Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Waiting for baby

Me and Mirjam with our beautiful mustaches.
(Wouldn't be France without a mustache party. Duh.)
Zanzibar night a.k.a. wtf happened night.
(My girls Barbora and Hannah.)
Nothing like white wine to bring out the giggles.

Of course I remember my first day in France in vivid detail, and one of these details included my initial shock after finding out that my host mom was pregnant. It is now 9 months later and we now have an adorable pink-faced baby girl in the house. Overall from my perspective, the whole arrival of the baby went over smoothly (although I did have to sleep in the parents' bed with the 3 year old over night).

As we were waiting for the baby to arrive, I was able to spend a lot more time in my area and meet more people (including two other lovely au pairs who live in my town!). All the people I meet here have come from so many different places. Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, Tunisia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany...(I could go on, but you get it.) After meeting these people from all over, it has made me realize a quality about the United States that I really don't like. (Let me say that this is MY opinion and I am aware that not every single person in the U.S. is like this but a lot of us are. Including myself!) I don't think that the vast majority of Americans truly understand what it is like to be a foreigner in a completely different environment. I think there are a few things that contribute to this. One is geography. The U.S. is a giant country and even though you travel to different states you are still in the same country with the same language and culture. Whereas in Europe you can drive for two hours and be in a different country that speaks a different language and has a completely different way of life. (For example I can get to Switzerland in 2 hours from where I am.) I think another factor that contributes to this is that English is an international language. So when you go to a foreign county you aren't necessarily forced to speak a different language. Whereas if you think of a French person coming to study in let's say Arkansas, there really aren't that many people that can speak French fluently. (Learning a new language is EXHAUSTING and it is essential to have someone to speak to in your own language sometimes.) I don't exactly know where I am going with this post, but I just remember times when I have encountered foreigners in America and really thought I understood their situation when I definitely didn't. I also knew a person who told me he just didn't want to talk to this one guy because he didn't speak well in English and it was just too much effort. That statement infuriated me.

I think without this experience I really wouldn't understand what it feels like to be immersed in a different culture, and I now have so much more respect for all of my friends that have come to live and study in America. Because we really are a unique country that is very proud and not necessarily always the most welcoming. Because of this, I think that if you have the opportunity you should definitely travel and make yourself vulnerable to a different culture. If you don't have these opportunities, try to be mindful of the fact that it really is hard to leave everything you know behind and be open to everything new around you.