After this past month or so in the States, I’ve picked up on some things. I love talking about Central Asia. Sometimes I bore people with my stories and comparisons so I try to tone it down a little so as not to annoy people. I’ve found that some folks really want to hear a lot about my life but think they are either boring me with their questions or else that I need a break from talking about where I live. In light of this, I wanted to give some tips for how to best interact with me for those who are interested.
#1 - Ask me questions. It brings me such joy when someone wants to know about aspects of my life. I don’t really have any topics that I don’t want to discuss. Here are some ideas if you’re stuck.
*Language (grammar questions, how to say something, how it functionally works, etc.)
*Politics
*Costs of things (rent, cell phone, meat, veggies)
*Transportation
*Housing
*Great travel spots
*Best/Weirdest foods
*Funniest experiences
#2 - Don’t belittle or degrade the people or place where I have been living. Don’t make stereotypes. Instead, ask me how I have been loved for and cared for by the people. Ask me how they annoy me. Ask me what I like best or least about CA.
#3 - Don’t ask vague questions like “How was your trip? or “What do you like or not like about CA?” It’s hard to summarize 3+ years into those types of questions. Instead think of something more specific like “What were a few of your hardest moments/seasons?” or “Tell me about 2 sweet friendships with locals.”
#4 Don’t assume that I only feel happiness about being in America. Ask me how I feel about being here. Ask me if I’ve had any meltdowns here. Ask me if I’ve had any meltdowns there. Ask me about my trip to Walmart. Ask me what makes me happy about being here.
#5 Don’t compare your two week trip to “a random country” with my life in CA. If you want to talk about your trip, tell me about something that happened to you and then ask if I have experienced that where I live.
#6 If you are one of those people who want to hear about my life, tell me up front. Please ask questions! Invite me over for a meal or set up a time to chat for a bit.
