"敬老讓座" vs “Ladies First”

 

Taipei 101

"敬老讓座" vs "Ladies First"

A few years ago, we took a trip back to our homeland. One day, while

in Taipei, a friend of my wife’s invited us to tour "Taipei 101", one of

the world’s tallest buildings, where we enjoyed a spectacular 360-

degree view of the Greater Taipei from the top floor.

After the tour, we took the city bus to a restaurant for lunch. As soon

as we got into the bus, a young girl instantly stood up looking at me to

offer me her seat. However, I let my wife and her friend take it

instead, and I continued to stand holding onto the bar overhead. The

young girl, with a puzzled expression, seemed to be 不以為然 and 頗有

意見. She kept pointing at me, because she had meant that I was the

one to have the seat.

For the young girl, she had been taught to "敬老讓座". But, as a man

and also as a gentleman, I thought “Ladies First”.

After all, I should also admit to being old, being old to be recognized.

Yeh Tze