racism sucks

[Էլիա]

Re: racism sucks

Well, I don't make fun of other accents or dialects, but I wish I could understand all types of Armenian! Unfortunately, I only know Western Armenian.

[Esther]

Re: racism sucks

@sev_zeytun:Oh thank you!^^ My self confidence really needed a boost after my last English Test Paper (But you are lucky you don't have to hear my craptacular accent ...sooo german)

So American-Armenians are more open ... In my opinion the reason for the different behaviour of certain Armenian groups in Europe, may be that we don't have this multi-cultural, multi-ethnic "lifestyle" here...well, I'll keep thinking about that^^

[Էլիա]

Re: racism sucks

So, since you're in Germany, you feel like you can't express your culture as freely as in America?

[Esther]

Re: racism sucks

Well, I was born in Germany, so I can't really say that I know how life is in other countries apart from Germany as an Armenian. But from what I've heard and what I was told, it seems to me like the American Armenians have a stronger bond, they have a stronger sense of belonging....of course I can't really say it's true^^ But I guess, referring to the influence the countries we live in have on us, the "American way of life" still offers more than the "European way of life" (if it even exists ) In a country, where you meet people from all different parts of the world, it is clear (for me!!! ) that you are more tolerant than someone from Europe if it comes to your own race...

[sev_zeytun]

Re: racism sucks

Esther: how big is the armenian community in germany? i think that because of all of the diversity in america that armenians feel like they have to stay together.

Note: if you speak english long enough, it is easy to lose your accent. i did not start learning english until i was about 6 or so and i had a heavy accent throughout most of primary school but now i hide my accent to the point where almost no one can hear it. also, english (spoken with an american accent) is very nasal so if you speak for a long time without stopping, your throat will ache a lot. You should try reading english out loud for an hour or so and see how your throat feels.

P.S. you should hear my french.

[sev_zeytun]

Re: racism sucks

Lucin: i am not here to aimlessly argue with people. i am here to discuss topics and situations. if you can convince me that what i have said is racist i will own up to the agreement but if you cannot convince me i will continuously counter you. Please, let us stay on a more intellectual basis of persuasive argumentation and not go into crude verbal warfare. Agreed? (i am not saying that we have gotten to that sort of level yet but i would appreciate it if we did not.)

[TomServo]

Re: racism sucks

Well, I was born in Germany, so I can't really say that I know how life is in other countries apart from Germany as an Armenian. But from what I've heard and what I was told, it seems to me like the American Armenians have a stronger bond, they have a stronger sense of belonging....of course I can't really say it's true^^ But I guess, referring to the influence the countries we live in have on us, the "American way of life" still offers more than the "European way of life" (if it even exists ) In a country, where you meet people from all different parts of the world, it is clear (for me!!! ) that you are more tolerant than someone from Europe if it comes to your own race...

Germany is multi-cultural. In most major cities there are Turks, people from ex-Yugoslav countries, Greece, Poland, Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Arab countries, Iran, as well as xxxs. At least that's how I thought it was.

[sev_zeytun]

Re: racism sucks

Germany is multi-cultural. In most major cities there are Turks, people from ex-Yugoslav countries, Greece, Poland, Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Arab countries, Iran, as well as xxxs. At least that's how I thought it was.

I think it also depends on what part of germany Esther lives in, TomServo.

[Sip]

Re: racism sucks

Germany is multi-cultural. In most major cities there are Turks, people from ex-Yugoslav countries, Greece, Poland, Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Arab countries, Iran, as well as xxxs. At least that's how I thought it was.

There are a large number of Turks in Germany. Usually, the Germans can't stand them. The first question they'll often ask is whether you are a turk or not. After you say oh hell no, then their attitudes toward you completely change!

But in the end, no matter how many nationalities there are or how long you live there, you will always be defined by your nationality. You will never be considered German by anyone. In the US, you land off the plane and you can pass yourself as an American with pretty much no one caring one way or the other.

[sev_zeytun]

Re: racism sucks

In the US, you land off the plane and you can pass yourself as an American with pretty much no one caring one way or the other.

I don't think that applies to most areas in america though, only the biggest of cities. if you leave LA, for example, and you make a pit stop somewhere with less immigrants the people there will give you a strange look. not sure how to decribe it but it makes you feel really uncomfortable.