Culture in the Blender

The world from the middle of a culture smoothie

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Happy Independence Day - To My Own Freedom

July 3rd, 2008 · No Comments

This seems to be the time to have deep things to say about celebrating the 4th of July, whether it’s about American hypocracy in some way or other or tear-jerking statements about freedom and liberty. What I have to say is neither.
Conversations with non-Americans have made me think about this country for a while now. […]

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Tags: Insider · US

More inside-outside US-Europe race in music examples

June 14th, 2008 · No Comments

While getting my iTunes library in order and exploring some new music suggested by a friend, I started looking up old Europop on YouTube. Following a trail of “Oh, it’s this song!”, I found Dr. Alban’s Look Who’s Talking. I do not feel that that listening to that song says anything about the race of […]

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Tags: Distant Proximities · Europe · Insider · Outsider · US

New Languages

January 20th, 2005 · 1 Comment

Learning a new language is learning new ways to express yourself.
Becoming part of a new language and culture is to make yourself more than you were.
At the heart of true multiculturalism lies multilingualism.

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Tags: Insider · Third Culture

Open letter to my fellow Americans

December 4th, 2004 · No Comments

Dear Americans,
The world is watching you. The world always has been watching you. They watched you far before 9/11, and they’re still watching. People watch what your President does, how he negotiates, how he smiles, what he has to say to them. They watch to see what you’re wearing, where you shop, how you talk, […]

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Tags: Insider · Outsider · US