I realized (again)that I’m rude in Italian.

In my desire to get through whatever chance encounter (on the bus, buying a phone card) I’m having as quickly as possible, I revert to a manner both grammatically incorrect and curt and abrasive. I skip over the usual pleasantries generally act like a jerk.

I realize my fear of being discovered as a non-native speaker has led me to be boldly proclaiming myself to be a prick to the public at large.

So: For the next week I am going to practice being polite.

I’ve decided I would rather be found out as a non-native speaker.