For this first post, please give us first impressions that you had this first week or two (or way back when you came to your country--I know some people left a while ago).
What struck you as . . . interesting, odd, any type of reaction?
Once I say I'm American (I don't say American, I say "yanqui" because that's what they call Americans here),everyone's ears perk up and want to know what I'm doing here, if I like it, etc. Once I say I do (because, I do) everyone has the same response: "Really? Why?" (in Spanish of course). They give me a strange look and reference the difference between the first world (US) and third world (supposedly Argentina).
I expected to come down and experience traditional Argentine things, but found the abundance of American brands and businesses a bit overwhelming. Starbucks and Mcdonalds (Burger King as well) are overly present, among smaller Argentine chains. Additionally, many stores use English words to lure people in like "sale" or phrases like "here comes spring." There are so many shirts that have English written on them with phrases like "Live free or Die" or "Music is Love." My roommate, who doesn't speak a word of English, has several shirts with English written on it and she had to ask me what they meant.
Buenos Aires has been called the "Paris of South America" on many occasions, and I'd agree-- to a certain extent. There is a lot of architecture with French origins, but it also has mixes of other European styles (Italian, Spanish, etc.). I'd say it's more of a mix between Paris and New York City-- has the hustle and bustle (including terrifying taxis/buses) of New York City, but the elegance of Paris in La Boca, Calle Alvear, and most of Recoleta and Palermo.
Great comment on the t-shirts with words in English. It is amazing how many fast food areas travel to other countries. Are they packed? Do people like going to these places?
My first impression of Cork, Ireland and UCC (University College Cork) is that they are simultaneously very similar to home, and completely opposite. There is the same city pace to an extent - cars driving wildly and people walking around - but the highest buildings here are about five stories high, giving the city a very cozy feeling. UCC's campus reminds me of Loyola with it's mixture of different styles of buildings and beautiful quad, but distinguishes itself with its sheer size (19,000 students attend UCC) and its own quirks (children can take a "Harry Potter Tour," complete with costumes, through the building where I have my folklore class because the resemblance is so strong).
There are some American brands, but what is most striking are the Irish brands that feel clearly modeled after brands from home. The most recent example of this is a restaurant we walked past called Eddie Rockets, which looked like someone had planted a Johnny Rockets in the middle of the city center in Cork.
“Ciao Bella”: a phrase that speaks for Rome. When first arriving in Rome I was surprised by the beautiful, kept-up buildings on every square inch of the city. I have yet to come upon a rundown, ugly building. I was surprised to learn that skyscrapers do not exist, and that McDonald’s wrappers do not garnish the sidewalks. Before departing Boston, I was warned that Rome was dusty, giving me an inaccurate view of the city. My cousin once compared Rome to New York, and Florence to Boston. Other than the size of the city, I do not see many similarities between Rome and New York. Yes, Rome has its own version of Fifth Avenue, and is paraded by slim, fashionable women. But Rome is shockingly historic, and is focused on preserving the medieval and renaissance architecture. Romans are incredibly proud of their history, and would never consider demolishing their ancestors’ buildings. Much of Rome has not changed since the time of Julius Caesar. Ancient ruins are not torn down in order to build corporate offices. With regards to my initial view of the city, Rome surprised me with its architectural focus on quality, not quantity.
Upon first arriving in New Zealand, I was most shocked by what a bustling city Auckland truly is. I came with the idea that the country was made up of mainly never-ending stretches of scenic mountains and populated by more sheep than people. In a way, I was not entirely wrong—at least regarding many of the rural towns I have visited thus far. Auckland, however, is indeed a very large city, complete with international influences that make it feel like I am back the United States. There are American brand stores like Billabong and Pac Sun as well as an abundant share of MacDonald’s and Burger Kings on nearly every street corner. Besides the dizzying diagonal crosswalks and the obnoxiously buzzing “walk” signals, Auckland is a city much like many at home, only notably calmer and slightly cleaner.
