When I was 7 years old my father taught me a lesson that has remained with me to this day. My Daddy, who is an avid coffee drinker, was taking me to school as always and he stopped at the Shell gas station down the street from my school to fill the tank and his coffee mug. When he got back into the car I made a comment about how his coffee smelled terrible. Well, he lit into me. He scolded me for being rude and told me never to comment on the smell of the food/drinks of others unless I had something nice to say. He told me it makes people feel bad and makes me look rude. That lesson has never left me and today I really appriciated it.
As it's the end of the year and the kids are gone the staff gathers everyday about 10am for breakfast in the lounge. Generally it pita bread, tea, coffee, foul(beans) and cheese, usually Egyptian cheese. Today the ladies brought the usual but also some fish. Now the way this fish is prepared makes it very salty and I'm not a fan-I only know 'cause I actually tried it. This fish also has a very strong aroma. The other English staff member at my school made all kinds of faces and comments about the food the ladies brought to share while refusing everything offered to her. She kept moving about the room telling everyone she was trying to escape the fish smell. I was so embarrassed for her as well as myself. I kept my tounge as I'd been taught and tried the fish, which I didn't like 'cause of the amount of salt. Anyway, I could see they were bothered by her reaction though in true form they said nothing...at least not in English. They then asked me if the smell bothered me and after telling them how in my family we eat many things that I'm sure others might not find appealing I told them the lesson my father taught me. The response: He is a good father. I had to agree, I do have a pretty awesome Dad. I mean, they know the fish has a strong aroma 'cause when they're done there is lots of air freshener brought in, hand cleaning with lemon and perfume application so there was no need for comments from the peanut gallery. If nothing else this time without the kids is a great time to continue to learn about each other and build bridges.
To those who are coming next school year: Please remember to pack a bit of common courtesy. It will get you very far.
As it's the end of the year and the kids are gone the staff gathers everyday about 10am for breakfast in the lounge. Generally it pita bread, tea, coffee, foul(beans) and cheese, usually Egyptian cheese. Today the ladies brought the usual but also some fish. Now the way this fish is prepared makes it very salty and I'm not a fan-I only know 'cause I actually tried it. This fish also has a very strong aroma. The other English staff member at my school made all kinds of faces and comments about the food the ladies brought to share while refusing everything offered to her. She kept moving about the room telling everyone she was trying to escape the fish smell. I was so embarrassed for her as well as myself. I kept my tounge as I'd been taught and tried the fish, which I didn't like 'cause of the amount of salt. Anyway, I could see they were bothered by her reaction though in true form they said nothing...at least not in English. They then asked me if the smell bothered me and after telling them how in my family we eat many things that I'm sure others might not find appealing I told them the lesson my father taught me. The response: He is a good father. I had to agree, I do have a pretty awesome Dad. I mean, they know the fish has a strong aroma 'cause when they're done there is lots of air freshener brought in, hand cleaning with lemon and perfume application so there was no need for comments from the peanut gallery. If nothing else this time without the kids is a great time to continue to learn about each other and build bridges.
To those who are coming next school year: Please remember to pack a bit of common courtesy. It will get you very far.
