Given the comedy routine I give about life in Poland, I figure it's only fair to take some time to talk about the really WEIRD things I think Americans do or moments I've found myself completely taken aback by American culture in the past month and a half.
First off, I feel really bad that I haven't written here in a while. My life was far from boring since I've been back in the U.S., but with the non-boringness comes extreme business. A post for another day though!
So I went straight from Poland to my family in the south. A lot of my time in Poland speaking Polish was hanging out with little kids because they spoke my level of Polish (infantile). So when I started talking to my five year old cousins in Polish, it's safe to say they were weirded out. As was the Mexican waiter at a taco restaurant when I said "dzieki". Or when I freaked out in the Wendy's drive thru with my cousin because the worker KNEW I SPOKE ENGLISH.
The change to employees talking to me in English off the bat and being confident in my ability to communicate effectively was insane. As was the feeling of walking around a grocery store, talking to my aunt in English and not having anyone stare because I didn't speak Polish. I actually called my mom and told her how weird it was to not be stared at.
A week or so after I got back to Michigan (so 2 1/2 weeks in the States), my parents took me out for 50 cent ice cream cones. My dad paid for $1.50 with a $20 and the cashier didn't bat an eye. If you haven't heard about the Polish stores often yelling at you for using large bills or not having exact change and from time to time just refusing service because they don't have enough change, then you, like my dad, wouldn't think that was a weird experience. I just stared at him in sheer horror and said, "You can't do that!". Then the cashier DID bat an eye, probably thinking that I'm a psychotic person off of my meds, but seriously stores here have change...it was a strange concept.
Another shopping experience had the exact opposite situation. I was buying a few things for my apartment. The total was something like $5.39. Since I only had a $5 and a $20, I decided to dig out change and be "polite" to the cashier. No one in line behind me was appreciative that I spent an extra minute or two counting out a quarter, dime, and four pennies. NO ONE. I could hear the sighs and sensed the eye rolling. If only they knew what life was like in Eastern Europe when you didn't have ANY change...you apologize to the cashier (Przepraszam, nie mam :( )
And lastly, a much more recent occurrence was on the bus today. As each person got off, they thanked the bus driver. And as I observed it at each stop, I could help but think to myself, "Wow, this is adorably endearing thing in this country." And then I realized it was MY country. The stereotypes about the Midwest are true...we're all incredibly polite. Now I just have to work on remembering that it's normal and people aren't trying to get something from me!
First off, I feel really bad that I haven't written here in a while. My life was far from boring since I've been back in the U.S., but with the non-boringness comes extreme business. A post for another day though!
So I went straight from Poland to my family in the south. A lot of my time in Poland speaking Polish was hanging out with little kids because they spoke my level of Polish (infantile). So when I started talking to my five year old cousins in Polish, it's safe to say they were weirded out. As was the Mexican waiter at a taco restaurant when I said "dzieki". Or when I freaked out in the Wendy's drive thru with my cousin because the worker KNEW I SPOKE ENGLISH.
The change to employees talking to me in English off the bat and being confident in my ability to communicate effectively was insane. As was the feeling of walking around a grocery store, talking to my aunt in English and not having anyone stare because I didn't speak Polish. I actually called my mom and told her how weird it was to not be stared at.
A week or so after I got back to Michigan (so 2 1/2 weeks in the States), my parents took me out for 50 cent ice cream cones. My dad paid for $1.50 with a $20 and the cashier didn't bat an eye. If you haven't heard about the Polish stores often yelling at you for using large bills or not having exact change and from time to time just refusing service because they don't have enough change, then you, like my dad, wouldn't think that was a weird experience. I just stared at him in sheer horror and said, "You can't do that!". Then the cashier DID bat an eye, probably thinking that I'm a psychotic person off of my meds, but seriously stores here have change...it was a strange concept.
Another shopping experience had the exact opposite situation. I was buying a few things for my apartment. The total was something like $5.39. Since I only had a $5 and a $20, I decided to dig out change and be "polite" to the cashier. No one in line behind me was appreciative that I spent an extra minute or two counting out a quarter, dime, and four pennies. NO ONE. I could hear the sighs and sensed the eye rolling. If only they knew what life was like in Eastern Europe when you didn't have ANY change...you apologize to the cashier (Przepraszam, nie mam :( )
And lastly, a much more recent occurrence was on the bus today. As each person got off, they thanked the bus driver. And as I observed it at each stop, I could help but think to myself, "Wow, this is adorably endearing thing in this country." And then I realized it was MY country. The stereotypes about the Midwest are true...we're all incredibly polite. Now I just have to work on remembering that it's normal and people aren't trying to get something from me!
