Think of manners, customs, and common sense

Do you have common sense? Do you have appropriate manners in the community? Actually, I can not say I have enough common sense. As we are living in such a small world, we regularly come across people in public places such as socials, school, the bus, bank, and so on. What we need when we are in such situations is good manners: thinking of the customs or feelings of others. There might be something you forgive in your own culture, but in other societies, manners can cause trouble or a reason for other people to think you are a freak.

Three months have already passed since I started to reside in the U.S. As I am getting used to the life here I have learned customs little by little. I was not familiar with some of the manners which I learned here. In other words, some manners are different from my country's. Depending on cultures or people's character, manners or rules could be changed. There is an interesting story. In a baseball game, a batter is occasionally hit by the pitcher's ball. In Japan, right afterwards, the pitcher takes off his cap and bows to the batter. It means that he is sorry to throw at the batter. Unlike in the U.S., where it goes that the pitcher did it on purpose. Guess what happens to him next.

A big key word is "distance" in manners. Do you know how far you should position yourself from strangers? In general, in North America, you should keep the distance which is the length of your arm away from them. It was suprising to me. I came from Japan but I have never heard or cared about the distance before, though I try to get not too close to women. I think Japan is too small to think of the distance. We, Japanese people are accostomed to riding in crowded trains.

After I learned some manners including the distance from others, I observed my mistake when I was in a bus. The bus was uncrowded. I was with my 2 friends and they sat the middle of the bus. As I wanted to sit near them, though a girl was sitting on the seat right in front of them, I sat on the same seat next to the girl. Before I sat, I asked the girl "can I sit here?" I did not contemplate but I can recall the image of her resigned and slightly worried face. In addition, I addressed her and asked a question about English grammar. What a freak man!

This trouble is such a small thing. Actually, I did recieve the answer for my work and she was willing to respond to me, even though she was doubting at first if I was safe. Anyway, what I want to mention is that it could make someone anxious or angry if you have no common sense or manners. When you are in a different culture from your own, you should be careful with your actions, and think of the feelings of others. By the way, why did I sit right next her? There were empty seats near them, Keita!   

Comments

[lana]

I can't believe it you ask english grammar when you seat unknown girl. It's really weird situation but, it's good for you. I agree your opinion about c ustoms. In korea, when we meet someone who older than me, we are usually bow, but not here. Trying to understand other culture or manner , it is really exciting isn't it?
good job keita ,and your picture also really good to understand that situation. See you tomorrow at the school!!

[Keita]

Lana,
Thank you for your message! I'm glad to get such a long comments!
Yeah, as we are taking "culture and society" class we are learning many new new things including manners, aren't we? Also, in school life, I'm always suprised by culture differences. Bowing is one of them, Lana. That's so interesting!
Please keep in touch my blog. Thanks, anyway.

[Paul]

Hi, This is Jung.
Actually I changed my name a week ago so Plz call me paul~:)
Anyway,I am suprised there are many thigs in your blog. I want to visit here but unfortunataly I do not have a computer but I will try.

In my first day in america,
Someone who do not know say to me "How are you?"
I have not experieced this in korea and I was very confued so I asked "Who are you?" How funny~:)
Ok~I must go now, see U tomorrow

[Keita]

Hey, Paul ,not Jung,

Thank you for your visiting to my blog. Yeah, man! I was same as you. Even though we studied English in our own countries we don't get used to have a real conversation. That's the reason why we felt at a loss at first.
Well, I hope you will come to check my blog out again.