We all have those things about us that we do and others hate or despise. Like biting nails or making strange sounds as we eat. It’s natural. But other things should just be a taboo honestly. A couple of days ago I was near the Union Trade Center window shopping with my sister and we were shocked when out of nowhere this guy spits right there next to us. Had we been even an inch closer, his spit would have been on one of our shoes! Really people, this is a beautiful country and the people are equally gorgeous but I doubt other people will think much of us if we continue to do such. Not only is it savage but utterly disgusting! As if we haven’t been schooled at all? Another thing I noticed here is the failure to say small words like ‘excuse me’. Now maybe English is still a problem for some but I’m certain those words can be translated in the local language. People literally push past you and sometimes even step your feet, the worst part is they continue off without so much as a sorry! Imagine standing in the queue at Nakumatt and there is some man pushing against you like he wants to jump over. You move a bit forward very irritated and he takes it like he should move too. You turn around to look at him, hoping he will see the discomfort in your eyes but to be frank, he doesn’t. Out of anger you can decide to excuse him and let him go first seeing as he might be in a bigger hurry but not even a thank you will pass his lips. Pushing is rude and what is even ruder is failing to apologize for it. The funny part is not even being able to excuse another person. You go to a supermarket and in one of the aisles someone sees you coming but it never crosses their mind to step aside a little for you to pass. You have to first tap them and asked to be excused. Then heshe will move in a manner so slow they’ll make a snail seem like a cheetah. And not after looking at you like you are misplaced! It is infuriating. Then the ones who go sneezing and blowing into their hands with no handkerchiefs should be arrested! That is really spreading around germs and other strange diseases that give scientists a hard time in finding a cure! How in this day and age can you pull such a move? Didn’t we learn anything in school on how to behave in public? Do we even have to be told that that is really uncouth behavior? I’m sure even the bush men in the Amazon have surpassed that. The sluggish walking on the streets also needs to be stopped. I can’t help but wonder how people manage to get anything done at that pace. I’m not saying we should run over each other, but must it take someone 10 minutes to get into a taxi? Last but not least is the rude look. I don’t know how many times I have seen this. You walk into a salon and the ladies all stare at you like you have an ear on your forehead! They look at everything from your shoe to the last hair on your head. To add insult to injury even when you look back with that questioning look, they just stay looking at you. If you are really unlucky, they’ll gossip a little. Haven’t we been told over and over again that staring is rude? For a country that holds such beauty, it is wrong that the ugly habits still lurk. Let’s be beautiful in every aspect. cjanzi83@yahoo.co.uk
