This is what one American student said to our History proffessor on the first day of class.I was appalled!! I thought that it was cold, mean and ignorant of a grown middle aged woman to say to a very experienced and elderly Proffessor.The proffessor is from Syria. The proffessor was tongue-tied for a moment but carried on with his lecture.
I sat there fuming over that remark for the rest of the lecture thinking I should have spoken out. Well turns out I also have an accent which may be as thick..She would probably have said to me, 'Sorry, say that again?" ha! ha! ha! I tend to wonder, whether this woman expected the Proffessor to change his accent for her to understand him. well, I wish I could switch back and forth from the Kenyan Accent to the American or Bostonian one as conveniently as possible but it hard.
Who doesn't have an accent anyway; it all depends on which part of the world you are visiting/living away from your home! "Accents' in America are quite an unfortunate thing to have in my opinion. Most North American are intolerant of accents. Some of them shut off as soon you open your mouth. I think they simply disconnect and assume that are speaking your mother tongue, or you cannot speak English. For instance I was in a restaurant once and had asked for 'hot water', the waiter could not get my order until I rolled my tongue to say 'haat worra". Honestly, I hate to sound like that but, sometimes situations force you to say things like "haat worra".etc
So my question is, do you think its a goood idea to clean off your accent if your are a Non American living in America? btw there is an opp for that (http://www.google.com/)
What are the benefits of doing that? Have you been to another country that is tolerant/Intolerant of foreign accents that you know of?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Support Neurodiversity.
I saw a bumper sticker that read SUPPORT NEURODIVERISY. what is that? you would ask,Wikipedia say this ;
Neurodiversity is an idea which asserts that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological development is a normal difference that is to be recognized and respected as any other biological variation.[1] Differences may arise in ways of processing information, including language, sound, images, light, texture, taste, or movement. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity
That got me thinking how important it is to accept different personalities, temperaments and cognition. I believe that once a person is able to deal with all types and especially challenging characteristics, without losing their cool, then life becomes easier whereever you go. I tend to get impatient with people who ask silly questions that don't take much to figure out. I am learning to accomodate such slowly but surely. There are those other people who are so puffed up and think they know it all and are quick to open their mouths only to let nonsence out. I am also learning to accomodate those.
So how do i accomplish this? Simple, by remembering that there is diversity in Neuro sense! Please join in in this cause!
Neurodiversity is an idea which asserts that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological development is a normal difference that is to be recognized and respected as any other biological variation.[1] Differences may arise in ways of processing information, including language, sound, images, light, texture, taste, or movement. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity
That got me thinking how important it is to accept different personalities, temperaments and cognition. I believe that once a person is able to deal with all types and especially challenging characteristics, without losing their cool, then life becomes easier whereever you go. I tend to get impatient with people who ask silly questions that don't take much to figure out. I am learning to accomodate such slowly but surely. There are those other people who are so puffed up and think they know it all and are quick to open their mouths only to let nonsence out. I am also learning to accomodate those.
So how do i accomplish this? Simple, by remembering that there is diversity in Neuro sense! Please join in in this cause!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Maiden Post
Jambo!
That means hello in Swahili. I gather you are reading my blog either because you are one of many awesome friends, family, a Kenyan, know a Kenyan or have a some knowledge of something Kenyan. Living in a foreign coutry for 7 years ( as of 2011) has taught me that most of the links we have with different Nationalities only start from a link between you and that Nation. No matter how small. For instance I have been asked, "are you Kenyan?" me, "yes" "do you know John? he is from Nigeria?" well thats quite a weak link, but you get my point, right? So! Welcome to my blog! I love writing about everyday musings and incidents which happen to be very influenced by my many years of living in Kenya. I think being away makes my thoughts and incidents out there, or different. I guess its because i have two view points; one Kenyan and one American. I think Blogging is much better than emailing some of my cousins who hardly respond. That said, I crave your comments, musings and quips. Just make them sweet that's all I need to help me as I remember the dusty streets of Nakuru and try to keep warm in Boston,
That means hello in Swahili. I gather you are reading my blog either because you are one of many awesome friends, family, a Kenyan, know a Kenyan or have a some knowledge of something Kenyan. Living in a foreign coutry for 7 years ( as of 2011) has taught me that most of the links we have with different Nationalities only start from a link between you and that Nation. No matter how small. For instance I have been asked, "are you Kenyan?" me, "yes" "do you know John? he is from Nigeria?" well thats quite a weak link, but you get my point, right? So! Welcome to my blog! I love writing about everyday musings and incidents which happen to be very influenced by my many years of living in Kenya. I think being away makes my thoughts and incidents out there, or different. I guess its because i have two view points; one Kenyan and one American. I think Blogging is much better than emailing some of my cousins who hardly respond. That said, I crave your comments, musings and quips. Just make them sweet that's all I need to help me as I remember the dusty streets of Nakuru and try to keep warm in Boston,
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