"You talkin' to me?!"

...sounds familiar? 

Spill the beans you movie lovers, whose famous words are these?

Well folks, there are some people in this world who just don't seem to believe in the most basic rules of courtesy. I could list at least 5 names right now. Looking at these people, I'm sure, the reason for this lack of manners is not always a foul character, but sometimes insecurity, arrogance, stress, no education...

...frankly, I don't care.

In my opinion, it should be known to and possible for everyone to greet, say "thank you" and "please" and it surely doesn't matter in which language. Just saying it, will be understood and positively noted. Internationally, overcoming all language barriers, cultural differences and diverse customs.That easy.

Do you agree?

bitte.

1. please; if you please
2. you're welcome
3. excuse me
4. here you are (when offering something) 

danke.

wie bitte?

per favore / per piacere / prego / per cortesia / per gentilezza

grazie / grazie mille

prego?

please/ you're welcome

thank you

pardon?

Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.
{Arthur Schopenhauer}

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.
{Francis Bacon}
 

The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ennoble it.

{Christian Nevell Bovee}

 

courtesy pays off

...also here.

easy enough, right?

not too serious

Canadian hockey fans at the winter olympics in Vancouver:

from

from

from

and Canadian fans during the summer olympics in London:

from

;)))

***

The issue with the kissing

Italians are affectionate and passionate people. No doubt about it, you can tell for example by the way they talk (look here). And they're not afraid of some physical contact, I've already mentioned it here. But how are folks from other, less exuberant countries affected? And even more interesting, how do these victims of Italian heartiness react?

With some malicious joy I introduce North Americans to Italians. That's one of the best examples for the vast cultural discrepancy and it's like a classic Charlie Chaplin sketch: so old and predictable, but every single time amusing! As you probably know, Italians kiss each other on the cheek when they meet for the first time and every single time they run into each other afterwards. It's more like a touch of the cheeks than a smack, but still, for our Canadian friends it's a shocker. The feelings you can read off the kiss-attacked person's face usually range between terror, bewilderment and sheer incredultiy. Those who dont get used to it, come up with the most ridiculous schemes to avoid the kissing. And some learn to love the custom (think of guys, all of a sudden introducing themselves to every pretty girl). 

[from] 

 Berlusconi vs. Bush

***

Live Italian: How to use Italian gesture!

Part 2: A dialogue in pictures


"Everyone but me is totally birdbrained."

[from]

"C'mon! We have to pull it together!"

[from]

"No, YOU have to pull it together."

[from]

"And don't call me, when you need help."

[from]

"What the f***?!"

[from]

"Take that, b*****s!"

(Obviously, Berlusconi used this very inappropriate
gesture at a political gathering in South Tyrol)

[from]

"Oh God, help me!"

[from]

"Basta! It's enough now!"

[from]

Whatever you say, Silvio...

:-[===0

Live Italian: How to use Italian gesture!

Part 1

Italians like speaking a lot. They say what they think and feel as often they can, and as loud as they can. They express emotions pretty much every moment, they are awake. And if not by speaking, they have developed a unique body language. The most flamboyant facet of this body language is the typical Italian gesture. And who would demonstrate that better than our jolly politicians:

In the following picture, people "are putting horns" on Silvio Berlusconi, he is "cornuto", which can mean, that he is being cheated on, or simply that he is an imbecile.

[from]

Umberto Bossi from the political party "Lega Nord" is an angry man, and makes that very obvious with his gesture saying "Go f*** yourself!"...isn't he charming?!

[from]

Beppe Grillo from the "Movimento 5 stelle", an oppositional party to everything, tells them: "I'm gonna take you down!"*

[from]

*literally it means "I'm gonna make your ass this big" with the hands referring to the size of...well, let's not be that literal!

:-[===0