So much we don’t have a clue about.
- Don’t know how to even pronounce words, let alone what they might mean. Now we’ve added a new alphabet (Cyrillic), which is in some ways easier, because character by character, it is phonetic, so at least our pronunciation gets closer to actual words. Except we speak in slooooooowwww motion.
- Domestic illiteracy: can’t figure out the symbols on a washing machine. Or a stovetop. Push some buttons, see what happens. So far, so good.
- Urban illiteracy: standing stupidly in the bike-lane part of the sidewalks and plazas (because there ARE bike lanes, full of bicycles,everywhere but in Belgrade).
- Cultural illiteracy at the most howdy-do level: learning how much or how little you get in line or just push or wait your turn…learning to greet the storekeeper as you enter, the grocerystore clerk as he or shee rings up your food. Learn the Belgrade clerks look annoyed all the time, no matter what.
- There are parts of being culturally ignorant and illiterate that I enjoy: watching how others do everything: how they put their groceries in line for checkout, how they wrap their scarves; how they tell a joke to a stranger; how close I can come to imitating.
- This trip, I have not once been even close to fluent with the currency.
- There are parts of total illiteracy that require deferenceand one’s best manners. We are constanly asking for assistance and kindness. Thanks to the woman in the Krakow who patiently walked us through everything required to mail a package: what to put on every line of every required form, and who then retaped it before wishing us a good afternoon.
DIFFERENCES THAT PELASE US:
- Beds- so excellent! Very firm. Two single pushed together for a couple, with a separate duvet for each of us. No fighting over the covers, yet very cozy….
- Recycling: always available for plastic and paper. Too bad it is only sometimes around for glass, and almost never for aluminum or metal.
DIFFERENCES, UNCATERGORIZED
- women
their constant feminine glamour: mascara, eyeliner,extreme eyebrows; serious lipstick; makeup I don’t even know the name forgetting hair dyed: carrot red, ruby red, and of course henna; blonde striped down from darker hair colors (hardly anyone pretends/pretense to the colors being natural)… - men and women:
So much urban style. Topcoats and scarves, infinite groovy shoes. Immaculate shoes. Color-coordinated shoes with scarf with hat; fedoras and felt hats and berets worn with authority and elegance vs. pretense… - Fast walkers. All ages, all sizes. Our guide in Belgrade said she aveaged about 10 kilometers a day, because it’s faster and more efficient than public transport in that city. Most people walk faster than me, even when I am moving at my fast urban cruise.
- Forests in the countryside, as observed from trains. No matter the country, I have only seen about 6 trees that are bigger than 10″ dbh (diameter breast height), except in city squares and parks.
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No hot sauce. Hungary has paprika, but this is a spice unto itself, used differently than peppers in the Americas.
WHAT TOURISTS SEEM TO WANT:
- At least of our rental managers offers “dentistry tourism” as an add-on, there are many big vinyl signs of big smiles and happy white people, many glamorous front offices with just enough tech gear to look “medical.”
- Deals on day tours to Auschwitz: guided bike trip? Combine with a tour to the Salt Mines?