How the Monkeys Saved the Fish

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How the Monkeys Saved the Fish

This folktale comes from the East African country of Tanzania. Does your culture have colorful folktales that offer wisdom and insight into human behavior?  Please share them with us!

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Gizmos and Do-hickeys

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Gizmos and Do-hickeys: Things you Forgot or Don’t Know the Names of

I’m not very mechanically minded.  There are lots of tools and devices I don’t know the names for.  This thing, for example: [show gadget].  Or what do you call this thing? [show gadget 2]

In English, there are technical words for items that the average person does not know the name. This is because every area of life—from auto mechanics to medicine, to architecture and barbering—have more details than we non-specialists can handle. In short, it takes an expert to identify and label these specialized items.

When we don’t know what to call something in English, we use a word that means “it’s a thing, but I don’t know the name for it.” In standard English, we may call something a gadget, a widget, or a device.  If it’s bigger, we might call it  a contraption.

But on the informal side, there are more interesting words that Americans use when they don’t know what to call something:

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a gizmo

a thingamabob

a thingamajig or a thingy

a do-hickey or doodad or doojigger

My favorite is whatchamacallit – which is a slurring together of the phrase “what[ever] you may call it.”

And then there’s the related whatsis – from the question “What is this?”

The next time you’re helping an American friend with a project, don’t be shy about your limited vocabulary.  Everything has a name for it. Just call it a thingamabob...or maybe a do-hickey!

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Cuppa Joe

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Ahhhh, there’s nothing I enjoy more in the morning than a good cuppa joe.  It just starts my day off…  What’s that?  What’s a “cuppa joe”?  Sorry.  I was using American slang there.

A cuppa joe is a cup of coffee.  Americans have been calling coffee “joe” for many years.  Where did this come from?  Well, linguists aren’t sure, but some of them think it is a shortening—or corruption—of the word “jamocha,” which means coffee.

Lots of companies use “joe” in their coffee marketing.  My local Speedway gas station will sell you a commuter mug with “Joe” printed on the side; when you stop for refills with that mug, you get a discount on your coffee purchase.

Starbucks Coffee sponsors a morning talk show called “Morning Joe,” which features a political analyst named Joe Scarborough.  Notice the letter “o” in the logo looks like a circular stain left by your coffee mug on the table.

There’s a coffee mug with Vice President Joe Biden’s picture on it.  Hey, Joe, nice mug shot!

There’s even a Michigan coffee shop called Cuppa Joe.

So, now you’re wondering why is it spelled “cuppa”?  That’s because the word “of” in the expression “cup of coffee” isn’t very important—it’s only a preposition, after all—so Americans just mumble that word, and it sort of sounds like “uh.”

So, the next time your American coworkers invite you for a cuppa joe, just say thanks and go along with them.  Unless you’re a tea drinker.  Then you can order a cuppa tea.

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Zeno Radio

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Cellphones As Radios: Immigrants Dial In To Native Stations

Can you imagine what it would be like to drive a taxicab for 10 to 12 hours a day?  What if you didn’t speak English very well?  I think the hours would get pretty boring.

Well, one entrepreneur in NYC has come to the rescue of thousands of immigrant cab drivers with an invention called Zeno Radio.

The idea is to connect U.S. immigrants with radio stations back in their home countries.  The beauty of Zeno is that the only equipment that’s required is a person’s cellphone.

Zeno customers can program their phones to receive faraway broadcasts from Egypt, Morocco, Somalia, and Senegal—just to name a few.  A hundred of the stations broadcast in French.

For many homesick immigrants, Zeno gives them a feeling of being back home.  The broadcasts aren’t necessarily special, but just hearing some normalcy in the form of music and news reports can relieve the stress of being separated from one’s homeland.

Zeno operates on even simple, inexpensive cellphones, and it is cost-effective because most cellphone users have unlimited data and calling packages.

Baruch Herzfeld (photo source: www.metro.us)

Baruch Herzfeld (photo source: www.metro.us)

Zeno founder Baruch Herzfeld says subscribers can access 2,000 or more stations. It earns money from advertising and investors, and makes a few cents per call from telephone routing companies with space wanting more business.

Immigrants working in solitary jobs and feeling culturally isolated can feel a little less lonely these days, thanks to Zeno Radio.

Check out their website here: http://zenoradio.com.

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Polish Woman Becomes U.S. Citizen

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Earlier this year, Barbara Kochanek, age 72, had a dream come true: she became a U.S. citizen.  The previous year, she had all but given up on this dream.  An immigrant from Poland, Barbara didn’t speak English very well and she was certain she couldn’t pass the citizenship test.

That was before workers at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit  walked her through the process.  They even picked her up—she doesn’t drive—and took her to appointments and even found a translator for her.

