Jardine 1: Cultural Differences

I'm starting to feel like I live in a sitcom.

I first realized that living was going to be somewhat different on my floor by the dish soap in the kitchen. I bought orange dish soap and a pack of six sponges at the beginning of the semester. I set them nicely in front of the sink for everyone to use. I'm pretty sure this entire purchase cost me something around 2 pounds.

The next day I walked into the kitchen and found a yellow dish soap had appeared with a different shaped sponge. I smiled to myself and made a mental note to inform my flatmates that they were more than welcome to use my soap.

Two days passed and I saw none of my flatmates, but in that time, a third dish soap appeared - a pink bottle - with a white sponge behind it.

In the States, I feel like it would be almost understood that you would share the costs of common things like this. But no such luck here - and especially not among four different cultural backgrounds.

About a week later, a green bottle of soap showed up with a new type of sponge. There's nothing to do but smile at our kitchen sink - at least that's what I've resorted myself to.

This morning we tried to have a flat breakfast (partly by my instigation). I had bought Hot Cross buns -cause they are something I know is Scottish or British or something - and I thought I could give my flatmates some taste of Scottish cuisine (that I knew of). The thing is.. I don't really like hot cross buns.. So Ivy (from China) and Rie (from Japan) tried them and I had a half of one. Soundes (from Tunisia) did not try one. There were about three halves left at the end of the meal and, not feeling like eating them out of obligation, I decided to throw them away.

After we had finished and washed all the dishes I walked back into the kitchen from my room to find Soundes and Rie standing over the trash can. I said something beginning some sort of conversation and Soundes says, "Those were your hot cross buns?!" I was a bit taken aback but replied, "Yes..." She said, "I feel bad for those who don't have. You did not need to throw away. Think of those who don't have!"

I admit, I was somewhat thoughtless in throwing away the hot cross buns. I knew I didn't want them, so I just threw them away. And I did feel some remorse thinking of waste, but also really didn't want them.

All I could say was, "I'm so sorry." Rie was just watching us as I stood at the sink. Soundes shook her head a bit and said "I feel bad," and then walked out of the room. I said to Rie, "Now I feel bad. I didn't mean to upset her." Rie said, "She was pretty upset" (helpful). I went to the trash can and examined the hot cross buns covered in banana peel. There was no good deed to be done anymore.

My word for the day would be don't buy hot cross buns.