<![CDATA[One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules.]]>One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. I find it exhausting being constantly unaware of what the right/polite thing is to do. Yesterday children said hello to me when I walked past them in the street and it baffled me so much, but later I realised people just DO say hi to strangers here. Going into a shop, the greeting was not what I expected and it threw me. If questions are in the wrong order I fuck up the conversation.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/ad64b654-2aa7-4893-a00b-76fb768f5591/one-thing-i-am-really-looking-forward-to-about-going-home-is-knowing-the-rules.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 07:55:11 GMTThu, 23 Apr 2026 06:59:07 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:31:23 GMT]]>@drchaos this! Going away is a fun adventure, and it makes you appreciate home!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116453558436686679https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116453558436686679Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:31:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:44 GMT]]>@Jaimieserotica ugggh I feel you! Though I reckon I could take ten ridicules before I’d cope with a single Telling Off. Brains are so weird.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116453555880250047https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116453555880250047Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:10 GMT]]>@bright_helpings totally get why this makes things exponentially harder! In my magic pub you will be able to email in advance and be like ‘I’m coming in today, here’s what I’m wearing so you can recognise me and show me to a decent table’ or whatever.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116453553603417019https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116453553603417019Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:09:08 GMT]]>@girlonthenet this is cute. it's from "casino", a lefty bar in .

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://woof.group/users/ftmboy/statuses/116453470931369570https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://woof.group/users/ftmboy/statuses/116453470931369570Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:09:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:38:38 GMT]]>@girlonthenet
I'm sorry that you feel so uncomfortable and downright scared in unfamiliar surroundings.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tirnanog.todon.de/users/Arschleder/statuses/116453351011873031https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tirnanog.todon.de/users/Arschleder/statuses/116453351011873031Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:38:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:24:46 GMT]]>@girlonthenet Good analysis!
That's exactly what coming home means (or feels like) 😉 known rules, known standards of social interaction, thus reduced stress.

I like the unexpected, the weird, the new. For a bit. And then I know what home means for me again.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sauropods.win/users/drchaos/statuses/116453296442044951https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sauropods.win/users/drchaos/statuses/116453296442044951Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:24:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:53:17 GMT]]>@girlonthenet
This is me as well. I've been known to not do something/take something I'm entitled to, just because I don't want to transgress some unwritten rule and be Told Off, or worse (much worse), ridiculed. *sigh*

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kinkycats.org/users/Jaimieserotica/statuses/116453172666075140https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kinkycats.org/users/Jaimieserotica/statuses/116453172666075140Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:53:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:02:37 GMT]]>@girlonthenet Yeah, that sounds so great. 🙂 A pub for Mastodon people. You seem to be so considerate about making people feel comfortable and assessing what they need.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://bark.lgbt/ap/users/115513701631165219/statuses/116452973463669604https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://bark.lgbt/ap/users/115513701631165219/statuses/116452973463669604Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:02:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:56:14 GMT]]>@girlonthenet This kind of thing is what makes travel so tiring for me as a partially sighted person. This kind of confusion just feels multipled because I "look normal" but I'm missing out on so much.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mspsocial.net/users/bright_helpings/statuses/116452948358710688https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mspsocial.net/users/bright_helpings/statuses/116452948358710688Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:56:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:50:58 GMT]]>@girlonthenet oof, Fear of The Dreads is a mood

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.art/users/welshpixie/statuses/116452927621001158https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.art/users/welshpixie/statuses/116452927621001158Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:50:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:43:18 GMT]]>@girlonthenet @PetraPhoenix Oh god, I was *so* nervous about breaking social rules when I was in Japan. But they seemed very forgiving of foreigners, at least to our faces. The only time we got slightly odd looks was when we had to take an unexpected flight due to the Shinkansen being taken out by an earthquake, and we were the only foreigners on a flight full of Salarymen 😂

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/kapellosaur/statuses/116452897518725115https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/kapellosaur/statuses/116452897518725115Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:43:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:41:00 GMT]]>@girlonthenet

