International stuff.

Lately I've been taking the time to learn a few languages while I have the opportunity and I'm pleased to report that I can now hold a decent polite conversation in Russian, Tagalog (which is Phillipino), Spanish, and I'm working on German and Jamaican English (which is crazy different than American). Hanging out with these people and watching international CNN all day has really openned my eyes to how sheltered I am (A lot of us suburbanites are) as to the goings on in the world. Did you know there was a major revolution in the Ukraine 3 years ago? I didn't. There are people here from Ethiopia that can name half of the House of Lords and tell you their personal politics, and sometimes their shirt size.

I think it's all terribly fascinating how globalized the community aboard is. Granted when you have people from 74 different nations all stuck on a boat it's bound to happen but it blows my mind that there are rarely incidents regarding racism, sexism, ismism, etc. It's really nice to see as opposed to good ole' Decatur where if you see a black person you turn the other way or in the suburbs where you see a Mexican and mourn the loss of your quiet afternoon. Part of what I think contributes to that is the fact that things here are incredibly un-PC. People aren't afraid to talk about national stereotypes, it's all on the table. We American's are loud mechanical people, no one understands a single damned thing the Jamaicans say, the Russians are always angry, the Aussies are always drunk, and noone cares that you said it.

The other day I was asking a housekeeper where to get the daily coupons to bring to the cruise director and he just turned and stated loudly "Oh, down there where all the blacks are standing" . I was mortified, one of ladies there heard it, turned to us, and just smiled and was like "right here honey, here you go." It blew me away. It might not sound like much, but it just seems like I've been so programmed that if you can *possibly* in ANY way avoid stating anything about a persons race you do it. I think that's a scary thing. It seems like in America we're so force-fed the idea that everyone's the same that we're rocketing right into Huxley's Brave New World.

Anyway, enough blathering to the internet that I'm still incredibly naive, I believe it's time for some Coffee. Later all.