You think some government departments breed some of the rudest people, or bus drivers top the list of obnoxious parasites? Well, think again…because the most arrogant people on the top of MY list right now are some foreign people who treat our country and us like cat puke!
Yesterday’s Spanish victory was well deserved, but the chaos that ensued after in Gzira was not very welcome by passers by and people trying to enjoy a quiet stroll on the promenade. “Live and let live” I hear you say, and no I’m not a party pooper, but when outright rudeness is the name of the game, then I will say what I have to.
Yes it’s true that our country depends on tourism, and we have for many years, hosted thousands and thousands of foreigners some of which have been beneficial to our business, whilst others could’ve just stayed put in their jewel of a country and not set foot in ours. Don’t get me wrong I’m no Xenophobe, I’m just teed off at some of these people who haven’t read the common courtesy handbook, which I think should be available to all, of all sex, age and race.
Upon leaving The World cup Village in Gzira on Wednesday I was met by many merry making Spanish youngsters, waving their flags, chanting away, THAT was not the problem. What annoyed me were some of these youngsters caused danger to drivers when they started shooting out into the street randomly, causing many a driver to brake hazardously and stop at a halt. Alejandros(obviously pronounced AleHHHandro) or Pedros decided to jolt out at intervals whilst still drinking and yelling at the top of their lungs, they thought it was Hil-Ar-ious ,I on the other hand thought a toddler would’ve had way more sense then them.
Disposing of their bottles/trash was another manifestation of their disrespect. And lets not forget when they passed us by and knocked us without uttering something even close to “Perdoname.”
“It’s not because they’re foreign, it’s because they have no manners” I hear you say, well yes, you could be right, but I don’t see why they don’t act like that in their own country…..
How many times must I almost run over an English student insisting to walk in the middle of the road or off a pavement?...... and before we start talking about the state of our pavements, I can safely say that pedestrian sidewalks are pretty decent in Sliema and Paceville, wouldn’t know what I’m paying taxes for if not!
How many times must I feel guilty about not stopping to let these people cross from somewhere not too far off from a zebra crossing or traffic lights? They had them in their countries way before we did, so one would think that the concept of a black and white pathway or of Red, Amber and Green has been well grasped by now or that of walking briskly, and not sauntering across, talking about their drunken conquests the night before, while they cross a street.
I still remember a particular episode where I was trying to park my car in a parking space in Sliema. Already feeling extremely lucky to have actually found a space close to the centre I hooted my horn and waited patiently as this Blonde girl who chatted incessantly to two guys on the pavement. The girl saw me trying to manouvre my car and yet still stood exactly where she was, off the pavement and in the car space. “Right, she wants to play dirty? Then I’ll play dirty,” I said to myself. So I proceeded into reversing, obviously with no intention of hitting her, but quite literally driving the message home! The girl shrieked as though she thought I was going to run her over and with a heavy Nordic accent asked me if I was crazy. Once out of my car I asked her “Are you here to learn English?” ..to which her reply was a coy “yes.” “Well,” I said “This is the road and that is the pavement, do you understand the difference now?” She stood there stunned that anyone had corrected her and I walked off, scared to death I was going to find a side mirror ripped off on my return!
A friend of mine, who works in the Tourism industry encountered a senile old couple from Britain, you know the type, the ones who want to pay for nothing but expect regal service. On their first night the couple in question was dining out the old man asked for a cup of coffee after his meal. The waitress very politely took his order and placed the coffee in front of the old man. The man picking up the coffee dropped some of it over him. Immediately his wife called the waitress and told her that SHE had dropped the coffee ‘all over ‘ her husband and that they demanded a refund for all the meal. The young waitress explained that she had placed the coffee on the table without dropping it but the old woman stuck to her guns and stubbornly asked for the manager. In a world where the customer is always right, the old couple got what they wanted a free meal and the poor young waitress came out looking like a liar and inefficient worker.
I’m a firm believer in respect and I won’t be shoved or pushed around by anyone who comes to my country treats it like dirt. We may be a tiny spot in the middle of the Mediterranean, but we have come a very long way and we are very welcoming. Yes a fraction of our population have absolutely no clue of what hospitability is all about, but many of us care and are proud of this rock and we won’t be taken for a ride.
