Courtesy and fantasy

Some of you have noticed that our blog has not been updated since... let's say a while.

Sorry about this, guys, now we are settled we'll try to update more often!

Today, when crossing the street, I was thinking about some of the classical rules of courtesy here, and also about how to manage with them when you are not always aware of them - and not that good in automatically-English-answering!

1. Courtesy: How to manage with the other drivers when driving in America

Easy: slowly. After a very usefull "observation round", we can conclude that the Americans don't practice the right priority. So, basically, when you arrive at the crossroads:
a. all the cars stop;
b. everyone looks into the other driver's eyes;
c. this step is more subjective, it's all about the way you look at the others (Dirk says). Following this empiric sense of priority you are supposed to understand who should be first to drive through the crossroads... And it works!
The American drivers are also very civilised and polite with the pedestrians: they automatically let you go first.
However, according to one of my American classmates, people don't drive like this in all the States... So be carefull if you leave New England!

2. Courtesy? How to manage when people ask you something you don't understand and that you have absolutely no idea about what they want

It happens often when you check out in the supermarkets and big shops. I was quite perplexed by all the questions the cashiers can ask you when you are just supposed to smile and pay at the end (by the way: why do I always meet the cashiers with the worse accents?) . After some "pardon?" or similarly-related faces, you finally understand that they always ask you the same kind of stuff: do you have a (name of the shop)-card? If you say no, they ask you whether you want to get one. At Ikea, they also ask you your zip code. So, basically, you can simply proceed like this:
a. if you have a card to get discounts, voutchers, etc., give it automatically when arriving to the check out;
b. if you don't... just get one before arriving with all your stuff at the check out, it's really worth; c. if they still ask you something un-understandable... well, invente your own courtesy rules and just mutter something sounding like a "yeah". Don't forget to smile!
d. if there is some surprise from the counterpart... well, maybe you should think about the previous "pardon?". Don't forget to smile!

3. Fantasy! Let's rock!

The freedom of speech is coupled to the freedom of expressing yourself and your multiple yourselves. Never forget it: if sometime, somewhere, you feel like your attitude was not the most appropriate one in a specific situation... well, just do like if you've always known it and that you're simply an original old-continental fellow here! You'll do better next time.
Although... don't forget to apologize if something has really been done wrong.

And don't forget to smile!

Thérèse, with a picture from Fernando Costa ("Sans titre", panneaux routiers sur tôle)

posted by Thérèse @ 3:11 PM