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The first week in the United States

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The first week in the United States
06.09.2006, Arman Suleimenov

I arrived in Ohio University on the 28^th of September (local time is supposed). From this day so far I decided to write in English. Of course, it won’t be as mysterious and elegant as my Russian writing is. But it is only the beginning and I believe that my intention and my desire will take their effect and my English writing and, what’s more important now, speaking will become professional and pleasant to read/listen.

I’m sitting at the table and looking at the window and the street behind it contemplating how to express what I can express in Russian very easily and graciously. The air in Athens {where Ohio University {where I’m studying now} is situated in} is not as polluted as that in the city I’m from. I think it’s because of US environmental policies and their effect on the way the gasoline is produced here.

Now I not just understand the heroes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan (Tang Lung and Chon Wang respectively) in the acclaimed movies intellectually, but, what’s far more difficult, I understand them so-called “experiencely”. I can feel what they felt when came to the foreign country. The US are not another planet, of course, but there are some habits and traditions all the newcomers have to follow and pretend to respect. One good idea is not to hesitate and feel free to ask questions. Yes, your ego can be flawed, your so-called status and authority can be damaged. In this case (if you remain the slave of your ego) you will lose something quintessential, something new, something unique that has an opportunity to transform your consciousness and being. It doesn’t matter if someone would think of you as a dummy or foolish/childish/”ish-ish”, it’s the problem of thinkers, not yours.

For me the best way to act is to be silly in the beginning and then to become a master in the end-beginning. And then to start the next beginning. To become a student again.

As I see, you shouldn’t look at someone more that 3 seconds here. Or they’ll ask you their traditional question: “What’s up?” I don’t know what is in the “up-place”: I’m just climbing the top and will not stop having reached it.