Fresh Off the Boat in America Metasebia Tessema
If you go to any restaurants there, don’t clap or whistle to get your waiter’s attention. Always order a small meal. Their small is our large. You MUST tip your waiter. They don’t receive a livable wage there. Don’t eat rice with your fingers. They find that unhygienic, even though they eat fries with their fingers. If you are meeting up with someone, don’t be late. Punctuality is a big deal there. Don’t greet anyone by kissing them on the cheek. They are very strict with personal space and have issues with intimacy. Don’t mock their accent. They get very sensitive about it, even though they mock yours all the time. If you are going to school, don’t take anyone’s seat. They all have unassigned assigned seats. Don’t worry about your teachers smacking you. That’s considered abuse there. You can wear shorts and crop tops to class. The teachers there are not allowed to flirt with you. Don’t bother going by your full name. They say they can’t pronounce it, even though they can pronounce Phoeboe or Mckenzeigh. If people are discussing immigration, just sit there quietly. Everyone will assume you’re African American.
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