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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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Accents and Bottleshops in Australia

Singular event happened today.

Walking down King William Street in the centre of Adelaide wearing my hat with the Aussie Flag.

Dishevelled youth approaches me and says

"Know where the nearest 'bottleoh' is mate?"

I immediately thought of the bottleshop (Where beer is sold in Australia)

But as it was 10. 30 in the morning so I wasn't totally sure.

"Sorry?" I said.

In the meantime I realised he couldn't have meant anywhere else other than the bottleshop.

"Sorry , no idea mate" -in my unmistakable Irish accent.

He looked disappointed and buggered off without so much as a "Thank you" or a "No worries mate"

You see he approached me because of the hat I was wearing

But when I opened my gob and he realised I wasn't a true blue Dinky-Di Aussie...he couldn't hide his disappointment.

Imagine what it is like for an Asian or an African here.


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