Rude Awakening

I don't know if it's just not part of the culture in these parts, but common courtesy is practically non-existent out here. I was thinking that myself already when I read a couple of letters from ex-pats in the local paper to the same effect. People will cut you off/across you or bump into you without a bye or leave. Apparently you can also forget about any assistance if you're a mother with a buggy etc. They are not great at the receiving end either, but I guess they aren't used to it!

When I lived in Japan years ago, there was a bit of this too, only in large crowds though. A Japanese person would walk over their ailing grandmother if she was lying on their direct route! In fairness, if they didn't put the blinkers on, they'd never get anywhere in a crowd. And the Japanese are very polite in every other way!