Well, I have successfuly pissed of EF once again.
For the school newspaper I was asked t0 write an opinions piece about my observations about America so far, the differences I have found. So I did that. My teacher and editor both edited it, they said it was enjoyable to read and it was published. Many of my friends and teachers also loved it, many thought it was very funny. Lynn however, did not.
She said it was offensive and if I didn’t like America maybe I should go home (little to her knowledge I am going home). She said she handed it around at work and to some other EF people and they all said the same as her. She also said that it will be harder to find me a host family at that school, though I am dead positive she hasn’t been trying at all as my details are not in the files given to coordinators (I have seen them) and the way she was speaking the other day it doesn’t look like she’s going to give me up. Anyway, back to the article. She said she was going to talk to my teacher about it and if there were any repercussions she didn’t know what was going to happen.
The story was not for an audience such as her but the teenagers. God she made me so mad. I was even more infuriated when I found out that the whole of EF knows about it. She consulted them before talking to me. My parents received a letter from EF.
The attached article that Ashayla wrote in the school paper has come across to many of those at her school as being offensive to American’s. Mainly the offense came from Ashayla comparing a lot of differences between America and Australia, with America not being as good as Australia.
No one at school deemed it innapropriate. The article also does not state that Australia is better, though the more time I spend here the more I have come to realise this. The whole thing was a joke and the majority of people took it as one.
I am expecting to receive a call from EF soon as this was also stated to my parents:
The RC is going to chat with Ashayla about being culturally sensitive and realising that there are differences in every culture. Although Ashayla was probably not meaning to be offensive the RC is concerned that it now may be harder to find Ashayla a host family within the school area and is going to look outside Ashayla’s school region for a host family.
Firstly, according to Boston they had started searching for a family outside of this area two months ago! I am aware that every culture is different, I even stated in the article many things about America that I like.
I do not understand why Lynn had to go and overreact and involve so many other people. Will EF and those people hosting me stop painting me as the bad guy! I am not! I paid my way here and have been treated like shit.
I hate EF.
The concerned article is here.
Ok, so this EF councillor rings me on Friday, whilst I’m at school and proceeds to hook into me about the article. When I try to defend myself she cuts me off and says ‘you’re being very rude’. So I don’t say anything. She continues to tear into me, making claims that she clearly does not understad, ie ‘I don’t think Australians would appreciate if someone wrote an article like this about them’ (clearly she’s never dealt with Australians or seen any Australian program before). I’m placed on a verbal warning for being culturaly insensitive (let’s ignore the fact that EF is being culturally insensitive of my culture and infringing on my right to freedom of speech). After she has made me feel as if my opinion does not matter at all, that clearly defending myself is useless and that the conversation is entirely one-sided she has the nerve to say ‘The article was very angry. Is there anything wrong?’ EF are such noobs. I let this question hang in the air for awhile, allowing silence to ensue before I finally replied with ‘no’ said goodbye and hung up. What I really wanted to do was slam the phone on her half way through her ranting, but mum and dad raised me to have respect, so I sat there and took it, in the middle of a crowded office with students and teachers everywhere.
well i can see that it is a joke for the most part (although i think there was a lot of very subtle passive aggression in there too at times) i can also see why they may have gotten the impression that you hated it all. meh, i don’t s’pose it really matters anymore does it?
Good on you, pissing EF off to the end!
Seriously, though, it really does show how insecure they(EF) are that when you say something like “American’s are generally ignorant about other nations because their history program is limited to America” and they hear “Americans aren’t as good as Australians because they are stupid.”
Don’t let the Capitalists silence you!
lol u gave me a good laugh with that one, im proud of you saying it how it is, its all true and funny, i dont get how they find it offensive, well i guess thats a good thing to know at least all aussies can laugh at themselves while in this instinse we see that not many yanks can laugh at themselves and once again they prove that they are up themselves.
now you have to let us know when your coming back as soon as you know ok!!!
Miss u xoxox
haha is says wukk because u and k are next to i and l on the keyboard. =)
haha. your article makes me lol.
i think it rocks no matter what those EF peeps think.
i think i should sing ‘Unpretty’ by TLC to the EF cos I think they don’t like themselves enough to accept other’s opinions.
because they can buy their hair if it won’t grow, and they can fix their nose if he says so, they can buy all the make up that man can make, but if they can’t look inside themselves, find out who are they to, be in the position to feel so damn unpretty.
EF is lame.
miss you!!!