tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29633909.post115422858578680896..comments2006-11-23T00:36:08.856+07:00Comments on MalayFlo: ...when you're a strangerFlorinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00505955042136951740noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29633909.post-1158256222425454082006-09-15T00:50:00.000+07:002006-09-15T00:50:00.000+07:00Hi again - I am new to blogging, so hope you will ...Hi again - I am new to blogging, so hope you will see this new message to your 2 month old message. Florine, you will look back on these experiences and laugh. I know it can be hard. At the risk of being motherly - the best advice would be for you to follow your gut feelings. Have you tried responding with a smile...<BR/><BR/>Rob and I have funny stories from our time in the Philippines. We were posted to a small island community where we and two Germans were the only white people. We were stared at. Rob was always annoyed when people would call out - hey Joe - as in GI Joe. Rob and another foreigner were working together one day in the jungle and walked out onto a rice paddy. Small children who had been playing there, ran from them in terror. We heard from our village guides that they had thought Rob and this woman were ghosts! I was lucky that I had Rob with me and we were busy working on a project almost from our first day there. The culture and language barriers were immense though. Even though many spoke English there was a thick accent to decipher and answers to questions were invariably -yes! because it was a cultural taboo to give a negative answer. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, the adjustment for me took about three months which you are now coming to (in our case we flew home after 3 months!). I just hope that if you are transfered to another community or country you do not have to start all over again.<BR/><BR/>Stick with it. Contact me whenever. I am working from home a lot so am available.<BR/><BR/>Love TracyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29633909.post-1154361853415830112006-07-31T23:04:00.000+07:002006-07-31T23:04:00.000+07:00It will get better - as both you and they get used...It will get better - as both you and they get used to the differences. I think it's always challenging, but good, to learn what it is like to be in the minority (and in your case, a minority of 1). When it gets too much, come visit me in farang central - Chiang Mai is overrun with tourists, both Asian and Western. Remember it's ok to get overwhelmed sometimes.<BR/>Jeanniejeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01257869855465532741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29633909.post-1154326885873277842006-07-31T13:21:00.000+07:002006-07-31T13:21:00.000+07:00That's a nice story. I think once people become fa...That's a nice story. <BR/>I think once people become familiar with you and know that you are staying that you will blend in...although I suspect you will still be a "celebrity". When will you start your assignment and know more about your work? Love from Victoria!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29633909.post-1154261276410995292006-07-30T19:07:00.000+07:002006-07-30T19:07:00.000+07:00I have to add to this post, that I am worried that...I have to add to this post, that I am worried that I have portrayed Vietnamese people in a negative light. Despite the strange reactions I get here, I have also been helped out alot too. Tonight I was lost in the streets of Tra Vinh and I asked directions of a young man outside of his shop. His father also came out and they were giving directions when the father decided not to mess around and just gave me a ride home on his motorcycle!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com