On talking to my host mother about basic good manners (good being - TopicsExpress

On talking to my host mother about basic good manners (good being relative in this situation, it seemed): Me: Is it important to you that your children say please and thank you? Her: Not really. l mean, we encourage them to say please and thank you to strangers though. Me: But how will they know that its respectful if they dont say these words at home first? Her: Well, its just the culture, you know. Its not mandatory. Were you required to say please and thank you growing up in South Africa? Me: Uhm, yeah. Like, I wouldnt get what I wanted if I didnt say please and it would be taken back from me if I didnt say thank you. Would you like for me to continue implementing these manners on your kids? Her: Well, we like it, but whether they say it or not to us, it doesnt matter. Me: (deciding in my head that all my efforts for the past 13 months have been in vain because I also noticed that the children only say please and thank you to me, and being reminded of the fact that they are indeed NOT my children so I need not be offended by this act of culture shock) Oh. Ok... I see.