My sister is applying for an MBA program and she has asked me to review some of her essays. I've asked an American friend of mine to help me out with that. In her essays, once she has explain some situation, she would always do "objective," "impersonal" conclusion using pronoun "you." Something like: Once you have overcame something, you have learnt a new lesson.
And this looked totally normal to me. Whenever I do something, conclusions that I would make would sound the same way - quite impersonal, as if it is an objective truth.
My friend changed all of these conclusions to the personal statements. It is not longer about some "you" people/person, it is about oneself.
I have noticed before even in some (scientific) papers use of personal pronoun. I was always taught that all conclusions are done at the abstractive level. As well as all the reasoning is done at the level of generalizations. Nobody cares about your personal experience - that is what they've told us in school. You can use it only as example, not as a reason in the argument.
Well... this society cares about each and every individual and they are looking for expression of individualism in everything.
That is so different, but I think that is great. You are not one of the grey mass, you are an individual here. I guess I should say: "I am not one of the grey mass, I AM AN UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL."
Monday, March 31, 2008
cultural shock
When I came to the States for the first time I did not experience any cultural shock, or at least I was not depressed, sad or anything like that. I was enjoying my time. But I did experience reverse cultural shock, when I got back.
This time I haven't experience any cultural shock upon arrival. But I've experience a great cultural shock yesterday and it did make me sad and very concerned about the US, society, my home country and many other things. The source of this cultural shock was Soulja Boy song. I loved the song a lot, but only yesterday I've decided to look up the lyrics and to find explanation to some expressions like "superman that hoe," "super soak," etc.
It is not just very sexual content. There are three very disturbing things about that. First, it is very dirty sexual expressions (and they refer to some very unfriendly/bad/disrespectful sexual practices).
Second, this song is written and performed by 15 or 16 year old boy. He is not supposed to know about that stuff... at least it is so inconsistent with my view of the world. Well, I guess, that is my personal issue.
Third, this song was aired all the time on major pop/top 40/hi-hpt stations. Basically people of all the ages heard that. I hope not all of them decided to look up the meaning of some expressions used in the song.
Well... and a little bit about song itself. If it is about what it seems to be about, then what is the value of the song? What is the value of the message?
I truly think things like that should be banned from radio stations. The bad this - I've heard the song today and, although I now know all the meaning of the phrases, this song still sounds catchy and makes me dance...
This time I haven't experience any cultural shock upon arrival. But I've experience a great cultural shock yesterday and it did make me sad and very concerned about the US, society, my home country and many other things. The source of this cultural shock was Soulja Boy song. I loved the song a lot, but only yesterday I've decided to look up the lyrics and to find explanation to some expressions like "superman that hoe," "super soak," etc.
It is not just very sexual content. There are three very disturbing things about that. First, it is very dirty sexual expressions (and they refer to some very unfriendly/bad/disrespectful sexual practices).
Second, this song is written and performed by 15 or 16 year old boy. He is not supposed to know about that stuff... at least it is so inconsistent with my view of the world. Well, I guess, that is my personal issue.
Third, this song was aired all the time on major pop/top 40/hi-hpt stations. Basically people of all the ages heard that. I hope not all of them decided to look up the meaning of some expressions used in the song.
Well... and a little bit about song itself. If it is about what it seems to be about, then what is the value of the song? What is the value of the message?
I truly think things like that should be banned from radio stations. The bad this - I've heard the song today and, although I now know all the meaning of the phrases, this song still sounds catchy and makes me dance...
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Money, money, money
This society is about money in so many ways. Even religion.
I always thought of religion and churches as being something independent from money. Of course it is being subsidized by people attending churches, but it is difficult for me to imagine that people will make business on religion.
Here Xmas is the main purchasing season. It is all about buying stuff and discounts. Even Easter. I was sure there is no way you can make money on Easter. I was so wrong.