Good! You should be so very proud of yourself! Bumping out of a comfort zone and doing something like this is something to celebrate, and I hope you spend some time acknowledging your accomplishment!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/PetraPhoenix/statuses/116452888437846400https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/PetraPhoenix/statuses/116452888437846400Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:41:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:38:05 GMT]]>@PetraPhoenix ah thank you! Tbh it doesn’t feel brave when I plan it, cos it’s all abstract, but as time has gone on I’ve been quite pleased with what I’ve achieved!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452876965174852https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452876965174852Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:38:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:36:41 GMT]]>@girlonthenet

Oof, yeah, being Told Off like that is bound to have an effect!
We (those socialised female) are taught not to take up space from a very early age in our culture, and so we are trying to undo a whole lifetime of programming.

I am incredibly impressed by your adventure though, especially considering the number of unknowns you'll have faced! That's properly brave!!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/PetraPhoenix/statuses/116452871502456705https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/PetraPhoenix/statuses/116452871502456705Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:36:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:35:15 GMT]]>@girlonthenet Ha ha ! So I’m not alone to struggle with this 😅

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.sourcemac.com/users/javerous/statuses/116452865836571018https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.sourcemac.com/users/javerous/statuses/116452865836571018Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:35:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:34:30 GMT]]>@kitten_tech @RolloTreadway YES. I’ve got an Airbnb place booked for my final destination and in their info pack they include ALL the useful info about public transport and I hadn’t realised how worried I was till that weight got taken from my mind!!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452862903017416https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452862903017416Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:34:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:33:15 GMT]]>@PetraPhoenix ah shit maybe this is something England has infected me with? I do think it got worse after I lived in Japan too - they also have a big thing for The Rules and I once got told off in a way that was v traumatic, so I think it’s reinforced the idea that I need to be right/not take up space etc.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452857992942109https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452857992942109Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:33:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:29:04 GMT]]>@girlonthenet

This is fascinating to me, because when I am in England I am much more worried about The Rules as I am clearly expected to know them. When I go abroad, however, I relax more because I am clearly not expected to know The Rules, having not grown up there. If I get Told Off, I apologise in stilted [language] and then it's all fine.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/PetraPhoenix/statuses/116452841504403657https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/PetraPhoenix/statuses/116452841504403657Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:29:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:19:39 GMT]]>@girlonthenet Oh yeah, I know the capitalised Told Off you mentioned there. We're hyper-aware of how we're being perceived 😅

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/kapellosaur/statuses/116452804471061080https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/kapellosaur/statuses/116452804471061080Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:19:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:19:21 GMT]]>@girlonthenet @RolloTreadway unfamiliar bus/tram/etc system are always a worry. Do I tell the driver where I'm going because the prices differ, or is it flat rate? Cash, card, or do I need to have obtained a special contactless card somewhere and charged it up already?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/kitten_tech/statuses/116452803318292866https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/kitten_tech/statuses/116452803318292866Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:19:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:11:54 GMT]]>@RolloTreadway oooh YES

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452774046347099https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452774046347099Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:11:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:11:16 GMT]]>@girlonthenet it constantly amazes me that some people can actually make small talk with strangers and seemingly even enjoy the experience, rather than it being a torture of trying to work out what the Right Thing To Say is, and can I please leave now?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kavlak.uk/users/ahnlak/statuses/116452771525382828https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kavlak.uk/users/ahnlak/statuses/116452771525382828Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:11:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:10:48 GMT]]>@girlonthenet Would you be able to provide a service that explains everything about how local public transport works, and how you're supposed to act whilst using it?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/RolloTreadway/statuses/116452769679056370https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/RolloTreadway/statuses/116452769679056370Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:10:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to One thing I am really looking forward to about going home is knowing the rules. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:09:24 GMT]]>@kapellosaur I don’t think I have either, but hostels tend to be a little more rough and ready. Also for me ‘told off’ encompasses SUCH a broad spectrum. Even if someone gently corrects me my body will often register that as ‘you’re in trouble’ and everything kicks off. I’m working on this but it’s a lifelong project 😂Anyway when I have my pub you can come and no one will ever Tell You Off if you don’t immediately understand the rules ❤️

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452764199286306https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/girlonthenet/statuses/116452764199286306Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:09:24 GMT