Walk this way

I was having a conversation with this Nigerian guy. We have been having these debates more frequently as my time here is concluding and I don’t want to leave; and he can’t wait to leave but has another year.  Every day, I find it more tolerable and think about how to get my cat over here and live forever.  Anyway, we were walking and having this discussion and then at a cross street, we were given the Don’t Walk sign. Maybe 3-4 people out of 7-9 crossed the street, ignoring the suggestion of the sign.  Here this is why I hate it. They are walking! I was shocked. What an odd criterion to have, to judge the goodness of a people or of a place.  But people do that everywhere.  They do it New York. I do it. If I weren’t in a conversation with you, maybe I would have done it.  It depends on how lazy I feel.   

But he said that if one waited for the sign to change it showed they had respect for themselves and for the laws of the nation. What a strange way to think.  But I don’t want to be unfair; Nicholas has many valid reasons for not liking Bulgaria. I think if I were a man and not American, my experiences here would be very different. Most of my complaints really came from people wanting too much of my time, treating me too familiarly.  And if my Bulgarian was as good as his, maybe I would be aware of more insulting behavior. 

And yet, I still think it’s weird. When people stand there when there is no traffic just because the light is red, I think in my head What a boob. Just walk you idiot! But when I am exhausted and welcome the red and I see people racing across the street, I think Value your life. Where’s the fire moron! I am sure this says much more about me then it does about anyone else.