First days at university

I started a new university year on Monday 13th. The first days were dominated by kisses among friends who met after some time. Unfortunately, my few good friends stopped university after the three-year degree, while I have started a two-year "master" in translation, so I had the opportunity to kiss just a couple of girls, namely a friend whom I met at a Slovenian course but she's not of my year, and a friend I met at the summer school in Bovec last year. The first girl didn't mean to kiss me, so I did the first move because she's very nice to me (she always says hello and we sometimes chat a little). On the contrary, the second girl offered her cheek.
It's on such circumstances that I regret that we Italians aren't so kissy-like as other peoples. Anyway, I'm getting to know some girls I only knew by sight or little more. So, I hope I'll get some more kisses before the Christmas holidays.
Yesterday, I went eating a pizza with some friends of my political party. There was only one girl among them. I had already met her, but maybe she didn't remember me well, so we shook hands. I would have preferred to kiss her (she was pretty), but since I am shy, I accepted the handshake. Oh, well, it will be for another time...

Kissing identity card of ITALY

I will start with my country a series of "kissing identity cards", that is summaries about the practice of the cheek kissing in European countries.

Who kisses who (genders):
women kiss women, men kiss women, men may kiss men (relatives or close friends)
Number of kisses: 2 (standard) or 3
Starting from: the left cheek (your right)
Whom to kiss:
- relatives
- friends
- acquaintances (usually not upon first meeting)
DO kiss:
- upon meeting relatives (even every day, depends on people)
- upon meeting or leaving friends you haven't met or won't meet for a long time
- to express congratulations (e.g. marriage) or wishes (e.g. Christmas, birthday)
- to thank someone you know (e.g. for a gift)
- to show affection (to relatives and close friends)
DO NOT kiss:
- upon meeting or leaving someone you see everyday (except relatives)
- upon meeting someone for the first time
- in formal situations