When you see people smiling at you in the USA or Germany, it doesn't mean anything other than an overall neutral attitude toward you. A smile is a “level zero” in communication
I don't know about Germany, but in the US if someone is smiling at you, their overall attitude is friendly, not neutral. And yes, that includes store keepers and waiters of which there are plenty that keep a neutral expression just like much of Europe.
There are certainly people in the US who fake smiles. They are not nearly as common as you might think. Heck, research over the last 40 years has shown that faking smiles can genuinely cause happiness.
I don't know about Germany, but in the US if someone is smiling at you, their overall attitude is friendly, not neutral. And yes, that includes store keepers and waiters of which there are plenty that keep a neutral expression just like much of Europe.
There are certainly people in the US who fake smiles. They are not nearly as common as you might think. Heck, research over the last 40 years has shown that faking smiles can genuinely cause happiness.