Narración del Incidente:
On Monday I went to my favorite coffee shop to enjoy the ambiance and the sea while I studied. When I walked in the only people there were two gentleman talking politics. They were arguing over whether a politicians should be able to be gay or not. I caught the older man, who was arguing that homosexuality is wrong, stare me down. I shrugges it off and continued studying. When the conversation was over the old man went to the back of the counter and I understood he must be the owner. Not a more than a few minutes later a male worker I didnt recognized that looked like a repair guy walked directly over to me, leaned in to see what was on my computer screen and asked, ¨What are you doing¨. I was caught so highly off guard by the incredibly rude gesture all I could muster was a responce of, ¨Im sorry?¨ I thought maybe he had mistaken me for someone else. Instead he walked of saying, ¨Oh nothing¨.
Three more men came in meet the older man and they had a seat near me. The owner then called over his waitress and said ¨Ask him...¨and she responded ¨Oh no please, why?¨. He was visualy upset and she turned towards me and made her way over. I could tell she was entirely embarrased. Very shy she asked how much longer I thought I might be staying. I told here I wasnt sure I was only there to study and I asked if I had stayed too long. I told her I didnt mind leaving and I was sorry. The owner walked over visually upset, gave me his back and scolded the young lady in front of me telling her, ¨I didnt tell you to give him explanations. I told you to ask him when he was leaving. Thats all¨ He spoke as if I wasnt standing a foot away from him and then walked away. I again apoligized the waitress, ¨I dont know what is going on here and I am very sorry you have been put in thjis very unconfortable position. Thank you kindly, I dont mind leaving. I nodded at the owner on my way out and said ¨good day¨.
On Monday I went to my favorite coffee shop to enjoy the ambiance and the sea while I studied. When I walked in the only people there were two gentleman talking politics. They were arguing over whether a politicians should be able to be gay or not. I caught the older man, who was arguing that homosexuality is wrong, stare me down. I shrugges it off and continued studying. When the conversation was over the old man went to the back of the counter and I understood he must be the owner. Not a more than a few minutes later a male worker I didnt recognized that looked like a repair guy walked directly over to me, leaned in to see what was on my computer screen and asked, ¨What are you doing¨. I was caught so highly off guard by the incredibly rude gesture all I could muster was a responce of, ¨Im sorry?¨ I thought maybe he had mistaken me for someone else. Instead he walked of saying, ¨Oh nothing¨.
Three more men came in meet the older man and they had a seat near me. The owner then called over his waitress and said ¨Ask him...¨and she responded ¨Oh no please, why?¨. He was visualy upset and she turned towards me and made her way over. I could tell she was entirely embarrased. Very shy she asked how much longer I thought I might be staying. I told here I wasnt sure I was only there to study and I asked if I had stayed too long. I told her I didnt mind leaving and I was sorry. The owner walked over visually upset, gave me his back and scolded the young lady in front of me telling her, ¨I didnt tell you to give him explanations. I told you to ask him when he was leaving. Thats all¨ He spoke as if I wasnt standing a foot away from him and then walked away. I again apoligized the waitress, ¨I dont know what is going on here and I am very sorry you have been put in thjis very unconfortable position. Thank you kindly, I dont mind leaving. I nodded at the owner on my way out and said ¨good day¨.
Reacción Emocional:
I cannot think of a recent time when I have been more humiliated. I walked out sweating and headed north with no real destination besides getting out of sight of the coffee shop. I sat down on the beach and noticed my hands shaking as I embarassingly mulled my brain trying to figure what had just occured.
When I calmed down, I was filled with regret. I really liked that place. I rellied on that place as location where I could take in the culture while also escaping from all my worries. I know I would never feel comfortable going back and I felt indignated.
I cannot think of a recent time when I have been more humiliated. I walked out sweating and headed north with no real destination besides getting out of sight of the coffee shop. I sat down on the beach and noticed my hands shaking as I embarassingly mulled my brain trying to figure what had just occured.
When I calmed down, I was filled with regret. I really liked that place. I rellied on that place as location where I could take in the culture while also escaping from all my worries. I know I would never feel comfortable going back and I felt indignated.
Intercultural del Incidente:
Looking back I can realize that I approached that coffee shop with an American mentality. In the US there is a coffee shop culture that seeks out coffee shops as a work space and study space as a way to achieve better mental health. Coffee shops in fact go to great lengths to earn the patronship of this culture because they know they will buy several times in one stay and make the place look desirable to others.
I think to the owner, here, my cup of coffee simply was not worth his internet and electricity. I guess when I say the advertisement for free wifi I figured the coffee shop culture was the same. Why else would you invite people to use your wifi?!
Another thing that might have gone into play here are my tattoos. I have noticed in the readings and some speakers have even touched on the fact that for the most part Mexicans perceive tattoos to represent Narcos and gangsters. The way I caught the two men stareing down my tattoo, added to some comments people have made to me while Ive been here lead me to believe maybe the owner judged me as a low life.
This is a culture shock for me coming from the US where I get praise for my tattoos. Men offer me respect aknowledging the pain I endured, and women think its sexy. Over all there is a huge popularity and appreciation of tattoos as art in America, especially among the up and coming generation.
I really have no clue what happenes, but I deaply regret I lost my spot.
Looking back I can realize that I approached that coffee shop with an American mentality. In the US there is a coffee shop culture that seeks out coffee shops as a work space and study space as a way to achieve better mental health. Coffee shops in fact go to great lengths to earn the patronship of this culture because they know they will buy several times in one stay and make the place look desirable to others.
I think to the owner, here, my cup of coffee simply was not worth his internet and electricity. I guess when I say the advertisement for free wifi I figured the coffee shop culture was the same. Why else would you invite people to use your wifi?!
Another thing that might have gone into play here are my tattoos. I have noticed in the readings and some speakers have even touched on the fact that for the most part Mexicans perceive tattoos to represent Narcos and gangsters. The way I caught the two men stareing down my tattoo, added to some comments people have made to me while Ive been here lead me to believe maybe the owner judged me as a low life.
This is a culture shock for me coming from the US where I get praise for my tattoos. Men offer me respect aknowledging the pain I endured, and women think its sexy. Over all there is a huge popularity and appreciation of tattoos as art in America, especially among the up and coming generation.
I really have no clue what happenes, but I deaply regret I lost my spot.
No comments:
Post a Comment