Eating out with Americans
Ok so I have actually hung out with regular Americans and i am beginning to notice a pattern with them whenever we go to lunch/dinner. Its such a bizarre experience: they don't yell as much as we do, they actually do the pass the salt stuff, and when its all said and done, they pay for their food and tell you how wonderful of a time they had, no matter the amount of communication took place.
Its so much more different with Arabs though!
for one, the war over who has to pay the entire bill for 10 other people meals, in order to prove that they are financially able to fulfill such an enormous bill without any hesitation. We yell at each other for the entire duration of the meal. "DID YOU KNOW MY SON IS IN MED SCHOOL? TELL THEM MUHAMMAD ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU STUDY. HOW IS YOUR MOM? HOW WAS HER SURGERY?"
Its like a freaking long distance phone call (don't even get me started on those)
But with Americans, no matter the race, are so SO much more classier when they go out. They are quiet, they ask how was your day, what have you been up to, what are you doing this weekend. Their lives are more centered with them selves, verses us centered on our families. They ask to pass them napkins, forks, in such a nice, charming manner. And when its all said and done, the checks are separate, we each pay some of the tip, and head out. But they always leave you with kind words. "Thanks for the lunch! It was such a good time. We should do this again sometime!" and if they don't tell it to you, they text it to you, hours later.
My encounters with them always end up with me in some sort of culture shock. Wheres the fighting, the yelling, the personal questions??? I notice myself with them a little more uptight around them, so that they don't view me and how i act differently. I never feel so uncomfortable with myself until i go out with them. For us, going out is an occasion. But for them, its like business. It doesn't matter what they wear, or what they have done, or how they act, but when its time to eat, they are clean, quiet, charming, and elegant, verses us and how ferociousness when we go out.
You know what I'm talking about.
But I don't know which i prefer; Arabs or Americans? Which is better? Don't get me wrong, Arabs are so much fun. but something about the classiness of American get togethers is so much more fascinating.
