Bless You

I don't have a cold or anything, but I've been sneezing a lot today. Tonight in my Organizational Psychology class I sneezed a few times. It must have been contagious because a 2 other people around me were sneezing tonight too.

There are a few things back in America that I really missed when I was in Thailand. Saying "Bless you" after a sneeze was one of them. I can't tell you how happy it made me that I was able to say "Bless you" half a dozen times.

Now there are a few cultural things that I'm having trouble wrapping my head around back in America. Hand motioning people to come over to me has been really weird. In thailand they use a palm down thing, almost like the way we tell people to "shoo." I can't exactly remember how it goes in America and I have to catch myself from telling people to shoo. It's more of a sideways palm thing here, right? And I think it's got more arm in it.

Over the last few weeks I trained myself that it's ok to step over things. And that it's not a big deal to walk between two people. Both BIG no-nos in Thailand.

But I still can't help myself from ducking my head when I pass by someone. I can't exactly remember how that goes in America. Can you bow a little when passing someone here in America, or is that really weird? Running is the hardest. I can't stop bowing when I pass people running.

I'm happy to say I have gotten over the 10 foot distance I used to give dogs on a leash. I still give dogs a lot more of a check out that I used to before Peace Corps.

I can't remember exactly how the use of foot goes here in America. I tested it out the other day by pointing to a magazine on the bottom rack and my friends didn't bat an eye. I was agast at myself by folding my leg so the sole of my foot was facing my professor, but don't think she was insulted. I quickly put my foot down anyway.

Still learning. Slowly acclimating back to American culture.