I’m Not Flirting, I’m Just Being Nice!

I don’t care how friendly and hospitable foreigners find Lebanon, people are just not as nice as they used to be. Everyone’s constantly on edge, drivers won’t stop for thirty seconds to let you reverse and staff won’t bother greeting you when you walk into a store.

But my please and thank yous have not faltered, nope, they’re so deeply ingrained in me, that at times I automatically thank a customer rep for bad service.

Now that I gave you a little background, get this-  it seems people are a little taken aback by nice people, and tend to misinterpret my politeness and general niceness (yes, I’m actually a nice person) with flirtation and naivety. That’s right.  Men often confuse my behavior with me hitting on them. It’s only when I frown and grunt that I seem to create a sort of unapproachable vibe.

So here it goes:

I’m not flirting if we happen to be seated next to each other and I make small talk. I’m not flirting when I reply to a guy’s funny tweet. I’m not flirting when I greet a parking guy and wish him a nice day. I’m not flirting if I answer  the cab drivers questions about where I’m from. I’m not flirting when I ask the bartender to fix me something different. I’m not flirting if I express my gratitude to the gas station attendant who wiped my windshield. I’m not flirting when I ask the waiter to give me his opinion on the best dish. I’m not flirting when I ask a police man for directions. I’m not flirting when I laugh at an old man’s cheesy joke. I’m not flirting when I ask the hairdresser if a hairstyle looks good on me.  I’m not flirting if I made eye contact by mistake with a guy while stuck in traffic.

I’m just being nice so stop being so conceited!

Have I missed any?