I was also shocked to find in my first couple of restaurant visits that there is no such thing as ketchup to New Zealanders. Ask for tomato sauce, and you get an un-appetizing glop of red, sour paste. I quickly learned not to dare say “God bless you” should someone sneeze in my presence, unless I wanted to get some dirty looks. Though I have yet to get a definite answer as to why that (polite?!) phrase is such a taboo thing to say here, I have grown accustomed to the awkward silences that follow every sneeze in my large lectures. Besides having to live without my favorite condiment and having to fight the urge to mutter, “God bless you,” after every sneeze, I have come to love my new home and enjoy learning more and more about the fascinatingly distinct and incredibly relaxed “kiwi” culture everyday.
I wonder what the background is on not saying "God bless you" there. Do people say "Bless you" and not the "god" part? Or do they not even acknowledge sneezing. Never heard this before and wonder how sneezes are treated.
Trudging my way down Northumberland St upon first arriving at Newcastle, I thought to myself how miserable I was. The English weather had effectively lived up to its expectation, which resulted in an instant self-diagnosed "wet-rat" syndrome. I was far greater than tired after being forced to stay up for more than 24 hours to retrieve my smartcard, cell phone, and room key. And, I could barely navigate my way down the street to catch up with fellow Loyola students, because the strip was absolutely flooded with locals and other university students that make up the enormous Newcastle population. It was impossible to appreciate all that was around me given my state of exhaustion.
A few days later and with some rest under my belt, I tried my way down Northumberland St once again. This time, however, the feelings of misery had evaporated. It was absolutely filled with life, culture, and an impossible "Geordie" accent (the locals of Newcastle). There were vendors selling flowers or fruit every few yards, and a mixture of American and English clothing shops and coffee shops lined the streets. There were street performers, club promoters, and double decker buses. There was so much life all located on one single street.
Although I now appreciate the lifestyle in Newcastle, there have been some difficult adjustments. The "food" in Newcastle is a far cry from what I'm used to at home. A five-star breakfast consists of toast, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sausages. To add, McDonald's is open 24 hours a day, drinking is both accepted and encouraged at 10 AM, and chips (fries) are a staple of every meal. It definitely took some time to get used to, but I was aware of this challenge when first starting my journey to study abroad. There are still some things I miss, but I now am settled enough to call this quirky and eccentric city my home.
Upon my arrival, in what I once thought to be just a more posh and stylish version of America,I quickly found that England had more cultural differences than I thought. Apart from the accents that most Americans find oh so attractive, I noticed that many natives of Newcastle England basically spoke an entirely different dialect. I also found out that this dialect is referred to as "Geordie."
"Georgie" is the most bizarre form of English I have ever heard. It is an accent combining English, Scottish, and what can only be described as Gibberish. The accent places inflections in the oddest syllables and produces sentences that are so winded that they sound like extremely long words.
And as if these accents are not enough to make my head spin, the slang terms everyone uses here so obscure from American English, that the Newcastle natives might as well be speaking Japanese. Common forms of greetings include phrases like "hayouarrite" - attempting to mean "hey are you alright" ultimately meaning "Hello how are you," "Hey whats up," or even "Hi can I help you?"
I have been in Newcastle for a little over a month now and I can say that I am FINALLY getting used to this new lingo. I don't really speak it but I understand them and they understand me.This language barrier was completely unexpected and demolished any hopes of me blending in as a Brit.
