 Death of culture...Europe...another sad discovery. |
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Death of culture...Europe...another sad discovery.
Europe » Lithuania » Vilnius
September 2nd 2007 by Dannyintheworld
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 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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7J_ereCiTo&NR=1
Well if you had the patience to read all this "Thank you!" or "Multumesc"
6 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
September 2nd 2007 - Andra: :)
Foarte interesant articolul... poop
September 3rd 2007 - mona: there`s some truth in what you`re saying...
very sad conclusions, my friend...very sad,indeed! you are right from some points of view, it is about globalization and loosing our roots and traditions and cultural feeling...I think I know where you`re hinting...I had 2 traineeships and one was in the Asian part of Turkey with very powerful religious and traditional values still kept these days and the 2nd in a Latin country where the cultural shock stuck me deeply and sharply :)))....but still I think a Romanian in London/ Paris/Berlin/Budapest still has cultural shocks, even if not on a big,major scale and maybe not vey profound and life-changing, but still, just the fact that you`re away from home and have to manage on your own is still a huge challenge.
I think the fact that almost anyone can speak some English or some other wide-spread language is a big PLUS for the mankind and it`s only normal that in the 21st century it`s so much easier to manage ourselves in countries where we can`t speak the language.
I`m gonna read your article one more time now to see if I get the entire picture of what you`re saying.
Anyhow, definitively you can`t compare a traineeship in Europe-so local :), with a roughly similar culture to one in Asia or Africa or S/N America!
Hey Mona, thanx for the comment:) It is true, we still have culture shocks but they are not determined as much of the culture, the culture shock is more or less determined by family and the fact that you are "not home". :) MISS U girl ;)
September 4th 2007 - Ferney: Exchange
hello Danny I want to add a comment: when u r making a interneship u r doing an exchange which exchange? ur culture with the culture the host country, may be the culture where u r not offer u that u want but u can offer them, that they didn't think to see, ur own culture then u r teaching!!!! very good point of view
September 9th 2007 - andruitza:
even if i read it later i can say that this is something i thought about, and that i don't want my internship in europe, next year, of course! i hope you will help me find the best! i'm counting on that!
September 29th 2007 - Silviana: a bit late for comments
Hi Danny... Thank you for sending me the link to you page. Nice post, I like it very much, though I mus disagree with the conclusions.
I believe culture is changing, in deed. We can dream and be melancholic about the past times, decades ago, when the local culture of each country was not only strong, but also different.
But we can also enjoy the present and whatever the future might bring to us. Now I am amazed how I can so easily communicate with people from all over the world. It's a part of my job to do so, and I must say I do appreciate all the instruments that can make the world smaller, bring people closer. They know the same products, have now similar habits, and speak the same language. And most importantly, after you get to talk with them, you discover how different they are, and you start to feel again the local flavor of their cultures.
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