Swine Flu Update!

So, for any of you who didn't know, the Germans like to shake hands. They shake hands with everybody. It is considered impolite not to shake someone's hand, the first time you see them in the morning, which means when someone first arrives in a room, they will go round and shake everyones hands to greet them, even if the room is full. Even young people shake hands, right down to all the kids at the school. I hope the staff don't think I'm rude for not immediately thinking to offer my hand. And if I start shaking your hand when I'm back, it's only because I've got used to the German way, I'm not trying to conclude a business deal with you.

Anyway, due to the risk of swine flu, all the hand shaking is being cut back a bit. The kids at school have had lessons where we all practised how to wash our hands the proper way, and were expressly told that they weren't allowed to shake hands to say hi or bye anymore. I feel slightly smug, due to the fact that when I first got here, I had conversations with people at home, about the amount of hand shaking, and whether it led to diseases being spread more rapidly. Turns out I could in fact be a health minister. Not that it makes much difference, the children tend to ignore the new rules. It's very nice being greeted by a long line of children who want to hug me or shake my hands on the way into school, and I appear to still be swine flu free at the moment, but maybe I should be trying to keep them back!

Compared to the other language assistants in my area, my school is fairly laid back (or I'm just more oblivious to the teachers' panic) but at the weekend I managed to clear a space in a crowd just by blowing my nose. Which is good to note, as the Germans don't always seem to understand the concept of personal space- I did not enjoy being shunted in the knees by an old ladies shopping trolley at the supermarket. At least now I know I just have to cough, and I'll probably clear a space right to the front of the queue!