Their take on clothing is actually one of the things that I find strangest about the Danes. Wardrobes seem to come in grayscale and all dark colors; Danish clothing represents the typical weather of Copenhagen. Nobody here really dresses to stand out—in bright colors, that is. I’ve learned that Danes operate under the Jante Law, which is a concept created by a Scandinavian writer in the 1930s. Essentially, the idea is that nobody is better or worse than anyone else—showing off is unnecessary (and in some cases, offensive). And this idea carries over to other aspects of life: despite the exorbitant taxes that its citizens are expected to pay to make the welfare state possible, Denmark is year and year again dubbed “the world’s happiest country.” I think that it’s because they are happy with what they have, and don’t seek material items constantly. Some Danes say it’s because they have low expectations, and if you never expect much, you won’t frequently meet disappointment. They’re a funny group with rather dark, sometimes self-deprecating humor. Despite all of this, Danes are some sleek people. On any given day of the week, at any given time of the day, everyone looks like they’re dressed up to go somewhere at least slightly fancy. You can tell when a Dane is going to the gym because they look like they’re off to a nice dinner with their great aunt. Pajama pants don’t exist outside the house, and this is fine by me, who has quickly learned how to wake up with enough time to look decent for an 8 o’clock class.
Swadeeka! So I go back to America in a couple days and I cannot help but feel nostalgic about my time here in Southeast Asia. Even though I arrived to Thailand five months ago, I still think about my first couple weeks in this crazy city of Bangkok. What was once so foreign to me has become another home. That first week I was dripping with sweat, hadn't had a clue where I was going half the time, and could barely speak to the Thais due to the language barrier. A bit of a culture shock that I for some strange reason didn't think would happen.
The hardest thing to get used to was the "Asian Lifestyle." In America, we are constantly go, go, go, but the Thais take a more relaxed, laid back approach. If I was going to survive here for six months, I needed to grow some patience and not be upset when things started later than planned. If anything, Thailand has helped me take time for myself and not be on the constant go of squeezing in several things in one day. I've learned to just let things happen and go with the flow, which I hope to continue back in America.
So as my time in this part of the world draws to a close, I am taking each day with gratitude and nostalgia because as much as I am excited to get back to the USA, I know I will miss Thailand and the rest of Asia in a heartbeat.
It is hard to remember so far back, but coming to Thailand and Asia in general was a massive culture shock. It sounds stupid, but just seeing Asian people all the time took some getting used to (as will seeing white people all the time). The language barrier was a little tough to get passed, but Thai people have become so used to foreigners that they have mastered pointing and motioning to get out what they want to say. That was a nifty skill to pick up.
Our area is in the city, but a little outside, so there are plenty of markets and street vendors selling whole chickens or oddly colored hotdogs or fried treats. My only experience with food carts was in NYC or other major cities, where there is a health code. That doesnt exist here, but it is some of the best food. It can be deceiving, but your stomach gets used to the germs after a while.
It's far more interesting now to think about what in America will strike me as odd or interesting
As we are leaving Bangkok in two days, it seems fitting to look back on the first few weeks we had in this amazing city. For one, I was shocked by the Thai people's acceptance of us and excitement to see us upon our arrival. As we departed from the airport, we were welcomed by our university's maids, who were holding up a welcome sign and presenting us with hand-crafted lays. When you were so far away from home, it was certainly nice to immediately feel welcomed. We landed at night, so our first real impression of Thailand didn't really sink in until the following morning. I was shocked by the intensity of the sun so early in the morning and was convinced I'd die of a heat stroke before the first day was finished. Initially the heat and humidity seemed unbearable, but in time we all stopped constantly sweating and now I sometimes run errands in a sweatshirt!
