Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the man who last Friday (7 December) evening, in a shop in Co. Galway, said he was living in a place in Spain where they are really rude. Cheers man!

I was working when he came and out of the blue passed the comment. I am originally from Catalonia, Spain, so, surprised I asked: "where do you live?" The answer: Barcelona. Oops! "I am from there," (obviously, he did not know I was from there ) I said. My face changed completely and I asked: "why do you state that sir?" And he told me, "because you never hear a please or a thank you in a shop".

I tried to explain to him that we are not used to using it as often because it is not a characteristic in our own language but that does not mean we are rude. It is a cultural and language difference. If we all were all the same...how boring the world would be! Comments like that should not be made without knowing the background of the place or culture or language because saying them shows your ignorance. I guess that as E. Roosevelt said, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent", but that man he really hurt me and my feelings!

Patricia
Co. Galway

Comments (1) »

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written by madrid, December 15, 2007

I wonder does this man living in Spain speak the language of his adopted country.To understand the culture its necessary to speak the language. I have heard this comment many times, it always comes from people who live here(Spain)but expect everyone to communicate in English.
I have lived here for more than 14 years and I can say that Spanish people are probably the most helpful and friendliest in Europe.
Un abrazo a todos

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