The Gap between the two

No, I'm not talking about that clothing store (I will admit that I like their clothes, however!). But, the gap between East and West and between men and women.

Something happened recently to a friend of mine and she gave me permission to write about it. My friend and her husband are expecting their first child, and she is noticeably expecting at this point.

My friend was traveling by taxi to a meeting with two other women. My friend began to feel queasy (a number of taxi drivers here are very fond of gunning on the gas pedal and suddenly letting up on the gas pedal causing a slight and constant lurching feeling for the passengers). She and the other passengers asked the cab driver to stop the cab. He refused. My friend, at this point, had to roll down the window to 'relieve her stomach.' No mess was made in the taxi. When they finally reached their destination, the cab driver demanded that my friend wipe up the outside of his taxi (it really was not that bad) and told her that she should be more mindful of her 'condition' and should be at home because of her 'condition'. Never mind the fact that he refused to stop the taxi (it would have been safe to do so), my friend was not traveling alone (not that it should matter), and my friend and the other women with her were clearly heading for a meeting and not dressed to go for an evening out or something (again, not that it should matter). Do I feel sad and frustrated that my friend was treated this way? Yes, I do.

But that's just the thing. Some would agree with what the taxi driver told my friend. And that's the gap. What is appropriate at the end of the day in one country and culture is not necessarily appropriate in another country and culture. What becomes difficult is when we have to bridge these gaps. We have to all live and work together. Yes, this planet is a pretty big place, but we ALL have to share it. Yes, this was just one incidence that really is not that big of a deal (at the end of the day). But, it does highlight how we all have to work together to bridge the gap. As our planet grows smaller thanks to modern travel methods and technology, how do we work through such great differences between cultures?

And a special note to my friend: If you're not happy with my writing, let me know and I'll pull this post. Thanks for sharing. (And no offense is meant to anyone in our host country. I simply find this to be an interesting and relevant conversation.)

Peace.