Lucy, you got some c’mplaining to do!

If you’ll forgive a couple of generalizations, here’s a couple of things I’ve noticed since I moved here, things that really bother me:

1.  People here like to spit.  Considering how dry the air is here, you’d think that people would want to hoard whatever moisture they’ve got.  You’d be wrong.  Instead, you can hardly walk down the street without hearing sptoo and seeing a disgusting orb of unwanted saliva flying past your peripheral vision.  At least one guy had the decency to turn the other way when he was about to spit, since at the time he was aimed squarely at my feet.  It makes me want to swear at these people, which leads to the next thing.

2.  People here like to swear.  Now, I don’t really care what sort of language people use, whether it’s Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, ancient Mayan, or foul. However, there’s a time and a place for it.  In your car yelling at the idiots who slow down abruptly to 45 to take an exit while you’re traveling 75 right behind them?  Fine.  Watching TV by yourself, screaming at the guy who can’t solve the puzzle even with all those letters?  Great.  After stubbing your toe while feeling around in the dark trying to find the door to the bathroom at 2:30 in the morning?  Wonderful, as long as you’re quiet.  But on the commuter train, with dozens of people all around, sometimes including small children, literally a foot or two away?  Shameful.  It makes me want to spit on them.