![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
My mom called me last night for one main reason; my decision to go to Poland. She doesn't want me to go and is saying that there are lots of better places to go than Poland like Germany and England. I want to go to Poland. She said that I should go to an English speaking country because I'm not that good at learning other lagunages. EXCUSE ME? First of all, we had no teacher for Spanish 2, secondly I DID learn Spanish relatively FAST, or so I thought. I mean it took a bit to click, but when it did, I could speak it rather well and write it. It took me, what, three or four months to fully learn a language? Well, then we learned all the tenses in Spanish 3. Spanish has more tenses and whatnot then English. Still, that's a year and a half of a language and at the time I was not really interested in learning Spanish, it was just required in school. I want to learn Polish and the course on Polish they will teach there isn't just a 'learn your abcs and a bunch random words' like Spanish 1 started out being, but useful terms and such so I can get around and I figure it'll be a lot easier if one is emersed in the culture and language in the country. Well, not easier as it's more required so you learn it quicker or something like that.
She then started on "well, is Poland safe? I mean they're communist" wrong and wrong. It's like Moya said that the average American views Poland as a communist, third world, dangerous country. I just shook my head. "Mom, we live in America." America is higher then Poland in dangerous places. I mean in America anyone can pretty much own a gun, not that everyone does, but they could if they wanted. I mean Stephanie's family has several guns. That's where I first held one and I didn't like it; this cool, metal killing machine. It was expensive and that money could be put to better use *cough wii* My family doesn't own any guns, but still. America is much more dangerous than Poland. And POLAND IS NOT COMMUNIST! The soviet block/satellite states/whatever ended. Poland is a parliamentary republic. I mean, is America's democracy all that great? We all vote for president...or rather like 15% do, then people complain about who gets the presidency, mostly people who DIDN'T vote, and then TV shows are made making fun of the president and no one takes the decisions seriously, but the next election, those same people who complained don't even try to vote. I mean, each year, Mickey Mouse receives 3% of the vote u_u More people vote for the next American Idol than the next president.
I'd feel safer walking down the street in Poland than here, probably. I mean I get edgey when walking down Tate St. I've been approached by a homeless guy wanting beer money before and it was rather scary. Then my mom asked me did I even know anything about the country. I spouted off some facts, but she was not impressed. She would rather me go to Italy (no exchange program there, madre) or Germany or England. She keeps arguing with me to go to England because they speak English. NO. That's too easy, TRUST ME TO LEARN, BELIEVE IN ME, GIVE ME A CHANCE! She just never gives me a chance and never understands. I had problems learning the many tenses of Spanish, but I still managed to do it and get good grades on the quizes. I just had to study a bit more then perhaps my peers, but I did it. She just noticed me struggling and instantly gave up on me. When it took so long for Spanish to click for me (as in I could speak it without first translating what was being said to me and from me in my head beforehand) but that was because whenever I asked her to help me, she was busy or tired or said there was no helping me.
Then she says that there is nothing to do in Poland and that I'd regret my choice and that at least in England I could see all the sights. Hell, just being in Poland is enough for me. I mean experiancing how it is to live in other places, how cool is that? There are plenty of things to see in Poland and I'm right near Germany in the city I'll be staying, which is close to Berlin area where my relatives live. And there's also someone there I'd really like to meet (obviously) which would make it all worthwhile, honestly. I mean, I've thought about all of this and more when I made the decision to go. I know the risks and the other choices I had. I mean, Poland is not one of the first places people think to go. You have a greater chance of going to France, Germany, Italy, and England with a company or vacation or something since those are popular spots, but you never hear much about Poland. I'll get another chance to go to those other places, but I may not get another chance to go to Poland like this and I'm going to take it.
