I have been working in an international environment since I
started my undergrad project, in 2005. Science is an international field and it
is very common for people to move around. Some do it for a couple of years, to
gain experience, and then go back to their home countries. Some do it for
longer and adopt another country as their own.
I see foreigners as equals. I do not think of foreigners as
superior, just because supposedly they have more life experience, and I
certainly do not think of them as inferior. I think of them as equals. They
might have the disadvantage of not speaking fluently the language and of not
understanding the cultural do's and don'ts, but they have the advantage of seeing
the same place with different eyes and of observing things more clearly, from
the outside.
A foreigner has a completely different lifestyle than a native.
A foreigner centres the energy on the surroundings, on the new culture and on
the internet trying to keep up with events happening 5 countries away, in a
place they once called home. The native is at home, and focus the attention on
the people, family and friends, and barely notices the surroundings anymore.
As a foreigner myself, I see three kinds of people. There
are those who see foreigners as another element, someone who might have lived
different experiences but now is in the same circle, living the same things,
even if differently. There are those who see foreigners as poor creatures -
they had to abandon their comfort zone - or crazy creatures - why would they do
that voluntarily. And then there are those to whom foreigners do not exist, what
exists is "stupid foreigners". They don't speak the language, they
don't understand that is rude to refuse bourbon from the boss at 10am, they are
not invited to the cool parties and they spend money flying home instead of
buying cool clothes (all happened, but not all to me).
The biggest barrier between foreigners and natives is the
language. No doubts about that. Sometimes it’s an even bigger barrier when they
all speak a common language, such as English. There are countries in which a
group of 10 people, that includes only 1 foreigner, speak English all the time,
including when the foreigner leaves for a few moments to make a phone call.
There are also countries in which people refuse to speak a word of English,
even if they are fluent, unless they really have to. Or unless they need a
favour, of course. They tend to avoid eye contact as well, acknowledging the
native that is with the foreigner, and pretending the last is transparent. They
refuse to understand that a person that comes to their country for a couple of
years does not have to learn their language, especially when the official
language at work is English (even for them!). I have observed conversations
between a foreigner and two natives in which one of them has to answer the same
questions both in English and in Czech, just because the other native refuses to
use English. Unless the boss is involved, of course.
The years have taught me to ignore it and think they have
not lived enough to understand the situation. It's ok. But secretly, deep down
inside of me, in that locked drawer where I keep shameful thoughts, I wish
someday they find themselves completely lost in Yemen, barefoot, without a map,
a GPS and money, looking for the way home.
Too true Sara, I think the people that left their emigrated as thus left their comfort zone and have to learn a new language, try to integrate, learn new customs, etc, etc is actually the clever one! Unfortunately many, many years ago emigrants were the "poor", uneducated ones, nowadays they are highly educated and qualified, and are actually a plus to the new country, but some locals cannot or are too "little" and mean to understand!
ResponderEliminarThe only place where I've lived that has or had then a strange attitude to foreigners was Germany, they even had a word for them (Auslanders)!
If someone would put me down I would always say "I speak 3 languages, have lived in a few countries, and traveled to quite a few more! What have you done?
We are now CITIZENS OF THE WORLD Sara, don't pay attention to the rude and small minded people!!
Thanks for your support Sami. We are indeed citizens of the world and that feels great! The most important thing is that I look back and think that given the chance I wouldn't change my path.
ResponderEliminarI have not lived in Sweden yet, but so far the nordics are the only ones I have seen speaking English among them, just because someone that didn't speak their language was present.
I find that people who have never lived in another country can be narrow-minded because their experience of the world is very limited. There are rude and unhelpful people everywhere and sometimes, like my mother used to say, "o mal deles é a inveja".
ResponderEliminarThanks Mara! I have to agree with your mother... envy is the worse, and it is the base of many problems.
ResponderEliminar