Comments on: Culture Guide: Surviving the Stares http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/ Seeing the world in a brand new way... Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:23:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: rose obunaga http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1257 rose obunaga Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:53:58 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1257 I love those stories from Kenya. Its my home country and the stories make me remember home. I love those stories from Kenya. Its my home country and the stories make me remember home.

]]> By: Pat Pfeifer http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1114 Pat Pfeifer Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:44:46 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1114 I'm loving all the stories you guys are sharing! They are well written and thought provoking. I'm gaining insights and learning lessons. Thanks! I’m loving all the stories you guys are sharing! They are well written and thought provoking. I’m gaining insights and learning lessons. Thanks!

]]> By: Rob Yonan http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 Rob Yonan Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:52:29 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1109 okay, so if i rub your arm hair will it be weird? i too wonder how often i stare subconsciously. on the other hand, i wonder how often i over do it when trying to help the minority in the crowd feel comfortable (of course that could be my wife at my family Christmas, but that's another story). okay, so if i rub your arm hair will it be weird? i too wonder how often i stare subconsciously. on the other hand, i wonder how often i over do it when trying to help the minority in the crowd feel comfortable (of course that could be my wife at my family Christmas, but that’s another story).

]]> By: Amy Sorrells http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1104 Amy Sorrells Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:47:13 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1104 I'm with your Dad. Love you and the little dudes. I'm thinking Fantastic 5 . . . or some kind of secret Jedi order. My boys would fit right in. Love the hairy arm thing too. Definitely a more humbling (and hilarious) interpretation! I'm also left wondering if I look like a tourist in my hometown, since I've often been accused of being "completely oblivious to everything around me." It's a gift, I tell you. A gift. I’m with your Dad. Love you and the little dudes. I’m thinking Fantastic 5 . . . or some kind of secret Jedi order. My boys would fit right in. Love the hairy arm thing too. Definitely a more humbling (and hilarious) interpretation! I’m also left wondering if I look like a tourist in my hometown, since I’ve often been accused of being “completely oblivious to everything around me.” It’s a gift, I tell you. A gift.

]]> By: Cassie http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 Cassie Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:17:56 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1101 Love it...I don't have any cool stories to share but I still liked the article :) Love it…I don’t have any cool stories to share but I still liked the article :)

]]> By: Beth http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1100 Beth Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:51:58 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1100 I spent a year in Japan and while the economic gap was not as much of an issue as it is in Kenya, I can totally relate to all of the stares, the touching and other general awkwardness that comes with being one of the few Westerners with white skin in a foreign country. I think I would rather be associated with the rich stereotype than the one that all Americans own a gun, the most common stereotype held by the Japanese. Either way, I love the arm hair story. I am a friend of Jessica Shewan's so send her my love if you can! I spent a year in Japan and while the economic gap was not as much of an issue as it is in Kenya, I can totally relate to all of the stares, the touching and other general awkwardness that comes with being one of the few Westerners with white skin in a foreign country. I think I would rather be associated with the rich stereotype than the one that all Americans own a gun, the most common stereotype held by the Japanese. Either way, I love the arm hair story. I am a friend of Jessica Shewan’s so send her my love if you can!

]]> By: Zeta http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1098 Zeta Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:33:09 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1098 Ah, the stares. When I went to meet my husband's family the first time - I am white, he is from Chad - I certainly attracted a lot of attention. But do you know who got the most attention. Our bi-racial 11 month old son. (Several times I was referred to as the nun with a baby as they had never seen a white woman who was not a nun before). No one had ever seen a mixed race child. Some of the children called him a black-white baby. Children on the streets would pick up smaller children to look in the car at him, etc. He was too young to realize what was going on, but we are hoping to go back again, and he is now 4 1/2 and has 2 younger brothers. I wonder what the reaction will be this time? Ah, the stares. When I went to meet my husband’s family the first time – I am white, he is from Chad – I certainly attracted a lot of attention. But do you know who got the most attention. Our bi-racial 11 month old son. (Several times I was referred to as the nun with a baby as they had never seen a white woman who was not a nun before).

No one had ever seen a mixed race child. Some of the children called him a black-white baby. Children on the streets would pick up smaller children to look in the car at him, etc. He was too young to realize what was going on, but we are hoping to go back again, and he is now 4 1/2 and has 2 younger brothers. I wonder what the reaction will be this time?

]]> By: Sharon http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1097 Sharon Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:44:33 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1097 I see your dad doesn't have the same fear of dangling prepositions! :-) Great article, Barry. Growing up as a tall, white girl among tiny, brown Filipinos, I remember well the staring and the touching--for me it was my blond hair. I love the "mzungu or not" argument. I think all your travels have made you a kind of cultural chameleon--with hairy arms. I see your dad doesn’t have the same fear of dangling prepositions! :-)

Great article, Barry. Growing up as a tall, white girl among tiny, brown Filipinos, I remember well the staring and the touching–for me it was my blond hair.

I love the “mzungu or not” argument. I think all your travels have made you a kind of cultural chameleon–with hairy arms.

]]> By: Dave Rod http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1094 Dave Rod Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:30:26 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1094 So you and the little dudes in the picture above... Is that the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? The new Fantastic 5? It's good to get even more perspective on where you are at. So you and the little dudes in the picture above…

Is that the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? The new Fantastic 5?

It’s good to get even more perspective on where you are at.

]]> By: Aaron Elliott http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/07/culture-guide-surviving-the-stares/comment-page-1/#comment-1093 Aaron Elliott Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:29:02 +0000 http://www.worldnextdoor.org/?p=1230#comment-1093 Stares. I mean stares. "AT WHAT ARE YOU STARING?" Classic. Stares. I mean stares. “AT WHAT ARE YOU STARING?”
Classic.

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