tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post5145632823787706140..comments2024-03-27T17:28:13.744+01:00Comments on Away From It All: Defining "My People"LisAwayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299284773832500834noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-40591292751118092532010-09-23T17:41:07.068+02:002010-09-23T17:41:07.068+02:00I just couldn't do what you do. You're my...I just couldn't do what you do. You're my hero.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660156433881882098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-33422194538886939232010-09-20T05:05:35.223+02:002010-09-20T05:05:35.223+02:00You're getting another one!! Last night at th...You're getting another one!! Last night at the reception for my in-laws (that I told you about) one of my very favorite people in the whole world told me that she and her husband are on their way to Poland too. You've probably even heard that they will be there in 3 weeks or so and I'm sure the Nielsens have already told you how great they are. It's all true, you're going to love Nola!earlfamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04697600993453596774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-7510573167972557772010-09-19T02:37:25.360+02:002010-09-19T02:37:25.360+02:00My heart goes out to you--you've made a big sa...My heart goes out to you--you've made a big sacrifice.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-86426532621484434632010-09-19T00:05:57.282+02:002010-09-19T00:05:57.282+02:00P.S. Regarding Lara's comment of just knowing ...P.S. Regarding Lara's comment of just knowing someone was Romanian: Once when I worked at the Orem library, a man came in wanting a library card, but he didn't have any proof he lived in Orem or Provo, which is the ONE thing we do insist on to give out library cards. Even after I explained that, he continued persisting, in a pleasant and jovial but very insistent way; he was just sure there was some loophole and I could give him a card if I wanted to. I couldn't help myself; I asked, "Are you from Congo?" And he was. (I'd met lots of people from Congo while on my mission in Belgium.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-85999755002357513202010-09-19T00:00:41.352+02:002010-09-19T00:00:41.352+02:00My very-full flight home from my mission in Belgiu...My very-full flight home from my mission in Belgium and France got canceled, and although all of us passengers were in the same boat (or, er, same lack of a plane) a few American women pushed their way to the front at the ticket counter and loudly demanded they be put on a new flight right away. I was so embarrassed for them, and for myself as a fellow American.<br /><br />Then I got back to Utah, and checkout clerks smiled openly at me and helped me promptly and cheerfully, and the teens all were clean and shiny and involved in fun, wholesome activities. And it was good to be home.<br /><br />I once saw Judith Martin (Miss Manners) on Book TV talking about her (at the time) latest book which was about American manners, and I've been meaning to buy the book ever since. (Maybe I'll go put it in my Amazon cart when I finish writing this comment.) She said that although she'd never imagined she'd be defending American manners, our ways of doing things do have solid reasons behind thme: for example, since Americans are so transient, we have to be able to make friends quickly, keep long distance friendships even with minimal contact, and pick back up where we left off when reunited. When I lived in Amman, Jordan, I felt like I could never live up to the amount of time and the intensity of involvement that friendships there required.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-49169100169518178162010-09-18T00:34:40.632+02:002010-09-18T00:34:40.632+02:00I wish I had more worldly experience to really kno...I wish I had more worldly experience to really know what you're seeing that's different about us...but I AM proud to be "one of your people"!Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08062439478458703873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-51470577134251861612010-09-16T08:02:55.159+02:002010-09-16T08:02:55.159+02:00No matter how much you travel and how much you lov...No matter how much you travel and how much you love it, your heart is always drawn to "home" and things and people connected to there. And it doesn't matter how different people are from you, when they're from home, they feel kind of the same.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11486223394459963669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-37008826952610701862010-09-16T06:50:39.092+02:002010-09-16T06:50:39.092+02:00I think that is so cool, to immediately know when...I think that is so cool, to immediately know when someone is from home! I love that!Loralee and the gang...