1/4/2019
Teenagers in Poland and America One could assume that there are many differences between people in one country and those in another. It could be safe to think that due to the differences in culture, geographical location, and many other factors that people across the globe should be entirely and uniquely different. This may be the case for some people, but I believe that we all have more in common than we think. This thought has been proved by my observations of young people in Lębork. These young people or teenagers, if you will, seem to be very similar to their counterparts in America. I have noticed that many styles which are popular or prevalent in America are also popular here. While walking down the street I could forget entirely that I was in Poland because everyone wears very similar styles of clothing. In fact, I would say that the average young Pole is much more fashionable than the average young American Joe/Jane. I don't quite understand the trends in fashion, as I have never been too fashionable myself, but I have noticed that there are many similarities between the young people in Poland and the young people in America. Besides having similar styles and clothing another thing that I have noticed is music. I have noticed that many teenagers here have some sort of wireless speaker in their bags or backpacks. These speakers play their music for everyone to hear. While this may be better because then they don't need ear-buds/headphones, I will say it is quite different from when I was young. Back in my day, we were not allowed to walk around with our speakers blaring and to be honest I am not sure we even had speakers like the ones that exist today. Gaming also seems to be tremendously popular with the young crowd here in Lębork. Most of the young kids I have talked to have some sort of gaming console or computer. With these things they play games that I have only heard of, but I know they are also wildly popular in America. For example, many of my students talk about their love for Fortnite or the Sims. I know what these games are, but I have never played them. I believe I have some friends who play Fortnite, but I had no idea that it was such a global phenomenon as it seems to be. Unfortunately, I have concluded that my lack of understanding of Polish teenagers is not because they are different from teenagers in America. In fact, they are more similar to American teens than I ever would have thought. No, what I have concluded is that I am just getting older. I am 'out of touch' with the young people. I should just accept my new place in life and start calling the kids I teach 'sonny', maybe I can also convince my boss to get me an old wooden rocking-chair so that I can sit there during my lessons and regal the students with my stories of 'when I was young'. So, there you have it. Teenagers are relatively similar across the globe and now I feel like an older man more than ever before, for better or for worse.
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AuthorBorn and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan David was raised by his parents with his two sisters and brother. Archives
June 2019
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