I have lived my life in Africa-Swaziland and suffice is to
say my whole life has been influenced by the strong African way of life. In the
weeks before coming to the United States, I prepared myself for a paradigm shift
(culture shock) from that which I am used to but no amount of preparation could
have prepared me for what I’ve witness in New York in my three days in the US!
People here are so free! So free to the extent that almost anything is
permissible…talk about dress codes; unlike where I come from where covering up
is essentially part of women’s socialization, here I have witnessed the
shortest of mini-shorts ever! Talk about almost every young lady wearing mini-shorts
and not just in the streets but to class too! OMG! Where am I? As if that is
just the beginning, today I went to NY Times Square guess what I saw…right
there in the central park…couples of all ages kissing, fondling and rolling
over each other in public- in full view of children! What!? - I was shocked…speechless
even. But then I realized; I am in America, the country of dreams, opportunities
and diversity. Suddenly, I felt more open to letting go of my own stereotypes
and fought with my inner self to try viewing things from the American
perspective, this I must warn though, is still an ongoing process of re-socialization -one I hope
(for my sake) gets over soon…indeed Southern Africa has met the West and what
can one say?-God Bless America!!!!
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ReplyDeleteLuckily I am prepared enough for the cultural shock. I mean most Indonesian girl who live in a big city also wear the same dress code as its counterpart in New York. About the fondling, rolling and kissing in the public space doesn't shocked me that much since I am expecting it already. So did you really went to central park this afternoon? because I though SJU's Sailormoon was taking us to Bryant Park (I know, I am really smart ass).
ReplyDeleteRio!Rio!Rio! that was figurative, I meant the park was more or less central to where we were...otherwise I get your point of correction, I must confess I'm not so good with remembering names (people's, streets', etc.) its just now my strong point so I try not to use them lest I blunder.
DeleteSandile! I really enjoy your post, I was shocked too! ( although I saw those kind of rolling couples in my university campus in Lima, but definitely those in the park yesterday were "other level"). I think we will be less shocked with time, and is good that we are seing this kind of things since the beginning, no better place than New York.
ReplyDeletelolll kiekiekiekie Sandile is always shocked! but he is right, about that i told myself before coming that if i saw it in the movies then it might be part of their everyday lives!! Just yesterday on the metro we saw an advertisment (poster) on a clinic that offered "free abortion alternatives" that could never be back home for sure. i do not know if it is right or wrong but we are here for mutual understanding, meaning that we have to understand their culture and they have to understand ours too, that, i think, is the beauty of fulbright. Next time Sandile, just wear black glasses and do not enjoy the view so much lolll Got my eyes on you and if i catch you you know where i will send the video too right??
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