Out and about 5-22-20: The Post Office, A language lesson and an elbow bump...
At the Post Office: My son and I received our applications for absentee ballots today in our P.O Box. YAY! We are registered Democrats...
A language lesson: Since I arrived in West Pakistan when I was 2 years old in 1951 it was a simple thing to pick up the Urdu language, which is spoken mainly in modern Pakistan and India*. There are
other languages spoken in the Middle Eastern/Arabic countries as I've learned when I tried to greet
people with the Urdu that I do remember. As I recall, the typical greeting in Urdu is "Salaam" and the
typical response is "Salaam ji". I've been corrected to use the greeting "Salaam aleikem" but still use the response "Salaam Ji" and that lets people know that my background is in Urdu...
*more language at link: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Urdu-language
As I left the checkout at WalMart I saw a couple with a baby that were clearly members of the Middle Eastern part of our family. I decided to make contact, stopped near the man (it's a bad idea to direct any remarks towards a woman who is in a man's company) and said in English, "Excuse me, Sir".
After he turned to face me I said "Salaam aleikem" and he responded with some Arabic that I didn't
understand at all. When he was done I said "Salaam ji" and he extended his hand for a shake.
The Elbow bump: I offered my elbow and we bumped, my first elbow bump since the start of the whole masking/physical distancing campaign started. What a great day!
= new reply since forum marked as read
I can't help myself, if I chat with someone with an accent I HAVE to find out what it is - in line at the post office is a common place for this to happen (I mail packages to soldiers overseas). People don't mind telling me because I ask very politely! 
