So, this is my first time being at a school with absolutely no Americans, besides a German PreK that didn’t count because I’m not sure my mind knew how to do anything other than color and eat Spaghetti-Os. I have to say, it’s been a big change. Trying to explain American culture to them is like trying to explain grammar to Snooki. Speaking of Snooki, Jersey Shore is not something understood over here. The concept of watching faux-Italians binge drink has not carried over. Some things about America almost embarrass me to describe, for instance, Slim Jims. Now, I myself don’t eat these, as I prefer my meat hydrated.
“Well, it’s like dried meat, but greasier, and stick-shaped. And in a clear plastic wrapper.”
However, I guess there are some good aspects of it as well. If I’m tired, or not paying attention, and I say something wrong, I just claim
“Oh no, see, in America, Thursday and Wednesday are synonymous, so really, when you thought I misspoke, I was correct.”
After I first started realizing this, I decided to have fun with it, and see how far I could go. Sometimes, in conversation, I just make up phrases and claim they’re American.
“Yeah, that test was just bucketbasket. Oh, that? That’s slang for……hard.”
I have to say, my triumph was convincing my friends “balderdash” and “poppycock” were normal everyday phrases people use. I now get to use them at will without getting strange looks. This amuses me more than it should.
Afternote: On a subject other than taking advantage of other cultures and being a bad person, I put up some of my favorite pictures I’e taken while here. They’re somewhere over in this bar ———————————————————————————————–>
