Today I was on Yahoo and saw a video clip from an Australian rules football game. The guy makes an absolutely amazing catch by jumping on the other guy's shoulders. I was reallly impressed. But then I went and read the comments. The comments were mostly rude and ignorant people saying that these guys would never make it in the NFL and who gives a flip about Australian football. This got me thinking. Yes, I love football as much as the next American. Yes, I pay way too much for channels so I can zone out on Saturdays, Sundays, and some Thursdays. But one thing I do not tolerate well in intolerance and closed mindedness. As much as I love football, I do not limit my interests to just football. I was watching the women's World Cup long before Abby Wambach made the miracle score against Brazil. I even go to ESPN3 and watch sports that most Americans don't even know exist, like rugby and lacrosse. Do I know the rules very well? Not really, but I enjoy seeing the athleticism and the heart that these athletes put into their sport. I do, however, know how to explain offsides in soccer, thank you very much.
My problem with football is that it is so ingrained into American culture that people put on their blinders and think it is the only sport that is worth watching. And what is even sadder, a lot of these same people can't even explain why the ball is normally punted on fourth down. But yet these people think they can leave comments on an article about how their sport is superior to every other sport in the world. Pathetic.
So now that the lockout is over, by all means, go out and support your favorite team. But don't be limited to just football. Remember, everybody else in the world thinks football is a sport where you kick the ball into a net. Be adventurous. You may find it's a whole other world out there.
Here's to telling that idiot in the bar that Ohio State will not win a title this year.
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Plight of a Quiet Person
Let me make some things clear. I am not the life of the party, I am not a social butterfly. I am perfectly content laying low and not stirring up the pot. I am, for the most part, a quiet person. Honestly, I think we are the most misunderstood group of people out there. Since this is a topic that is not likely to come up at a party, let me try to explain this breed of people in a lighthearted way.
Misconception number one is that quiet people are shy. Let me make one thing clear. I. AM. NOT. SHY!!! (Gee, no pent up anger there.) Shy people tend to have low self confidence and are afraid to speak up. Quiet people want to say things that are intelligent. They also don't want to regret saying something. So they ponder what they are going to say, then open their mouth.
Another misconception is that quiet people are deaf. Because we don't say a lot, that somehow means we cannot hear. I have never had to ask what the latest gossip is because people will blurt it out right in front of me. Quiet people are also really good at pretending not to hear you so you will keep talking and spill more beans.
Oh yeah, and to all you haters out there, quiet people are not stuck up. Quiet people are usually deep thinkers and can get lost in their thoughts without even realizing it. So if we don't say hi and ask how your day was the second you walk in the room, don't get offended. We are just deep in thought. If anything, I think quiet people are some of the best friends you will ever have. We really like it when people take the trouble to understand us and not judge us.
Just be careful, because once you get to know us, you will realize that quiet people really are not quiet at all. We just wait for the right opportunity to talk. And when that guard comes down, we all of the sudden have a ton of things to say.
Life life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Misconception number one is that quiet people are shy. Let me make one thing clear. I. AM. NOT. SHY!!! (Gee, no pent up anger there.) Shy people tend to have low self confidence and are afraid to speak up. Quiet people want to say things that are intelligent. They also don't want to regret saying something. So they ponder what they are going to say, then open their mouth.
Another misconception is that quiet people are deaf. Because we don't say a lot, that somehow means we cannot hear. I have never had to ask what the latest gossip is because people will blurt it out right in front of me. Quiet people are also really good at pretending not to hear you so you will keep talking and spill more beans.
Oh yeah, and to all you haters out there, quiet people are not stuck up. Quiet people are usually deep thinkers and can get lost in their thoughts without even realizing it. So if we don't say hi and ask how your day was the second you walk in the room, don't get offended. We are just deep in thought. If anything, I think quiet people are some of the best friends you will ever have. We really like it when people take the trouble to understand us and not judge us.
Just be careful, because once you get to know us, you will realize that quiet people really are not quiet at all. We just wait for the right opportunity to talk. And when that guard comes down, we all of the sudden have a ton of things to say.
Life life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Monday, June 20, 2011
Why Miss USA SUCKS!!! From a pageant girl.
I hate to admit it, I love pageants. I remember getting so excited as a little girl every time one would come on TV. I tried my hand at a few in high school, only to find out they were much tougher than they looked on TV. And deep down, I still dream of running for Mrs. Oklahoma one day. Probably once I'm done having kids. I have always admired the girls' ability to stay poised under immense pressure.
