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LEFT BEHIND

I'm always a little bummed out by those books and web sites that tell you about etiquette in other countries, because it reminds me that there are places where my kind is not wanted. Oh, I could try to "pass", but it would be like having my hand tied behind my back. Literally. I love this quote:

In fact, even using your left hand to gesture or wave is simply not done. This is not due to any sort of discrimination against left-handed people. It's actually based on the general lack of toilet paper throughout the region and the normal method of cleaning oneself after certain bathroom functions!
Oh, it's not prejudice, so if I tell them I wash my hands a lot (and some righties from the US and Europe are not so clean by their standards), they will understand and stop trying to suppress my natural movements, because it's totally rational. It's silly to pretend that every country doesn't have prejudices and irrational rules, it's not like the US and Great Britain are so perfect. What really bugs me is the way these guides blithely make such statements as if it's the easiest thing in the world. Hey, travel expert, why don't you go to a strange country with your right hand tied behind your back and get back to me.

Comments

JethSeux said…
You tell em Sweetie,
Lefties of the world unite!

If you ever run into the creator of one of those etiquette web sites or books, be sure to flip them off for me, WITH YOUR LEFT MIDDLE FINGER!

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