Differences in perspective
Sorry I haven’t updated much recently. Since I was in New Jersey on a long-term stay, I wasn’t really thinking about keeping this up to date. I will try to be better about that. Anyway, on to the real post – coming to you live from Denver, CO.
I just had dinner and drinks for a few hours down in the bar/lounge of the Holiday Inn I am staying at. During this time, I noticed a couple of things – 1. Probably least important, I was the only one not in the airline industry… that probably has something to do with the hotel being 50ft from an airport.
2. And probably more important – I came across four categories of people.
a. A couple guys from Texas – preaching profoundly about the greatness of our nation and the crappiness of everywhere else. They felt the need to proclaim their love of the death penalty and that the middle east and all of the “towel heads” should have nukes dropped on them until the entire country was a pane of glass.
b. A fellow from Europe who has been in the states for some time – he was listening to the folks from Texas and agreed that he thought the U.S. was the greatest thing around, although I could tell by his reactions that he did not agree completely with the derogatory comments being made.
c. A few guys from Holland – they were very relaxed about their thoughts. They agreed that that U.S. had some great things (the independence of business being one of the major factors) but gave their opinion that they would never want to live here due to people type a. (among other reasons). Keep in mind that these guys arrived after group a. had left – it would be interesting to see what was said if they were both around at the same time.
d. The group I fit in to – those who were just soaking it in / biting their tongues. This really only included the bartenders and myself. The bartenders, I would assume, do not get into such things because they hear it all the time and, well, they are at work and such discussions should not be had while on the clock. Me, I just like to be a sponge. I have my opinions, and I will voice them to those who ask, (group c. asked, group a. did not), but I will not get in a bar fight because I disagree – I find it better to just learn as much as I can so it can be used in the real world.
So – who did I learn from? Well – everyone I guess. It’s always good to know what others think – it helps to solidify my own opinions. However, I think group c. gave me more info for the future than anyone else. After a lengthy discussion, I now know more about Holland than I ever did before. I also have found how much I am lacking by being uni-lingual. One of the guys from Holland spoke five languages, his 19 year old son speaks four and his 17 year old daughter speaks three. How do you think that makes me feel?
Probably most importantly, group c. gave me their opinions and, unlike the other groups, gave reasons why. Also, after some discussion, one of them even gave their opinion about me. This is always good to know. Apparently, my attitude towards life and social interaction, at least that which is seen in a hotel bar, is very “un-American”. Apparently it is much more European. Introducing yourself when you are sitting at a bar and having a conversation with a stranger is, as I am told, not very normal for the states. I guess this is true – and I must just be lucky about who I strike up conversations with, because normally I find them very beneficial. (It is also VERY beneficial to offer a chair to someone in Jersey, but that’s a whole other story). The comment about my behavior was said very cautiously – afraid that saying that I am different from many Americans would offend me. Scary enough, I find it to be a compliment. I don’t mind being different – and I think that the ability to be social, accepting, and willing to learn and at least listen to other perspectives is a good thing.
I was also told faults – the key one being that I only speak American. Lack of experience of other cultures is also a give-in, but that was less of a fault and more of a “it’s a good thing to work on”.
In the end, there is one reason I am posting thing. I was feeling very ashamed for humanity after listening to group a. – after talking with group c. and witnessing group d., I have hope for mankind. Not everyone in this world is completely biased, blinded and narrow minded. Not everyone is afraid and stressed. If you are afraid and stressed, perhaps you should take another look at your surroundings and realize that things aren’t all bad.
Also, I need to learn other languages – maybe, just maybe, putting that in writing will help keep it fresh in my mind.