Last night was the Miss USA pageant, a pageant that used to stir a lot of excitement in me. I have not watched the pageant in years and the only reason I did was because my husband switched to it. I think he thought I wanted to watch it. I was quickly reminded why I have shunned this pageant for so many years. Honestly, it is more a big commercial for Mr. Trump's buddies than anything. Ads, ads, and oh, wait, we have to select the top eight. Okay, continue with the ads.
Let's talk about the judging panel. Talk about the most unqualified bunch of people. They are a far cry from the talent agents and dance instructors who judged pageants of old. Are you trying to tell me that Tyson Chandler is qualified to tell if a girl is poised or not? Or a Real Housewives of Wherever person? I think those housewife girls (not women) are the antithesis of poise. This probably explains the questionable winners year after year. The most poised and confident girl out there, Miss Texas, got fourtth. While Alabama and Tennessee placed higher while bumbling through their questions. Personally, I don't think the winner's question was that hard. I heard the medical marijuana question back in high school way back when Miss Hawaii won Miss USA and Miss Universe. I have found in numerous pageants everywhere, the winner is usually the one who gets the easiest question.
Oh, and what was up with the American Idol like selection of finalists? "Group number one, you are moving on, group number two, sorry." That totally sucked. Go back to saying who goes on one by one.
When you have a joke of a format like this, it about guarantees that a Miss USA will NEVER win Miss Universe ever again. Countries in Latin America are obsessed with pageants and know how to pick a winner. Year after year, Miss USA looks like a toddler next to women in Miss Universe. Can we forget that Miss USA fell two years in a row? Just turn to Univision and see how obsessed they are. Nuestra Belleza Latina (Our Latin Beauty) is a huge hit. Venezuela churns out winners year after year. I guess Trump cares more about ratings than creating a winner.
I have always believed that real talent competitions do not care whether they get TV ratings or not. The best pageants will never see the light of day. Just like the best singing competitions are the ones not on television. What? You thought American Idol was a real singing competition? HAHAHAHA!!!
Live life to the fullest,
Culture girl
Last night was the Miss USA pageant, a pageant that used to stir a lot of excitement in me. I have not watched the pageant in years and the only reason I did was because my husband switched to it. I think he thought I wanted to watch it. I was quickly reminded why I have shunned this pageant for so many years. Honestly, it is more a big commercial for Mr. Trump's buddies than anything. Ads, ads, and oh, wait, we have to select the top eight. Okay, continue with the ads.
Let's talk about the judging panel. Talk about the most unqualified bunch of people. They are a far cry from the talent agents and dance instructors who judged pageants of old. Are you trying to tell me that Tyson Chandler is qualified to tell if a girl is poised or not? Or a Real Housewives of Wherever person? I think those housewife girls (not women) are the antithesis of poise. This probably explains the questionable winners year after year. The most poised and confident girl out there, Miss Texas, got fourtth. While Alabama and Tennessee placed higher while bumbling through their questions. Personally, I don't think the winner's question was that hard. I heard the medical marijuana question back in high school way back when Miss Hawaii won Miss USA and Miss Universe. I have found in numerous pageants everywhere, the winner is usually the one who gets the easiest question.
Oh, and what was up with the American Idol like selection of finalists? "Group number one, you are moving on, group number two, sorry." That totally sucked. Go back to saying who goes on one by one.
When you have a joke of a format like this, it about guarantees that a Miss USA will NEVER win Miss Universe ever again. Countries in Latin America are obsessed with pageants and know how to pick a winner. Year after year, Miss USA looks like a toddler next to women in Miss Universe. Can we forget that Miss USA fell two years in a row? Just turn to Univision and see how obsessed they are. Nuestra Belleza Latina (Our Latin Beauty) is a huge hit. Venezuela churns out winners year after year. I guess Trump cares more about ratings than creating a winner.
I have always believed that real talent competitions do not care whether they get TV ratings or not. The best pageants will never see the light of day. Just like the best singing competitions are the ones not on television. What? You thought American Idol was a real singing competition? HAHAHAHA!!!
Live life to the fullest,
Culture girl
Sunday, June 5, 2011
How to Find and Eat at an Authentic Restaurant
I will admit it. I am a big time foodie. Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern are always on my DVR list. I am one of those weirdos that takes pictures of my food and posts them online. I pride myself in knowing the ins and outs of different cultural food. However, I live in Oklahoma, where chain restaurants tend to be the norm. When I say these places are not authentic, I get evil looks from their loyal followers. I even had somebody challenge me with a "How do you know?" response. To be fair, most of my knowledge came from my husband who is not from here. Before I met him, I thought Applebees was the best place to eat. Now, I could not even tell you what the best place to eat is because there are so many. So to respond to the "How do you know? reponse, here are my tips on finding a great place and ordering the right thing.
