No Qualms about it


 

How isn't lining up in a single file and politely taking turns not a natural process for human beings? Lining up and turn taking is just not a cultural norm here in Sri Lanka. Bill and I have both been shoved aside at the pharmacy, grocery store, bus depot, post office, sales desk, computer shop, even while being served. We have even been shoved aside at the communion rail. I wonder if it is an Asian thing. I remember my daughter, Lisa, telling me about the lack of cueing in Korea and how she was pushed aside in the "every person for his or herself", "get there first", and " I can't see you standing in front of me", culture. Being in Korea over one year now, she reports she thinks nothing of hip checking little old ladies now in order to get service.


 

A classic event took place last week while checking into Sri Lankan airlines and preparing to fly from Colombo to Bangkok. In an orderly fashion, Europeans (and us Canadians) were all cueing up inside the lane ropes at the check-in desk. Along came Sri Lankan people. They barged right up to the front of the line and then bellied up to the ticket counter. We all watched in amazement. The clerks at the check-in desk calmly instructed the Sri Lankan passengers that a cue was necessary and indicated they needed to move to the back of the cue. The Sri Lankan people didn't get it. They continued to try and check in.


 

More firmly now, the clerk at the desk instructed them that the boarding passengers were in cue and they needed to get into the line up if they wished service. In confusion, the Sri Lankan passengers bee lined directly to the front of the next cue up and tried to check in there. They were met with the same instructions from now frustrated and angry staff that were desperate to impose cueing on their own culture. Bewildered, the Sri Lankan passengers finally shuffled to the rear of the cue, shaking their heads in honest confusion. We felt sorry for them. Cueing is just not a cultural norm.


 

We have lived her for three months now and are becoming acculturated. Bill and I can now push ahead of others and deliver a dandy hip check – qualm free.

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