An ESL blog

I think everyone has the inner desire to prove them selves better than others. What ever the culture; what ever the color of our skin, it’s the basic nature of human kind. In every society there are class differences according to the financial status. Even between the close relatives there are comparisons with their possessions and achievements. Is it all because of our inner motive to prove ourselves better than others?.

I guess we all face insult from those who think they are better than our selves(I play soccer well, Look at my dress, I am smarter than you, We are richer than you…)in life at some point. But usually we avoid those who brag too much about them selves.

Once I get to this country I faced a different kind of people. Their behviour which shook the core of my personality. I was in the edge of believing that I am worth less. I couldn’t come out with an answer to all the questions and doubts in my mind?. All the traditional common values seem equal with the other people out there who make me feel inferior with their actions and speeches.

Are their parents richer?, Any racial differences?, Are they well educated?, Isn’t our family habit and manner not good?. Are they smarter?, Am I lacking in any skill?. Are their family invited here by the Canadian prime minister?. No we are all same from a same community who came as refugees to this country to escape a brutal war. Nothing special in us as a whole we are same, then why these people behave like this?.

All came to light when I heard this “Those guys are FOBs?”. I researched what is FOB. Here is the wikipedia definition for FOB.

In the article it clearly says about the offensive part:

The term “FOB” has been used with offensive intent, often to those with a foreign accent or ethnic style of dressing. Depending on the person’s attitude to the culture in question, he or she may or may not take offense at these statements. The term may also be used by people who themselves were immigrants years ago, in a way turning the insult once hurled at them onto the new arrivals, and in so doing emphasizing their own progress in assimilation or improved language skills.

Compared to world poverty, Iraq invasion, AIDS and terrorism it is not a big issue, but I know youngsters who confused them selves about their goals and purpose of their life by this kind of peer pressure. For those who come to this country in their teen age it is a real problem. But it’s all in our attitude. Other people cannot make us better or worse.

If a person who came to US in his 21st with little English can become the (Arnold Schwarzenegger)Governor of California why we can’t do more.

We can’t say being proud of one self is not good. We can be proud of our achievements. I believe that being different is one of the driving force behind some of the people’s success. But I don’t understand the concept of making others feel bad because they are newer to the place. The big stone sitting in front of my house which stays longer in Canada more than I do.