Mo Unfiltered

Is being too friendly considered FLIRTING in the UK? I have had my fair share of having to prove myself to people in the UK that I am just a warm woman and not flirting. I consider myself as someone who can hold a good conversation with anyone and laugh out loud like we've known each other for years. As an immigrant coloured woman, who came from a background where she sees her neighbours as families even when they are not blood related, it is a cultural shock for me to see that being too kind and friendly may literally depict flirting in the UK. I had an encounter with my friendly neighbour one day at my back garden, we were just having a morning chat about the weather and before I proceeded to my kitchen, I thought to myself “oh, I did not ask her of her partner”. A little digression, back home where I'm from, it's being respectful to say greetings like “ Good morning Rose, how is your husband?” Or “how are your children?” If the woman has children. Back to my neighbour...

I recently moved to a country side (North Yorkshire) and this is my take on what life looks like here. As an immigrant and a person of colour who has lived only in London, it was a daunting feeling for me before moving; and my worries are "what if I am not liked ?" what if I feel isolated?" These were the questions on my mind while I searched on google for the number of coloured people living in North Yorkshire, guess what? The result increased my worries. But can I burst your bubbles? It was a relief that my worries never materialised. I can sincerely tell you that people in North Yorkshire are the most friendly and kindest people I have ever met. The first day I moved in, I had two neighbours who came to meet with me and introduced themselves, telling me to come around if I do need anything at all. I felt so at ease talking to these women, before I could say Jack Robinson, a wonderful aged man walked towards me with a wheelie bin, and he said " are you the new ten...