Treatment from the locals; your experiences

[English Muffin 59]

Here in NC people say 'excuse me' to anyone that they pass, even if they're not in the way. If you pass someone in a corridor (or supermarket aisle) coming the other way both people say 'excuse me'. I think it's simply people being polite to one another. I didn't get it at first but I'm used to it now and do it myself.

I must remember NOT to do it next time I visit the UK.

[BermyCat 1]

I was taught to say "excuse me" in stores if I had to pass between a person and the shelf they were examining.

Bermudians tend to be overly polite and formal. You don't ever start a conversation without saying "Good morning/afternoon/evening" even if you are just asking a store clerk for something. In fact, you say "Good morning/afternoon/evening" to bus drivers when you get on the bus and "Thank you" when you get off.

~ Catherine

[Gemmie 142]

I can kinda understand the "excuse me" thing.

I noticed that a lot of people say it when they pass in the supermarket aisle and have plenty of room.

At first, I thought I must have been in the way of something they needed so automatically apologised, but now I think it's just a polite thing to say when you pass someone in an "enclosed" space, at least enclosed to the people living in the suburbs of cities. Maybe it's a rural thing?

[TBoneTX 46,084]

What would be common procedure in other countries?

In the "macho" Latin American countries (all of them?), administer a chicharron to those who offend you, si man.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I was taught to say "excuse me" in stores if I had to pass between a person and the shelf they were examining.

Bermudians tend to be overly polite and formal. You don't ever start a conversation without saying "Good morning/afternoon/evening" even if you are just asking a store clerk for something. In fact, you say "Good morning/afternoon/evening" to bus drivers when you get on the bus and "Thank you" when you get off.

~ Catherine

I was taught this as well although in Canada:-).

[HAL 9000 96]

Some folks may have a strange notion of personal ownership over space. Thats about all. Given that... I always excuse out of politeness if I am passing someone anywhere and it causes them to budge a bit.

[trillium13 84]

Perhaps best of all, give them a hard glare and shout, in livid fashion, "CANANDAIGUA!"

That made me laugh out loud!

[daboyz 36]

One thing I've noticed is the most of the Thais that have been here for awhile treat my wife pretty bad. I think they have this "I was here first, so I'm better than you mentality" Not all of them, but alot. The Americans have all treated her great.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

In answer to this question, I've been treated well by the "locals" where I am here in the USA. Overall, they have been very friendly and welcoming since I have been here (lol..maybe a little too friendly at times). Everybody usually says "hi" or "how are you" or "have a nice one", or something like that when we all greet each other. In fact, I've felt more welcomed here in small-town USA then where I was living before in big-city Canada...Maybe it's a small town thing that people are nicer overall here?

I do though get tired of the "Where are you from?" questions....

Which then people are when they find out that I'm actually from Canada, as based on my appearance only, I don't look like your "typical Canadian"......(lol...I'm too 'foreign looking' for that apparently...)

Then I have to explain about everything else....anyone else want to hear "my whole life story in a nutshell?"......

For example, I've encountered culturally:

"Where are you from?" (Oh boy....What exactly do you mean here? Do you mean town, citizenship, etc.?..Too many answers...)

"You speak very well English"....(Ummm...thanks...that's what we speak in Canada, and I've spoken such for many years..)

"Where are you from?"..."Canada".."Where are your parents from?".."Canada"....(lol..sorry, I can't give a more 'foreign' answer)

"What's the deal with your name?" (lol..long story here...I'm 'multicultural' and have odd grandparents...)

"Are you from (insert some other foreign country here)?" (lol..again, I'm from not-so-foreign Canada.....gee...)

"Aren't you an American already, since you married an American?" (ummm..there's something called the USCIS....)

Oh well, I can't complain....Again, overall everyone here in the USA I've encountered so far treats me well.....

Hope you are all treated well here in the USA too..... Don't let those bad/negative experiences get in the way of your life here!

Ant (Treated well and welcomed in America!)

So VJ members, I'm (and I'm sure many others) very interested in hearing about your experiences of how the locals treat you.

[TBoneTX 46,084]

Perhaps best of all, give them a hard glare and shout, in livid fashion, "CANANDAIGUA!"

That made me laugh out loud!

It's an excellent and versatile expletive and retort, si man. You should use it often in your everyday speech -- it will add to your prestige and social status!

Q: How did Canada get its name?

A: C eh N eh D eh.

Regarding the "excuse me," I have noticed that a couple of ethnic groups (one American-born, one immigrant) tend NOT to yield "their space" to others (for example, when approaching from opposite directions on a sidewalk or in a hallway), and if "we" fail to yield our OWN space, we'll bump into each other, si man.

[mamaSue 38]

The only person who was ever rude to me was when I had to have my medical for adjustment of status.

The nurse.... just before she stuck me with a needle... told me she hated the British for what they did in 1812.

I pointed out to her I wasn't there at the time.... she said "No but your ancestors were"

When I pointed out my parents were from Hungary....I also asked her if she held herself accountable for attacks on African Americans in the past... she wasn't happy....

That blood test really hurt!!

In over 2 1/2 years I've been here... everyone else has been so nice!!!!

[TBoneTX 46,084]

The nurse.... just before she stuck me with a needle... told me she hated the British for what they did in 1812.

You should have reported her for an inappropriate comment. And how stupid, too -- was she THERE in 1812, si man?

[Alpha1978 0]

I get confused with latinos all the time here in Texas because I got dark hair and eyes.I get a lot "you must be a Puertorican from Brooklyn" guessings..Very few were actually able to guess which part of the world I am coming from and they were mostly former military deployed in Europe at one point in their life.

There is another funny incident;

While working at the police department,myself and another officer who is Mexican but look more white had to deal with this drunk very combative white chick.While restraining her she turned her head around first and looked at him and called him "effin white trash" and turned her head in my direction and called me a "effin wetback"..lmao..we both thought that was hilarious..

But most people can't even tell that I am not American or where I am from until I tell them myself.

I do hate one thing though..When I do tell where I am from 90% of people be like " oh yeah I know where that is! can you say something in Russian for me"...

[TBoneTX 46,084]

can you say something in Russian for me"...

Sounds as though they're Russian to judgment about you, si man!

[mamaSue 38]

The nurse.... just before she stuck me with a needle... told me she hated the British for what they did in 1812.

You should have reported her for an inappropriate comment. And how stupid, too -- was she THERE in 1812, si man?

TBone we thought about it.... but I didn't want to stir anything up.... in case she "found" HIV or something in my medical.... so we let it ride..... but really.... she was horrible!! Dirty scrubs, greasy hair... and totally unprofessional!!

I will say this was the dirtiest most disorganised doctors office I have ever been to in my life.... how do USCIS choose designated doctors?

But.... when you're going through the immigration process... you really don't want to make any waves that might slow things down.

If it happened now, I would be a lot more assertive!!!!