Being A Minority

"There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign."

I found myself losing hours of my day yet again on stumbleupon.com. Among discovering many completely useless websites and pictures, I found the quote you see above. This is such a new perspective and as an anthropologist I couldn't resist thinking about it. When most people travel, they think about what sites THEY want to see, how THEY want to spend their time, and about the stereotypes THEY have formulated over the years about the culture they will be visiting. Differences are inescapable.

(I do not own this picture)

I have found that out more than ever by living in a different country, half a world away from everything and everyone I've ever known. I've noticed a lot of similarities and differences and I found myself saying, "wow that's weird, or different, or COOL." To everyone else, it was nothing out of the ordinary. The things I grew up being accustomed to are no longer present and the habits I've formed and ways of doing things are being brought up almost everyday as a topic of conversation. I found myself thinking for the first time in my life "I am a foreigner. I am a minority in this country."

Yes, England does not seem like such a different culture and the culture is not comparable to let's say Turkey if I had decided to go to school there instead. I am still surprised at exactly how different things are here. People seem to be so fascinated that I'm American and they've "never met one before". To me, I'm normal, but here I'm something completely different, unknown and it is such an exhilarating experience. I never thought that I would be living in a country, much less an English speaking country and would be considered a minority.

Not to be too anthropological, but it just makes me think about how many people decide to leave their countries to visit, live in, escape to, or study in another country and subsequently a different culture than their own. They are all minorities, for the most part, and many people don't even realize it. It's a humbling experience to realize just how different you can be somewhere, but still manage to find a niche for yourself among people who are so different yet inherently the same.

This leaves me with the quote at the end. When you visit another culture, no matter how similar it may be to your own, there is always another way of seeing every little aspect. I feel that to gain the most perspective and the best experience from something like this, for lack of a better word, journey that I'm on you have to look at it through someone else's eyes. Life really is about seeing different perspectives and hearing different opinions about the world that you've never thought of before. To be able to do that, I feel so humbled, exhilarated, anxious and am awaiting what happens next.


“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."

The weirdest 2 weeks of my life

Anyone who has met me can agree that I'm a pretty weird person. There's just no denying it. When I first came here I thought I was going to freak out the entire country, but instead I was pleasantly surprised with a country full of people who are just as weird. Over the past 2 weeks I have had things happen that even the best hollywood writers would have time thinking up. I have also been through the English inquisition and have been asked questions of varying hilarity... Some of my experiences, new favorites phrases, questions I've been asked, things I've learned follow:

1. Pigeons fly straight at people... in flocks.
2. Q-tips are called cottonballs.
3. Snapping is called clicking... which just does not make sense.
4. "That tingles my bum"
5. "Is there grass in America?"
6. " Do you live on Sesame st?"
7. Truth or dare in this country is much more ruthless
8. I can now say I was kissed by a gay, irish guy dressed as a ninja turtle... don't ask
9. The guys who live above me like to serenade me from their kitchen everytime I leave my flat
10. Teddy bear rolls are extremely fun, especially in a public place
11. "Do you know what babies are?"
12. I learned what squash is.... not the vegetable or the sport
13. If you live on the first floor prepare yourself to have visitors who love talking at you through the       window at all hours of the night.
14. As an ice breaker a guy once asked if i wanted "chicken and beer" through my window
15. My friend Jamie likes to get drunk and lay in the bushes right outside my window.
16. There is now a dent from Jamie in the bushes outside my window
17. Twister is fun while drunk
18. There are bars in the student unions here
19. Orientation week is nothing but school sponsored drinking
20. EVERYTHING is more expensive
21. No one likes to exercise
22. There are way too many McDonalds
23. Walking is a must... to go everywhere.
24. There is a pub called the slug and lettuce. We got free balloons from there that say I love slug. Epic
25. I have the coolest flatmates anyone could ever ask for.
26. My room is the flat living room
27. The showers are tiny
28. The refrigerators are even smaller
29. I miss Kroger... no food is the same and food shopping is very confusing. Someone send me normal food.
30. Swimming in a kiddy pool from the dollar store in the courtyard is normal
31. Bringing a random couch to the courtyard is also normal.
32. Everyone drinks... every freaking day
33. "When's thanksgiving? The fourth of July?"   Imagine my face when asked that question...

As you can see I have learned quite a lot about this country. None of which will help me with what I'm studying... unless you count it as an anthropological study of the people of Leicester.

I'm starting to feel more at home everyday. Leicester is such an interesting place to live and there's so much to do and explore. If you ever get the chance, Leicester isn't a tourist attraction, but it is a great place to visit.

I hope you found this post amusing. I will leave you with this quote to give you something to think about.

"People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home"

The beginning of an adventure!

As of right now, September 25th, 6:08 pm, I am sitting in Dulles airport awaiting my flight to Iceland. One of my favorite things to do in airports is people watch. Airports are the prime spot for doing this, however, today it is the equivalent of a desert. There are maybe 10 people in this terminal, 6 of which are asleep, one is staring at his computer and I'm not sure whether he is alive anymore because he hasn't moved for 20 minutes straight; the other 3 are eating or just staring into space. Outside the window on the tarmac is a completely different story. There are little carts riding around in giant circles around one another and racing. Now why couldn't the people inside be more entertaining?

Back to the real reason for writing this post. On the way to the airport I was listening to my all time favorite band Incubus. A quote that really stuck with me was:

 "I've waited all my life

If not now, when will I?

Stand up and face the bright light

Don't hide your eyes

It's time

This may seem cheesy, but I feel like it really applies to my life right now. I applied to Leicester on a whim and was very surprised when I received my letter of acceptance. My roommate Ellie can tell you that I ran around my apartment yelling, jumped on furniture, and did very weird victory dances that can only be described as Emma-esque. I want to see as much of the world as I possibly can. Going to Europe was such an amazing opportunity and I could never pass it up. If I didn't take a chance now I knew I would never have another opportunity like this one. I feel like it is my time to get out, see the world, and make the change of a lifetime. It was not an easy transition. Saying goodbye to all my family, friends and even acquaintances was the hardest thing I have had to do so far. 

I have absolutely no idea what to expect. This is an exhilarating and terrifying feel all wrapped into one. After months of preparation, speculation, and anticipation I am finally beginning my adventure. First stop Dulles, next stop Iceland for a few hours and then Manchester. 

I will keep everyone updated on my latest endeavors. Let me know how I can improve my blog. These aren't for me as much as they are for whoever is reading them. To all my friends and family, I love and miss you all. I can't wait to share everything about this with you!   Cross your fingers that I won't be sitting near a baby, smelly person, or someone large and in charge. No offense to them, but they are not fun plane buddies and I have experienced them all. 

Is this what I should be expecting to experience in Leicester?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14842999

Is this what happens in Europe on a daily basis? Sweden seemed to think that it was very newsworthy. If so, I think I will fit in quite well on their weirdness level. I had no idea what to post as my first blog, then I was perusing facebook and my best friend, Laura, had found this gem and I couldn't resist.

I have exactly 16 days until I leave for Europe. I am: EXCITED, anxious, petrified, dumbfounded, curious, nervous, happy, and everything in between. I have absolutely no idea what to expect. What I do know is I am going to miss every single person I know here in the US. It is a goal of mine to keep in touch with everyone. I have no idea how I'm going to survive without so many of my amazing friends, even the ones I have just recently met. Don't get me wrong, I know I will never forget this experience and I can't wait to meet a bunch of new people. This is the biggest change I have ever made in my entire life and I am determined to live it up as much as humanly possible. Watch out England... correction... Watch out Europe. You have 16 days to prepare yourself. :)