I think one of the biggest things that I found interesting upon arriving in South East Asia was the relaxed nature of the people. Thailand is known as "The Land of Smiles" and I will be the first to say they are not exaggerating; a hospital doctor once told me that Thais smile in all occasions: when they don't understand, when they are happy, when they are angry, when they are sad....He told me that I needed to learn from the Thais and to allow myself to smile more often. Although I found it frustrating to hear in his office, his advice is something that I took with me throughout the rest of the trip. In Thailand, you don't raise your voice if you feel cheated, angry, or disrespected. You use your words and you have a conversation with the person who wronged you, and for the most part, that person understands their fault and the situation is absolved. At the street vendors, you never yell if they will not lower their prices for you; you simply continue to haggle with them or you walk away. People here in South East Asia will respond to you so much more openly and lovingly if you speak to them with kindness and respect. The Thai people also stick to a very laid back schedule; they are never completely on time, meals could take upwards of four hours to finish, and if something does not get completed (i.e. meeting the deadline for work, school, etc.) there is always tomorrow. At first, although this piece of the Asian culture interested me, it also bothered me because I was used to the discipline and structure of the United States. It took me some time to fully embrace this lax lifestyle of the Thai people and now that I have adopted it, I hope I can bring it back with me to Loyola. Although I still plan to show up to meetings on time and hand in my assignments by their actual due dates, I'd like to hope that I continue to smile more often and accept life as it comes to me, instead of constantly needing to control the situation.
My first day in Belgium was certainly hectic as we were jet lagged, had to unpack our lives, and rush off to several meetings including registering for the school and dropping by city hall to request residency cards. Through all that though, I remember being instantly mesmerized by the "European" feel. It was cloudy, a little chilly, and the buildings were old and each had a story to tell. I was glad I was wearing sneakers because my entire street was covered in cobblestone. After I got over my initial love for the city, I became a little overwhelmed. In Belgium they speak Dutch which is quite unlike any language I had taken before. Ordering food was probably one of the most stressful things I had ever done. I felt stupid, childish and more than anything else, American. A feeling I didn't quite know existed until I got here. I decided that if the Belgians were nice enough to speak English to me, that it would only be fitting that I put all my effort into learning Dutch.
Now, 3 months later, I can say I hate the Dutch language, and once I am done my final, will likely only use it to say please and thank you as a sign of respect.
As the semester comes to a close, I like to think back to the beginning when I was eager to explore Cork, and discover all it has in store. I would wander around for hours, not lost, but not completely sure where I was, but loving it, nonetheless. I wanted to go into every shop, talk to every person I saw on the street, and be outside as much as possible. I loved the drizzly rain, and the way no one used an umbrella unless they were a tourist. I found it odd that there didn't seem to be a large grocery store (it took me a month to discover the wonderful Tesco hidden back in an alleyway) where I could buy some hummus. I was delighted walking down the street to the music of Irish street performers singing everything from traditional ballads to top 40 hits, but no matter what their style is, they always sing Oasis' Wonderwall.
And while I still appreciate the certain charm of Cork, especially now at Christmastime, I am looking forward to coming home to the much less charming, but always comforting Livingston, New Jersey.
My very first impression of England is clouded in exhaustion. We were awake for well over 24 hours with no break whatsoever--too much turbulence on the plane to sleep, too many settling-in errands to run. We were whisked off to London the very next day, and so I didn't know anything of Newcastle until 4 days after we landed.
That first week of orientation meetings and presentations was long and quite frankly boring at times. The real fun came in the free time we had to explore the city in the evenings. Most things were closed by 7 or so, but we found hidden restaurants and dimly-lit pubs to eat in. I immediately loved the pub culture, with its comfort food and welcoming atmosphere. Even though the streets were crowded with locals ("Geordies") who possessed indecipherable accents, I felt like it was going to quickly feel like home.
Now that I am ACTUALLY home in New Jersey, I can say that my hunch was correct. My mom has told me repeatedly to stop referring to Newcastle as "home," but I'm not doing it on purpose. I feel just as much love for the city as I did in the first few weeks, when the novelty of ordering fish & chips with a pint of cider was exciting and new. I can see myself settling into Newcastle, with its sweeping streets and abundance of buskers. The song "In This City" by Iglu & Hartly describes how I feel perfectly, and how I've felt since I first walked down Northumberland Street.
