time, but then wandered off thinking he must be either a nutter or a druggy - or both.

The thing with nice people is that they don't often make a big impression - simply walking past and saying 'hello' is a fairly polite, nice thing to do, but not something that anyone would remark on. The guy giving me the carrier bag though, although it was a small thing, it was someone going out of their way to help me.

The little time that I have spent here has shown me that people here seem to be mostly nice. However, as Uncle Max said before, nutters are everywhere. And you are bound to run into one or more sometime. Its just a matter of whether you bump into them earlier or late during your stay here.

On the whole, it really is a nice, safe and friendly place. Relax, enjoy your life and have a good time.

Cheers.

Hi ashishshah, I agree with you - and it was nice to be able to post the 'nice' thing happening with someone helping me out by giving me a useful bag to carry shopping in - that more than made up for the experience with the nutter in my mind.