In Which I Think too Much

[fearedeyepatch]

So, I've been thinking a lot about history, and travel, and... well, history travel. And I've kinda been figuring out I do in fact have quite the case of White Man's Guilt (I am, after all, pretty much strictly European, mostly Central European at that, being half German, a fourth Polish, and a scattering of English, Scottish and Holland-ish (How

Comments

[vital_signs1719]

Hmm, interesting. I used to have the same thing back when I was younger, but that changed for three reasons. First, I realized I'm such a minority in every OTHER way (gender, socio-economic, familial, educational background, experiences, orientation, etc., etc., etc.) that...well, yeah. Also, the only culture I identify with even a little bit is Scottish (even though I'm like 1/4 Dutch and 1/2 someplace-in-Scandinavia, and only an eighth or a sixteenth Scottish--can't remember), and Scotland has been pretty brutalized in its history, particularly the Gaelic-speaking parts. And lastly, about 75% of my friends are some type of racial/ethnic minority. Mostly Asian, but lots more too. And our friendships just wouldn't be the same if there wasn't cross-cultural sharing, so...it's not awkward anymore. (A visiting scholar from China in my lab made me some Chinese tea the other night, and it was SO GOOD. Very tasty cultural sharing. ;D

[fearedeyepatch]

Yeah. I have been getting over it, and today I just basically said "Fuck this." Which was what this post was about, working through it through writing it out to get over it (I deal with my issues through writing about them). Like, some places will always be harder for me than others, and Hawaii is probably going to be one of those

[vital_signs1719]

ALBA GU BRATH. I AM SO JEALOUS THAT YOU GOT TO GO THERE. I WOULD GIVE MY RIGHT ARM TO BE ABLE TO GO THERE. *goes off waving arm to crowd, "hey, anybody want to exchange an arm for a plane ticket to Scotland?"* *smacks brain*

Wow, another exchange student? You guys sure pick up a lot of them. I hope this experience turns out well.

*sighs* Someday I will travel, maybe...I WANT TO NOW DAMNIT. But I has no $$$. *sobs*

[fearedeyepatch]

YES. BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR LIKE... THREE DAYS. ;_; But still, I am so happy I even got that chance. I just wish it could have been longer...

This will be our 4th. Two Japanese and a Chinese (That did not work out, as you should be well aware). This is the first time the program has ever had Korean students over and it's a very small group. Next year they're talking about having a group from Europe for the first time and I'm just like YES! Please! I love exchange students just... not the one I had living with me for a year. Didn't work out so well. But 3 weeks is good.

YES. TRAVEL. It is probably what I'm going to spend most of my money on... travel and books. Food will be secondary (And, really awesome coats and boots). If I ever get out of college and get a job that is...

[havlockvetinari]

I am seethingly jealous of your travel experience. I want to so muuuuuuch, but we have no effing monies. I think you should write up the cool stuff you remember from your trips, because you obviously took them The Right Way (stay, buy, explore local etc) and I love first hand stories (there's a reason I'm addicted to the Travel Channel).

Also, I completely understand the guilt thing. I always feel very conscious when asking anyone about their culture, their families and stories because I'm prying and (usually) the stories I'm interested in are of the tragic sort. So I feel guilty that I'm interested in *their* private and cultural despairs, but as you said, guilt should only occur when one is willfully ignorant of another culture's intricacies, or when oppressing said culture. (I blame my swallowed-a-dictionary-itis on just having finished a giant paper for my archeology class).

I do find it interesting that inter-U.S. travel doesn't hold much appeal anymore, for you. It's probably because I've never been out of the country, but

[fearedeyepatch]

I could write a travel book. :D