Once I say I'm American (I don't say American, I say "yanqui" because that's what they call Americans here),everyone's ears perk up and want to know what I'm doing here, if I like it, etc. Once I say I do (because, I do) everyone has the same response: "Really? Why?" (in Spanish of course). They give me a strange look and reference the difference between the first world (US) and third world (supposedly Argentina).
ReplyDeleteI expected to come down and experience traditional Argentine things, but found the abundance of American brands and businesses a bit overwhelming. Starbucks and Mcdonalds (Burger King as well) are overly present, among smaller Argentine chains. Additionally, many stores use English words to lure people in like "sale" or phrases like "here comes spring." There are so many shirts that have English written on them with phrases like "Live free or Die" or "Music is Love." My roommate, who doesn't speak a word of English, has several shirts with English written on it and she had to ask me what they meant.
Buenos Aires has been called the "Paris of South America" on many occasions, and I'd agree-- to a certain extent. There is a lot of architecture with French origins, but it also has mixes of other European styles (Italian, Spanish, etc.). I'd say it's more of a mix between Paris and New York City-- has the hustle and bustle (including terrifying taxis/buses) of New York City, but the elegance of Paris in La Boca, Calle Alvear, and most of Recoleta and Palermo.
Sarah Nielsen
Great comment on the t-shirts with words in English. It is amazing how many fast food areas travel to other countries. Are they packed? Do people like going to these places?
DeleteMy first impression of Cork, Ireland and UCC (University College Cork) is that they are simultaneously very similar to home, and completely opposite. There is the same city pace to an extent - cars driving wildly and people walking around - but the highest buildings here are about five stories high, giving the city a very cozy feeling. UCC's campus reminds me of Loyola with it's mixture of different styles of buildings and beautiful quad, but distinguishes itself with its sheer size (19,000 students attend UCC) and its own quirks (children can take a "Harry Potter Tour," complete with costumes, through the building where I have my folklore class because the resemblance is so strong).
ReplyDeleteThere are some American brands, but what is most striking are the Irish brands that feel clearly modeled after brands from home. The most recent example of this is a restaurant we walked past called Eddie Rockets, which looked like someone had planted a Johnny Rockets in the middle of the city center in Cork.
“Ciao Bella”: a phrase that speaks for Rome. When first arriving in Rome I was surprised by the beautiful, kept-up buildings on every square inch of the city. I have yet to come upon a rundown, ugly building. I was surprised to learn that skyscrapers do not exist, and that McDonald’s wrappers do not garnish the sidewalks. Before departing Boston, I was warned that Rome was dusty, giving me an inaccurate view of the city. My cousin once compared Rome to New York, and Florence to Boston. Other than the size of the city, I do not see many similarities between Rome and New York. Yes, Rome has its own version of Fifth Avenue, and is paraded by slim, fashionable women. But Rome is shockingly historic, and is focused on preserving the medieval and renaissance architecture. Romans are incredibly proud of their history, and would never consider demolishing their ancestors’ buildings. Much of Rome has not changed since the time of Julius Caesar. Ancient ruins are not torn down in order to build corporate offices. With regards to my initial view of the city, Rome surprised me with its architectural focus on quality, not quantity.
ReplyDeleteUpon first arriving in New Zealand, I was most shocked by what a bustling city Auckland truly is. I came with the idea that the country was made up of mainly never-ending stretches of scenic mountains and populated by more sheep than people. In a way, I was not entirely wrong—at least regarding many of the rural towns I have visited thus far. Auckland, however, is indeed a very large city, complete with international influences that make it feel like I am back the United States. There are American brand stores like Billabong and Pac Sun as well as an abundant share of MacDonald’s and Burger Kings on nearly every street corner. Besides the dizzying diagonal crosswalks and the obnoxiously buzzing “walk” signals, Auckland is a city much like many at home, only notably calmer and slightly cleaner.
