Negative News, Images that are Put in Our Heads, Difference and/or Escapism

Constantly hearing negative news from Yemen or Syria makes me wonder how this utterly negative press, this constant referring to „terrorist attacks“, assaults, strikes, etc. causes the creation of a certain image in our heads. Being bombarded with dark and bad pieces of information from certain countries causes us to think about these countries in a very specific way. It seems to be that it is almost impossible that people are living there in peace. But what about the boy and girl who go on their first date, the old granny who goes shopping, the friends who meet in a café to discuss political, personal and social issues. This is an image which is not allowed in our head or rather not imaginable. Would it not make more sense to provide information about positive things as well. Well, I know news is all about negative things, because this is what humanity is interested in... but this constant negativity can damage the image of a country which most likely is a beautiful place. Yes, there might be war going on, yes there might be drug problems, etc. But still there are also many good things which we are not even able to think about or which we totally forget as we are exposed to a constant negativity. So instead of hearing that in Yemen people kill each other, it would be good to hear that people were courageous enough to step up against inequality. Or that in Colombia more and more young people are starting to perceive their country as a beautiful country of opportunities,… Should it not be our priority to destroy common stereotypes. Languages and nowadays also visual images shape our way of thinking, and constantly talking about "the poor people in Africa or India", creates a very one-dimensional image.

bubble tea with dan at Chinese new year's celebration in brum

Being away from home has heavily influenced me, the experience of being the foreigner shapes my identity, and sometimes I am even defined by it. I might be referred to as "the Austrian"...but what does that mean?! On the one hand, I notice how patriotic I get, might it be an “inferiority complex” we Österreicher suffer from, as we don’t want to be seen as Germans, no offence... Or might it be that one appreciates things more once they are not that easily graspable. Anyways, whenever I go home, I realise how much I miss my friends. It is always absolutely lovely to see them. And even if we only see each other once in a while, it is as if I had not been away...

having lovely Austrian food with my gals!

happy reunion with Miss Parlamentsassistentin ;)

Just a week ago or so, I went on a German-exchange trip with my two year 12 students to Baden bei Wien. The girls stayed in host families and Maggie and I made sure they were alright as well as getting exposed to as much Austrian culture as possible ;) Coffee house culture, arty Vienna, historic Vienna...

Hundert Wasser Haus Wien

After having lived for a year and a half in England now, I am able to see certain things with different eyes. On one of the days we went to an Austrian grammar school. While observing a lesson, I just realised how much I have integrated into the “British school system” and how much I have been indoctricated with dear “Ofsted criteria” which influences my perception and consequently influences my judgement. Strangely enough, things that have been so normal and familiar to me, and somehow still are, have at the same time become more alien and different. But then again, here in Britain, I am not a Brit…and as I said, I might be referred to as "the Austrian". But them being back in Austria, I am also not quite Austrian, which was pointed out by one of my students who said “you are not Austrian Miss”. What am I then?…. I still consider myself as Österreicherin, but than not quite as österreichisch as people who live in Österreich…

Well, I suppose, I could now use the en vogue terms from academia and refer to myself as a “global citizen” or “cosmopolitan globetrotter”…but, not really. I am not too fond of those labels, which are just fancy terms without real substance. Maybe I am a wanderer who has not yet found her destination…It can be very liberating as everything is possible, but of course everything always has a flip side as well…it can also be disconcerting…Is a constant wanderer somebody who does not want to commit? Or somebody who is eager to discover new things.

It makes me wonder, why living abroad is so appealing. Is it because you can be openly different, because you ARE different – different language / cultural background blabla – or is it a form of escapism, an easy way out?! Would I also be different back home? But would it there then be perceived as being weird?! Well, to be honest I don’t know. Hahaha I seem to be going on one of my philosophical rants! I just thought about it when I went running – yep I went running, because of all those Christmas meals and nice coffee and cake breaks in Austria I need to get into shape now!

Wiener Kaffeehauskultur...just unique

I will have to start applying for jobs, either in the UK or somewhere else…I should probably do my NQT so that it is done and dusted with. But then, you know I have once decided that I do not need to do things the conventional way. I was always quite certain and focused about what I want – school – A-levles – uni…but then I decided it should not be that way…it can be so exciting to do different things and get a bit off track. We’ll see what happens!

 

university of Vienna....good memories

Ta-ra