First time poster here. But I have been loving this blog for a long time, since I am a big traveler and love to be abroad. Indian American guy born and raised in Cali, living in Chicago. Have also lived in Germany for a summer and Japan for a year teaching English.
My question here is do you think its possible to get to the point you have been so influenced or grown into international culture or another country/region's culture (including pop culture) that you can barely relate to your own country's girls?
For example, since I was young I was always into Japanese pop culture, like video games. Then it grew into loving Japanese fashion, then anime, then cars, then their history, then their music (like eurobeat, some Jpop and J-rap). When I lived there, I was one of the only American guys rockin Japanese fashion (since I can fit into it being a very slim and shorter guy). Other Western guys were like wow that fashion is gay, but to me it was very urban and gritty. I still dress slightly alternative on many nights though I have regressed to some American fashion since I have been back in the US for awhile.
All of the music I listen to now is from a certain culture or subculture. American music I prety much only listen to hip hop or 80s (though new rap sucks now IMO), reggaeton, salsa, euro-house.
I have a big social network in Chicago, but I often feel like the odd man out to a certain extent, rather than the cool different guy. This is because I can barely relate to the shit most American young people are talking about, especially in regard to pop culture. They are talkin about indie rock, and shows like The Hills (what is that?), Jersey Shore (never seen an episode), etc.
The only shit I have seen and liked recently is The Wire and Breaking Bad, but most white kids have never seen either.
Now this may seem minuscule, but I have ran sets where Ive been sort of connecting with some american girls thru my alternate interests, and then my friend will start talking about some shit they know about (like an american tv show) or they will all go crazy to some crappy new pop song and I won't really be "in" with the girls anymore.
Its gotten to the point I dont even go to "regular' venues anymore. I will only go to a bar with a lot of hispanics (cuz I can actually feel where they r coming from, we can talk about reggaeton or salsa or traveling), or a more urban black venue. Whenever I frequent a yuppie or hipster bar, I can't stand it. I have had very minimal success in those venues to the poinnt its not even worth it.
Anyone deal with this sort of thing?
My question here is do you think its possible to get to the point you have been so influenced or grown into international culture or another country/region's culture (including pop culture) that you can barely relate to your own country's girls?
For example, since I was young I was always into Japanese pop culture, like video games. Then it grew into loving Japanese fashion, then anime, then cars, then their history, then their music (like eurobeat, some Jpop and J-rap). When I lived there, I was one of the only American guys rockin Japanese fashion (since I can fit into it being a very slim and shorter guy). Other Western guys were like wow that fashion is gay, but to me it was very urban and gritty. I still dress slightly alternative on many nights though I have regressed to some American fashion since I have been back in the US for awhile.
All of the music I listen to now is from a certain culture or subculture. American music I prety much only listen to hip hop or 80s (though new rap sucks now IMO), reggaeton, salsa, euro-house.
I have a big social network in Chicago, but I often feel like the odd man out to a certain extent, rather than the cool different guy. This is because I can barely relate to the shit most American young people are talking about, especially in regard to pop culture. They are talkin about indie rock, and shows like The Hills (what is that?), Jersey Shore (never seen an episode), etc.
The only shit I have seen and liked recently is The Wire and Breaking Bad, but most white kids have never seen either.
Now this may seem minuscule, but I have ran sets where Ive been sort of connecting with some american girls thru my alternate interests, and then my friend will start talking about some shit they know about (like an american tv show) or they will all go crazy to some crappy new pop song and I won't really be "in" with the girls anymore.
Its gotten to the point I dont even go to "regular' venues anymore. I will only go to a bar with a lot of hispanics (cuz I can actually feel where they r coming from, we can talk about reggaeton or salsa or traveling), or a more urban black venue. Whenever I frequent a yuppie or hipster bar, I can't stand it. I have had very minimal success in those venues to the poinnt its not even worth it.
Anyone deal with this sort of thing?