Opposite World
September 6, 2003
What would it be like if you visited a place (be it island, state, or country) where everything was opposite to your own society?
In today’s world we take for granted the constants in our life or things that rarely change and things that will never change. For example; a stoplight comes to mind. We are used to seeing red as stop and green as go. What if the order was switched, wherein green was now stop and red was now go.
How would you react? I know I’d be afraid for the first few weeks to drive around but eventually I would adapt. Assuming I live in this new “opposite” place, I would also adapt to their new rules and the order of things that are different unlike the things I’m used to at my place.
Apply this level of thinking to how an immigrant feels when they first set foot on new soil and you’ll begin to understand what they must go through.
Just a thought for the day.
3 comments
That’s called “culture shock”. I experienced it firsthand in Mexico City where I lived and worked for three months. Sure, the first weeks are the worst, but eventually all pieces begin to fit into each other over time.
by beto on September 8, 2003 at 3:12 pm. #
I can imagine. However, we humans are creatures of habit but sometimes it’s best to break the mold and experience new things. It makes life more interesting and in the long run makes us better human beings.
What better way to learn about a society (Spain comes to mind) than to actually live in that place, experience the culture shock and live to tell about it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Visit any time. The doors are always open.
by kartooner on September 8, 2003 at 8:59 pm. #
It seems to me that the more secure your job is, and the wealthier you are, the less this topic applies to your everyday life. So when poor immigrants come to america (probably illegally), they truly experience opposite world. is it possible for rich people who live in a nice house and send their kids to private school in this country to feel empathy for these immigrants?
by sam on September 13, 2005 at 2:50 pm. #