Saturday, January 26, 2008
A Septo??
Annoying British Guy at the Club: “Are you a Septo?”
Me: “What?”
ABGatC: “You ARE!”
Me: ”What?”
ABGatC: “A Septic. Septic tank.”
Me: “……………………………………..…….” (curious, skeptical look)
ABGatC: “A YANK”
Me: “………………………………..…………” (very annoyed look)
ABGatC: “A Yankee! Damn American Yankee.”
Oh, right. Of course. I should be used to that kind of thing by now (as well as the cockneyed attempt at communicating), but to be honest, I’m a bit jaded. I’m jaded of being the only American in a Czech office, I’m jaded of being a Christian in an atheistic country, and I’m jaded of being the one “corporate whore” among my Christian friends (as one so lovingly put it…joking, of course, but still..).
I’m pretty sure I have no actual grounds to gripe about living and working in such a diverse place. After all, I did choose to be here. I know I’m very much an outsider at work. I like and get along with everyone, and they seem to like me, but you can’t really be a part of the every-day stuff the team goes through. I can’t laugh and chat with them throughout the day, but it would be ridiculous to expect them to speak English to each other. I’ve had, what, 17 months to learn at least basic Czech? Yeah, I have no place to talk. Again I remind myself that I chose to do this.
I try to remember this whenever the issue of being an American is made to be...well, an issue. Foreign policy aside, people generally seem to like us ok as individuals, but their expectations amuse me. I’ve had people respond in complete surprise when they found out I was American because I’m not fat/stupid/geographically impaired/addicted to fast food/etc. On a particularly sunny day this week, I got off the bus a few stops early to enjoy walking the rest of the way to the office. When my colleagues heard this, one actually said “but why? You are American.” When looked at individually, comments like that are nothing and easy to blow off. But I’m surprised at how after months and months, they really become irritating. I feel like I’m always on the defensive for the sake of my family and friends back home, and the good things about my country, but I’m about at the point where I want to quit trying and start going along with it. “Yes, we are wasteful. Here, watch me throw away this plastic bag.” Probably not the best or most mature attitude.
For someone who does not like to draw attention, I get easily annoyed when my “American-ness” (or even lackthereof), becomes a topic of interest to people. Many times I don’t want to talk about it, argue about it, or think about it, I just want to be known as “a person.” But really, I am an American through and through. It’s a part of my identity and I don’t think it’s something I should be ashamed of. But I’m slowly starting to see the deeper cultural differences between myself and those around me here. At a friend’s flat recently, I picked up a book on her coffee table that was something about understanding Czechs. It was one of those books for people adjusting to a foreign country and culture. And I’m ashamed to admit this, but when I looked at it I actually thought, Man, I sure wish Czech people here would read a similar book on understanding Americans. What good is it for me to try and understand them if they aren’t going to try and understand me? I was horrified by my own egocentrism (and I think my friend was too). Outside of the comfort and familiarity of home, little selfish thoughts start to seep in. Culture shock, perhaps? Maybe. Maybe I just need a good kick in the pants to remind me that I am a stranger in a foreign land, who has chosen to live and work among these people, and who should take great joy in such an opportunity, and be glad that any of the Czechs have taken any time to get to know me at all.
To be continued……
And as for Annoying British Guy at the Club, I told him he had better be really careful calling a southern girl a Yankee ; )
Me: “What?”
ABGatC: “You ARE!”
Me: ”What?”
ABGatC: “A Septic. Septic tank.”
Me: “……………………………………..…….” (curious, skeptical look)
ABGatC: “A YANK”
Me: “………………………………..…………” (very annoyed look)
ABGatC: “A Yankee! Damn American Yankee.”
Oh, right. Of course. I should be used to that kind of thing by now (as well as the cockneyed attempt at communicating), but to be honest, I’m a bit jaded. I’m jaded of being the only American in a Czech office, I’m jaded of being a Christian in an atheistic country, and I’m jaded of being the one “corporate whore” among my Christian friends (as one so lovingly put it…joking, of course, but still..).
I’m pretty sure I have no actual grounds to gripe about living and working in such a diverse place. After all, I did choose to be here. I know I’m very much an outsider at work. I like and get along with everyone, and they seem to like me, but you can’t really be a part of the every-day stuff the team goes through. I can’t laugh and chat with them throughout the day, but it would be ridiculous to expect them to speak English to each other. I’ve had, what, 17 months to learn at least basic Czech? Yeah, I have no place to talk. Again I remind myself that I chose to do this.
I try to remember this whenever the issue of being an American is made to be...well, an issue. Foreign policy aside, people generally seem to like us ok as individuals, but their expectations amuse me. I’ve had people respond in complete surprise when they found out I was American because I’m not fat/stupid/geographically impaired/addicted to fast food/etc. On a particularly sunny day this week, I got off the bus a few stops early to enjoy walking the rest of the way to the office. When my colleagues heard this, one actually said “but why? You are American.” When looked at individually, comments like that are nothing and easy to blow off. But I’m surprised at how after months and months, they really become irritating. I feel like I’m always on the defensive for the sake of my family and friends back home, and the good things about my country, but I’m about at the point where I want to quit trying and start going along with it. “Yes, we are wasteful. Here, watch me throw away this plastic bag.” Probably not the best or most mature attitude.
For someone who does not like to draw attention, I get easily annoyed when my “American-ness” (or even lackthereof), becomes a topic of interest to people. Many times I don’t want to talk about it, argue about it, or think about it, I just want to be known as “a person.” But really, I am an American through and through. It’s a part of my identity and I don’t think it’s something I should be ashamed of. But I’m slowly starting to see the deeper cultural differences between myself and those around me here. At a friend’s flat recently, I picked up a book on her coffee table that was something about understanding Czechs. It was one of those books for people adjusting to a foreign country and culture. And I’m ashamed to admit this, but when I looked at it I actually thought, Man, I sure wish Czech people here would read a similar book on understanding Americans. What good is it for me to try and understand them if they aren’t going to try and understand me? I was horrified by my own egocentrism (and I think my friend was too). Outside of the comfort and familiarity of home, little selfish thoughts start to seep in. Culture shock, perhaps? Maybe. Maybe I just need a good kick in the pants to remind me that I am a stranger in a foreign land, who has chosen to live and work among these people, and who should take great joy in such an opportunity, and be glad that any of the Czechs have taken any time to get to know me at all.
To be continued……
And as for Annoying British Guy at the Club, I told him he had better be really careful calling a southern girl a Yankee ; )
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Happy 2008!
A few pictures from my vacation in December. Two great weeks at home followed by a very impressive new years fireworks celebration in Prague. Happy 2008!
