Cultural norms

It is true that we aren't aware of our own cultural norms until we have actually visited a different country. I went to Switzerland this summer, and I came to know that in Canada, everyone is on the go minding their own business. Not many people stop to smile at a stranger, lend a hand to a stranger in need, say good morning to a stranger they walk by on their way to work/ school and etc. Whereas in Switzerland, everyone is very polite, where they would make sure to say hello how are you doing today, while walking by you. It wouldn't matter as to where you are, or who you are, they make sure to smile and say something kind to a stranger. Everyone is very social, and helpful there. I noticed that in Canada, we would just walk by strangers probably not even bothering to smile at them. We tend to look down at our phone and walk to work, or our classes. We would find it weird, to say hi how are you to a stranger we walk by, but its the total opposite there.