Few days ago, while driving to my job I was listening to the radio station and they were talking about Easter costumes for kids. As I haven't celebrated Easter with an American family, I'm not sure if it is true, but later I've heard about these costumes again. And these are the costumes that people probably have to buy... only a few will make them themselves. I guess, you can make money out of everything... Seems like this is exactly what H. Marcuse was talking about in his works...
And I'm still curious what kinds of costumes kids wear...
I always thought of religion and churches as being something independent from money. Of course it is being subsidized by people attending churches, but it is difficult for me to imagine that people will make business on religion.
Here Xmas is the main purchasing season. It is all about buying stuff and discounts. Even Easter. I was sure there is no way you can make money on Easter. I was so wrong.
Few days ago, while driving to my job I was listening to the radio station and they were talking about Easter costumes for kids. As I haven't celebrated Easter with an American family, I'm not sure if it is true, but later I've heard about these costumes again. And these are the costumes that people probably have to buy... only a few will make them themselves. I guess, you can make money out of everything... Seems like this is exactly what H. Marcuse was talking about in his works...
And I'm still curious what kinds of costumes kids wear...
everything is bigger here
In this country they have a saying "Everything is bigger in TEXAS." True. But it is true not only for Texas. As I've mentioned earlier, we all know that this is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the sun and moon are bigger here (of course it is some kind of optical illusion), but that's not all. Can you imagine trees that are so big that you need 10 or more people to hug them? Those are sequoias! And they do exist... not in my imagination, but in reality.
I've been to Sequoia National Park during my time in California. It was like in a fairy-tale. First of all there was a lot of snow in that park... although outside the park it was like summer. Second, it was so misty, so everything looked as if it was not real. I was amazed.
So the thing is, these trees grow only in the US. Here we go again, the biggest out of the biggest and again on the territory of the States. :))
I've been to Sequoia National Park during my time in California. It was like in a fairy-tale. First of all there was a lot of snow in that park... although outside the park it was like summer. Second, it was so misty, so everything looked as if it was not real. I was amazed.
So the thing is, these trees grow only in the US. Here we go again, the biggest out of the biggest and again on the territory of the States. :))
San Francisco
I've got back home today from my California trip. I've spent some time in San Francisco. It is a wonderful city, but driving there is so different from everything I've done so far.
First of all, it is very hilly, you have to use your breaks all the time... really all the time. And sometimes when you are driving up the hill you cannot see the road at all. you just see the top of the hill and it looks like there's nothing else... the end of the road, the end of the world. I was really scared seeing that. And although I've realized, that there is a road and this is not the end of the world - I could do nothing with my feelings.
Second, there are so many limits on turns within the downtown area. You cannot turn left at certain hours. That was confusing.
Third, some roads just disappear and then appear in some other place later. There was 101 road, which literally disappeared at one point and then appeared later on the other side of the city. And that was not our mistake or lack of attention, it literally disappeared according to the map too.
First of all, it is very hilly, you have to use your breaks all the time... really all the time. And sometimes when you are driving up the hill you cannot see the road at all. you just see the top of the hill and it looks like there's nothing else... the end of the road, the end of the world. I was really scared seeing that. And although I've realized, that there is a road and this is not the end of the world - I could do nothing with my feelings.
Second, there are so many limits on turns within the downtown area. You cannot turn left at certain hours. That was confusing.
Third, some roads just disappear and then appear in some other place later. There was 101 road, which literally disappeared at one point and then appeared later on the other side of the city. And that was not our mistake or lack of attention, it literally disappeared according to the map too.
driving rules
Back home we, of course, have have a lot of rules for driving, but there are only two main ones:
1) yield to the traffic on your right side
2) give the way to the fool (jerk, bustard... whatever).
Driving around the States I've realized that there is one more rule to these two:
Be extremely careful with trucks. Some truck drivers act as if you are not even there. I understand that they have a bigger blind spot, but they are acting rude even when they can clearly see you!
I think we don't have this problem with trucks, because the majority of goods is transfered by trains.
1) yield to the traffic on your right side
2) give the way to the fool (jerk, bustard... whatever).
