Odd question, but...

[jack0falltrades]

After my study-abroad in Ireland, my friend and I intend to WWOOF (world-wide opportunities on Organic Farms), which entails contacting a host farm, arranging a range of dates to work on their farm/at their property, and you typically get to be housed with them, and they provide food, and in return you provide labor for whatever jobs are available

Comments

[naurwen]

Hi there
I don't think I'll be of much help, but... since nobody else has answered yet I thought I'd throw in some thoughts. :)
I'm in Switzerland and can mainly speak for here (though I'm an Ireland traveller :D) and other European countries I know. I think mainly it's either people are cool with it or they find it odd and some few find it let's say *worse*.
I think you'll never know until you'll talk about it.
And I think... is it necessary to specifically point it out? I mean, how important will this *detail* be when you live there (because I really don't know, I mean, I don't know you :) So I can't tell.). Because sometimes people react oddly to something like this *written about* but when they actually talk to the person they can't see a problem. You know what I mean?

errr, as said, this might not *really* be helpful... :p

[jack0falltrades]

My friend is currently in Spain, and says it's a completely non-issue.

At first it seemed fairly necessary to point out, but I suppose it's not, actually.

I simply worried about when I called them. I anticipated being asked what I was, and not having a culturally appropriate answer to that question...

Anyway, thanks. You were very helpful.

[_graywolf_]

You sound like this issue is a 'personal problem' almost, and something that people need to be warned about. Let me tell you this, it doesn't change whom you are on the inside. Living in Ireland I'd say you can make this 'a problem' if you want, but personally I'd leave this for face-to-face dinner chats. If they are curious, they'll ask.

[jack0falltrades]

Yes, I suppose it's really a piece of my personality and shouldn't factor in to their need for a worker...
Mainly it's that my friend and I can still be easily taken for traditionally female, albeit odd ones. I didn't want to be identified as such, though, and didn't know the culturally appropriate way to convey that.
After talking to my friend, they rather agree with the above posters. It'll only come up if asked, because it's irrelevant.

[jack0falltrades]

Homosexual... in a way? It's all very complicated. Personally I call myself genderqueer as a matter of identity. Sexuality is a whole other can of worms.

Interesting vernacular. I understand "quare" being "weird", but I'm surprised by the other ones.

Anyway, thanks.

[araminya]

If it doesn't affect the work you'll be doing, I don't see why anybody would have to know. I'm antitheist & bisexual, but I don't put it in job applications as it's 100% irrelevant.

Besides, telling them in advance would just change their behaviour & attitude towards you since such things play no part in a working environment, and they couldn't understand why you'd chosen tell them like that. Less liberal/intelligent/intellectual/etc. people might even expect the transgender-ness to come out any second, making things very awkward.

It's not the matter itself, it's the making an issue out of it.

[jack0falltrades]

Yes, I beginning to see the silliness in trying to come right out with it. I was wondering what to say when the time comes and they ask, or if they ask if we're lesbians or something...
But I think we'll manage to accurately tell them about ourselves.
thanks