ReplyDeleteI was also shocked to find in my first couple of restaurant visits that there is no such thing as ketchup to New Zealanders. Ask for tomato sauce, and you get an un-appetizing glop of red, sour paste. I quickly learned not to dare say “God bless you” should someone sneeze in my presence, unless I wanted to get some dirty looks. Though I have yet to get a definite answer as to why that (polite?!) phrase is such a taboo thing to say here, I have grown accustomed to the awkward silences that follow every sneeze in my large lectures. Besides having to live without my favorite condiment and having to fight the urge to mutter, “God bless you,” after every sneeze, I have come to love my new home and enjoy learning more and more about the fascinatingly distinct and incredibly relaxed “kiwi” culture everyday.
I wonder what the background is on not saying "God bless you" there. Do people say "Bless you" and not the "god" part? Or do they not even acknowledge sneezing. Never heard this before and wonder how sneezes are treated.
DeleteTrudging my way down Northumberland St upon first arriving at Newcastle, I thought to myself how miserable I was. The English weather had effectively lived up to its expectation, which resulted in an instant self-diagnosed "wet-rat" syndrome. I was far greater than tired after being forced to stay up for more than 24 hours to retrieve my smartcard, cell phone, and room key. And, I could barely navigate my way down the street to catch up with fellow Loyola students, because the strip was absolutely flooded with locals and other university students that make up the enormous Newcastle population. It was impossible to appreciate all that was around me given my state of exhaustion.
ReplyDeleteA few days later and with some rest under my belt, I tried my way down Northumberland St once again. This time, however, the feelings of misery had evaporated. It was absolutely filled with life, culture, and an impossible "Geordie" accent (the locals of Newcastle). There were vendors selling flowers or fruit every few yards, and a mixture of American and English clothing shops and coffee shops lined the streets. There were street performers, club promoters, and double decker buses. There was so much life all located on one single street.
Although I now appreciate the lifestyle in Newcastle, there have been some difficult adjustments. The "food" in Newcastle is a far cry from what I'm used to at home. A five-star breakfast consists of toast, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sausages. To add, McDonald's is open 24 hours a day, drinking is both accepted and encouraged at 10 AM, and chips (fries) are a staple of every meal. It definitely took some time to get used to, but I was aware of this challenge when first starting my journey to study abroad. There are still some things I miss, but I now am settled enough to call this quirky and eccentric city my home.
Did you ever hear anyone talk about why beans with breakfast? I have always wondered about this after we had visited London a few years ago.
DeleteUpon my arrival, in what I once thought to be just a more posh and stylish version of America,I quickly found that England had more cultural differences than I thought. Apart from the accents that most Americans find oh so attractive, I noticed that many natives of Newcastle England basically spoke an entirely different dialect. I also found out that this dialect is referred to as "Geordie."
ReplyDelete"Georgie" is the most bizarre form of English I have ever heard. It is an accent combining English, Scottish, and what can only be described as Gibberish. The accent places inflections in the oddest syllables and produces sentences that are so winded that they sound like extremely long words.
And as if these accents are not enough to make my head spin, the slang terms everyone uses here so obscure from American English, that the Newcastle natives might as well be speaking Japanese. Common forms of greetings include phrases like "hayouarrite" - attempting to mean "hey are you alright" ultimately meaning "Hello how are you," "Hey whats up," or even "Hi can I help you?"
I have been in Newcastle for a little over a month now and I can say that I am FINALLY getting used to this new lingo. I don't really speak it but I understand them and they understand me.This language barrier was completely unexpected and demolished any hopes of me blending in as a Brit.
Their take on clothing is actually one of the things that I find strangest about the Danes. Wardrobes seem to come in grayscale and all dark colors; Danish clothing represents the typical weather of Copenhagen. Nobody here really dresses to stand out—in bright colors, that is.
