I was sitting in a cafe yesterday when suddenly the girl next to me packs up all her books, gets up in a hurry, and moves to a table on the other side of the cafe. I got quite a fright from it because it was done so aggressively. I think because I looked up so surprised she called out across the cafe "I am sorry, it is just that I really don't want to get sick."
I had coughed (politely into my tissue) and that is what had spurred her to move.
I ended up having a laugh with her and saying I completely understood etc (I mean, I DO understand, I always HATE sitting next to someone with a cold on buses etc) but did feel quite humiliated because it was a busy but quiet cafe (everyone on laptops etc) so basically everyone heard including the guy two tables down from me who looked up.
The girl also had a North American accent, which is relevant to the extent that I think people with foreign accents usually attract more attention (I find my attention is draw to someone if they have a different accent from the usual one I hear in my town).
As way of confession, I have had the flu but it had been gone a week and, ironically, I had called the doctor's surgery to check whether I was still contagious (I teach so didn't want to pass it on). I wash my hands constantly, and use disposable tissues that I throw away almost immediately. All that was left of the flu was this dry cough. But I felt like a complete leper.
Am I being unreasonable to be a little bit humiliated?
(have to run off shortly but eagerly look forward to replies when I return)