Getting BORED in Atlanta (Decatur: trip , work, townhomes)

[MrDuritz]

Today I took for the first time the car in Atlanta. Just to go to Costco, but still something. The problem is not to get lost if I try to go somewhere far from the perimeter, and, as I said before, that it's not too funny to go alone and visit places alone.

Bad news also that my brother goes on a business trip to San Francisco...

We're looking for a good concert to go to before I leave the 5th of august. I've been searching the net but I found nothing interesting. Perhaps any of you know a local band playing in the city that is worth to see it.

My favourite bands are Counting Crows, John Mayer and Damien Rice. If you like those and you like a local band... I might like it!

Also thinking about going to the theatre. Something have you seen something lately?

Good luck!

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by rswlguy

Metro Atlanta has been described as one of the "xenophobic" areas of the USA. For those not familiar with this word, here's the URL to the definition:
xenophobic - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Not only surprised but shocked at some of the responses to a foreign visitor here. I work with the travelling public both domestic/international for the past 33 years; I here this more often than not here about Metro Atlanta. NOTHING to be proud of folks...

Yeah, growing up in Metro Atlanta (East Cobb) I can tell you that that area is xenophobic. It's one of those unfortunate facts, even though I still love Atlanta. Being half-Japanese, I used to travel to Japan during summers growing up. I tried to share my experiences with the other classmates, but they either didn't care or liked to make fun of the Japanese culture (squinting, saying "ching chang chong", or have stereotypical views, or even assume Japan is the same today as it was like 500 years ago). People there don't care about anything involving a foreign culture, or even anything outside the local area. I noticed when I visited GA earlier this summer that people (middle-aged adults) immediately lost interest when I mentioned that I'm stationed in Japan. Because of jingoism, Georgians wouldn't want their state to be anything like Japan, even though I think that would make GA a better state than it already is (imagine a Georgia with less crime, better train system, and futuristic technology). In fact, Georgia and Japan are about as opposite and foreign as two cultures can get, especially when it comes to guns, safety, health, and education. The only thing Georgians and Japanese have in common is the xenophobia.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

Yeah, growing up in Metro Atlanta (East Cobb) I can tell you that that area is xenophobic. It's one of those unfortunate facts, even though I still love Atlanta. Being half-Japanese, I used to travel to Japan during summers growing up. I tried to share my experiences with the other classmates, but they either didn't care or liked to make fun of the Japanese culture (squinting, saying "ching chang chong", or have stereotypical views, or even assume Japan is the same today as it was like 500 years ago). People there don't care about anything involving a foreign culture, or even anything outside the local area. I noticed when I visited GA earlier this summer that people (middle-aged adults) immediately lost interest when I mentioned that I'm stationed in Japan. Because of jingoism, Georgians wouldn't want their state to be anything like Japan, even though I think that would make GA a better state than it already is (imagine a Georgia with less crime, better train system, and futuristic technology). In fact, Georgia and Japan are about as opposite and foreign as two cultures can get, especially when it comes to guns, safety, health, and education. The only thing Georgians and Japanese have in common is the xenophobia.

I find it difficult to swallow a statement that says all Georgians are xenophobic and jingoistic (a rather xenophobic statement in itself). As a Georgian, it doesn't apply to me; I can't really think of anyone in my circle that it applies to, either.
You should sit down and share your experience with my daughter (20, a junior at SCAD)...she's fascinated with Japanese culture and it is a major influence on her work. She would hang on your every word.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I find it difficult to swallow a statement that says all Georgians are xenophobic and jingoistic (a rather xenophobic statement in itself). As a Georgian, it doesn't apply to me; I can't really think of anyone in my circle that it applies to, either.
You should sit down and share your experience with my daughter (20, a junior at SCAD)...she's fascinated with Japanese culture and it is a major influence on her work. She would hang on your every word.

