We've started a new German class and the Iraqi who visited last month has joined us. He seems less agitated but I'm still dreading the moment when he finds out I'm American since he was so aggressive when talking about our involvement there.
Today we were talking about the way in which Germans celebrate big wedding anniversaries. (So 25th, 50th, 60th, etc) And the Iraqi raised his hand and said incredulously-- How can you even have custom for a 50th wedding anniversary? Is there anyone who actually lives long enough to celebrate it or do Germans just get married when they're 10 years old?
Luckily the teacher didn't gloss over the question-- she actually took the time to explain that life expectancy is just higher here than in many other places. Think our class discussions are about to gain a whole new dimension...
3 comments:
It's great to meet people that open ones eyes to a different way of living, and as a result realise and be thankful for what we're taking for granted.
What that man must've lived through - how he lived... it blows my mind. I'm on the phone with G and reading him this entry, and he says he can remember a couple here in town who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and were in their nineties when they passed away, within a couple weeks of each other. I guess sometimes we don't realize how lucky we are.
I know, it's crazy, isn't it? We get so used to seeing active elderly people and don't even think twice about it!
One of my (elderly) neighbors in Belgium had a vegetable garden-- he'd work in it a lot and sometimes I'd stop to chat when I was out walking the dog. One day his Dad was there as well, walking around, just hanging out enjoying the weather and chatting with passersby. Found out later that he's 103! !!!
And of course it's not just people in Iraq who are living under terrible conditions-- it's closer to home as well. The life expectancy in Russia has been hovering at about 55 for at least a decade now!
Scary!
Post a Comment