Barbara being interviewed by IIMD Executive Director Wojciech Zolnowski (Image via http://newamericamedia.org)

Barbara being interviewed by IIMD Executive Director Wojciech Zolnowski (Image via http://newamericamedia.org)

This came about because of a coalition of agencies called the Detroit New Americans Campaign provides pro bono assistance to help green card holders complete their applications for citizenship.

The best news of all: because she is a senior citizen, Barbara met the criteria to take her exam in Polish, her native language.

Ever since coming to the U.S., that had been her dream, to become a U.S. citizen.

In addition to the right to vote, there are scores of other benefits Barbara will no longer worry about: access to programs like Supplemental Security Income and Medicare, the ability to travel outside the U.S. on her passport, and many others, according to Susan Reed, supervising attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

Free citizenship workshops are offered in Metro Detroit.  For more information, visit the website of the Detroit New Americans Campaign at detroitnac.org.

To apply for citizenship, you need:

     • Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”)

     • Two passport photos

     • Driver’s license or state ID

     • Social Security number

     • All marriage certificates and divorce records

     • Children’s birth certificates (if they are permanent residents)

     • List of residences for the past five years

     • List of employers/schools for the past five years

     • List of each trip taken outside the U.S.

     • Check for $680, payable to the Department of Homeland Security

In the meantime, we offer a hearty welcome to Barbara Kochanek, one of our newest fellow citizens!

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, , , ,

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

Small Talk Topics

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Do you know what questions are okay to ask Americans and which questions will offend them?

Do you know what questions are okay to ask Americans and which questions will offend them?

Making Small Talk with Americans

Americans are used to making small talk and will frequently strike up a conversation, even with strangers, for example, waiting in a check-out line. For newcomers to the U.S., it is in your best interest to learn the skill of having brief social exchanges with co-workers, neighbors, and people at parties.

Below is a list of possible conversation topics with American acquaintances. Which ones do you think are appropriate to bring up?  Let’s take a look at the first one.  In your culture, is it appropriate to ask someone his/her marital status?

Actually, it is not an appropriate question.  The question has a normative bias to it.  That is, it assumes that getting married is “normal” in society, and this is not true.  For starters, some people are quite happy by themselves and choose not to marry.  Others may be divorced or widowed and uncomfortable talking about it.  Still others may wish to be married but have never been asked.  And finally, it is still not legal in many U.S. states for gay and lesbian adults to marry, so again, this would make some people sad to have to answer “no.”

The other answers to these potential topics can be found in the list below.  Check them out before striking up a conversation with a stranger at a party.

TOPIC:                   APPROPRIATE OR NOT?

marital status        No, as discussed above.

age                        No, Americans don't talk about their age (unless they're students with you).

occupation            Yes, great topic.  "So, what do you do?"  Or: "What are you studying?"

salary                     No, Americans are uncomfortable talking about money.

education              Maybe. No: "Did you go to college?" Yes: "Where did you go to school?"

length of time in this area    Yes, great conversation topic!

weight                     No, this is too personal.

travel interests       Yes, this is a wonderful conversation topic.

family                      Depends. No: "Do you have children?" Yes: "Do you have brothers/sisters?"  

hobbies and pastimes     Yes, this is not only acceptable but also interesting.

political party membership     No, avoid politics with Americans you don't know well.

height                                 No, this is too personal.

cost of person’s watch      No. Remember: no topics related to money.

religion                               No, this is considered too personal.

who person voted for       Nope. Remember: no politics. 

person’s ethnic origin       Maybe. Yes: "That's an interesting last name. Where is it from?"

hometown                          Yes. You can learn a lot by asking about their hometown.

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

“One Today” – An Inaugural Poem of National Unity

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In his Inauguration Day poem, Richard Blanco talks about the broad unity of this country and the forces that pull us together.  He also names the little details of various Americans as they experience daily life and work.  He mentions, as well, his own family: his brother, his mom, and his dad.  It is a deeply personal poem, at the same time, a celebration of the strength, and beauty, and diversity of his adopted country.  

With Richard’s kind permission, we have included the full text of the poem on this What’s Up? webpage.  You can read along with him as you listen to the recording of Richard in Washington, DC on January 21, 2013.  To help you understand his poem, we have listed the more difficult expressions and cultural concepts below the text.  We would love to hear your reactions to the poem.  Please share with us how Richard’s reading made you feel about country and belonging.

L to R: Michelle Obama, President Obama, Richard Blanco, Vice-President Biden, Jill Biden

L to R: Michelle Obama, President Obama, Richard Blanco, Vice-President Biden, Jill Biden

“One Today”

Written by Richard Blanco for the 2nd Obama inaugural ceremony.  Watch him reading here.

One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores,

peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces

of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth

across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies.

One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story

told by our silent gestures moving behind windows.

