Role Reversal
Last night I watched a show on German television called “Goodbye, Deutschland”, about Germans who live and work in other countries (German “expats”). Naturally, they face in countries such as Portugal and Greece challenges similar to the ones Tim and I face here in Germany - things like language barriers, social acceptance, government regulations. In most cases I think that it was harder for these German expats than it is for Tim and I here in Germany, because at least in Germany things like health insurance are easily accessible and well-organised. In some ways, though, it was comforting to see these Germans experiencing in other countries the things we also experience here as expats, to reinforce the knowledge we already have - that no matter where you’re from, when you go to a new country and a new culture, there are similar challenges.
When I lived in the US, people would sometimes make negative comments about the ability of some foreigners to speak English. Personally, I sometimes wondered why so many of the foreigners kept their distance, didn’t seem to participate in society. Having lived on the other side of the coin now for some years, I see now that the barriers to communication, introduced by living in a country and culture so different from your own, prevent many of us expats from being able to interact with our environment to the extent that we otherwise would.
Particularly for Tim and I here in Germany, learning to speak and write German properly is a challenge, since our friends in the area are primarily expats (or partners of expats), and within this international group, English is the language of choice. Both of us work in environments where English is the language of the business. Even if we were to follow courses in German, we would have no where to practice except at the supermarket and the bank. I begin slowly to understand how it is possible that people can live in a country for years and not speak the language fluently; if they are in a situation such as Tim and I, they rarely get the opportunity to use the language - and after all, only practice makes perfect.
Next time you have something to say about your foreign neighbor’s integration in the culture, at least ask yourself: if the roles were reversed, would I be any better?
on January 24th, 2007 at 12:30
Interesting… K and I have had the same conversation several times.. I think that the last time we talked about it, it related to how some people have issues with (for example) Indian folk and Muslims who walk around in their traditional garb over here.
People don’t realize that Americans do the same thing in Asia (or anywhere else), with women wearing their shorts (scandalous in Asian countries), tank tops (!) etc., baring a lot of skin, not wearing loose fitting garments, etc… It does cut both way. It is refreshing to see someone else who vocalized it, because I have been too swamped to write anything these days.
on January 30th, 2007 at 18:33
No.
Which is why i say nothing, howz that saying go? “It’s best to remain quiet and not say something stupid, rather than opening your mouth and proving it?” or was it “smile and keep em guessing…how stupid you really are”… “stupid is, as stupid does?” … life is like a box of chocolates, for a diabetic… i think, therefore, i spam… why do people call em brain farts? they don’t stink per se, they just…aren’t very appealing to read…
on January 30th, 2007 at 18:38
err…is there an edit button somewhere, i think i cut one and need to revise what i said so i don’t sound as stupid as i spammed…you know, they say humor is a sign of intelligence, not absolute proof, just a sign. so if u laughed at least once, than my stupidity spell didernt havem uch efect on yr reddin avility gility. unt worrie u nun, ist nut kontajus.