I had a "Yep-I'm-still-an-American" moment yesterday afternoon.

After spending the afternoon with friends, I headed down the street to a little corner shop to buy some sparkling water and a bottle of wine. Only when I got to the shop there were three or four guys hanging outside the shop and I walked on by. The sales clerk, who works there every afternoon, appeared to be smoking cigarettes with his friends.

Yep. I didn't go in the shop. I went a little further to Billa to pickup the sparkling water and wine and while I was there some toilet paper.

The thing is I hate to go into shops when the shop owners/sales clerks are loitering outside smoking, drinking coffee, chatting/gossiping with friends or other sales clerks. It makes me feel bad. I know I shouldn't feel this way but I can't seem to help it.

So there you have it. It's clearly an American sentiment as these things never seem to hang Bulgarians up.  Or I am a crazy girl. I guess it could be that but I think it's more my understanding of American-style customer service.