Overheard the following conversation between two
academics, a man and woman from two European countries:
M: So, how long are you here for?
W: A couple more months.
M: Where will you go after this?
W: I don’t know yet.
(A normal person will leave it that that. But this gentleman
continues. It gets worse after this.)
M: Have you applied for jobs?
W: Yes.
M: But you don't have an offer?
W: (Laughs)
M: Are you staying in the residence here?
W: No. I stay elsewhere with my children.
M: Oh, you have children. Where does your husband work?
W: I don't have a partner.
M: Oh. I am married
and my wife stays with me.
Hats off to the woman for maintaining her composure through
this conversation. I would have replied, “sorry to hear that”….(and then
regretted afterwards of course).
2 comments:
Contrary to what some people may believe, Europe is a very diverse continent with cultures varying wildly between different countries. It is quite possible that M didn't even realised that he was making W quite uncomfortable with his questions.
This reminds me of this interesting answer on Quora about culture differences. Things that are normal for one set of people may severely offend others.
https://www.quora.com/Manners-and-Etiquette/Lost-in-translation-what-polite-customs-and-manners-dont-translate-very-well-or-at-all-between-Indian-and-North-American-cultures/answers/13149384?srid=n2VQ&share=1
@Ordinary Person, true that! One can easily guess the European country that M belongs to :)
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