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thehairyhorse
Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 33
Location: Chile
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 Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 1:40 pm Post subject: What differences are there in our country? - not again! |
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How often do you get asked this?
It really annoys me especially when you`ve only just arrived to a foreign place - this is when being a tefler is just being a diplomat
- I mean really this is a no brainer !
or What do you think of our country?
What do you say is you really think it is an absolute shithole and are in the middle of a 'negativity crisis' ? |
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thelmadatter
Joined: 31 Mar 2003
Posts: 1212
Location: in el Distrito Federal x fin!
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:51 pm Post subject: me too |
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| I get this question sometimes, too. I had the parent of one of my students really press me to talk about something I really disliked about Mexico (after answering what I liked). That was rough. Finally, I wiggled out of it by saying that I still have trouble with the notion of "customer service" here and trying to figure out how to get people to do what they promised. Its true but I made it as humorous as possible. Now a year ago, while in the throws of serious culture shock, I might have ranted but I think Ive calmed down a bit I hope! |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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I just stick to superficial things--good food, friendly people (even if both are flat-out lies), etc. I save more in-depth analyses for people who I know will be capable of hearing them without getting ultra-patriotic or defensive.
d |
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donfan
Joined: 31 Aug 2003
Posts: 217
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:52 am Post subject: |
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| In Russia I usually say the friendly people(which is generally very true), talkative students(which compared to Taiwan is a breath of fresh air) and the architecture. |
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Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: me too |
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| thelmadatter wrote: |
| Finally, I wiggled out of it by saying that I still have trouble with the notion of "customer service" here and trying to figure out how to get people to do what they promised. Its true but I made it as humorous as possible. Now a year ago, while in the throws of serious culture shock, I might have ranted but I think Ive calmed down a bit I hope! |
Thelmadatter, as we've both figured out, rants aren't very productive. I'd add excessive noise to the two you mentioned for things I could rant about, by the way.
| thehairyhorse wrote: |
| What do you say is you really think it is an absolute *beep* and are in the middle of a 'negativity crisis' ? |
I usually do as denise suggested -- stick to rather superficial things. I use only positive things like nice weather, friendly people, and good food -- not always the truth but an answer that works. It's what most people who ask the question want to hear, so it makes them happy. |
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Magoo
Joined: 31 Oct 2003
Posts: 651
Location: Wuhan, China
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Denise fibbed:
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I just stick to superficial things--good food, friendly people (even if both are flat-out lies), etc. I save more in-depth analyses for people who I know will be capable of hearing them without getting ultra-patriotic or defensive.
d |
Yup, ditto China! If I start saying that the computer the school gave me is an ancient, malfunctioning pile of sh1t; most employers are crooks; Party members are corrupt and lazy, I'll just have the above reaction. If I here the excuses,"Oh, but China has too many people/is a developing country [developing into what?]/Western countries are trying to stop our development" again, I might just flip. My (portable) First Aid kit contains sharps. 
Sorry, crappy day at school, today. |
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