North American Excuses

I wrote about Brazilian excuses (see post: Então) awhile back, and its time to return the favour to all of us Canadian and Americans.

North Americans, when declining a social invitation, seem to feel an overwhelming need to explain WHY they cannot attend. And, if they simply do not want to attend, they further feel the need to create some elaborate (yet somehow tenuously plausible) story about why they cannot attend. Something like: I can't come because I have to work late, and then go to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned, and then my friend is coming into town so I have to clean the apartment, and then I have to meet my boss's son as an obligation which I simply can't get out of, SO, then I just don't think I can quite make the party...Even though I'D LOVE TO BE THERE! God forbid that one actually say, I don't want to, I'm too tired or something as simple as I'm just not into it.

Extensive explaining of why you cannot attend an event is seen as very strange here to Brazilians. No one expects a long winded explanation. In fact, just the opposite, personal oversharing is seen as strange, unneccesary and even uncomfortable overstepping of privacy. A Brazilian will decline an invitation by saying some variation of Unfortunately, its not possible. Não posso. É impossível. Infelizmente!

This simplicity is refreshing. In this case, I am taking a page from the Brazilian book and have started embracing the IMPOSSIBLE!

Sorry, it's just not possible.