Cultural Interpretation 1

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Hey, did you hear about the C-gov't wanting to reduce air pollution for the Olympics by closing down scads of industry and industrial plants starting now? (sorry, no link for this, either)

I think this is throwing an inadequate, temporary solution to a complex problem. Sad to say, it also makes it more credible to me that C would do something like hold back the flow of adoptions to look good during the Olympics.

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So I shared this thought with a non-AP friend as one reason for the current slowdown, and she was completely thrown and started questioning me: Why would they do that?? I found myself too completely wearied with the complexity of the situation to explain thoroughly. I don't really know, myself, after all. But also, I was chagrined to find myself in the position of trying to explain C cultural values to an American. It was exhausting, partly because this friend doesn't understand why anyone would NOT be like an "average American" (or what she imagines that to be--haha!), so she is exasperated by the simplest difference and demands to know why, why why. ("Saving face" is obviously a term more than an actual concept for her at this point.)

We have had this dynamic for as long as I can remember (decades). It's not as if she has not had plenty of exposure to other cultures; we both have. But she still reacts to other ways of doing/thinking about something (anything) with bafflement. She seems to have a failure of imagination as to why anyone would do something differently than she herself would. The consistent refrain is, "Why on earth would they want to do *that*?!" And then, often, she laughs because she finds it too ridiculous to be believed even with explanation, which I sometimes find offensive. Even with my own, mundanely (or not so mundanely) American life, I've had to explain myself at times. Well, *many* times in fact, since I am outside the mainstream on many issues and factors! But she has learned to accept my differences from her own upbringing, and our friendship has survived numerous shifts, although in some ways we are still so different.

My friend's saving grace is that she is both open-hearted and very open about her thoughts, and wants to know about others instead of simply shutting out anybody different. So often, I can "just" explain my perspective and understanding, and once (if) she gets it, it's in the clear. She may not understand it or agree/accept it, but she'll at least not argue its existence! Heh!

I'm afraid, though, that it may be a prevalent, particularly American mindset. It's been my experience that most Americans are intrigued by but not really open to other cultures. (Or sometimes threatened by the differences--There is of course a continuum to either side of that which makes things very interesting!) And I'm tired just thinking about having to explain not only myself but the whole of C culture to other Americans, especially those not really open to other cultures. (To the extent that I myself understand C culture, of course--ha.) So do I get to be a cultural interpreter by dint of becoming an international-adoptive-parent? It would seem so. I've done this in the past, trying to moderate other's perspectives based on my own education and experience, but it's an imperfect interpretation. I'm still learning, myself. And is the listener even open to alternate ideas and cultural values at all? *sound of head bashing against brick wall*

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