The "Overheard In..." category for the blog recalls snippets of conversation I happened to stumble across that for some reason stand out as indicative of cultural differences, or cultural issues I'm trying to understand. (And all subtly prove that reality is stranger than fiction.)
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The Setting: A party following an Arab film festival at the Institut Francais in Kensington, London. Tons of Arabic fusion music playing, lots of people dancing (lots of women doing belly-dancing style stuff), no one taking themselves all too seriously. About 80 percent of the crowd were of middle-eastern origin. One of the coolest parties I've been to since moving to London. This conversation happened while I and some friends went to the balcony (where the smokers were) to get some fresh air. Or some smoky air, as it were.
The Characters (2): (1)A woman in her late twenties/early thirties, brown hair with blonde (bottle) highlights, curvy, wearing a long skirt and a top with Indian beadwork on it. She is smoking a cigarette. (2) Me.
Me: Did you get to see Persepolis? (This was the film before the party that I was dying to see, having adored the comics, but the film had been sold out.)
Her: Yes. It was great. I had bought the books years ago but never read them. (I notice she has a North American accent)
Me: Oh, they're such an easy read. You can read them in like half an hour, and they're great. Definitely read them.
Her: Are you American?
Me: Yes. You? (It's always a strange thing when someone asks you if you're American here. The question does not usually come across as a positive one. Usually feels a bit mixed, just in terms of gut level perception when the question comes at you.)
Her: Well, no, I'm Canadian but originally from Iran and Syria. But I lived in DC for a little while and did some graduate work there. My husband's American.
(Some small talk.)
Her: So who did you vote for in the primaries?
Me: Interesting you should ask. (I don't particularly want to answer her question.) You know the thing is, I'm actually excited about all three of the candidates that are left in the running.
Her: Really? How could you not support Obama?
Me: What do you mean?
Her: He's the one guy who takes a stand. He refuses to accept money from lobbyists. And he was against the Iraq war.
Me: Yes, but that was before he was in national office, so I suppose you have to take that with a bit of a grain of salt.
Her: No, it wasn't.
Me: I think it was.
Her: I'm positive. Besides, you know how they had the democrats abroad global primary-- and about 66 percent of the vote was for Obama. That's because Americans living abroad know how much America is hated these days. Think about it. If the US had a president with the name Barack Hussein Obama, they would love you guys in the third world again.
Me: Do you think that's why?
Her: Definitely. You know, I was living in DC at the time of 9/11. I don't know if many people know this but the defense department put out leaflets asking for creative ideas for how to deal with what had happened. I thought that was amazing. The basic thinking was-- it was career people with a certain kind of thinking who had made the policies thus far, so maybe some out of the box thinking would help. Out of the box thinking from the community, people outside the system. I thought that was amazing.
Me: You're right, I never did hear that.
Her: That's why you need someone like Obama, someone out of the box like that. I mean, my friends tell me I shouldn't interfere, it's not my country. But you have to know this. You have to know what this will mean for you guys.
Me: No, it's good, it's fine, I like hearing people's opinions on this kind of stuff.
Her: Well, I'm going to go inside and dance. Good luck with your decision.
Me: Yeah, nice to meet you. (She goes inside.)
