What's the difference between a Japanese and a Pole?

A conversation between a Japanese customer and a shop assistant, which took place in Tokyo 3 days after the earthquake, as related on the Polish news:

customer: I am sorry, would you be so kind as to tell me when there will be food again?

shop assistant: I am sorry, I do not know.

customer: I am very sorry to have bothered you.

shop assistant: I am very sorry not to be able to answer your question.

If Poland suffered from an earthquake, followed by a tsunami, followed by a nuclear catastrophe i imagine the situation would look a lot different. People wouldn't be queueing, nor talking politely to each-other. 

First, of course, the whole nation would be shaken, people would take to the streets, set up a cross in front of the presidential palace, pray for the dead, collect money for the living, and change their facebook profile pictures to black squares. Then the politicians would start quarreling over whose fault the catastrophe was. Then street-fights between pro-cross and anti-cross groups, as well as pro-cross groups and the police, would start over whether the cross in front of the presidential palace should stay or be moved elsewhere. Then an independent commission would be set up to investigate, whose fault the catastrophe was.
Oh wait... that actually happened, didn't it?

After having witnessed Poland overcome a crisis and now watching Japan, it amazes me with how much dignity and calmness Japanese deal with the tragedy. I do admire them. A lot.