Giving Way
When sitting at lunch and dining on some delicacy, it can quite easily occur; the good-looking guy in the suit with the well-groomed hair or the meticulously styled trader in her business outfit suddenly gives you a kick under the table. What did I say wrong, you think. Actually the pain came quite unintentionally; it was an accident.
Now the fun begins. You are aware that you were kicked and that tiny corner of grey matter in the apology zone of the brain commences the “accept or reject” process. You already know that you know. You are also convinced, that the kicker knows. Not only that, you know that they know that you know. Now don’t get ahead of me here.
What happens though, if the apology is not offered? Is all this knowledge flowing to and fro? Or are you the only person at the table that is concerned with the kick. What a situation. It’s true; no one else seems to give a hoot that something has occurred; you are on your own.
Now most people would agree, the British are still, by and large, a rather courteous bunch. And my beloved English father was an excruciatingly polite example of the species. So perhaps it really is nonsense to critically benchmark whilst here in Germany. However, I will also state that your average Klaus, Petra or Sabine are also, on the whole, a very well-mannered bunch.
So the above mentioned tends not to occur too often but the story does allow me to steer rather nicely into the topic of driving habits. Be careful on the roads, because right of way is actually a pretty dangerous concept in mainland Europe if you are not familiar with or if you haven’t been born into it.
If there are no road signs or markings, give way to the right. Some behind the wheel do love to pull out in front of you and steal your perceived right of way. Others make mistakes. And the situation described above occurs on the roads too. A wave of apology or even a pre-emptive wave of thanks goes a long way in the motorized urban jungle. Not so often experienced in the past, this gesture can be experienced more and more nowadays. Carry on; just a polite suggestion to foreigners and natives alike.