where’s heza? I’m asking myself that too. I’ve written some stuff behind the blog, however, it sucks. But to break the silence, I’m still here.

I’ve been a bit dissatisfied with my blogification skills and I expect it to get worse as the semester winds down. My mood isn’t right for blogging.

Maybe I’ll just post some photos and forget being bogged down with text. So enjoy the last of my English banter for the summer. perhaps…

News:

So I’m granted two more years in Germany. Thank you Herr S.. and to Alex for saying yes!!

Now on to year three in Munich. I wonder what the future will hold.

And one thing to air out:

This thing weighing on my mind is a series of recent summer snafus within our circle of acquaintances. In Munich, it’s relatively easy to meet new people here from all different backgrounds. For the most part, we’ve met some really interesting, genuine people. But as luck would also have it, we’ve had our share of weirdo encounters.

It’s become increasingly embarrasing hanging out with certain English speakers in Munich. I’m not sure if I can pin point the source. It is not just those who spend their numbered days here in Germany in their English speaking bubble and don’t attempt to learn a lick of German or the German people/culture. There are English speakers who have lived in a German speaking country for over a decade, but still have no qualms about dragging out old, invective stereotypes to get a rattled heh from the few in earshot:

One example of this happened in a middle of a discussion between myself, a guy from Ireland and Englander about the behavior of a couple of Germans hushing the people at our table while an Argentinian band played in a packed bar. The increasingly louder Irishman, out of the blue, asked me if I’ve ever called my “sitting-at-the-same-table” boyfriend a Nazi.

Another time, a Canadian got obnoxious with Alex about religion in Germany versus the U.S. Like the last example, this one also got louder and talked over Alex about how Germany is far more religious than America. Part of his argument was based on the fact that he stepped into a church in Heidhausen and saw about 100 people in church.

One could blame the alcohol that they consume for their rudeness and blatant arrogance. Maybe it’s the whole prohibition of alcohol until 18/21 y/o in most English speaking countries that makes binging still such a rave even way into our late 20s. what a dull excuse to exempt us from being responsible for our behavior! But we are all having drinks during these occasions and not all of us are acting like primates. Maybe it has nothing to do with alcohol. Maybe it’s male ego in the presence of a woman.

I have not experienced this kind of obnoxious behavior from the Germans or other Europeans I’ve spoken to. Come to think of it though, I don’t hang out with any Europeans who make it a mission to get as close to being blind drunk either.

I do have the advantage of being in a bi-cultural relationship (tri- if you count the my Filipino part) and the ability to communicate with German-speaking people. But it’s also taken a great deal of effort on my part to get to this point and knowing when to swallow when I’ve been wrong with my assumptions. Perhaps I have a difficult time tolerating people who see their host country in “black and white” and don’t wish to listen to those who know things in a grayer light.

It’s sad but I think I’ll stay clear from those frat-boy type expats, whose major reason to take a job in Munich is to train for Oktoberfest beer gluttony. It’s just not worth the frustration.

Have you had any similar encounters with embarrassing expats? funny or annoying stories? Any tips how to handle them?