The world is much smaller than I thought, and I am worried about how the U.S. is portrayed here. I was in a music store the other day (not on purpose). They were playing 'Mickey, you're so fine you blow my mind! Hey! Mickey'. In the subway, some one was jamming on a pan flute. When I saw him, I couldn't help but laugh. He was the Korean version of Zamfir (Perhaps it is my bias, but people look ridiculous playing the pan flute no matter how good they are. I mean even if it was a Rembrandt. A Velvet Elvis would still be a Velvet Elvis). When I returned to my temporary office, someone actually used the quote, "Impossible is Nothing!". It took me some time to remember where I had heard that phrase. Yes, Aleksey Vayner was quoted in Korea! Google that name if you don't know the story. I can't do it justice here. Let's just say that 'Hey, Mickey!', Zamfir, and Aleksey Vayner are not the cultural references I would want people to associate the U.S. with. I'm hoping with time that list will get better.
The Aleksey Vayner quote has taught me something, though. I was beginning to fall into the trap of thinking that English speakers understood English. That is not necessarily true. For instance, if you don't know the context, you might take a joke seriously and quote Aleksey Vayner. Then again, Aleksey Vayner probably takes himself very seriously so who am I to judge. And that is my point. Words don't always convey the same meanings. The makeup section in the stores here are called 'Skinfood'. A much more descriptive term if you think about it. So I have to remind myself that the way I use English is sometimes different than the way it is used in Korea. Perhaps that will enable me to one day believe that the impossible is indeed nothing, because it sure seems rather daunting right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment