This is what happened a couple of days ago: I went shopping with a friend. After we finished the serious job in one shop, I said: How about we go for a coffee? and she replied: Oh no, you know I dont drink coffee. But if you want one, I can come with you and I will just have a glass of water. :D For me as a Slovene, its very natural to invite someone for a coffee. But coffee doesnt necessarily mean I need that shot to wake me up. It basically means to sit down, have a drink (any drink :) ) and have a chat. To spend time together, catch up or just talk about anything. I dont drink a lot of coffee, but Slovenes in general do (listen to the audio below!). When visiting someone, we would usually bring a bag of our favourite coffee and some cookies. Wherever you come for a visit, they would first make you coffee. In my family, coffee is like a ritual: one in the morning and one in the afternoon, possibly with neighbours, drank out at a terrace if the weather is nice. Dipping cookies in it and sometimes having a shot of home-made Jägermeister, brandy with honey or blueberry liqueur - oh, it makes a day :) Or having a coffee during lunch time with colleagues at work. Or when you run into someone you havent met for a while and say: Lets go for a coffee! or We should go for a coffee some time! Its as if coffee is bringing people together. How nice is that? Did I learn anything form the situation with my friend? I was certainly reminded that people are different. Different cultures, languages, habits and even ways of thinking are something I come across every day. Like the Thai lady in Thai restaurant asking a British couple: Are you happy now? For her, it was a genuine question but for British it was very impolite and rude! Nothing in life is black and white. My truth is not necessarily your truth. What works for me doesnt necessarily work for you. Even the simple act of going out for a coffee :) So many little things make life more interesting and teache us to communicate and listen and respect and grow and improve and become better as humans.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:18:57 +0000
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