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Learning languages despite of racism | ||
Tags: Discrimination | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| DavidW Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6526 days ago 318 posts - 458 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish, French, Italian, Persian, Malay Studies: Russian, Arabic (Written), Portuguese, German, Urdu | Message 17 of 22 03 April 2010 at 1:58pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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May seem obvious, but don't forget there's a difference between city life and country life in all countries, and probably many more universal distintions. If you come from a small town and go to live in London, don't be suprised if strangers don't invite you in for tea after a 9-5 and a couple of hours on public transport. Apples to oranges.
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| Lasciel Groupie United States Joined 5373 days ago 55 posts - 81 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Japanese | Message 18 of 22 03 April 2010 at 6:37pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Of course on the other side of that coin is the fact that foreigners are much more uncommon in small towns (usually) and the people have had less exposure to them; you may attract more attention.
I don't buy that racism is all up to upbringing/culture either. People discriminate against people for all sorts of things, if it's not for race it's for something else-against poor people, against people with disabilities, wearing shoes from Wal*mart, whatever people feel like to pick on. An interesting thing, in that we're talking about racism and the Japanese xenophobicism was mentioned; I've heard that many ethnically Japanese people that are foreigners have had trouble fitting in in Japan as well. It's not all about looking the wrong way on the outside. There's also a lot said about xenophobia/racism in Russia, but I see a lot of people studying that here. I guess it doesn't matter how friendly the people are if you just want to read the literature or comics or what have you. I would just try not to worry about the generalizations about some places too much; you'll be dealing with individuals and there will be exceptions and people that may like you just for being foreign. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| GauchoBoaCepa Triglot Senior Member Brazil Joined 5419 days ago 172 posts - 199 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English, Spanish | Message 19 of 22 03 April 2010 at 7:06pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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If I were you I'd take account into good things that those countries have.....closed-minded poeple are found everywhere....thus you don't have to bring up good expectations regarding how heartwarming locals are, because some say that a determined group of people are welcoming......don't rely on "they say that...". Therefore, study your languages just enjoying the beauty of both and be glad with the prospect of knowing further about other cultural elements.
Finally if you wish to turn up in Europe some day to freshen up your language skills, just pray to God, look at the full moon and make a wish that your time in Europe or elsewhere will be the best of your lifetime by hanging on with nice friends... My main fear is to go to Europe and end up being single...I say it because afro-Brazilians manage to going out with blondies while they're in Europe...and I don't belong to such group. Edited by GauchoBoaCepa on 03 April 2010 at 7:09pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| pfwillard Pro Member United States Joined 5699 days ago 169 posts - 205 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French Personal Language Map | Message 20 of 22 03 April 2010 at 10:55pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
Japan's diplomatic corps actually did quite a lot of good for refugees during the war because of their freedom to move and act in German territory.
Germans are nothing to be afraid of, just make sure you announce your arrival in writing three weeks in advance and don't sit down until you are invited to sit down. Also, if you open a door on your way in, be sure to close it behind you. As long as you maintain protocol, you should be fine. Maintain constant eye contact.
Not too bad really. Perhaps a little confusion between discrimination and desecration? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| pfwillard Pro Member United States Joined 5699 days ago 169 posts - 205 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French Personal Language Map | Message 21 of 22 04 April 2010 at 12:56am | IP Logged | ||||||||
You won't have a rotten time. If you're really scared, take a tour and stay close to the coach. Xenophobic attacks are normally directed against Africans and Roma but a few Chinese people have been assaulted in apparent bias crimes in Italy--there is just enough there to have a concern, but it should not deter a trip at this time. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| nescafe Senior Member Japan Joined 5409 days ago 137 posts - 227 votes | Message 22 of 22 04 April 2010 at 3:34am | IP Logged | ||||||||
HaHa, funny. Manybe my illustration was problematic. I am not afraid of Germans, but respect their cultural achivements very much! I love Mozart, and my favorite author is R. M. Rilke. All the Germans I have met were always very kind to me. Maybe, there was Beijing in my mind when I posted, and another city Berilin came to me, for phonetic similarity, and then I would associate Hitler with all the stuff of racism, Beijing, Berilin, started "If I meet an Adolf in Berlin...". I do not think Germans are racists. Never. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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