Hi Doga, this was interesting to ready. I think foreign students like the ones we once were, had the benefit of learning about American culture before we came to this country (although, I had to say, in my case, since the Internet didn't exist back then, there wasn't a whole lot except for TV shows dubbed in my local language, Cantonese). I'm curious about the frame of reference on the other side of your dorm--meaning, the dorm mates from rural Virginia. Did they know anything about Turkey? What was their reaction when they first met you? What kind of exchanges did you have?
You are right, Internet was a huge advantage for my generation. Plus, I could watch Friends in its original language with subtitles on so I could pick up a lot on language, etc...
That's a great question, actually. And to be honest, I thought about integrating it into my piece but since I was feeling guilty about not posting anything yet for this week, I just wanted to finish up and publish what I have written. I will, however, write about that (probably as part of another piece) later on.
Hi Doga, indeed you were fortunate to be able to watch Friends with subtitles via the Internet. I was a fan too, but without the benefit of the subtitles. When the show first came out, I was working at my first magazine job in New York. The show made me feel like I had friends in my loneliness.
No worries. Your essay got me curious. I look forward to reading about your dorm mates' interactions with you in a future essay.
"The show made me feel like I had friends in my loneliness." I still feel this way whenever I watch the show!
I will definitely talk more about my interactions with my American friends and how I tried to introduce them to Turkish culture. It was a two-way street, although naturally I was the disadvantaged party in that interaction.
Hi Doga, this was interesting to ready. I think foreign students like the ones we once were, had the benefit of learning about American culture before we came to this country (although, I had to say, in my case, since the Internet didn't exist back then, there wasn't a whole lot except for TV shows dubbed in my local language, Cantonese). I'm curious about the frame of reference on the other side of your dorm--meaning, the dorm mates from rural Virginia. Did they know anything about Turkey? What was their reaction when they first met you? What kind of exchanges did you have?
Hi Louisa, thank you for your comment.
You are right, Internet was a huge advantage for my generation. Plus, I could watch Friends in its original language with subtitles on so I could pick up a lot on language, etc...
That's a great question, actually. And to be honest, I thought about integrating it into my piece but since I was feeling guilty about not posting anything yet for this week, I just wanted to finish up and publish what I have written. I will, however, write about that (probably as part of another piece) later on.
Hi Doga, indeed you were fortunate to be able to watch Friends with subtitles via the Internet. I was a fan too, but without the benefit of the subtitles. When the show first came out, I was working at my first magazine job in New York. The show made me feel like I had friends in my loneliness.
No worries. Your essay got me curious. I look forward to reading about your dorm mates' interactions with you in a future essay.
"The show made me feel like I had friends in my loneliness." I still feel this way whenever I watch the show!
I will definitely talk more about my interactions with my American friends and how I tried to introduce them to Turkish culture. It was a two-way street, although naturally I was the disadvantaged party in that interaction.