I hate this feeling…

Yes that's me, the crazy waving American!

Forgive me, I'm going negative!!!

It's happened and I'm not even back in Germany yet.  My guard has gone up, I have had to take my shorts and flip flops off, and put my armour on.  

We had a most relaxing Christmas holiday down under.  Shorts, t-shirts,  flip flops and smiles were what we wore.  We were greeted with polite "hellos" and smiles from all.  I even grew to like the fact that the Aussies shorten everything and add an "ie" to it.  Example; pressie, chrissie, sandie, you get the idea.  They do this because they are easy going and laid back people,  people who live for the sun, the surf, a good barbie and a good beer.  

But things changed in Dubai, not really in Dubai, but waiting to catch the last portion of our flight, the portion home to Germany that I saw the change.  

As we boarded the bus to transport us to the plane, people became very, well let's just say "pushy" and "aggressive".  No "excuse me"  no "I'm sorry".  I realized that I had to change out of my proverbial flip flops fast, for my toes were getting  stepped on, and it hurt.  

I can say with all honesty, that 90% of German's do not intend to be rude or to upset people with their very forward and abrasive approach to life.  Of course there are a few, just like many Americans or for that matter any other nationality, that are just plain rude, but for the majority, that is just the way it is.  I worry though, I worry that one day my sweet American nature may just get pushed a little too hard, or a little too far, let's say during an extreme case of jet-lag, and simply snap and really tell someone off, and I don't want to do that.  I want to be the gracious guest in my host country so I will continue to smile, wave, and be as polite as my mother taught me to be, and while they probably think that I am crazy…wave by wave and smile by smile, hopefully one day I will break through!