I don't consider myself impolite {in fact, I always try to show appreciation with handwritten notes}. Unfortunately, I do consider myself very impatient, especially when hangry. I'm honestly surprised I've lasted 18 days in London without losing it in public.
In contrast, the English always remember their manners and seem to always remain cool, calm, and collected. Mind the gap. Mind your head. Please mind your step. Hello Mahdame. How is the weather suh? I'm terribly sahrry Mahdame about your bank card; another one will be mailed out straight away. To express our apologies Mahdame, we'll next day service the cards to you without an additional fee, so you should receive that in 3 days {anyone see the irony in this?}.
Yet their manners don't make up for the fact that we've been here for 3 weeks and our bank accounts have yet to be set up. No one can answer any of our questions. Because of that, we don't have UK cell phones yet. It also doesn't make up for the fact that we have to wait a half hour to get ice water at a restaurant or our bill or our food. Do you see the pattern? My patience is thinning while we wait for our lives to get in order here. And any form of politeness does not seem to help us accomplish our growing, yet stagnant to-do list.
I can ramble endlessly about my growing frustration but a friend at lunch {I have some friends now, but that's for a different post!} advised me to remain calm {note to self: I must learn some English manners}.
So while I attempt to master the art of letting it go, I guess the only thing I can do is continue to appreciate London's architecture and culture and to avoid being hangry at all costs {I can't make any promises!}.