Christmas

Tis the season to celebrate the differences....here are some I am aware of.

South African Christmas turkey 

vs American Christmas ham

	South African Christmas	American December “holiday”
Christmas cards show:	A British robin and some snow	Just about anything
Days:	Christmas and Boxing Day to recovery	Just one day off unless it is a weekend….
Weather:	Hot – go swimming after lunch	Hope for snow
You can say:	Happy Christmas	Happy Holidays only
Main course:	Turkey of course	Just had turkey at thanksgiving, so need options. Ham is popular
Dessert:	Christmas pudding and yummy brand sauce	Not clear – pies seem common
Gifts:	Used to be just one gift to say I remember you	Seems a little out of control with multiple gifts
Drinks:	Champagne or wine or beer	Weird things like eggnog and other cocktails

Strangers

When thinking about cultural differences one seldom thinks about how one interacts with people you don't know.  I now remember how surprised I was in my first weeks in Boston when everyone said "hi" when I was out walking, and commented on how cute my "puppy" (a full grown border collie) was. I got used to it quickly and learnt that hi was the standard response to seeing anyone when out walking.

It was last summer only when my friend from London was visiting that I fully learned how American I had become.  We were shopping in Concord, MA and suddenly she came out of a store stating, "I just had a real American experience!"  She proceeded to explain how a stranger asked her if the cutting board she was eying in the store would be the right size for a particular kitchen function... My friend did manage a "yes, sure" before scurrying away.  

She later explained that she had often thought about being on an underground train and seeing an unattended package, and realizing that it would be way too embarrassing to say something, so she would choose to just sit there silently, and hope she didn't get blown up... Really truly!

I think the American way of greeting everyone, and casually chatting is a good change!

Thankgiving

Some weeks ago I was ranting about all the foolish American "holidays".  This time I am saying, good one!  Thanksgiving is a huge American holiday and here are some reasons it is great:

1. It is always on a Thursday AND nearly everyone gets Friday off.
2. There are no expectations for presents, and only a few people do cards
3. People are really good at inviting others who might not have families
4. Everyone has their own things that make Thanksgiving...specific dishes or even just how to do things...BUT, it doesnt matter!  People can have both your mashed potatoes with my roast potatoes.
5. You don't even have to eat or like turkey....the sides are often better
6. You don't have to be American, or Christian, or anything special to celebrate
7. Black Friday for shopping, CAN be ignored
8. It is getting cold, so you know skiing is around the corner
9. It is a time to say thanks, to anyone for everything: so just do it!

Happy thanksgiving!

World view....

It is interesting to me how people's view of other countries is distorted, wrong or so way off it is funny.  I have been asked which country in South Africa I was from, and I didn't feel that confusing them with Lesotho would help.  And of course, there is the inevitable, "I have a friend from Ethiopia, perhaps you know her?" (Really!).  

What is interesting to me about the map below is that even I was surprised at the size of Africa. I remembering hearing how Namibia was equal to large portions of Europe, but the regular map we see is really so distorted.  Part of the ignorance I can blame on education, but a lot is just the myth the media perpetuates.....Africa is small and irrelevant....

Seen like this, Africa is really huge!

Guy Fawkes

Some Americans know the phrase, "remember, remember the 5th of November", but most dont know more than that.  Wait, most Brits (and certainly South Africans) never knew or forget the origins.  It's more fun just to have fireworks and a great big bonfire, and perhaps roast some chestnuts. Just so everyone is clear

Guy Fawkes Day 2010 gives Brits occasion to burn in effigy the revolutionary who attempted to violently restore Catholicism in 1605.

 Here in Bolton, Massachussets:

• no fireworks (they are illegal)
• no bonfires (need a town permit) which they only grant when the ground is frozen

 Oh well, I can remember the fun of being a kid!

Holidays

In many parts of the world, a holiday is a day off work and banks and businesses are closed.  UK actually has a bank holiday.  In the US of A it took me a while to understand that there are many types of holidays and for many of them, people still work....there are federal, religious, traditional, and informal holidays....

So we just had the Halloween holiday which some people would say is perpetuated by candy (ie chocolate) manufactures, and most of course are "Hallmark" holidays, where that company benefits from people buying cards for every occasion.

