Outsider


I grew up in Northern Ireland and have been a teacher and lived in England, Ghana, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, Colombia, The United Arab Emirates, Australia, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.

These are my memoirs which are arranged chronologically by year. Much is social commentary.

Aside from narrative recount, the style is often anecdotal, aphoristic and ironical. I try to soften the heavy social commentary with humour. Some friends have said I tend to 'rant' at times. I don't deny it! Perhaps it is the Irish in me. I apologise in advance then, if that is your impression too.

I do not intend to stereotype various nationalities but inevitably I will generalise for dramatic effect.

In a globalised multicultural world there is an urgent need to identify and face up to our national idiosyncracies and shortcomings. Nationalism has always seemed to me to be a bogus substitute for a genuine sense of connectedness and community. It is a highly dangerous concept when manipulated by politicians to get citizens to do things that are unpalatable to them-like going to war for instance.

If we don't begin to see ourselves as others perceive us - and not as we would like to see ourselves, then catastrophe looms.

I contend we can be comfortable with our heritage and still be able to criticize and even laugh at ourselves at the same time.


The two are not mutually exclusive.

Outsiders are in a unique position to show us our shortcomings because we simply cannot see them ourselves.

I believe that no culture has found the ideal 'solutions' to the challenges of life. Every culture I have lived in has both positive and disturbing characteristics.

In which cultures do people appear happiest? (notwithstanding natural and man-made disasters such as war and famine)

What question can be more profound than that?

The results may be surprising. In my experience, the happiest cultures were Ghana, Malawi, Mexico and Colombia. At the bottom of the list would be England, Ireland and Australia.

I think we need to learn from each other-not try to 'teach' each other...there is a big difference.

Please send me an E-mail if you would like to comment on anything.


Outsider


Outsider1952@gmail.com









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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Rude receptionists: Is there a dog here?

The Doctor gave me the wrong quantity on my prescription for medication last week so I had to go back to ask the receptionist to get her to change the quantity today.

After a John Cleese-like muddled exchange with the receptionist she eventually announced

"There will be a five dollar charge for that"

"Oh! well there shouldn't be.It was actually the Doctor's error-not mine" I pointed out.

She raised her voice:

"I'm telling you there will be a five dollar charge! she insisted.

The rudeness beggars belief.

I had already suffered the inconvenience of one trip to the Doctor in order to get the corrected script -another inconvenience for me. All because of the Doctor's error. But that is not enough-she wants five dollars as well-and is rude about it!

Who did she they think she was talking to....a dog?

It reminds me of the Fawlty towers scene where Cleese is visiting his wife in hospital. The Matron asked Cleese to leave rudely. Cleese looks around him and under the bed  as if he is searching for something and says

"Is there a dog in here? I thought you were talking to a dog!"

What power these officious little busybodies have at the Doctor's surgery.

I think I am going to have to leave Adelaide and find somewhere where people are more polite.

Like where?

Hmmm...
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