Do your research
I always go to sites like Urbanspoon to get reviews and view the menu before I ever set foot in a place. While you might have an exaggerater here and there, these sights do tend to be accurate. I also get ideas from local papers. In OKC, we have an independent paper called the Oklahoma Gazette that features local restaurants. I found a great tea and coffee place, a Peruvian restaurant, and seafood place just by thumbing through the Gazette.
Look for natives
If you walk into an Indian restaurant and see a lot of women wearing saries and people speaking in Hindi, that is a GREAT sign. Natives want food that reminds them of home and they will avoid a place that does not make it right. I have seen my father in law throw a fit at too many restaurants to know that this is a fact. I get super excited when I am the palest person and the only person speaking English.
If you don't know the cuisine, find somebody who does
When I try a cuisine for the first time, I don't take a shot in the dark. When it comes to Chinese, I am more than happy to let my father in law rattle away in Cantonese to the waitstaff because I know he is ordering what he ate back in Hong Kong. If you don't have the luxury of having a friend, ask the waitstaff for a recommendation or read reviews to see what people like. Don't be the idiot who orders the most Americanized item on the menu. I swear, I see this scene EVERY TIME we go to an Asian restaurant. There will be somebody who orders sweet and sour chicken and fried rice when our table is feasting on crab, prawns, and fresh, sauteed vegetables. Seeing that processed ick next to fresh food makes me want to gag.
Don't be a wimp
My mother always taught me, if you have never tried it, how can you say you don't like it? Being in a landlocked state, I am always amazed at how fearful people are of seafood. I also cannot stand the attitude of, "If I am not used to it, it must suck." Trying new foods will test your palate. It may seem a little weird to you at first. But take another bite for crying out loud!!! You may find you like it. Granted, some things you may never acquire a taste for. I'm still not a fan of tripe or chicken feet, but I have given them a fair shot and if somebody prepared them a different way I would try them again.
The bottom line is, trying new food is a ton of fun. Plus, you help local businesses stay alive. Go ahead, wait an hour to get into Chili's on a Friday night. I'll be going to a local joint where I can get right in. And don't tell me you can't do it. My daughter is only one year old and she has eaten more ethnic cuisine than people much older than her. So go out there and try that taco stand on the street corner. You might be their most loyal customer after one bite.
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Do your research
I always go to sites like Urbanspoon to get reviews and view the menu before I ever set foot in a place. While you might have an exaggerater here and there, these sights do tend to be accurate. I also get ideas from local papers. In OKC, we have an independent paper called the Oklahoma Gazette that features local restaurants. I found a great tea and coffee place, a Peruvian restaurant, and seafood place just by thumbing through the Gazette.
Look for natives
If you walk into an Indian restaurant and see a lot of women wearing saries and people speaking in Hindi, that is a GREAT sign. Natives want food that reminds them of home and they will avoid a place that does not make it right. I have seen my father in law throw a fit at too many restaurants to know that this is a fact. I get super excited when I am the palest person and the only person speaking English.
If you don't know the cuisine, find somebody who does
When I try a cuisine for the first time, I don't take a shot in the dark. When it comes to Chinese, I am more than happy to let my father in law rattle away in Cantonese to the waitstaff because I know he is ordering what he ate back in Hong Kong. If you don't have the luxury of having a friend, ask the waitstaff for a recommendation or read reviews to see what people like. Don't be the idiot who orders the most Americanized item on the menu. I swear, I see this scene EVERY TIME we go to an Asian restaurant. There will be somebody who orders sweet and sour chicken and fried rice when our table is feasting on crab, prawns, and fresh, sauteed vegetables. Seeing that processed ick next to fresh food makes me want to gag.
Don't be a wimp
My mother always taught me, if you have never tried it, how can you say you don't like it? Being in a landlocked state, I am always amazed at how fearful people are of seafood. I also cannot stand the attitude of, "If I am not used to it, it must suck." Trying new foods will test your palate. It may seem a little weird to you at first. But take another bite for crying out loud!!! You may find you like it. Granted, some things you may never acquire a taste for. I'm still not a fan of tripe or chicken feet, but I have given them a fair shot and if somebody prepared them a different way I would try them again.
The bottom line is, trying new food is a ton of fun. Plus, you help local businesses stay alive. Go ahead, wait an hour to get into Chili's on a Friday night. I'll be going to a local joint where I can get right in. And don't tell me you can't do it. My daughter is only one year old and she has eaten more ethnic cuisine than people much older than her. So go out there and try that taco stand on the street corner. You might be their most loyal customer after one bite.