The conversation went on with her yelling at me. I hate it when I start to talk and she interupts me, which happens often. She ended up hanging up on me because I said "I've looked at the other places and I've made up my mind. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather go. I've looked stuff up and this is just where I've got my heart set on." Then she hung up on me. Whatever. She also got mad when she asked me why I honestly wanted to go to Poland and I answered "Why wouldn't I?" I mean, it's a beautiful place and just so rich in history and whatnot...and that other reason ;) but I can't tell her THAT XD as far as my mom knows, Moya is a Polish exchange student. She can think that. I'm not correcting her. I never told her she was and I'm probably not going to say she isn't because if they knew something of the truth...it'd be three years ago all over again.v*shudders*
There was more to the call then that...but I mean, I want to do this. Why can't she just give me a chance and support my decision?
She then started on "well, is Poland safe? I mean they're communist" wrong and wrong. It's like Moya said that the average American views Poland as a communist, third world, dangerous country. I just shook my head. "Mom, we live in America." America is higher then Poland in dangerous places. I mean in America anyone can pretty much own a gun, not that everyone does, but they could if they wanted. I mean Stephanie's family has several guns. That's where I first held one and I didn't like it; this cool, metal killing machine. It was expensive and that money could be put to better use *cough wii* My family doesn't own any guns, but still. America is much more dangerous than Poland. And POLAND IS NOT COMMUNIST! The soviet block/satellite states/whatever ended. Poland is a parliamentary republic. I mean, is America's democracy all that great? We all vote for president...or rather like 15% do, then people complain about who gets the presidency, mostly people who DIDN'T vote, and then TV shows are made making fun of the president and no one takes the decisions seriously, but the next election, those same people who complained don't even try to vote. I mean, each year, Mickey Mouse receives 3% of the vote u_u More people vote for the next American Idol than the next president.
I'd feel safer walking down the street in Poland than here, probably. I mean I get edgey when walking down Tate St. I've been approached by a homeless guy wanting beer money before and it was rather scary. Then my mom asked me did I even know anything about the country. I spouted off some facts, but she was not impressed. She would rather me go to Italy (no exchange program there, madre) or Germany or England. She keeps arguing with me to go to England because they speak English. NO. That's too easy, TRUST ME TO LEARN, BELIEVE IN ME, GIVE ME A CHANCE! She just never gives me a chance and never understands. I had problems learning the many tenses of Spanish, but I still managed to do it and get good grades on the quizes. I just had to study a bit more then perhaps my peers, but I did it. She just noticed me struggling and instantly gave up on me. When it took so long for Spanish to click for me (as in I could speak it without first translating what was being said to me and from me in my head beforehand) but that was because whenever I asked her to help me, she was busy or tired or said there was no helping me.
Then she says that there is nothing to do in Poland and that I'd regret my choice and that at least in England I could see all the sights. Hell, just being in Poland is enough for me. I mean experiancing how it is to live in other places, how cool is that? There are plenty of things to see in Poland and I'm right near Germany in the city I'll be staying, which is close to Berlin area where my relatives live. And there's also someone there I'd really like to meet (obviously) which would make it all worthwhile, honestly. I mean, I've thought about all of this and more when I made the decision to go. I know the risks and the other choices I had. I mean, Poland is not one of the first places people think to go. You have a greater chance of going to France, Germany, Italy, and England with a company or vacation or something since those are popular spots, but you never hear much about Poland. I'll get another chance to go to those other places, but I may not get another chance to go to Poland like this and I'm going to take it.
The conversation went on with her yelling at me. I hate it when I start to talk and she interupts me, which happens often. She ended up hanging up on me because I said "I've looked at the other places and I've made up my mind. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather go. I've looked stuff up and this is just where I've got my heart set on." Then she hung up on me. Whatever. She also got mad when she asked me why I honestly wanted to go to Poland and I answered "Why wouldn't I?" I mean, it's a beautiful place and just so rich in history and whatnot...and that other reason ;) but I can't tell her THAT XD as far as my mom knows, Moya is a Polish exchange student. She can think that. I'm not correcting her. I never told her she was and I'm probably not going to say she isn't because if they knew something of the truth...it'd be three years ago all over again.v*shudders*
There was more to the call then that...but I mean, I want to do this. Why can't she just give me a chance and support my decision?
confused
I guess you must try and fight for your decision - it's a life experience after all!
