My wonderful visit with Lauren has finally come to a close. She headed back up to NorCal yesterday in horrendous holiday traffic, which she joyously anticipated.
We spent the latter part of the week hanging out, taking in touristy things that amazingly Lauren had never been to on her previous visits (sorry about that Lauren). We also spent time hanging out with some really cool people that I know and some I just met. Some of our more amusing times were spent hanging out with my friend Derek and his brother Shaun or Shawn or Sean (sp? whatever I'll stick with Sean because it's shorter). Anyway both Derek and Sean were born and raised in Zambia, but to hang out with them you wouldn't know that at first. They look like typical white middle-american boys. Although since moving to Arkansas to attend John Brown University Sean has affected a southern accent to help blend in with the locals or so he says.
Anyhoo, we were hanging out one night and Lauren was talking about something and she mentioned the Greatful Dead and Sean said , "Who?" and we all were like you're kidding right? And I really hope he was... we never figured it out, but it brought up the interesting thought that although technically Derek and Sean are Americans for the most part they are unaware of what I consider common pop culture knowledge for people in our age group. I made a 4:20 reference and they both were like "What?" I decided not to fill them in. Let them remain innocent. From what they said they had electricity and other modcons at home but not television and there wasn't much hanging out at the mall since there wasn't one. It made me realize that while they might look and sound like other Americans, when they decided to come to the United States for University how difficult it must have been to try and feel a part of a culture completely different from the one you are used to where everyone else shares a similar thread of common knowledge.
Upon further reflection I thought about this in relation to the people of Kairos moving to Los Angeles. Although it was a culture shock there is still a large VA Tech contigent out here with a similar thread of common knowledge that makes it easier for us to feel comfortable moving to a new place. But on the flip side I wondered how that made people who already live in LA or who moved to LA and joined Kairos feel. Is it a little shocking for them as a person trying to fit into a group where it seems like everyone knows each other or shares a common background and they are the only ones who aren't a former hokie. Does it bother them if they are slowly becoming friends with one of us and a person like say Lauren (just using you as an example honey) comes to visit and she and I have a long history together and know some of them same people? Do they feel like no matter how hard they try they won't be as tight with me as the other people in the group. Does it feel like we are not all on the same page and that it is difficult to relate to people who share so many experiences together that they are completely unaware of? Anyway that was just some thoughts....have a great day...and as always enjoy.
I am 50% Left Brain and 50% Right Brain. Interesting...
| You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained |
 Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports. |
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4 comments:
what's 4:20?
Daniel I'd rather you remain the sweet innocent danielboggs I know and love. If you don't know it's probably best that way.
Very interesting thoughts - great points made. Btw, Derek and Sean were super cool to hang out with. I can't imagine the culture shock.
I wonder about the non-Hokie Kairos folks too, and hope other people are thinking about some of the questions you posed. It's hard to come into a group with history, but if that group does a good job of welcoming and including, then it's only a tiny bit hard, but it has the potential to be trying and frustrating. I've experienced both ends of that here. A little effort to be inclusive, to avoid inside jokes, except maybe ones others can easily invited into, and a little more effort to seek out genuine quality time and conversation, these things can make a huge difference.
I love that you hang out with a lot of folks who weren't part of NLCF, especially because they are so cool and then I get to hang out with them too!
LP
Yes, it is sometimes weird. But its not like there is anything to be done about it. Efforts to ameliorate inevitably end up in posing or attempted adopt and assimilate syndrome. It will get better when more people who aren't VA or OH move into the core, and planters gain more shared experiences with "locals". We'll get over it. If not, we'll go to a church full of people just like us and languish in the stifling familiarity of it all.
California has 40 species of native salamander, and only one introduced species. Guess whose threatening the bio diversity.
Non-Native! Non-Native! Burn! Burn! Burn!
- cheer heard coming from a wood burning lab in the forestry department of the University of California, Berkeley.
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