A life lesson from Lille
Crazy stuff. For the first time in my life I think I felt truely excluded... (not the whole time, just on several occasions). For the guys in Lille reading this, you should not feel bad or offended - it's just the way it is. I thank you very much for all your English conversation, and for putting up with my lack of French.
Sitting down listening to a group of people laugh and talk in a language I know nothing of... it really made me think about the asian students that come to study in Australia. At first I was thinking poor them, and how bad and excluded they must feel, but then I thought about it a bit more and to start with they generally have a grasp of the English language before they come to Australia, hell they would want to if they expect to study there. They also appear to go out of their way to collect in a group to shield themselves/each other from the local environment and customs... Whereas I was just a lost sheep in the wrong paddock... trying to fit in, but struggling. Very hard for a person that enjoys being the life of the party, especially when you have to wait and hope that someone explains what the hell is going on.
So here's where I stand; for someone that tries to adapt and fit in, I will do my best to help them. For the lazy that choose to isolate themselves, I have no time and no pity. You just can't expect the world to fall at your feet because mummy and daddy have paid a mint for you to go overseas and study... try and fit in and the people around you will respect you for it!!
*reads back over what I just wrote*
... Damn, that's some serious stuff there!
Sitting down listening to a group of people laugh and talk in a language I know nothing of... it really made me think about the asian students that come to study in Australia. At first I was thinking poor them, and how bad and excluded they must feel, but then I thought about it a bit more and to start with they generally have a grasp of the English language before they come to Australia, hell they would want to if they expect to study there. They also appear to go out of their way to collect in a group to shield themselves/each other from the local environment and customs... Whereas I was just a lost sheep in the wrong paddock... trying to fit in, but struggling. Very hard for a person that enjoys being the life of the party, especially when you have to wait and hope that someone explains what the hell is going on.
So here's where I stand; for someone that tries to adapt and fit in, I will do my best to help them. For the lazy that choose to isolate themselves, I have no time and no pity. You just can't expect the world to fall at your feet because mummy and daddy have paid a mint for you to go overseas and study... try and fit in and the people around you will respect you for it!!
*reads back over what I just wrote*
... Damn, that's some serious stuff there!
posted by Yoda at 02:27
3 Comments:
Whoa!!!! What's going on dude????? Were you pissed when you wrote that????? ;o)
Nah... well not really. I was in Brugge, after a long day riding a bike and had one or two beers...
Hey - it's bloody true though... people should make an effort to help those that try and fit in, providing they are trying!
100% agree with ya man!! You're putting in an effort, so they should help ya out. Especially you cause you're so cool!! lol!! ;o)
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