Hispania I: Relativity on vacation The first thing I pulled as a permanent lesson from this holiday is: It all depends on the environment. All measurable can be expressed only in relation to other variables. Einstein probably has figured out something similar back then. My relevant findings, based primarily on age, national stereotypes and body size.
Let's start in the middle of where we are on the holiday. I imagine, to have a very good eye for the nationalities of people. Spain's by my side I would keep the reputation for not necessarily for a Spaniard, if I do not know that he is one. It binds no black hair in a pigtail, no black curly carpet wants out of his top shirt button hole, under which a mahogany-colored Skin show through. I in turn will occasionally held for a Southerner - I'm not naive (but not small and narrow enough for the southern fashion, I mentioned it?). These estimates we got from a young Polish woman in Lisbon, the instrument was amazed at the information about our home for the record, addressed to me: "But this can not be, a German and a Spaniard, he has yet to darken it. skin than him! ". Apparently, the inspection turn out but also very different, as elsewhere in the Galician Lugo, they talked about skin types, a friendly locals told of a family whose light skin have inherited it seems, again addressed to me: "And I swear to you, which is blonder than you!" You have to understand that I am not really very fair. Basically, I'm more of the classic brunette. But it all depends on the needs of the environment at each exactly appropriate for a cliché. And since then we Germans are most likely to the blonde. Perhaps because it is more of us than, say, by the Swedes and we are internationally known.
And we are the tall, while the sun of the south while a happy mood, for it seems to prosper in a rather small stature. Even when I was in our journey to the English north west of relativity the seemingly obvious wrong. In Germany, often ridiculed when he said he did not was small, my companions grew suddenly found next to his Galician people, apparently in centimeters (of course as long as I introduced myself not itself result): The gas station attendant, the neighbor, the baker, all were suddenly much smaller than him. At home, however, I am the one for the high cabinets, all in accordance with the cliché. The
with age, finally, I had noticed before. I've been since early childhood, many thoughts about my own age, other people and of humanity itself. I eagerly waited every day to last a year older and to be called as early as the expiration of the sixth month of age is always one higher. For some time before I departed from this custom, which is probably related to the actual passing of the growing years of life. Anyway, I know to this day almost always to the day how old I am. Not so the Spaniards at my side - we call him but now Sergio, which is the English first name which is pronounced by all German football commentators on television always Italian. Sergio
So, I initially thought when we got to know just like concealing his age. Makes especially liked younger. When he first time in my presence, then was asked, he gave his age by one and a half years at less than truthfully. At first outraged, I soon: He did not know better. It was not present in every moment, how old he is now straight. Sometimes when you ask him about his age and I am in the process, he looks unsafe to me. 37 + / - 3, what does it matter? He has followed his own aging never been particularly interested. But for that I'm here, I know his age since our first meeting to the day as well as mine.
Recently, in Santiago, but I got the final proof that he and my age is not accurately known. And that fateful a moment: I discovered in my mirror first gray hair. Taken and a little sad I sighed. "And I'm not even two months thirty-one" He stopped, looked me in disbelief long. "Are you sure?" I thought you were thirty-three. " Slowly it is too colorful to me. Three months ago, he has me still estimated at thirty-two. What should be if he wants me sometimes reported as missing, and must provide my date of birth? I will ask my kidnappers him kindly to leave my ID card. Maybe I can but my first gray hair appear equally older.
so I summarize the lessons together for this holiday:
- There is no great and no kids, man lives in a sort of blue box, the background determines the overall look. The same is true for skin and hair color. Go as a brunette to Sweden and you look like a Muslim terrorist.
- The Egalsein age would be a desirable social goal, everybody has it already been achieved. If the age is completely relative, and no matter, however, a lot of people lose their jobs and a lot of things to their destination. The cosmetics industry. The Schönheitschiurgie. Consequently a number of sections of the tabloids. The women's magazines for women aged 40 The fashion for Best-Agers. Ah, the chain would continue indefinitely. I do not know if I am to all of this slump and the resulting Economic crisis will be to blame, because it must pay for it again so we young people (ha, right thought: Are we young?). I will therefore continue to keep in mind my age and that of Sergio to do so. Maybe he can even remember one day at least my star sign.
