The Bellarmine Convert: Different national stereotypes
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Entertainment
By Sarah Botha
A few days a go an freshman asked me, "So where's your country exactly?" I replied slightly astounded, "What do you mean?" He continued, "Like where exactly?" Suddenly I understood what he meant and I replied, "Africa's not a country, its a continent..." "Oh, I thought it was like how we say Northern Kentucky..."
In almost three months this was the first time I met someone who genuinely didn't know who Nelson Mandela was or where South Africa was. One would think its pretty self explanatory. This column has so far looked at the stereotypes at Bellarmine and the benefits of study abroad; so why not combine the two to unravel the idea of country stereotypes and that often enough these stereotypes hide a deeper reality and understanding of people and culture.
As a person from Africa, South Africa to be more specific, I'm sure some people had the idea that I live in a hut and travel to school on an elephant. Not true...coming from 'Africa', I knew that not only would I be facing the typical assumptions based of films like the Lion King or even District 9, but I also knew that I would have challenge the very Western attitude towards Africa.
Some of you may not know what I'm talking but this attitude is what feeds the Africa stereotype making people ask, 'Do you have internet? What about water and electricity?' In many ways it makes South Africa and other African countries look primitive in the world. I'd like to make the distinction that though I have all of those things and more - not everyone does. And that's what makes Africa so challenging and hard to define; both the rich world and poor world exist right next door to one another.
When you look at the island of Ireland, one thing is noticeable - that there is a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In other words, they are two different countries. A good friend of mine is from Northern Ireland and this has been one of her greatest frustrations; trying to make people understand that Ireland is not one country.
A few days a go an freshman asked me, "So where's your country exactly?" I replied slightly astounded, "What do you mean?" He continued, "Like where exactly?" Suddenly I understood what he meant and I replied, "Africa's not a country, its a continent..." "Oh, I thought it was like how we say Northern Kentucky..."
In almost three months this was the first time I met someone who genuinely didn't know who Nelson Mandela was or where South Africa was. One would think its pretty self explanatory. This column has so far looked at the stereotypes at Bellarmine and the benefits of study abroad; so why not combine the two to unravel the idea of country stereotypes and that often enough these stereotypes hide a deeper reality and understanding of people and culture.
As a person from Africa, South Africa to be more specific, I'm sure some people had the idea that I live in a hut and travel to school on an elephant. Not true...coming from 'Africa', I knew that not only would I be facing the typical assumptions based of films like the Lion King or even District 9, but I also knew that I would have challenge the very Western attitude towards Africa.
Some of you may not know what I'm talking but this attitude is what feeds the Africa stereotype making people ask, 'Do you have internet? What about water and electricity?' In many ways it makes South Africa and other African countries look primitive in the world. I'd like to make the distinction that though I have all of those things and more - not everyone does. And that's what makes Africa so challenging and hard to define; both the rich world and poor world exist right next door to one another.
When you look at the island of Ireland, one thing is noticeable - that there is a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In other words, they are two different countries. A good friend of mine is from Northern Ireland and this has been one of her greatest frustrations; trying to make people understand that Ireland is not one country.
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