Passing strangers

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A couple of summers ago, I was strolling on the beach with a friend. A man walked by going in the opposite direction. As he approached, we made eye contact and I smiled. I usually do that when I walk by someone like that. If we make eye contact, I acknowledge them. I don't do that on a crowded street, but if it is on a quiet beach, sidewalk, hallway, I make that acknowledgement. I'd say I get a similar response about 95% of the time, and the person will offer a verbal greeting about 80% of the time.

Fast forward to the last few days. I have walked by easily a couple of dozen people since I've been here. Out of those people, four have made eye contact and one of them has smiled back. The rest put great effort in looking anywhere but my direction. It was like they didn't dare risk making eye contact with me. Ive never seen so many engrossed with the ground directly in front of them as i have the last few days. I find this confusing.

As an American, I have a pretty big zone of personal space. Europeans don't have that buffer zone and will think nothing of getting right on top of you. That drives me bonkers. If I'm walking and someone gets right on my heels ( which happens a lot),, I will step aside and let him go by just to get him out of my space. So why doesn't the same rule apply with eye contact? It's okay to walk less than a foot behind me, but you won't look at me if we pass on the sidewalk? 

It's all very strange.

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