1. In the language classroom, as the narrator mentions, we are often asked to talk about
things that we would never in reality talk about:
“How often is one asked what he loves in this world? More to the point, how often is one asked and then publicly ridiculed for his answer?”
Have you ever had a similar feeling in a language classroom?
2. How are Sedaris' perceptions of this country affected by living outside it? Why might a culture be clearer to an outside observer? How does this affect his view of France?
3. Have you been to France or a foreign country where you did not know the language? Did you have anxieties about speaking French with the native speakers? What did you do? Did you have any particularly embarrassing gaffes?
I am asked quite often what I want or love in this by particularly my parents. But in the public's eye, your opinion could always differ to other's opinions and this could possibly bring up public ridicule.
ReplyDeleteSedaris does not know the language so it is difficult to converse with people. A different culture could be looked at very differently by an outside observer. A person from the U.S. may learn completely different things about France than what people in France learn about their country.
The closest I have been is going to Mexico. A lot of people there speak English because American tourists bring in most of their business. I know and understand Spanish well enough to converse with the people who cannot speak English.
I went to Japan when I was nine, to visit my cousins who lived there. The night we got there, I learned my biggest lesson yet on cultural differences. My parents, siblings, and my aunt were walking down the city sidewalks looking at how different the people where. No one was looking around at anyone as they walked, like I was. They walked really fast, with their heads straight ahead or down. One lady stopped as we made eye-contact, and started yelling and screaming at my aunt in Japanese. After my aunt calmed the women down and she went on her way, my aunt explained to me that making eye-contact with people in around there, was considered very rude and insulting.
ReplyDeleteBefore going to Japan, I really did not think much that we had different cultures in the world. That the world really does not revolve around “just” Americans. I felt like I had been living in a little bubble!!
My same cousins moved to Germany three years later, and I went to visit them for my senior trip this past summer. Before the trip I wanted to use the lesson I learned from my last overseas trip, and do a little bit of studying about their culture. Apparently in Germany, chewing gum, putting your hands in your pockets, and holding up the “OK” sign is considered very rude!