Fitting in (edited)
8 pm in Spain - so I went to my doorway to join in the clapping. I don't always (busy, or forget) but when I do my neighbour on the left beams at me like her face will split. If she was allowed to hug me she probably would.Same neighbour has up to now stared at me as if she can't believe el Dios bueno punished her - ¿¿¿por qué??? - by letting an Inglesa move in next door.
The neighbours opposite speak English and have always been friendly and the neighbours on the right don't but we smile and chat until my abominable social Spanish has been plumbed to its depths. Clapping is a small price to pay to complete the magic circle.
I suppose I'm a basic hypocrite, I've often done things not from conviction but because they are polite and grease the wheels of social acceptability. Some examples from around the world, following Jig's lead -
1. Would you burp to compliment the chef, if it was expected
2. Stand back to let the man (or, if you are a man, your host) enter the restaurant before you
3. Put used loo paper in the bin, not into the toilet
Bonus question, what's the oddest polite custom you know
Comments (16)
Que preguntas difíciles!
I need to think ?
But, it made things really easy for a bachelor.
"Hey.... Julie. How have you been ?"
Somewhat confused, they would suggest how you might know them.
i.e. "Oh, were you and Kathy's party on Saturday ?"
"Don't you remember ?"
Jim, you definitely had a better memory for belts / names / faces than they were used to
CRose, that wouldn't sort any of my examples, I'm editing this blog haha
I knew my brain was melting.
wish I could think of something clever to add to the example
Definitely not fitting in here... definitely not
I moved with my sons many moons ago to start new life in Germany. I had not done my research well enough and found out between 18----25 my sons would have to do time in German Army.
No!! could not have that even though i was born there and mother was German, no-way could i fit in to that.
Simpilz moved back home, i could not just FIT IN that would not be a life.
So reckon it is Northumberland for me---
Stay safe
Merc, I do get taken aback when a younger man, even a stranger, walks through a door ahead of me, and downright annoyed when they leave it to bang in my face
Fargo, on the few occasions it's happened in my life I have to consciously think about not doing what is so absolutely automatic
Red, am I going crackers, did you not spend some of your working life in the army?
Niceguy, you're quite right. It is actually good manners for a man to step first into the elevator (in case the floor gives way
Prince Philip holds that when a man opens the car door for his wife it is either a new car or a new wife.
what has that got to do in the grand scheme of things my point was
if you do not like the heat jump out thats all.
I really am starting to worry a bit about my brain.
Oh, clapping time, back shortly!