| The Million dollar
question |
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Having
taught English in various places -- Turkey, Romania -- I've been
struck by a major cultural rift that manifests itself by the one
question students keep asking me all the time, more than any other
and with honest bemusement: Why did you come here?
As a Western expat, my reaction is: "Why not"? Even when
I give various, "normal" explainations, they are still
left scratching their heads in disbelief. They can never figure
out why North Americans, Britons, and Aussies would leave their
"paradises" and settle in their neck of the woods.
Such notions never enter the minds of any gathering of expats;
perhaps we all know unconsciously to bother.
Is it the same in your (host) country? |
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| 1. |
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| People
always ask that, but I think they wonder what the f I'm doing in
Lille not necessarily in France. |
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| 2. |
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Yup,
I lived in Croatia for the last year (US Citizen) and I received
that question just about everyday. Now that I'm back, I get the
same question just reversed. "Why were you there?"
I guess some people just don't get it.... |
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| 3. |
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| I
tend to live in small towns, so I think I get it more than people
who live in big cities. I just tell all of my students that their
particular town, no matter how small, is famous in Australia and
they all end up in such shock you don't need to answer their
question. Cheating I know, but I'm so bored with the question.- |
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| 4. |
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| Im
sick of Londoners asking me that stupid f&^king
question......to me the answer is obvious.....I give up... |
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| 5. |
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Yes
in Chile they ask...why Chile? I tend to respond the same as
you...why not. They respond....but itīs Chile.....and this town
is so borring.....well I didnīt have a choice on the town, but itīs
actually bigger than my town in the states and as for Chile....you
have the Andes, 3diff. climates, and a really cool Island. They
still canīt figure it out. Before I left everyone was already
asking....why Chile....Finally I just broke it down for em....I
started out with 3 chices....Mexico, Costa Rica, and
Argentina..none worked so then I could choose from Peru or Chile.
Not knowing much about either and having to make a quick decision
I went with Chile and I do not regret it. Itīs great for the most
part and Iīm learning so much. It makes me want to travel even
more.
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What is POPULAR is not always RIGHT-and what is RIGHT is not
always POPULAR. --Unknown |
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| 6. |
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| Have
worked in Italy and POland. It's the same there. I think a lot of
it has to do with the fact that we as Westerners come from
societies which are more mobile than traditional European
societies. So it's the mere fact of going to another country and
culture that fascinates them more so than just the fact that we
come from "Paradise" Plus the grass is always greener. |
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| 7. |
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| "Because
I like to travel and to meet new people" seemed to satisfy my
Chinese students. Then they would ask more specific questions
about living in the West. In India, my answer was shorter
-"Because I was asked." But that was always followed by
the 20 questions about my marital status, number and type of
children, what I thought about India, how I managed to cope with
so many people, etc. Why not use these expected questions to open
doors and develop friendships in a very easy way? |
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| 8. |
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| or
mabye we just want to escape all the bullshit asosiated with
everyday life in a 'paradise' society....fuck it, i'd much rather
live a simpler worry/hassle free life than all the shit i put up
with in 'paradise'.... |
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| 9. |
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| hell,
where are YOU #8 that you have no worries/hassles? I'm teaching in
China at the moment and yes, it's certainly simpler, but not
without its hassles. Chinese students are not that forthcoming,
but this is a common question. It's easily an opening to ask them
what they think about travel in China or overseas, and things like
do they think travel is good for a person, so they always end up
answering their own question themselves. It's not a question I get
sick of, if I was them I would be very curious too, and since I'm
the only foreign teacher in these parts, well I get it quite a
bit. |
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| 10. |
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#6
has a very good point. Living in Italy, I find it hilarious that
so many Americans dream of living in Italy, and so many Italians
are astonished when I tell them so. I wrote a piece about that at
http://www.straughan.com/italy/my_attitude.htm
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best regards,
Deirdré Straughan
http://www.straughan.com |
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