Another important aspect of living in a foreign country is fully immersing oneself in the culture. Your own cultural habits will only slow you down, if you stubbornly cling to them as a foreigner. The funny thing is that cultural habits are often so subtle that it can take awhile to realize that they are the reason why living continues to be frustrating, in addition to why you continually feel so foreign. When you really think about it, you feel like you fit into a place when your habits generally resemble those of the people around you, and when they easily fit into your daily routine. For instance, in Paris it is not common to bring your own lunch, even to your university, while Americans pack their lunches all the time! Yes, it is possible to make a sandwich at home and bring it with you in a container, but it is not the French thing to do, and therefore, it is a pain in the ass to do here!
To an American, it seems like a perfectly healthy and economically sound alternative to the crap that is available at most cafes, but things in France are different! It is possible to go to McDonalds, and yet, a Big Mac is not exactly on the typical Parisian’s menu. In fact, the popular “fast food” in Paris consists of a fresh baguette and a few slices of ham, and cheese, or eggs, lettuce and tomatoes for a couple euro! Basically, it only makes sense to abandon your American compulsion to pack a lunch, and to embrace the delicious sandwiches that are prepared for you by your local boulangerie! Your uniquely Parisian lunch will bring a smile to your face after only one bite, and you will realize why the French choose this option, instead! Now, you don’t have to fuss in the kitchen, or bring a bigger bag to carry your lunch, and you spend more time walking around the city to find the perfect sandwich! Plus, you don’t feel so strange, as if you are doing something wrong by not acting French in France.
You will never be French, regardless, but if you really want to learn more about another culture, then you must learn how they live by following suit. Eat what they eat, speak what they speak, and do what they do, to better understand why they think and act so differently. That does not mean that you should completely abandon your own traditions, but there is something to be said for actually getting the full experience in another country. You can always go back to your country and easily return to your former habits, but will you want to after a few months, that is the question. If you never try to adapt to another way of life, then how will you ever know which lifestyle works best for you? Culture is important to its members in order to feel a sense of belonging and comfort, and is that not what most individuals inevitably seek, after all? Maybe you have “belonged” to the wrong culture for your entire life, and you are about to discover one that feels more homey than you could ever imagine! Maybe you will eventually return to your origins, but not until after you better understand a different culture, and you learn exactly why you appreciate your own!
That also does not mean that as an individual, you should not be bizarre, weird, or different, but merely that you should consider the things that distinguish you from others. Don’t be weird by obstinately packing your own lunch just because it is what you are used, especially if it only results in unnecessary frustrations! Choose to be weird because of your passions, and or, because your quirks truly set you apart from the ordinary person! =)
No comments:
Post a Comment