Who's The Rude One?

I have lived in Asia for most of my life, but who am I fooling? I’m not Asian. My fair skin and my blonde hair make me stick out like sore thumb.  I love rice, tropical weather, exotic fruit and the ocean. I even have adopted a lot of “Asian” ways of doing things. But there’s one thing I have never grown accustomed to: the staring. Oh, they mean no harm, and I tell myself that all the time. But the incessant and unabashed staring has always been my pet peeve. And then there are the attempts to sneak pictures of me, as if I don’t notice their cameras sneakily aimed at me while the photographer nonchalantly looks off somewhere else while snapping the picture. Now, understand, this is not because I am famous or beautiful, but simply because I am a blonde-headed foreigner in Asia. I try to be patient, but I’ll just be honest, it’s irritating.

One day, I was shopping at a mall and I stepped into the restroom. As I washed my hands at the sink, I glanced in the mirror and noticed a couple of ladies in the reflection. They were standing across the room behind me and were obviously talking about me. Ugh! I was so irritated. Why couldn’t I shop at a mall in peace for once? And for Pete’s sake, why couldn’t I go to the powder room in peace? They giggled and whispered and stole glances at me that they were sure were secret, but to me were obvious. Why did they have to be like that?

I wanted them to know how rude their behavior was. In my mind, I gave them a scolding. But, not wanting to be an “ugly American”, I did not actually say any of my speech to them. As I turned to leave the restroom, I didn’t look at them and smile, as I usually would have. I just walked by and ignored them. From behind me, I could hear one of the ladies speak to the other one, “She’s so pretty!”

I gulped as a wave of guilt flowed over me. It was not them that had been rude, it was me! They probably did not speak directly to me for fear I would not understand their language. And me? I had rejected two ladies in whose country I was a guest. Two ladies who needed God’s love, not another woman’s judgment

Oh Lord, give me patience when the culture I live in irritates me. I want to be treated with respect, but please help me to do the same for others, even in my mind!