The Effects of Global Warming
People Who Abandon Pets
Fifty Shades of Grey
As long as there are horrible things such as these, I cannot
guarantee you a chuckle in each one of my entries. Another sad fact is that
when living abroad for an extended period of time, you'll have more than your
share of low points. It's not just about the adventure of acquiring a new
language and observing a differing culture. If you want to participate as fully
as possible, you must assimilate.
You know the Borg from Star Trek? It's kind of like that. In order
to become one with the foreign you must allow parts of yourself to be
permanently altered. This is primarily a mental process, and the emotional
sacrifices that you're bound to make will be unknown to you as you go through
assimilation. Sometimes, you won't even be aware of how you've changed until
you find yourself in front of a reflection of your monocultural past. For me,
this often occurs with American tourists abroad. That's why I have a few quick
tips...
1. When talking to Europeans, don't say to them that you're German
or Italian or French etc. unless you really are the direct child of someone of
that nationality. Say you are of German descent. Otherwise, you're highly
likely to confuse and offend someone (seriously, this has been confided to me
over the years from many folks, so don't shoot the messenger!).
2. Don't wear a Canadian patch on your backpack or luggage. You're
fooling no one and you're doubly insulting real Canadians and everyone else for
assuming that we're just as stupid as you are.
3. Don't expect everyone to speak English to you. You're free to
hope that, and you'll often be rewarded, but don't walk around personally
affronted because someone doesn't speak your language well or at all when
you're abroad. Believe it or not, the entire world is not a little America. At
least try to learn the phrase "Do you speak English?" in the language
of the country you're visiting. It's a nice gesture of respect and it usually
encourages a more hospitable nature from strangers.
On the flip side, one of the tricks for survival that I find useful
while living abroad is to take the time to see things like a tourist. In so
many ways, this is exactly like viewing the world through the eyes of a child.
Everything is a new, strange, sweet discovery and you'll notice so many more
details about your surroundings than you would while normally going about your
daily tasks. Actually, this is something you can do anywhere, regardless of
where you live.
I've noticed one distinctive factor all of the tourists in New York
have in common; no matter how casual, cool, calm and collected a demeanor they
maintain - they always look up. If you're unfamiliar with the skyscrapers and
bridges surrounding you, it's impossible to ignore their magnificence. Over
time, you start to grow immune to it, which is a bit of a shame.
In Europe, I'm so used to the architecture and the statues everywhere,
I often get so irritated when some tourists block the pathway to take yet
another picture of a building where Goethe once spent the night. All I see is
the clothing store there with a reasonable sale inside.
But as I push past them and walk inside the store, I have to smile a
little. It is pretty cool to live in a place where some of the most amazing
poets, artists, playwrights and composers in the history of the world
created their masterpieces for all of humanity. I’m pretty darn sure that many
New Yawkers must feel exactly the same.
And by the way - who would have thought that Karl Lagerfeld would
have a compilation of sketches as one piece in the Met Museum of Art?!