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Chris Gets a Perm
After a long stretch of work I am back! This time I am going to have some fun with my family. Namely my brother, Chris. Now, before you accuse me of being mean to my brother, realize he has told many embarassing stories about me. Knowing him, he may start his own blog just to tell a doozy about me.
The year was 1989. We were in between houses and not the richest family out there by far. So a lot of our hair care was done at home. I always wanted curly hair so a perm was the easiest solution. My Mom would go out and buy the perm in a box from the drugstore and had a stash of plastic rods and tissue paper to make my wishes a reality. Well, apparently my brother was a little jealous of the attention I was getting and decided he wanted a perm of his own. Or who knows, this was the same year David Hasselhoff appeared at the Berlin Wall in that light up jacket so maybe he just wanted to look like the Hoff. Scary thought.
So Mom decided to give my brother his wish. Chris was sitting in the chair and his head was soon covered in plastic curling rods. What Chris did not realize was just how long those rods stay in your hair. After the super smelly chemical formula is put on the hair, it has to stay there for 40 minutes and can't drip everywhere. The solution for this is a see through shower cap. So here is Chris, walking around the place feeling slightly humiliated in perm rods and a shower cap. Next thing I know, I hear a loud, "NOOOO!!!" and a bright flash. Apperently, Mom had sneaked off and found Chris's camera, which conveniently only had one picture left on it (Ahh, the good old film days). I'm not sure which Chris was more upset about. Having the humiliating moment caught on camera or his last picture being used up. He would never ask for a perm again.
That picture has probably been the best blackmail photo we have. It gives a perfect shot of the rods and his mouth and eyes wide open as he's yelling "No!" There was a time when Chris was making me mad. So while he had some friends over, I casually walked by and dropped the picture in their laps. Within seconds, the friends were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. Chris has threatened in the past to destroy the photo, but my Mom has it strategically hidden. I think now he has just accepted the picture exists and just acts cool when it comes out. But alas, my dear brother, look at the bright side. You no longer have your curly locks. The Hoff still does.
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
The year was 1989. We were in between houses and not the richest family out there by far. So a lot of our hair care was done at home. I always wanted curly hair so a perm was the easiest solution. My Mom would go out and buy the perm in a box from the drugstore and had a stash of plastic rods and tissue paper to make my wishes a reality. Well, apparently my brother was a little jealous of the attention I was getting and decided he wanted a perm of his own. Or who knows, this was the same year David Hasselhoff appeared at the Berlin Wall in that light up jacket so maybe he just wanted to look like the Hoff. Scary thought.
So Mom decided to give my brother his wish. Chris was sitting in the chair and his head was soon covered in plastic curling rods. What Chris did not realize was just how long those rods stay in your hair. After the super smelly chemical formula is put on the hair, it has to stay there for 40 minutes and can't drip everywhere. The solution for this is a see through shower cap. So here is Chris, walking around the place feeling slightly humiliated in perm rods and a shower cap. Next thing I know, I hear a loud, "NOOOO!!!" and a bright flash. Apperently, Mom had sneaked off and found Chris's camera, which conveniently only had one picture left on it (Ahh, the good old film days). I'm not sure which Chris was more upset about. Having the humiliating moment caught on camera or his last picture being used up. He would never ask for a perm again.
That picture has probably been the best blackmail photo we have. It gives a perfect shot of the rods and his mouth and eyes wide open as he's yelling "No!" There was a time when Chris was making me mad. So while he had some friends over, I casually walked by and dropped the picture in their laps. Within seconds, the friends were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. Chris has threatened in the past to destroy the photo, but my Mom has it strategically hidden. I think now he has just accepted the picture exists and just acts cool when it comes out. But alas, my dear brother, look at the bright side. You no longer have your curly locks. The Hoff still does.
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The etiquette of Trash Talk
We all have allegiances to our favorite teams. Whether it is where we were born, what our parents dressed us in as a kid or whatever team captured our interest at a young age, these allegiances run deep. How else could some cheesy college fight song written in the 1920s make a grown man cry? Unfortunately, other people out there love to cheer against our beloved teams. It's those darn other teams that keep our team from hoisting the trophy year after year, much to the delight of our adversaries. Hence comes the phenomenon known as trash talk.
I am always amazed how people think they can go up to somebody they barely know and diss their team. I can't think of another way to get somebody to dislike you! I also find it odd that people will trash talk somebody who has never dissed their team before. And I am not talking just a "Go team!" but downright mean, go for the jugular type of trashtalk. I think there should be some guidelines to trash talk so here it is, Culture Girl's guide to Trash Talk Etiquette.
