Also, I had to readjust to people being a bit rude again with the beginning of school and the drop off and pick up. The horn honking that occurs at drop-off and pick-up drives me crazy!!! These people KNOW there is going to be a back up in traffic and that there is NOTHING we can do to make the car line go faster. They still honk and still look at you like you are a CRIMINAL for driving your child to school as they finally inch past you after scaling the sidewalk. Now, normally I don't drive the boys to school, but Zee is a slow mover and I have been giving him this first week to adjust. But it is still allowed - I mean, I can drive him to school when I want, this street will ALWAYS be backed up during school drop-off and pick-up. I want to yell out TAKE ANOTHER STREET!!! But instead I smile and wave and turn on my Southern charm in an attempt to lower my own blood pressure and annoyance level. I tell everyone the story of sitting at that red light in Clemson through 3 red lights before I finally put the van in park, got out and walked up to the sweet little old lady with the line of 10 cars backed up behind her. I literally walked to the point she needed to pull forward to in order to activate the light. Not one person honked. No one yelled. No one used expansive finger or arm gestures. And we were finally able to go on our merry way.
I was speaking today with a German friend here who has just moved back after being in the US for several years. She mentioned to me it is embarrassing to her to hear stories of how rude Germans are, to hear of the bullying in the schools, and to hear of the racism (a variety exists, but the Turkish people are a large target, as are the Polish). At that point, I felt called to reassure her that sadly, people like that are EVERYWHERE. I did not think it reflected upon her, and one of my first dear friends here was German. Our neighbors are all WONDERFUL German people. I confessed I was from the Southern part of the US - and sadly she immediately understood. I explained that I understood what it was like to have a reputation just by the very fact that you are from a certain part of the country. My friend from the Czech Republic said that she used to think all Americans were overweight and sitting in front of the TV all the time. All these stereotypes we build in our head - there are certainly elements of truth in them. That is how the ideas gain traction. But for the most part, they are exaggerations of how people are - and there are so many of us fighting those stereotypes, attempting to temper the ignorance with a little knowledge.
BIG BREAK
I wrote the above last September, but realized I never published it. Woops! So I'm publishing today while I am playing blog catch-up with another sick kid at home. I don't really have much to add, except I keep thinking about these things having just been back to the USA. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet and make friends from all these different cultures - what a privilege to have my heart and mind opened to new ideas and thoughts and people. I am blessed and thankful.
I threw in some pictures from last fall - because what is a post without photos? :-)
Us at an Oktoberfest party |
Does the bag give it away? Brussels, Belgium for a day trip with Carin. (We are totally being American tourists here, sports shoes and cargo shorts!) |
Where we spend a lot of our time - on the pitch! (Silas is near the front in orange shoes and black leggings with the white jersey.) |
Celebrating Silas's 13th birthday at our favorite local Italian restaurant, La Bruschetta! |
So thankful to have been part of your fall. If you go back to London I need more cherry cinnamon tea :).
ReplyDeleteWill do! I think we are going back for Spring Break - I told Stuart I HAD to go to the Twinings shop. ;-) Just was reflecting on our trip and how fun it was to have a real girls' night in London!! Miss you!
ReplyDeleteThis was fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! And always glad to have readers!! :-)
Delete