Driving around the States I've realized that there is one more rule to these two:
Be extremely careful with trucks. Some truck drivers act as if you are not even there. I understand that they have a bigger blind spot, but they are acting rude even when they can clearly see you!
I think we don't have this problem with trucks, because the majority of goods is transfered by trains.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
the most needed & tornado watch
We had tornado sirens today... the real ones, not a drill. We live on the second floor and it was suggested for us to go to the basement, which is laundry room in our apartment complex. We decided to take the most necessary and valuable things. Both of us took absolutely the same three things: passport, valet with all the cards and money and camera(both of us haven's seen tornado before). I just thought it was a kind of weird-funny choice of necessary things, camera just doesn't fit in there.
Well... we didn't really get any tornado, so during the first time we ended up on swings in kids playground (we checked the laundry room, there were few internationals. It was sunny so we just decided to stay outside, but close to the building). The second time we just spent time outside the laundry room. Hail was great! and the rainbow at the end was gorgeous!
Well... we didn't really get any tornado, so during the first time we ended up on swings in kids playground (we checked the laundry room, there were few internationals. It was sunny so we just decided to stay outside, but close to the building). The second time we just spent time outside the laundry room. Hail was great! and the rainbow at the end was gorgeous!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Louisiana sun
On our road trip through Texas we've passed Louisiana during the sunset. It was a very unique experience. Usually during the sunset the sun has red or orange color, this time it was absolutely white. No red color to it, not orange color, not even yellow, just white.
The other interesting thing that my friend and I have notices was the size of the sun(Well, it was difficult not to notice). The sun was just huge!
We started to talk about this wonderful sun and got to a conclusion, that US is not only the wealthiest country in the world, but also the sun here is bigger! :)
Now... is that fair?
The other interesting thing that my friend and I have notices was the size of the sun(Well, it was difficult not to notice). The sun was just huge!
We started to talk about this wonderful sun and got to a conclusion, that US is not only the wealthiest country in the world, but also the sun here is bigger! :)
Now... is that fair?
attributes of a city
For the spring break me and my friend decided to drive to Texas. It was a long ride - around 849 miles one way. When we were approaching Texas it was already very dark. We were low on gas and were looking for an exit with gas. Almost at the very western end of Louisiana there was something looking like a city. And map also indicated exits 24, 23 and so on. We were happy - finally... GAS! That city looked gorgeous - a lot of lights, some tall buildings. It looked more like a city decorated for Christmas than a regular city - all the lights were the same color. The first weird thing, there were no any signs of any food or gas stations available at those exits.
Once we got closer we could not see any billboards or displays with well-known brands or anything of that kind (that was the second weird thing). So our supposedly city turned out to be an industrial region with lots of chemical plants. That's it! No gas stations, no food places - just factories. Looks so great from a distance.
So if back home you see a lot of light approaching some exists you can be 100% sure you are approaching a city or a town. When you see the same here, you cannot be that certain. When there are no billboards, and shiny "markers" of fast food places, gas stations - this is not a city. And you should not be surprised that all the lights are on... it the USA. It's a culture here to leave all the lights on. (Back home there would not be a lot of outdoor lightning, only lights to indicate heights of the plant for the planes and few others outdoor lights).
So... look for McDonald's, Exxon, BP, KFC or something of that kind to determine if you are approaching a city.
Once we got closer we could not see any billboards or displays with well-known brands or anything of that kind (that was the second weird thing). So our supposedly city turned out to be an industrial region with lots of chemical plants. That's it! No gas stations, no food places - just factories. Looks so great from a distance.
So if back home you see a lot of light approaching some exists you can be 100% sure you are approaching a city or a town. When you see the same here, you cannot be that certain. When there are no billboards, and shiny "markers" of fast food places, gas stations - this is not a city. And you should not be surprised that all the lights are on... it the USA. It's a culture here to leave all the lights on. (Back home there would not be a lot of outdoor lightning, only lights to indicate heights of the plant for the planes and few others outdoor lights).
So... look for McDonald's, Exxon, BP, KFC or something of that kind to determine if you are approaching a city.
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