ReplyDeleteI’ve learned that Danes operate under the Jante Law, which is a concept created by a Scandinavian writer in the 1930s. Essentially, the idea is that nobody is better or worse than anyone else—showing off is unnecessary (and in some cases, offensive). And this idea carries over to other aspects of life: despite the exorbitant taxes that its citizens are expected to pay to make the welfare state possible, Denmark is year and year again dubbed “the world’s happiest country.” I think that it’s because they are happy with what they have, and don’t seek material items constantly. Some Danes say it’s because they have low expectations, and if you never expect much, you won’t frequently meet disappointment. They’re a funny group with rather dark, sometimes self-deprecating humor.
Despite all of this, Danes are some sleek people. On any given day of the week, at any given time of the day, everyone looks like they’re dressed up to go somewhere at least slightly fancy. You can tell when a Dane is going to the gym because they look like they’re off to a nice dinner with their great aunt. Pajama pants don’t exist outside the house, and this is fine by me, who has quickly learned how to wake up with enough time to look decent for an 8 o’clock class.
Swadeeka! So I go back to America in a couple days and I cannot help but feel nostalgic about my time here in Southeast Asia. Even though I arrived to Thailand five months ago, I still think about my first couple weeks in this crazy city of Bangkok. What was once so foreign to me has become another home. That first week I was dripping with sweat, hadn't had a clue where I was going half the time, and could barely speak to the Thais due to the language barrier. A bit of a culture shock that I for some strange reason didn't think would happen.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing to get used to was the "Asian Lifestyle." In America, we are constantly go, go, go, but the Thais take a more relaxed, laid back approach. If I was going to survive here for six months, I needed to grow some patience and not be upset when things started later than planned. If anything, Thailand has helped me take time for myself and not be on the constant go of squeezing in several things in one day. I've learned to just let things happen and go with the flow, which I hope to continue back in America.
So as my time in this part of the world draws to a close, I am taking each day with gratitude and nostalgia because as much as I am excited to get back to the USA, I know I will miss Thailand and the rest of Asia in a heartbeat.
It is hard to remember so far back, but coming to Thailand and Asia in general was a massive culture shock. It sounds stupid, but just seeing Asian people all the time took some getting used to (as will seeing white people all the time). The language barrier was a little tough to get passed, but Thai people have become so used to foreigners that they have mastered pointing and motioning to get out what they want to say. That was a nifty skill to pick up.
ReplyDeleteOur area is in the city, but a little outside, so there are plenty of markets and street vendors selling whole chickens or oddly colored hotdogs or fried treats. My only experience with food carts was in NYC or other major cities, where there is a health code. That doesnt exist here, but it is some of the best food. It can be deceiving, but your stomach gets used to the germs after a while.
It's far more interesting now to think about what in America will strike me as odd or interesting
As we are leaving Bangkok in two days, it seems fitting to look back on the first few weeks we had in this amazing city. For one, I was shocked by the Thai people's acceptance of us and excitement to see us upon our arrival. As we departed from the airport, we were welcomed by our university's maids, who were holding up a welcome sign and presenting us with hand-crafted lays. When you were so far away from home, it was certainly nice to immediately feel welcomed. We landed at night, so our first real impression of Thailand didn't really sink in until the following morning. I was shocked by the intensity of the sun so early in the morning and was convinced I'd die of a heat stroke before the first day was finished. Initially the heat and humidity seemed unbearable, but in time we all stopped constantly sweating and now I sometimes run errands in a sweatshirt!
