I have a thing for saying "schm.."

Here is something I wrote while at work... being bored... lol!

Etiquette Schmetiquette

Source: Conde Nast Traveler

pg. 110
Article: Etiquette 101


I know I hardly consider what other people think of myself or my traditions let alone etiquette but to some people I suppose it truly is important. I remember turning 12 and for my birthday I received from my sweet loving grandparents.... admission to Etiquette School; yes you heard it right I received schooling on how to act like a prim, proper, 1950s girl going into womanhood for my birthday! Blame the school for my carelessness in appreciation in etiquette if you must, I certainly do, but reading an article about what the world thinks of my country in a whole is a lot more face slapping then one person's actions.

There are some mixed emotions, take the Canadian who thinks' we're really helpful yet ignorant or even consider the French man who thinks' we're sheltered and thinks' we're a "closed country". Some American's might actually take this in offense but some, like myself, would just shrug it off their shoulders.

On second hand, should I blow it off and not think twice about it or should I really sit here and consider maybe the things I do really do affect what the world thinks of us. One thing I noticed throughout is the simple question/phrase "Hi, how are you?". What I always think of as being courteous most foreigners find it kind of repulsive. We self-centered people. They can see right through us and by the time we have opened our mouth and gotten the syllable beginning Hi they know we are being "polite" and could really care less what the other person has to say.
Some of their concerns with our etiquette should really be none of their business, the complain we smile too much.. hey we're American we're happy to be "free" so don't we have the right to smile; or how about the entry "they think we treat our pets like kids, and our kids like princes" (pg. 118) don't get me wrong I am guilt, at least with my pet, on this one. My dogs Ivey and Angel are and always will be apart of my family.. we hold funerals for them but have we forgot about England? I do believe they have an odd obsession with their dogs, The queen does allow her dog to eat at the table with her! Our children should be treated like princes and princesses I mean who wants to be treated like a slave?

The point is, perhaps we should sit back and take some things into consideration and some thing should be blown off. Leave me alone for smiling all the time, accepting my dog as family and the way I dress. Sure pick on me for the ignorance of other countries and our women are teases. All in all in the end we should generally just get a long and learn some basic etiquette- open doors for women, having your man's dinner ready when he arrives home from a long hard day at work, and children should respect their parents. Oh wait, who am I kidding.. this is America.