In the UK it's complimentary to tell someone they look well especially if they have lost a bit of weight or look like they have been going to the gym. It's also a taboo to tell someone they look fat or fatter. FACT. I like this system. It keeps me happy.
In Nigeria THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE is true. It is complimentary to tell a person they are looking quite fat. The more you like someone the more you tell them. I do not like this system. It makes me cry.
Since my Nigerian colleagues like me so much and were all happy to see me back at school I received an abundance of abuse as I walked through the doors on the frst day of term. 'Compliments' ranged from 'oh wow you're so fat' to 'well done Laura, your father fed you well'. One teacher stopped me, circled me then looked me in the eye and told me how good I looked for adding some weight. My personal favourite was when the admin manager walked up to me, grabbed my cheeks (face cheeks) and said 'ohhhhhhhh chubby chubby' in a voice fit for a two year old.
The worst of it is I havn't put on any weight!
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