ReplyDeleteI think one of the biggest things that I found interesting upon arriving in South East Asia was the relaxed nature of the people. Thailand is known as "The Land of Smiles" and I will be the first to say they are not exaggerating; a hospital doctor once told me that Thais smile in all occasions: when they don't understand, when they are happy, when they are angry, when they are sad....He told me that I needed to learn from the Thais and to allow myself to smile more often. Although I found it frustrating to hear in his office, his advice is something that I took with me throughout the rest of the trip. In Thailand, you don't raise your voice if you feel cheated, angry, or disrespected. You use your words and you have a conversation with the person who wronged you, and for the most part, that person understands their fault and the situation is absolved. At the street vendors, you never yell if they will not lower their prices for you; you simply continue to haggle with them or you walk away. People here in South East Asia will respond to you so much more openly and lovingly if you speak to them with kindness and respect. The Thai people also stick to a very laid back schedule; they are never completely on time, meals could take upwards of four hours to finish, and if something does not get completed (i.e. meeting the deadline for work, school, etc.) there is always tomorrow. At first, although this piece of the Asian culture interested me, it also bothered me because I was used to the discipline and structure of the United States. It took me some time to fully embrace this lax lifestyle of the Thai people and now that I have adopted it, I hope I can bring it back with me to Loyola. Although I still plan to show up to meetings on time and hand in my assignments by their actual due dates, I'd like to hope that I continue to smile more often and accept life as it comes to me, instead of constantly needing to control the situation.
My first day in Belgium was certainly hectic as we were jet lagged, had to unpack our lives, and rush off to several meetings including registering for the school and dropping by city hall to request residency cards. Through all that though, I remember being instantly mesmerized by the "European" feel. It was cloudy, a little chilly, and the buildings were old and each had a story to tell. I was glad I was wearing sneakers because my entire street was covered in cobblestone. After I got over my initial love for the city, I became a little overwhelmed. In Belgium they speak Dutch which is quite unlike any language I had taken before. Ordering food was probably one of the most stressful things I had ever done. I felt stupid, childish and more than anything else, American. A feeling I didn't quite know existed until I got here. I decided that if the Belgians were nice enough to speak English to me, that it would only be fitting that I put all my effort into learning Dutch.
ReplyDeleteNow, 3 months later, I can say I hate the Dutch language, and once I am done my final, will likely only use it to say please and thank you as a sign of respect.
Ah, yes, sometimes it takes leaving America to see just how American we are.
ReplyDeleteAs the semester comes to a close, I like to think back to the beginning when I was eager to explore Cork, and discover all it has in store. I would wander around for hours, not lost, but not completely sure where I was, but loving it, nonetheless. I wanted to go into every shop, talk to every person I saw on the street, and be outside as much as possible. I loved the drizzly rain, and the way no one used an umbrella unless they were a tourist. I found it odd that there didn't seem to be a large grocery store (it took me a month to discover the wonderful Tesco hidden back in an alleyway) where I could buy some hummus. I was delighted walking down the street to the music of Irish street performers singing everything from traditional ballads to top 40 hits, but no matter what their style is, they always sing Oasis' Wonderwall.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I still appreciate the certain charm of Cork, especially now at Christmastime, I am looking forward to coming home to the much less charming, but always comforting Livingston, New Jersey.
My very first impression of England is clouded in exhaustion. We were awake for well over 24 hours with no break whatsoever--too much turbulence on the plane to sleep, too many settling-in errands to run. We were whisked off to London the very next day, and so I didn't know anything of Newcastle until 4 days after we landed.
ReplyDeleteThat first week of orientation meetings and presentations was long and quite frankly boring at times. The real fun came in the free time we had to explore the city in the evenings. Most things were closed by 7 or so, but we found hidden restaurants and dimly-lit pubs to eat in. I immediately loved the pub culture, with its comfort food and welcoming atmosphere. Even though the streets were crowded with locals ("Geordies") who possessed indecipherable accents, I felt like it was going to quickly feel like home.
Now that I am ACTUALLY home in New Jersey, I can say that my hunch was correct. My mom has told me repeatedly to stop referring to Newcastle as "home," but I'm not doing it on purpose. I feel just as much love for the city as I did in the first few weeks, when the novelty of ordering fish & chips with a pint of cider was exciting and new. I can see myself settling into Newcastle, with its sweeping streets and abundance of buskers. The song "In This City" by Iglu & Hartly describes how I feel perfectly, and how I've felt since I first walked down Northumberland Street.