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Standing in line

The pharmacy had a fragrance of diarrhea and those in line near me were coughing. They were clutching their notebooks which they had carried from the local clinic. Inside each notebook (essentially a patient's chart) was the "prescription" written for the pharmacist to fill. The doctor in me fought the pragmatic mom in me as I knew that I had to step into the crowded pharmacy and get to work on getting Gracie's meds in Gulu. I stepped in and realized that this was going to take awhile... I was NOT willing to stand in line properly so I WAS going to get cut in front of repeatedly. I settled in for the wait.

Proper line-standing-etiquette is deeply ingrained in Americans. You stand a certain distance away from the person in front of you. You stand confidently, avoid eye contact, and shift your weight to keep that place in line. You don't cut in front of someone else - that's a lesson taught to toddlers in the USA.

I have yet to figure out HOW to stand in line in Uganda in a way that makes me comfortable. I have discovered that it raises my ire to be cut in front of in the line. (I feel like a 6 year old as I feel myself getting upset that people are cutting in front of me!)

The reality is that I'm simply not standing in line properly, which means that I am inviting others to step in front of me. I am supposed to stand touching the person in front of me. Yes, literally snuggling the person in front of me in line. This signals that I am in line and that the space in front of me is not open for others to step into. I like my space... but I think I'll have to give up some of my personal space if I want to make it anywhere in line!


Comments

Mom said…
What a great cross-cultural insight! Who would have thought that there is a way to stand in line that is unique to every culture?

Mom
4:58 PM
Rebecca said…
That would be a tough one!

Not to the same degree, but I have felt that same struggle with some European people with the face kissing thing. I'm reserved with kissing my own family members - let alone putting my face on a total strangers!

Is the danger of contagious diseases a stressor for you in those situations? How do you deal with that? How about theft? In the states we're warned to be mindful of close quarters with other people because it's easy for pickpockets to grab your stuff...Is that an issue there at all?
9:38 AM
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