Comments on: The Nostalgic Chameleon

By: coffee with julie

coffee with julie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:55:06 +0000

I love this post, it explains something a lot of people probably don’t even realize when you write: “Whenever I wanted to tell him a story, I first had to set it and that meant explaining cultural facts that don’t always translate well.” Expats often just refrain from sharing their own stories, and yet sharing stories is such an important part of life, isn’t it? My husband is an expat living in Canada, and although our cultural references are often similar, I’m sure this happens to him a lot too.

By: Linguist-in-Waiting

Linguist-in-Waiting — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:14:17 +0000

Oh I know exactly what you feel when you mentioned that your knowledge of pop culture stopped. I feel the same right now, I watch Filipino TV and I know nothing of what they are showing. My Filipino friends in Buffalo berate me for it as they obviously are still following them even if they are in the United States. I on the other hand just couldn’t care less.

By: Vagabonde

Vagabonde — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:16:11 +0000

I am behind on commenting as I am in California right now visiting my daughter. When I came to the US I did not think much about my “frenchness” then for years afterward I would go to France twice a year to visit my mom after my dad passed away – for about 25 years until she died. I also talked to her on the phone every Sunday. But then she died and a few years after that I retired and now I miss France more than I did. I don’t know a single French person in Georgia and never speak the language. Reading French blogs has been a great help. I don’t feel that I am an American, or a French person – just a little bit of both. I miss France while in the US and miss the US while in France. People don’t forget that I am French though as they always ask what kind of an accent I have – “Where are you from?” when I reply Georgia, they don’t believe it.

By: Seraphine

Seraphine — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:01:54 +0000

you will never be *not* french, zhu, despite your nostalgia. it is as much a part of you as your left arm.
and what you are describing is your life. you are the product of the choices you make. you leave high school, you leave university, you leave the town you grew up in. or else, everything eventually leaves you.
look at the amazing person you have become. you write a beautiful blog in a language you weren’t born into. you have love in your life (although, why don’t you talk about love? i thought the french were experts at love). you have a good life.
i hope your brother has as happy an experience with his life. graduation is a great achievement, but he has his life ahead of him. i wish him every happiness and opportunity.

By: Zhu

Zhu — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:48:27 +0000

@Guillermo — You are right, we all change and that’s life. It’s cool though, I don’t mind.

@London Caller — That fits, my environment changed me

@Tulsa Gentleman — I like change, even though it can be scary at first. It’s less scary when you initiate it though which is probably why I love traveling. And talking about traveling…

@DianeCA — I’m sure you must have changed, looked like you adapted beautifully to another culture! Which is fun actually, I’m not complaining. I like to belonging to several cultures.

@Soleil — I know exactly what you mean — I broke my own addiction to French politics! I used to “know” all the politicians and now I can barely tell who is who in France

@Lizz — Oh, I feel the same!

@cusi — I love that “invented country” — it’s so true! Little cultural pieces here and there. I’m sure you are still Peruvian at some level, the same way I’m still a bit French.

By: cusi

cusi — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:58:20 +0000

I sometimes ponder myself of how i can define me in comparison to my peruvian friends– am i peruvian enough? now that i lived 10 years in north america and all i can remember from peru were my 1st 17 years of life…i also cling myself to my memories, it is my proof that i am peruvian.…or as isabel allende said i have created “my invented country” with little pieces of here and there.…

By: Lizz

Lizz — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:56:06 +0000

The passage of time is a tricky beast. It was just yesterday that I couldn’t believe I was turning 27 this year. I still think I’m a 17-year-old sometimes, haha.

Congratulations to your brother!

By: Soleil

Soleil — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:53:18 +0000

I have a big two year gap of US cultural knowledge from when I was in France. One great thing about that? Breaking my addiction to celebrity gossip! Now that kind of stuff mostly just makes me roll my eyes. It’s hard to have roots in two countries, or more than two countries for some people. But you can’t be in two places at once, you have limited time during the day to follow the daily goings-on in multiple countries. You do what you can, and do what makes you happy. It sounds like you’ve figured it out.

By: DianeCA

DianeCA — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:53:16 +0000

I understand in many ways what you are saying. I changed a lot when I immigrated as well. Subtle parts of our culture and ourselves are peeled away, while we grown and learn other things, other ways. Where we come from is a strong part of our identity, and when we move away from our home land we slowly recreate our identity. But fear not my friend because the truth is living is change…nothing is stable. We grown and change everyday, it’s just that we change more in some periods of our lives then others. You are still you deep inside. I am certain of that.

By: Tulsa Gentleman

Tulsa Gentleman — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:13:05 +0000

Some people resist change but you seem to thrive on it. I joined you for your odyssey through central and South America and enjoyed your narrative and photos. You observed and reported on so many places, always with openness and compassion. You are a good person Zhu, you have a keen mind, a kind heart, and a generous spirit. I wish you and Feng a lifetime of happiness.