ouch

Tonight I was walking across campus after picking up yet another stack of papers and such from my mailbox over in Student Life. I ran into two international students along the way that were visiting. One is a new resident of my building, so I stopped to see how his first day on campus and in the US was. We chatted a bit and his new acquaintance - another student from him home country - chimed into the conversation. He commented how he had worked here this summer and had cleaned my residence halls. He said that he thought that I should have cleaned them because I am so fat and I could have burned some of that fat off while cleaning. I stood there with eyes wide and I'm sure my mouth dropped for at least a few seconds. I gained my composure and laughed it off saying that I had other work to do during the summers. Then I wished them a good evening and headed back to my apartment.

As I walked across campus I warred inside my mind about whether I could be offended or hurt, or if I just had to let it roll off my back. After a quick call to a friend, I knew that I had to let it roll off my back. I'm sure it was an appropriate comment where he is from and that he didn't intentionally mean to hurt my feelings...at least I hope that's the case!

The joys/sorrows of interacting with those from different cultures. Should I have told him it was an offensive comment? Did I do the right thing by laughing it off? Is it better for him to not be embarrassed by knowing that he insulted me or is it better to let him know so that he doesn't make comments like that to others? Or do I just let it roll off my back and expect that others should do the same? I don't know what the right thing to do in that situation is.