Rude People?

I made a comment on this blog once about rude people. I have long felt that I should clarify/modify that. It isn't that there are a lot of rude people. It's just that there are a few, and you notice them. And sometimes it isn't that they're ruder, they're just more expressive. Sometimes they're also more warm and friendly, and more expressive of it. You see a lot of people hugging each other on the street, or with their arms on each other's shoulders, and it's really good. You see a young person pushing an old person in a wheelchair, not just to get from here to there, but to spend time with each other.
On the other hand, there seems to be a little lacking in the way of public relations. Like, in the grocery store the stock boys go on about their stocking, as if they don't notice you, but you can tell they do. They'll get out of your way if you make it apparent that you want to go through, but otherwise they just keep on working. In the U.S. they usually are quick to make room for you, or apologize, or even ask, can I get you anything? The clerks here don't always smile and say "have a nice day," which is perhaps all right, since it's apt to get rather routine anyway. On the other hand, it's a good habit, and keeps us from acting like machines.

There was a particularly grouchy clerk in Indiana that was kept on for a while, probably because she was fast and accurate. One day she was fuming mad and muttering under her breath about a bad customer, but I managed to say something pleasant to her, and she calmed down and cheered up immediately. I doubt that she was really a disagreeable person--but she had bouts of prickliness. Not surprisingly though, she didn't keep the job for long.
I remember being in a hospital somewhere once, I think it was to take my father in for some x-rays. I noticed that a lot of people there seemed to like their jobs and also the fact that it involved people, but I met one lady who made you feel that people were her main interest, and the job just happened to be what she did.

I once heard a lady in the south who was from the northeast who commented, "When I go back home for a visit, I'm amazed at how rude we are."

Maybe it's a matter of education. I've always wondered if the clerks at Lowe's are taught how to do it, and the clerks at Home Depot aren't. And some can learn it quickly on the job, while others don't get it if they haven't been taught it all their lives.
I remember being in a fourth grade class and being taught to always let the other person go first. The boys would argue, "then no one will go at all." But actually one concedes to go, so he's the good guy for giving in, and the other one is the good guy for showing respect.
In Texas one time I was at a license branch and a young man greeted an older man coming in with a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. The older man turned out to be his father. Obviously, these were no Americans. I felt like the younger man was proud for everyone to know, "This is my father."
The other night I met a woman down the street who had two little terriers, one that barked at me ferociously and reminded me of a little dog that tried to bite me as soon as I turned my back. But I made friends with the dog, and pretty soon it sat down beside me like I was an old friend. Then I decided to test the dog. I walked away a few steps and then came back again, and sure enough it barked ferociously again, until it sniffed me and decided again that I was ok. I couldn't think of anything much to say to the woman, who spoke Hebrew, until she asked me if I spoke Spanish. Then we got to talking, in Spanish with a few Hebrew words thrown in. I found it quite encouraging to hear myself using a few Hebrew words now and then without thinking about it. It didn't matter if I mixed them up. In fact, I do best if I go ahead and speak, disregarding how sloppy and inaccurate it may be. I have even heard myself roll my r's on occasion. It just happens. Sometimes I stumble over my words and have a terrible accent, but the important thing is to keep going. (Advice to me: Lose your pride...)

I started Hebrew Level B today. It's going to be great fun. There are a few of the same students as before and several different ones. We have one of the same teachers, and one different one. (And today we learned the words for same and different.) I am already very optimistic about this class. It is funny how quickly apparent it is when you know you're going to like someone. The students are all very nice, although some take a little longer to get to know. I can tell that's it's going to be a really good class.
It's warm today, with a nice breeze. The forecast for tomorrow is high 89°F and low 68°F.