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07203655646949305050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-31196347382274999662010-09-16T02:16:46.452+02:002010-09-16T02:16:46.452+02:00I often see people who I think are Russian, and th...I often see people who I think are Russian, and then try to talk myself out of it, until I find out that they really are. <br />I think I've mentioned before that before we got married, we talked about living in Ukraine. You write about the kind of things I only imagined I would experience, or did experience while I was in Ukraine. Do you ever feel like being obnoxious in public, just because you are American? I tried so hard not to, both when I was in Ukraine and Korea, but I think if I lived abroad for years it might be refreshing to be a little obnoxious once in a while.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815636729823126855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-50451318084249572282010-09-15T18:32:14.003+02:002010-09-15T18:32:14.003+02:00I love this post. I could point out the Americans...I love this post. I could point out the Americans when I was in Paris visiting too (and not just because they were wearing white socks and tennis shoes...).Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16913479841360204974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-52439772252621758222010-09-15T15:48:20.901+02:002010-09-15T15:48:20.901+02:00Nice! xoNice! xogramaleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15089889939697034575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-17178695948314205612010-09-15T03:51:39.687+02:002010-09-15T03:51:39.687+02:00That is so sweet Lisa! Thanks for such an upliftin...That is so sweet Lisa! Thanks for such an uplifting post today. =)Carolyn V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15456210036213016603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-25959959507888697582010-09-15T03:19:44.428+02:002010-09-15T03:19:44.428+02:00Maybe it's because I'm American, but I lov...Maybe it's because I'm American, but I love you.Alison Wonderlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15764321314666554990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-78042033897000620132010-09-15T01:19:08.955+02:002010-09-15T01:19:08.955+02:00I can just imagine that feeling of home being tran...I can just imagine that feeling of home being transported to you in the form of people, Americans, coming into your sphere there.<br /><br />When I lived in Oregon it was always so amazing to meet someone who was Canadian. I couldn`t pick them out, of course, the differences aren`t great enough, but once we made the connection I felt like I should have known...Kimberly Vanderhorsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01653757517652257445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-32257152318918828152010-09-15T00:59:51.133+02:002010-09-15T00:59:51.133+02:00Once, this lady came to our Sacrament meeting and ...Once, this lady came to our Sacrament meeting and I KNEW she was Romanian. But it seemed crazy that she would be. But she was. There's just something.<br /><br />So are your kids as quick to identify Americans as you are?Lara Neveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351324888724799014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-74959827536756246382010-09-14T20:20:48.873+02:002010-09-14T20:20:48.873+02:00I'll bet you do feel an immediate kinship with...I'll bet you do feel an immediate kinship with your people. You are amazing to live in a faraway place like you do with no complaining here on your blog. If anything, I appreciate the love and respect you show to your new country. It is admirable.Kazzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04411131948607000725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-55992035587329355882010-09-14T19:12:29.236+02:002010-09-14T19:12:29.236+02:00I can't imagine how homesick you must get at t...I can't imagine how homesick you must get at times, not just for your family, but for your people. I did a semester in London and my small group of friends was always trying to be very quiet and not draw attention to ourselves as Americans while we were in the Tube. We could easily pick out the other Americans. And here, just by the way a person dresses I can tell they are foreign. Even if they are dressed super cool, Europeans just dress differently.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17086417252211755708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-32349247459865838192010-09-14T17:03:12.437+02:002010-09-14T17:03:12.437+02:00That's so funny. It never occurred to me that...That's so funny. It never occurred to me that you could do that with Americans, though it seems pretty easy to tell if people are foreign when we're out here. <br />Sometimes I'm a little dense. <br /><br />I'm so glad you have a new friend for awhile! Does she speak Polish?Randihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851220760568533019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4869329841369921947.post-84339887350932645542010-09-14T15:45:16.584+02:002010-09-14T15:45:16.584+02:00I never really thought of being able to identify A...I never really thought of being able to identify Americans so quickly---although I definitely have done so regarding Europeans:)Barbaloothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01541675474218507411noreply@blogger.com