stranger, foreigner, have negative meanings. They point to loss of freedom,
a foreign body is something that is disturbing normality, strange thoughts are
uncomfortable, but they could lead to new ideas. And those setting out into
the position of foreigners on holiday, do so because they hope to find
something new and un-planned. This is especially true when you cannot
speak the language or even read it. You don’t have to go all the way to
China to experience this, but go to Greece where you can’t read the street
names. And you don’t have to go abroad to experience being an alien. Just
sit on the bus or walk along Victoria Road and see many migrants. Can you
see this as something positive?
What can I do to overcome that feeling of being alien? I need to be prepared
to meet new people, to listen to them, to be sensitive to other people’s
situations. Somebody once told me that a new neighbour in an American
town introduced himself like this: “Hello, my name is Tom, I’m Irish. With
these words he told me: I am a Catholic, I vote Democrat and I want to be a
good neighbour”
We do need to listen carefully to the things others want to tell us, wherever
we are. On holiday the locals appreciate when you try to speak their
language, even if it sounds funny. It is difficult to understand that some
people can live for years abroad without trying to speak to the locals. They
keep on being aliens, even when surrounded by fellow compatriots.
Those who have experienced of being alien, even if only on holiday, and
think that is something positive and making life richer, will meet the strangers
in our country in quite a different way!
Brigitte Williams
Not Many Dead I
Weather forecaster fired after breaking wind on screen to illustrate gusty
conditions (The Daily Record)
Armed police raced to Stevenage railway station after reports of a man
carrying a ‘suspicious package probably containing a handgun’. It turned out
to be a commuter carrying a cheese sandwich. (The Week)
Students and staff at Aberdeen University have been issued guidelines on
how to safely use revolving doors. (Aberdeen Press and Journal)
Dog boards South West train without owner at Woking station. (Get Reading
website) I have actually observed the same as a dog got on the Ayr train at
Irvine and got off at the next station. BW
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