1-Only trash talk with people you have trash talked with before and you know have the personality to take it. As much as I hate to admit it, I take trash talk personally and that is why I keep my mouth shut 90% of the time my team is playing. Heck, most people don't even know who my favorite teams are. So please, unless I just totallly dissed your team please leave me alone.
2-Phone calls to the other fan when it is certain their team is going to lose is cold. This is why 90% of the time the phone will go unanswered and messages will be deleted immediately. Losing hurts and that should be respected. There was a guy who had a crush on me back in the day. One of his ways he would flirt with me was to call me and laugh at me when my team was about to lose. Seriously. Needless to say, nothing materialized between me and that guy.
3-If it is somebody you care about, butter them up. I love this technique. This is how my sister in law trash talks. She will say something, and then end it with a "Love you!" Of course, she has to do this because I think every team we cheer for has a rivalry and we would constantly be at each other's throats if she didn't. This is what happens when a midwesterner like me marries into a family from the south. Which brings me to my next point.
4-Remember that different regions cheer differently. Southerners are the most rabid fans you will ever meet and they will fight you to the death if you try to trash talk with them. West coast people are rather laid back and probably don't even care if they win or lose. Even when they have the best team in the country! The rest of us fall somewhere in between. So pick your battles wisely.
5-Completely ignore drunk people. They probably won't even remember what they said the next day so don't even bother with them.
6-Keep in mind that in the heat of the game, people do say things that they would not normally say in the real world. In real life, I am a very laid back person. But in a serious game, I have said things that have made my husband look at me and say, "Who are you?" So be forgiving in these instances. Also, playoffs bring the intensity to a whole new level. Suddenly, you hate a team you never hated before simply because they are in the way of you and the title. Of course, those of us who cheer for college football have no idea what that is like because we have never had a playoff before.
So there you have. Now go out and have fun the next time you watch a game and don't let those other people bother you. And last but not least, GO THUNDER!
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
I am always amazed how people think they can go up to somebody they barely know and diss their team. I can't think of another way to get somebody to dislike you! I also find it odd that people will trash talk somebody who has never dissed their team before. And I am not talking just a "Go team!" but downright mean, go for the jugular type of trashtalk. I think there should be some guidelines to trash talk so here it is, Culture Girl's guide to Trash Talk Etiquette.
1-Only trash talk with people you have trash talked with before and you know have the personality to take it. As much as I hate to admit it, I take trash talk personally and that is why I keep my mouth shut 90% of the time my team is playing. Heck, most people don't even know who my favorite teams are. So please, unless I just totallly dissed your team please leave me alone.
2-Phone calls to the other fan when it is certain their team is going to lose is cold. This is why 90% of the time the phone will go unanswered and messages will be deleted immediately. Losing hurts and that should be respected. There was a guy who had a crush on me back in the day. One of his ways he would flirt with me was to call me and laugh at me when my team was about to lose. Seriously. Needless to say, nothing materialized between me and that guy.
3-If it is somebody you care about, butter them up. I love this technique. This is how my sister in law trash talks. She will say something, and then end it with a "Love you!" Of course, she has to do this because I think every team we cheer for has a rivalry and we would constantly be at each other's throats if she didn't. This is what happens when a midwesterner like me marries into a family from the south. Which brings me to my next point.
4-Remember that different regions cheer differently. Southerners are the most rabid fans you will ever meet and they will fight you to the death if you try to trash talk with them. West coast people are rather laid back and probably don't even care if they win or lose. Even when they have the best team in the country! The rest of us fall somewhere in between. So pick your battles wisely.
5-Completely ignore drunk people. They probably won't even remember what they said the next day so don't even bother with them.
6-Keep in mind that in the heat of the game, people do say things that they would not normally say in the real world. In real life, I am a very laid back person. But in a serious game, I have said things that have made my husband look at me and say, "Who are you?" So be forgiving in these instances. Also, playoffs bring the intensity to a whole new level. Suddenly, you hate a team you never hated before simply because they are in the way of you and the title. Of course, those of us who cheer for college football have no idea what that is like because we have never had a playoff before.
So there you have. Now go out and have fun the next time you watch a game and don't let those other people bother you. And last but not least, GO THUNDER!
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Welcome to my blog!
Okay, so after much thought, I have decided to join the blogosphere. Topics will cover just about anything, but my main reason for starting this is to create understanding. I am convinced I am the most misunderstood person in the world. I think everytime I say something I am taken out of context. I guess I am just not a soundbite type of girl. My thinking tends to go deeper than a Facebook post or a casual comment. I also think I have some pretty funny stories throughout my life. So I hope you enjoy my blog! More to come soon.
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