People are people.

So Starbucks is actually really well. I'm astonished, probably erroneously, that my fellow employees like me and like working with me. I'm becoming more accustomed to the high maintenance crowd and I'm learning to respond positively to their ridiculous complaints without emotionally internalizing them or giving them a sarcastic reply, which would be oh so easy to do (especially for me).

However, there was one day where they just got to me. I actually had the day off, but I was still really edgy from working the weekend, which is a madhouse. I headed to the post office to send out some shoes, expecting the process to be easy; I had a pre-paid label, the box was taped and ready to go. I should have known better. I stand in line for 10 minutes, and this Superman looking guy calls me up to wait on me. He has a thick Southern accent and mumbles constantly so I have no idea what is he saying. He muttered something, which I picked up as "You can't have that tape on your box". I look at him like he has six heads, and not feeling particularly up for this Battle of the Tape, he reads my mind and says that's been the rule since Christmas. Seeing as how I don't frequent the post office to send out packages and they don't send out memos about this thing, I became frustrated. But Mr. Mumbles was nice and handed me new tape as he disappeared to wait on someone else.

All of a sudden, this guy comes over and says "You can't use that tape! WHERE did you get that tape?!" So I point to Mumbles, and this guy disappears. The tape runs out, so I ask a lady for more. "WHERE did you get that tape?! You can't use that tape!!". She is literally yelling at me. In a post office. Over tape. Oh, seriously? Since I'm on edge, I start to crack. I point at Mumbles, and she says "Oh, you shouldn't have that tape" and disappears.
Recap: 3 people tell me I have the wrong tape, and three people disappear. Where to is beyond me, since it is a post office. I have also been scolded by two of them.

Then elderly Korean Eugene walks over. "Can I have more tape?" "Where you get that tape?", he responds. I'm sure Mumbles at this point is tired of me pointing at him, but I do it again. "Oh no, you suppose to use different tape." And I cracked. "Can you just send this out?!" and I leave the box there, not even making sure it gets sent where it needs to go, step outside of the post office, and start sobbing. Over tape. How embarrassing.

If you ask Steven to tell this story, it goes something like this: "Well, I got this really angry email at work about people in a post office and something about tape. Then I get home, half a bottle of wine is gone, and she's still upset about the post office. I just don't get it."

But it's not about tape or coffee or anything like that. I was truly upset because the urban mentality of life is quite a bit different than the State College mentality of life, and that's harder to get used to then trying to find your way around or adjusting to being away from familiar faces. the difference between commanding and asking, expectations and acknowledgment, and quite frankly, just being a decent human being (ie, respect, politeness, kindness, etc.). And for someone as emotional and introverted as I, it's a tough pill to swallow since: 1) I don't like being a doormat and 2) I have been known, once or twice (... or more), to use my words as my best defense.

But I just don't get it- in what world do people get off treating other people like dirt? Does it happen at some point when they have the life they want, complete with money, a career, and a car, that they feel like those who don't have those things are lesser than they are? Or are people born that way?

The one thing I have learned from various missions trips is that people are people. Everyone is different, but we are all people. We are made of the same stuff. And it breaks my heart that not everyone can see that :(