[randog]

I was at McDonalds and said Merry Christmas to the Olive skinned person and did not receive a Merry Christmas reply.

The exact opposite happened to me--I said "Happy Holidays" to a Bangladeshi fellow that owns the neighborhood mini-mart. He retorted with, "and a Merry Christmas to you, my friend!"

Boy did I feel stupid...

[do the dhue]

That is good. I'd say that is assimilation.