I don't know how to tackle such situations given I'm not familiar with your mother other than what you tell us. Personally I'd've taken the confrontation right up, but that won't help you, sadly.
I guess you could try and form as many reasons why it's the right thing to go to Poland as possible. Like, learn about a new culture (thus proving her stereotype about the country wrong), learn a new language (to hell with how you learn it in school, it's a whole other matter being forced to learn the language when in the country that speaks it), get a chance in a lifetime (just how many goes to Poland that your mother knows of? Even she could learn from this!) plus learn about the history in so many aspects.
She doesn't have any valid reasons for you not to go, so technically she has no say in this, but then again... she does. Ew.
It still pisses me off how she promised we were going to Europe this summer and then just said she we weren't. Thanks for understating le chatty woman.
As far as learning language goes - yes, Polish IS hard to learn, we don't have much tenses or whatnot but we have many grammar rules that don't make much sense and you just have to memorize how some of the words are written.
The things you can use as arguments:
* We are a democratic country. 50% of people went to vote for president, 53% for parliment. Plus, 90% of the country is catholic. How can we be communists if we are in European Union for good couple of years now?
* During the times of communism we could not learn any other language then Russian and now almost all young people know English or German at least to some extent. I doubt you will have too much trouble communicating in English if looking for directions on the street or something. Eldery people might not now English, since they were raised in different times, but students now speak English quite well.
* I would like to remind your mom that Poland is one of the biggest allies with US in Iraq war. We were second or third country to send our troops to Iraq and we STILL die there for your cause while other 'great' countries (like France for example) already moved out.
* If we are communist then how come Bush wants to build an anti-raquet (sp?) shield in our country and Russia is pissed off at us because of that?
* There are TONS of sights to be seen in Poland. Wrocław is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in our country. Kraków is magnificent city in which good share of our nation history took place. Poznań (and me) is just waiting here for you.
My sister is pissed off at your mom xD At first she couldn't get why you want to come here in the first place, but now she wants to meet you and show you the great architecture of Poznań. My mom says you can stay with us however long you want. My dad wanted you to come here since it was our shared wish. I want you here too, hun. I know I'm a little afraid, and I guess you are too, but I'm sure we will click together in the same second we will see each other for the first time. As long as you don't make fun of my crappy English accent xD
My mom did say she was impressed I actually knew something, but she still would probably rather have me go anywhere else, I mean she even suggested the Netherlands :/ nothing against them, but it's just because we have family there, which is why she still insists on Germany. I guess my interest in Poland would seem rather sudden to her. I think she thinks that I'll end up regretting going to Poland. I won't. How could I? I think another thing is that this is pretty much the first time I've stood up to my mom and am not swaying at all and maybe that's why she's so mad. Usually I end up caving in and doing things her way, but this time I've stood firm. Maybe that is some explination?
I've heard Polish is very hard >_< I'm not bad at learning other languages (especially when I REALLY like them) but she is using one instance where I sturggled to judge me as she always does. I'm prepared for the challenge and I think I could do it (you'd be a better judge of that than me X3 do you think I have a chance?) I just wish she'd have more faith in me :/
I can't wait to meet you and all of you, you're family sounds so awesome and accepting. I'm afraid too, so you're not alone on that. I'm just afraid you won't like me in real life, like maybe you'll think I'm too weird or too American or too ugly or stupid or something. I dunno ^^; I know that won't happen and we'll get along nicely, but I just worry ^^; I guess it's becoming very real and so I've been getting nervous ^^; there're so many things I'm afraid of about leaving and going to a new country so far away, but I'm also very excited. It'll be less than a year if I get to go ^^ another thing...I've never been on a plane...
Of course I won't make fun of your accent ;) I actually REALLY like accents XD