[Theforum] culture-differences (was: Roll Call - Madhu)

Martin martin at members.evolt.org
Tue Oct 30 15:58:04 CST 2001


spinhead wrote on 30/10/01 9:48 pm

>I work in a very international office (located NOT very internationally in
>San Diego, CA, USA) and even though I'm very aware of cultural differences,
>I still find myself being 'american' sometimes. I can only hope that you
>folks will 1) catch my gaffes and point them out and 2) be patient - I'm
>immersed in this culture, and some of it rubs off.

Nah, it's fine. As long as you realise that American is just another
national culture (or rather set of cultures), not a global norm.

IoW, in America, I have an accent. In Scotland, you do. And that's
fine.

Essential reading: George Mikes - How to be an Alien. There's
a great anecdote where he's talking to his girlfriend (this being
195x) and explaining that he can't marry her because his mother
wouldn't stand for him marrying a foreigner (he's Hungarian, she's
English, the conversation is taking place in England).

"Oh no" she says, "*I* am English. *You* are the foreigner."

"Even in Budapest?"

"Even in Budapest. Truth has no borders."

Cheers
Martin

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email: martin at easyweb.co.uk             PGP ID: 0xA835CCCB
       martin at members.evolt.org      snailmail: 30 Shandon Place
  tel: +44 (0)774 063 9985                      Edinburgh,
  url: http://www.easyweb.co.uk                 Scotland





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