« 7 Days | Main | School Culture »
September 4, 2005
P.S.
Postscript to the last entry...
Social Etiquette- There are several interesting differences over here that sort of make me scratch my head a bit. For instance, it is very common to see mothers or fathers with infants hold their kid up with the child's legs spread apart so they can urinate out in the open. This happens in public both off to the side and also right on the sidewalk. Interesting. It is also perfectly acceptable to hock a loogie anywhere in public, at the feet of anybody with the misfortune of walking by. That happens constantly and I've gotten used to committing evasive action when I hear someone commence the spitting process.
It's completely normal and expected for everyone to shove and elbow each other to get on/off a bus/metro, yet it is not okay for me to wear sandals in public that don't have a back-strap. Men smoke anywhere and everywhere (restaurants, bathrooms, banks, post office, office buildings, etc.) yet you will never see a woman smoking a cigarette in public. Teachers commonly wear jeans and tennis shoes to work, yet I can't take my shirt off while playing basketball because I have some chest hair. It's an interesting dichotomy and I have yet to figure out all the various nuances.
Posted by awolfe at September 4, 2005 12:19 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://blogs.princeton.edu/mt/mt-tb.cgi/329
Comments
Ari, I guess in some of the cultural differences you speak about, the old adage "When in Rome...." does not apply.
Your Dad sent me the website, and I have enjoyed reading about your cultural experiences.
Posted by: Mark at September 11, 2005 9:58 PM