OneWorld. OneLove. OneHope: #RefugeesWelcome

"I just don't get it. I don't get how people in different countries all over the world can be frightened of people who suffered so much, who are so in need, who are so desperately asking to have freedom, justice and dignity. Just give them a welcome."Our video from Mandy Patinkin's recent trip with IRC to Lesbos, Greece, in which he traveled to as soon as he wrapped shooting this season of Homeland. For more on Mandy's perspective on the refugee crisis, read his latest op-ed on the Washington Post: http://bit.ly/1IONmYV
Posted by International Rescue Committee on lunes, 7 de diciembre de 2015

Worldly Perspective: What are Americans like?

I recently got to spend the day with a total stranger.  Now, I would call him my friend, Florian, a German engineer who I met while he was traveling in the US for 3 weeks and we happened to be waiting for the bus to Yosemite at the same time.  We started talking, and we didn't stop until we got back to the hostel.

Florian taught me a lot and reminded me a lot and just made me really happy that airplanes and internet and television and technology in general exist these days that allow the people of the world to be more globalized than ever.  We talked about all of the things that people tell you not to talk about:  Politics, race, immigration, voting, vacation, salaries, living habits, perspectives...it's actually much easier to talk to someone outside of your realm about these things.  I think it's because they don't have as much invested in it when they don't have as much control over it?  Or maybe that it's just so different from what we're used to?  I wonder if Florian would disagree with me since I always recognize that people from outside of the US are always much more keenly aware of anything happening in the US than I am of things happening elsewhere.  I'm not sure.

In any case, I was really excited and happy when Florian told me he really appreciated how friendly Americans are.  He said they tend to be really positive people and outgoing, that they often say "hello" and greet strangers on the street.  He told me that where he's from, that's really unusual to see...he thinks it's a really wonderful way to offer an opportunity to start a conversation or even just to let people know you acknowledge them.

Thanks, Florian, for a really great day, long conversation about everything, and the opportunity to expand as a person.

...Of course Americans have a lot of other attributes that maybe aren't the best.  Doesn't everyone?  No?  Not sure.

I laughed at this video when they talked about baggy or big clothes...I wonder if they would say the same thing if they specifically asked the people interviewed to describe American women...?  Probably not.  I also found this funny because most people I speak to (around the world) recognize anything related to tight clothing for men as "very European"...so in that way, I think it's just a good observation of the difference in styles!

I do think it's interesting how portrayal in the media plays a role in how people view others.  I wonder how much of it is TV and how much is actually knowing Americans.  Do they assume that all people in McDonald's are Americans?  Or do they actually know a lot of Americans that always suggest they meet up at McDonald's?  I'm interested, actually.

While obesity is a problem in the US, it's also a big problem in a lot of other places.  Maybe in the US people make a bigger deal about it because of the constant comparisons they make between one another and our physical appearances...the constant measuring up of our bodies...while at the same time, the girls were absolutely right: sometimes we just don't care at all and we wear PJs to school and no one thinks anything of it!  I probably wouldn't even have thought about it but when they said it I was like..."yeah...they're right"; we're really concerned about our bodies and how they look, but when it comes to clothing, generally we're less concerned about the clothes, themselves, than how we look in them.  Fascinating.  Someone once told me they think Americans are more competitive...how strange that in some ways it's true and in others people think we are completely uninterested.

Finally...I'm definitely always eating.  SO they're right;  They win.  Just kidding...but it's fun to see different perspectives.  I think this might be a series;  I'd be interested to see if they do this with perceptions of people from other countries as well.

One of the best stories of all time...

I'm not gonna' lie...this is probably one of the greatest stories of all time and the style it's written in is stellar, too.  It's the story of two strangers, brought together by fate and technology, from two separate cultures, on opposite sides of the world, over a stolen cellphone, who become insta-celebrities, and are finally able to meet in person, travel and experience one of their countries together and become best friends in the process.  The absolute BEST part of this story?  It's true.

Read it.  Seriously.  It might make you reconsider "losing" your cellphone.  Seriously, Matt--thanks for the share.  Really awesome.

3 of 50 non-cliché places to visit

Another fun list out from Elite Daily:  50 non-cliche places to visit in your 20s.

I've been to 3 of the 50:

(2) New Orleans, Louisiana for a one night stint in a 3 week cross-country roadtrip with my friends Keith and Amber in 2009.  I think it would have been more fun if you were either with a huge group of rowdy people, or if you were interested in getting wasted and having a good time.  I liked the street performers and it seemed like there was music every block.  We walked past the House of Blues and tons of bars but it was actually much more low-key than I expected.  I remember wondering if the city was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.  The architecture had an old riverboat-times style of the 20s.  You can tell its roots were wealthy and stylish.

(16) Christiania Denmark, either a small city within or just outside of Copenhagen, this is a little community most well-known for its order without government order...mostly meaning people smoke, buy, and sell weed and other merchandise without any outside regulation.  No photos are allowed (for obvious reasons) and I heard there are sometimes raids but that usually the people of the town are warned ahead of time.  It seemed like a happy and peaceful place.  Everyone minded their business or looked around at the shops or walked along the river or through the town.  There was a lot of artwork and some funky buildings.  I would suggest checking it out.

(40)  Plitvice (pronounced Plit-VEETcha) National Park, in Croatia, was one of the only things I really knew about the country before visiting in 2011.  It is far from most cities (which was great because a visit resulted in driving through most of the country to reach it and lead us to a crazy fun night in Zagreb, the capitol of Croatia).  It was definitely beautiful but VERY crowded.  I would suggest getting here either "off season" or early in the am.  I was there around 3-5 pm and it is in a bit of a valley so the really vibrant colors weren't QUITE as miraculous as you may have seen...don't get me wrong, it was still stunning!

Have you been to any of the places on the list?  

What do you think about them?  Any suggestions or thoughts?