Acceptance

Are cultural differences barriers?

Is being close a hazzard?

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I believe throughout the years, I've become less cynical and more hopeful. Its odd what time can do to a person -- I don't think people necessarily change, but the way we think of them do. And when it does, its usually negative, at least for me.

I hung out with Tien this time back and she noted how she loved that I haven't changed. It's a great compliment and its right back at her too. In fact, everyone that I hung out with are still the same. What can I say about them? Damn over achievers, workaholics, down to earth, awesome people.

I actually found myself being the observer -- which is funny cuz I've known these folks for 10+ years. I realized why after all these years we're still close. That even though I'm in the motherland, I drunk dial some of them. Or I try to call every God's day. Or I'll call to bitch and moan about stupid high school shit.

Generous and loyal. (to those we care about)
Accepting those for who they are. (b/c of love)

It all sounds so simple, but not all are like this. But I've found the one's closest to me or the friends that I trust the most, possess those traits (amongst others).

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Back to the top.

I learned today that I can't treat people here like I do back home. There's the misconceptions, the lost in translation, the hidden emotions, the need for 'face'. I told Kristi it's a bit discouraging. She replied: It's just cultural differences. Touche~

As for closeness, here's a quote from Grey's that sums it up:

At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, all we really want is to be close to somebody. So this thing, where we all keep our distance and pretend not to care about each other, is usually a load of bull. So we pick and choose who we want to remain close to, and once we've chosen those people, we tend to stick close by. No matter how much we hurt them, the people that are still with you at the end of the day - those are the ones worth keeping. And sure, sometimes close can be too close. But sometimes, that invasion of personal space, it can be exactly what you need.