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2/25/2009 Integration thoughts over an icy experienceThere are obvious cultural differences between people from different countries. If those countries are quite separated, those differences may be bigger. If those countries have quite different weather, that may shape the character of the inhabitants as well as their perceptions...
That is why, despite the countless efforts to integrate myself in this country, in this city, with these people, in the office, I have not yet learnt the lesson. We don't see things the same way, we don't have fun the same way, we don't laugh the same jokes. Most important of all: we don't run in the same conditions.
Some of my new colleagues use to train together. They run on Tuesdays and Fridays at lunch time. I thought it was cool, I could join them. One of the nice things of being here and working out of the city is that there are open spaces and forest almost beside the company building (como en Tokio, eh, Xavi? :)). It feels really good to go out in the middle of the day, breathe the air and receive a bit of that sunlight that I'm learning to appreciate so much by living here.
It's February and the temperature during the day varies between minus a few degrees and a couple of degrees over zero, depending on the day. However, I had bought the necessary equipment to run outside with my colleagues. Integration, integration.
First thing when I go out, after two months training nothing, absolutely nothing: "We run about 9km, is that ok with you?". What could I say?, integration in mind: "Ooookeyy....don't change anything because of me, I'll do my best". There we go then.
Second thing, to keep in mind: although the snow melts in the paviment and roads, the tracks in the forest keep the snow from melting longer. Or it changes to ice...over what you are supposed to go running (!)
9km of icy hell. Struggling to not slide away and end up with my face onto a frozen dry bush. My swedish colleagues, obviously, running almost without problems, and being forced to stop to wait for the lost spaniard. Playing with the ice, sliding on it...while I cursed out loud the f%^&@" ice and my integration attemps. And when things look like they cannot go worse, they do it. It started snowing. In the middle of a white forest, not being able to find my way back, being forced to continue the seemingly endless but in reality 9km run, not even able to run but figthing to survive and now, snowing. "Nice", "Beautiful" are the adjectives that your swedish colleagues use in that situation. "Me cago en la p---", "F#ck" and "I hate you" are more suitable for a person like me in such conditions.
A few kilometers later, safe and sound in the warmth of the office building, one must recognize that it has been "nice", maybe even a bit "fun". But by no means I am running outside again until the sun shines and the birds are singing!
Definitely different. We are different. And there is no integration that can cope with that.
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