It still shocks me every time an otherwise friendly member of staff makes a comment about "pansies", or a respected colleague tells me of his aversion to watching Sean Penn's Oscar-winning performance in Milk because he "can't stand that kind of thing".
That low-key approach to political realignment with, no doubt, an eventual succession to power of an Abu Dhabi friendly member of the al-Maktoum family, would fit better with the Gulf States's culture.
Another member of your thesis committee or a friendly faculty member in another department finally bugs one of her colleagues until he gives you an interview.
But it's hard to forget a winery where a friendly staff member let you sample a wine you saw being made.
A friendly staff member named Gord outfitted us with kayaks, paddles, spray skirts and a map of the area's marine parks, including Smuggler Cove, a sheltered maze of rocks and sand flats, and Simson, which consists of South Thormanby, an island just offshore.
A friendly faculty member noticed X's abilities and suggested that X apply to graduate school.
By the time the device got back to me, a friendly audience member had subscribed to The New York Times.
Mr Tsipras has quietly tried to reassure potential investors bringing in money from abroad that Greece would be a business-friendly member of the euro zone under a Syriza government.