Sorry, I didn't mean ALL Georgians. It is actually just a stereotype. I've also come across many open-minded people there as well.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by rswlguy

Not only surprised but shocked at some of the responses to a foreign visitor here. I work with the travelling public both domestic/international for the past 33 years; I here this more often than not here about Metro Atlanta. NOTHING to be proud of folks...

I believe the visitor indicated he has a good sense of humor, and I think that most foreign visitors and relocators do realize that until they get the language and culture down, there will be quite a few "oops" comments and moments made - and most of them, like MrDuritz, laugh at themselves as well as with others. It makes for a better experience in life if you can laugh at yourself.

Now, on the flip-side, there are those who are SO seriously into looking for humor violations, that they ruin this laughable experience for other parties.

So to use a West Coast phrase.... "chill, dude" ...

[queenbee3]

I think y'all are being very unfair to poor MrDuritz. It's tough being in a strange city all alone and this seems like a friendly board so it was not an unreasonable request to post.

Not only surprised but shocked at some of the responses to a foreign visitor here. I work with the travelling public both domestic/international for the past 33 years; I here this more often than not here about Metro Atlanta. NOTHING to be proud of folks...

People really need to get a sense of humor. I don't think that anyone meant for the comments to be offensive to the OP they were just having fun and he obviously is not taking them to heart as he has already stated. If you feel so bad why don't you invite him to hang out with you. LOL.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by queenbee3

People really need to get a sense of humor. I don't think that anyone meant for the comments to be offensive to the OP they were just having fun and he obviously is not taking them to heart as he has already stated. If you feel so bad why don't you invite him to hang out with you. LOL.

I agree; he's clearly having as much fun with this as anybody.
Greg called this one...the Fun Police arrived, and now he's got to be the Fun Police Police.

[MrDuritz]

I guess I could have had the same answers in a forum of my home city in Spain.

The only thing I miss in the thread is a real help. I guess nobody would like to meet me and have some laughs together. It doesn't matter. I'm meeting people anyway.

I thank the people who sent me some links. I really tried, but the courses or activities didn't fit my schedule.

I go Rafting this weekend. That's gonna be fun!

[km08]

MrDuritz,

You say that you seek someone with whom to practice English. Trust me....you are already miles ahead of many people who were born and raised here in the US in terms of spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.

One of my biggest pet peeves is American born and raised people who misspell and misuse basic English words....there is just no excuse for this, IMO. And please don't flame me with posts about not everyone having the benefit of higher education. These are things you learn in kindergarten...1st and 2nd grade.

I have worked for doctors who could not put together a proper sentence to save their lives. Unbelievable! When they dictate, they mispronounced half the medications and wonder why the stupid transcriptionist (their words) can't type the right medication. lol Sheesh.

MrDuritz....yes....please visit Craigslist and contact some of the morons with the posts that don't include a single word that is used/spelled correctly and share your talents with them.

I admit to posting a personal ad on Craigslist. The responses I received (most of them) were horribly written. I could not figure out what most of them were trying to say. Some of them even threw in the word 'shawty'. lol Oh yeah....being called 'shawty' just totally wins my heart.

MrDuritz....looks like you are doing just fine with your English.

[MrDuritz]

Well, I teach english in Spain. My writing is not bad. What I need is to practice the oral comprenhension (I realized of the easy joke when I wrote oral).

I go outside and talk to some people, but it's very difficult to keep a conversation for more than a couple of minutes with people who are "doing something". Anyway, I'm listening to the tv all the time, though it doesn't give me an extra personal experience.

By the way, yesterday I went to "The School Box" thinking that I could find some teaching resources, but I found it quite limited. I was specially looking for these huge books you can use to read in the classroom, kids sitting on the floor. But I found nothing. Does anyone know where could I find this kind of books? You know, nursery rhymes, fairy tales or even some science stuff (I've used one about the Water Cycle that was really cool).

I've already tried Borders and Barns and Novels.

Thank you.