A Call For Change

When people travel to foreign lands,they go forth with the hope that they will change the places they visit. Those from different traditions have varied ways of manifesting this, but the intent is usually the same. Russians often refuse to overtly step out of their own cultural mindset. French interact mostly with other french speakers. Americans broadcast their own values to those around them. On a grand scale this may change the local's view of other peoples; without necessarily making it more accurate. Business continues as usual.
One man cannot change the world.When professionals are sent abroad to teach those in other parts of the world, the impact they make often pails in comparison to the cultural impression their foreign co-workers make on them. While I went to Maldives to train it's journalists,the lessons learned and friendships formed will remain a part of me for the rest of my life. For better or worse, one returns from this education forever changed.
It is almost time for me to return again. All that I had to do on my most recent sojourn through the former eastern block has been accomplished. I have received a B2 level Polish certificate, connected with extended European family, and been accepted to grad school.Despite this,I find my self focusing on every day activities of life in Budapest,which soon will no longer be a part of my own. More than anything else they have defined me. They will also continue unimpeded after my departure.
When my plane lands in Los Angeles,the city I grew up in will be exactly the same.But I will be different.As I begin re-adjusting to an old life through wizened eyes I know the process will offer little comfort. I can only yearn to for the next experience -- the newest change to my own world.

A Nation Left Behind

In America, it is common to see stories on the nightly news about how the education system in the United States has fallen behind. Over the past few months, I have been given an eye-opening lesson on how true this is in one subject area; one that is never even mentioned in these broadcasts: foreign languages.

At home, I am considered to have a talent for languages other my native tongue. Compared to many Americans, the fact that I can converse and study in three of them is unusual. However, at my university in Budapest, it is common to find that many of my European pears have similar ability. In many cases, their English is practically perfect. The reason for this seems clear. In many European countries, foreign languages are mandatory starting from elementary school. By the time students graduate from university they have been given the time and opportunity to learn multiple languages quite well. I was taught the value of knowing multiple tongues from a early age, but could not any foreign language at school until 8th grade.
Many U.S. schools only require 2 years of a foreign language for high school graduation. Usually, the only language available is Spanish, which remains ubiquitous although some would prefer other linguistic options. Many students regard it as annoying and learn it only enough to pass the final exam.

Distressingly, the current U.S. language instruction program bears striking resemblance to the defunct attempts of the USSR to teach Russian in other nations behind the Iron Curtain in the 70's and 80's. Students from Poland to Romania were forced to learn the eastern Slavic language. Most of them simply passed the exam and forgot what they had learned by the start of the following school year.

One of my Polish professors in Kraków spent a few years teaching Polish in Washington D.C. One day she urged Americans to avoid the Muscovite's mistake. "It seems to me that Spanish in the U.S. is like Russian used to be here" she said in Polish. "Everyone has to learn the minimum amount and few can speak any of it." It was one of the most candid and insightful comments I had heard in a long time.

When abroad, I often feel that my own country's education system has forced me to work from a disadvantage. I have only been able to study Polish for five years, but I am competing with some who have learned languages since they were five. While I can always communicate, I must perfect my skills on the fly.

My Polish 'niece' and 'nephew' are about 8 years old. They already are learning English at their local elementary school. Although we speak Polish, they often teach me a thing or two about the language, and are eager for me to help them learn English words. On the other hand, my 11 year old American cousin is not learning any foreign language and regards them as 'stupid'. It is often said that a nation's youth are its future. If this is true, then I leave you with a question: with whom will that future lie in a globalized economy? The answer seems all to clear.

A Standing Ovation

My passion for the grand opera began in the world's smallest opera house. It is located on a side street in Warsaw and there are more people in the cast than there are in the audience. As a young man of fifteen years, I was captivated by Mozart's 'Escape from the Seraglio'. After my return from Poland I began to further discover the art form. Most of this exploration took place at the LA Opera.

After every performance, the Angeleno opera-goers would begin to applaud. Eventually almost all of them would stand up in accolade to the performers. I always assumed that this was simply polite behavior, despite overhearing the occasional grumble that standing ovations "come like pennies in L.A. these days."

I did not realize how true that statement was until I started regularly attending performances at the national opera house in Budapest. Unlike Californians, the Magyars demonstrate their appreciation for the lead performers after each act. The amount of applause is directly connected to a spectator's opinion of the artist's performance. Standing up after the finale is strictly reserved for exceptional productions.

More importantly, Hungarian opera fans take the time to make their approval known. At the Dorthy Chandler theater, flawless arias by Placido Domingo are met with little more then a bit of polite applause. This could not be further from the truth at the Budapest opera. I will never forget the audience's reaction after one of the main leads opened the second act of Bank Ban with a stunning solo. The show stopped for a full 10 minutes. Applause came in synchronized waves as the packed theater meaningfully demonstrated its approval.

It is also permissible to express one dislike. When the tenor's voice cracked during 'La Donna e Mobile' most of the audience loudly booed him. It was the first time I had ever seen this done.

When my time in Budapest is over I will have seen more than 8 performances at the Magyar National Opera. It is one of the things I will miss most. Los Angeles may showcase some of the world's best artists, but in Budapest the singer's performance actually counts for something.

Last night, I saw Puccini's 'Turandot'. It was one of the most amazing operas I have ever seen. For the first time, I noticed that a few members of the audience had gotten to their feet in true recognition. Still seated, I clapped thunderously until the final curtain.