same with my puerto rican wife&#x27;s family. could be a hispanic thing.<p>slightly tangential, but on the loudness part of it, funny theory I have is that, and I noticed this when I&#x27;ve visited her family in their hometown, since they live outside of any big city, nature itself is so loud, they have to talk louder and louder to hear each other! ;-) especially at night, there are so many noises coming from nature itself. here in mainland US, in so many places I&#x27;ve been to, from Maine down to the south, from El Paso to San Fran, night time is so much more quiet! anyway, that&#x27;s my theory until proven otherwise haha :)