What personal space?

When a person stands so close that it makes you uncomfortable, we say they have invaded your “personal space.” That space expands or contracts depending on many factors, including how well you know that person, the nature of the relationship between you and the other person, the particular situation you find yourself in, and also what culture you grew up in. People from Western societies tend to have much larger space requirements, compared to people in developing countries. While it is hard to imagine people sitting this close on the NYC subway, nobody blinks an eye in Phnom Penh.