Hi Hugs: Oh boy, you've hit one of my pet peeves. Good manners are for everyone. As you write, it does help everything run smoothly. Everyone would know exactly what was expected of them and therefore would also help with the anxiety or stress in some situations. Take for example the simple handshake or the acknowledgement/greeting of another person. How many people are taught how to shake hands properly? also that ettiquette says that if it is an older woman, she has the first choice of offering her hand to a younger person. The younger person does not try and shake an older lady's hand first. Anyway, just blabbering here. A gracious host/hostess is a wonderful thing to see in action, in any setting, office included. They just seem to know what to do and say and are confident in their manner and speech. We need more of this. A lot of this is just plain respect for others and their property, feelings, etc. it's not all etched in stone, it is to make the other feel at ease.
I would do as Samantha suggests, be proud of how you were brought up and show by example. I've been called a snob before and it really hurt. I'm not a snob, I know I am not one, I have good manners though and am proud of them. My parents always instilled in us the idea that we were respresenting our family and country when travelling abroad. You can be dirt poor, but you can still be clean and presentable and have good manners. That is what we were taught, wash your hands and face and comb your hair, brush your teeth and be ready to face the world. lol
Hope you have a good time if you decide to go and don't forget, you can leave on your own timetable when you've had enough.
Sunny
