Sometimes it's really annoying being a foreigner here.

There are all sorts of rules you're just expected to know about. They probably have these everywhere, but many Americans have an annoying self-righteous, dogmatic attitude towards theirs. I've been shouted at and honked at for jaywalking (no, I wasn't in anyone's way), I've seen people yell at others' children for breaking some imaginary rules. Clerks here seem to be universally unhelpful if there's some rule they can hide behind.

In short, many Americans use rules as excuses for being jerks. And in The Land of The Free there are a lot of rules.

I narrowly avoided having my bike impounded (without any warning) for not knowing I wasn't allowed to lock it under the stairs by my flat a few weeks ago. Apparently fire regulations require people to be unobstructed in their attempts to suicidally cower underneath stairs in the event of fire. Something entirely reasonable like that.

Earlier this week, my new flatmate asked me if we could take turns using the flat's parking lot in the basement. I said sure, I don't use the car much, it doesn't matter to me where it's parked. Or so I thought.

Today I left the house, planning to drive to work and then head up North this evening... and my car is missing. A nice old guy told me he'd watched the police tow it that morning. Seems since I parked it earlier this week, signs were put up saying it the street had to be cleared for leaf blowing or some such.

Apparently that's totally fair, since one of the rules I'm just supposed to know about is that vehicles must be moved every 72 hours. Fair enough, that's marginally reasonable, but it's far from obvious until someone tells you. Before leaving the car I was careful to look for signs stating rules about street cleaning and such, and found none, so I thought I was safe. I wasn't.

I think I've more or less figured out where I have to go and what I have to do to get my car, and how much I'm going to have to pay in fines. About 300$. :-( And no, I'm not tipping anybody.

I was more or less resigned to the situation, but when the clerk at the towing company decided to use some stupid rules to give me a hard time when I called asking for help, my resignation went sour fast.

Now I'm just annoyed, which is why I'm venting here instead of going out to solve the problem.

I wonder if I'm going to have the same sort of experience with rules in Ireland?

Update: I rescued the car and the rest of my day was fine. It even rained, so I don't have to wash it!