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Published: September 2nd 2007
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The title sounds a bit disturbing doesn't it? actually i wish a had a better one, one that could express what i feel better but i don't. Yesterday i was outside contemplating...Autumn is here, leafs are brown, remembering "Hazy Shade of Winter" from Simon and Garfunkel...Cultures..."Peace corps" and
pioneers ...uuu big Word. I was thinking about Peace corps Volunteers coming to Eastern Europe right after 1989, or just people wanting to see what Eastern Europe is. But still Peace corps Volunteers were in my mind, coming to an ex communist country and trying to change something...to help...teach...discover...they were probably the pioneers...Than another thought hit me...how did they adapt? They were coming for 1 or 2 years....just like AIESEC internships. wow there was such a big difference in culture back then, Thinking about Romania only 17 years ago...and all the things that were happening, especially to tourists or internationals....
the language barrier People did not use English back then...
the reaction to internationals The
"communication": Before you needed to communicate if you needed anything, buss ticket, food, you needed to make the effort of learning new words in a new culture, you needed to challenge yourself to adapt, step out of
the comfort area and see how much you can take. The
culture shock was strong. Now we are living the
Culture shocks of
remaining cultures basically composed by people habits...soon to disappear with the old generation. We don't need to communicate to buy basic things in a culture, all you need to do is to go in a supermarket, put all your things in a basket, put them on the table, and pay the amount of money posted by the computer...you don't need to change money...use your Credit Card. And if you notice...you don't have to say a word...it's a silent process.
The
feeling: Coming back to basics, the human kind was designed to
discover As a children i used to dream of discovering new worlds, people, islands, Virgin lands...and i am sure most of you did the same, and thinking about "Marco Polo" or "Columbus" i am disappointed...there is nothing to discover, coming in a new culture and finding the same elements is sad...Coca-cola, McDonald's, same brand of cars, i don't need to taste all things to find the one i like, i know what brand of watter i need to buy and what kind of food i
need to buy, and in case i don't feel like cooking i know what brand of chips i should buy or what company makes the best burgers. Nothing new...just the remaining elements of a dying culture...food and traditions...rare as well. In Europe i feel like home...the
feeling of discovering is dead..But still the personal culture of people is interesting and worth discovering.
The
Reaction to internationals All going better...you might say...Well as i noticed people over 40 still looks at internationals as at aliens but the new coming generations...have no problems...and understand. A few days ago i was doing my silent shopping in "Maxima" and while standing in line a girl came and asked something in Lithuanian...before i managed to answer she asked the same thing in English...i was a bit shocked...I am not saying that people should not behave like that, i am just putting out the changes that cultures are passing trough.
The
remaining: In Europe you can still see the shadows of the original cultures...protected by law...buildings, streets, parks and other small constructions, asking for their right to live in the shadow of 30-40 floors constructions made of steel and glass...soon their time will come
...
Trakay as well just like other elements of the culture they will vanish...
You might ask:
"Why did you wrote this article?" I had one thing in my mind and that was the cultural aspect of our AIESEC internships...one of the aspects of internship is "Culture" and
"tasting other cultures" if you really want that from your internship...
Europe has died...for Europeans. If you are from Europe and you want to discover don't choose an internship in Europe...I am saying this with great sadness but Europe is just a place to visit and even if some people will judge me for this article our internships in Europe should be called
"internshops".
Well even if it sound complicated...all can be described in one word
Globalization If you still want to be different...choose to experience a strong culture...a still existing one...a challenging one.
Here are some links to some interesting YTmovie
&NR=1
Well if you had the patience to read all this
"Thank you!" or
"Multumesc"
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Andra
non-member comment
:)
Foarte interesant articolul... poop