My face, your face, millions of faces in morning's mirrors,

each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day:

pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights,

fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows

begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper—

bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us,

on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives—

to teach geometry, or ring up groceries as my mother did

for twenty years, so I could write this poem.

All of us as vital as the one light we move through,

the same light on blackboards with lessons for the day:

equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined,

the "I have a dream" we keep dreaming,

or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won't explain

the empty desks of twenty children marked absent

today, and forever. Many prayers, but one light

breathing color into stained glass windows,

life into the faces of bronze statues, warmth

onto the steps of our museums and park benches

as mothers watch children slide into the day.

One ground. Our ground, rooting us to every stalk

of corn, every head of wheat sown by sweat

and hands, hands gleaning coal or planting windmills

in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm, hands

digging trenches, routing pipes and cables, hands

as worn as my father's cutting sugarcane

so my brother and I could have books and shoes.

The dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains

mingled by one wind—our breath. Breathe. Hear it

through the day's gorgeous din of honking cabs,

buses launching down avenues, the symphony

of footsteps, guitars, and screeching subways,

the unexpected song bird on your clothes line.

Hear: squeaky playground swings, trains whistling,

or whispers across café tables, Hear: the doors we open

for each other all day, saying: hello, shalom,

buon giorno, howdy, namaste, or buenos días

in the language my mother taught me—in every language

spoken into one wind carrying our lives

without prejudice, as these words break from my lips.

One sky: since the Appalachians and Sierras claimed

their majesty, and the Mississippi and Colorado worked

their way to the sea. Thank the work of our hands:

weaving steel into bridges, finishing one more report

for the boss on time, stitching another wound

or uniform, the first brush stroke on a portrait,

or the last floor on the Freedom Tower

jutting into a sky that yields to our resilience.

One sky, toward which we sometimes lift our eyes

tired from work: some days guessing at the weather

of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love

that loves you back, sometimes praising a mother

who knew how to give, or forgiving a father

who couldn't give what you wanted.

We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight

of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always—home,

always under one sky, our sky. And always one moon

like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop

and every window, of one country—all of us—facing the stars

hope—a new constellation

waiting for us to map it,

waiting for us to name it—together.

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New Vocabulary and Cultural Concepts

kindled = started a fire

Smokies = Smoky Mountains (southeastern U.S.)

Great Plains = the flat, open grasslands of the U.S. between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi

River (including the states of N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas,

Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico)

charging = running/moving forward with speed and power

crescendoing = building to a peak, like the high part of a symphony

arrayed = spread out, arranged

teeming = actively full of, alive with motion

ledgers = accounting books

ring up groceries = work as a grocery cashier

vital = important, crucial, alive

“I have a dream” = the name of Martin Luther King’s famous speech about equality for all Americans

twenty children = the elementary school victims of a mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012

stained glass windows = multi-colored windows of a church

sown = planted

gleaning = harvesting, collecting

trenches = long, vertical holes dug for laying cables and pipes in the ground

plains = large, flat, wide, open fields

mingled = mixed together

din = loud, continuous mixture of noises (as in a city)

screeching = loud, high-pitched noise

clothes line = the rope in people’s yards for air-drying freshly washed laundry

squeaky = the noise made when metal is rubbing with friction (without oil)

shalom = hello in Hebrew

buon giorno = hello in Italian

howdy = hello in rural or cowboy talk

namaste = hello in Hindi

buenos días = hello in Spanish

Appalachians = Appalachian Mountains (eastern U.S.)

Sierras = Sierra Mountains (western U.S.)

worked = moved, flowed

stitching = sewing, repairing

wound = cut, injury

Freedom Tower = new building in New York City to replace the fallen Twin Towers

jutting = sticking out, pushing forward

yields = gives way

resilience = ability to not give up, strong persistence

gloss = shine

plum = purple

dusk = moment between daylight and nighttime

constellation = group of stars in the sky

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

What's in a Name?

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nametag1.jpeg

“The sweetest sound to the human ear is that of one’s own name.” — Proverb

Adjusting to life in a new culture can be especially difficult when it comes to using names. For newcomers here, U.S. names can be particularly tricky because of the many immigrant languages coming into this country.

On the other side, Americans who have foreign-born co-workers can also be confused by names which seem unfamiliar to them.  So, what to do? 

Well, the first thing NOT to do is to shorten someone’s name without permission.  Likewise, don’t give someone a nickname without asking them.  Instead, try to learn that person’s name.  Ask them for help in saying it.  Maybe you can write it down.

This past year, I learned about a great software program that helps in pronouncing tricky names.

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It’s called audioname, and it can attach itself to your website or your email. Clicking on the link plays a recording of your voice telling how to say your name correctly. In the case of my friend Matthew Kushinka, I just click on the letter @ and he says his name.

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For my American friends, please take the time to learn the names of your international co-workers. It shows respect for them and a willingness to honor that sweetest of sounds—their name.

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Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.