I found this list of "holidays":

April Fool's Day - April 1
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month - May
Chinese New Year - winter, date varies
Cinco de Mayo - May 5
Columbus Day
Easter - Spring Sunday, date varies
Father's Day - June, third Sunday
Flag Day - June 14
Groundhog Day - February 2
Halloween - October 31
Kwanzaa - December 26 - January 1
Leif Erikson Day - October 9
Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday - late winter, date varies
Mother's Day - May; second Sunday
Oktoberfest - late September to early October
Rosh Hashanah - depends on Hebrew calendar
Sadie Hawkins Day - Saturday that follows November 9
St. Patrick's Day - March 17
Valentine's Day - February 14
Yom Kippur - depends on Hebrew calendar

and then I was even more delighted to find food "holidays" I didn't know I should be celebrating in November!  You can see the full list here: http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/National_Symbols/American_Hollidays.html

So November is:

National Fun with Fondue Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Peanut Butter Lover's Month
National Pepper Month
National Raisin Bread Month

Awesome! 

Weather

Everyone knows that USA has some extreme weather - hurricanes, tornadoes etc.  But what surprised me the most was how quickly every day weather can change.  

In SA, when it got hot and sticky in summer, it was pretty much going to be like that from December until the end of March, with very little variation.  England is easy, little change all year, with only a few exceptions!

In Boston, not only can the weather change dramatically from one day to the next, with little apparent reason, but I have seen the temp drop nearly 30 degrees F, in one day.  Every time that happens I am surprised.  

In New England, people often say with good reason, if you don't like the weather, just wait a bit.  It's really true.

Autumn in the Adirondacks - beautiful

Lake Durant, NY almost from the side of the road.  What is amazing about area like this is that they are so accessible.  So many miles of trails and encouragement to explore.  In some parts of the world, it's hard to find an open place to walk, that isn't private property.

We're not in Kansas

There is so much in every country's history that is tied up in media - TV, movies, songs.  But no more so than in the US of A where day to day expressions and jokes, are pulled from TV shows such as SNL (Saturday Nite Live for the unAmericans), and so many movies.  So much  is easily shared now, so people the world over have seen shows, but it's still not the same as having been brought up watching particular comedians, and even seeing the ads from that era.

Just last weekend I watched "The Wizard of Oz" for the first time.  Besides being a darn good story with great songs and singers, there was so much in day to day usage that I honestly hadn't realized came from this film......flying monkeys; lions, tigers and bears..." and so many more!  I will never catch up with people who have watched it annually for 30 years, but at least I no longer need to hang my head and admit I have never seen it! 

Vermin and other cute creatures

Woke this morning to the sounds of gunfire: knew it was hunters after white tailed deer in the nearby woods.

 
Every place has "vermin" and it is interesting how it varies.  In SA the farmers would shoot the baboons and my dad would chase the vervet monkeys away.  The first time I saw a gray squirrel in Surrey, it was exciting and then my uncle appeared with a BB gun.

Of course I understand that there are too many deer because there natural predators have been killed, but I still look into their sweet eyes and can't imagine shooting them.   But yesterday I was cursing the "little shits" for eating the green tomatoes I was planning on frying for dinner, and I am over the ticks and Lyme disease they are unwittingly helping to spread.

Please just don't shoot them near me.

Flags

Flags are interesting and there are different meaning and obvious cultural differences.  I grew up in South Africa where the SA flag meant the police station, or someone scary and very right wing with a gun.  The only time I was really aware of flags in the UK was on a trip to Belfast in the ealry 90s - again scary!

In America flags abound not just at Memorial Day but all year.  They mean something different.  Yes, it means I am proud to be American, but it has a more general feel.  I now have my own US flag, although it is getting a little tired and probably won't last the winter.....

Lucked out

There are so many words that are pronounced differently, but what makes it interesting and challenging living in another country, is really different expression.  Everyone knows tomAtoe and tomAHtoe, but it takes a while before you understand other subtleties.  The first time I heard someone saying they "lucked out" I felt sorry, until I realized they were jubilant.  In US English, it means got lucky, and there is no "lucked in".  The web suggests this makes sense because of gambling, but it is just plain weird to me.

Merriam Webster defintion of lucked out

Church of Body Modification

Almost by definition how can this be a church?  A gathering of link minded people yes, a church with a belief in a spiritual being or something like that...I don't think so.  It's fine with whatever you want to do, really, but I dont think you should have tax exempt status....

Merriam Webster says "a building for public and especially Christian worship".  Okay, loose the Christian part, but "We honor all forms of body modification and those who choose to practice body modification for any reason" from here

Church website

I don't think so!

Autumn and Fall

Fall is just a boring way to describe with the leaves do...it's such a narrow view of the world, from this side of the pond.  Autumn is more ethereal - it can mean so many different things. A quick google search shows that it comes from the Latin "autumnus" but in the 16th century, the English name was Harvest.  Now that is a season I can embrace after apple picking last wekend.