Life of an Overseas Hooper

4/30/2014

SEEING THE SIGHTS

Let me preface this by saying this is no way shape or form a complaint.

Ok I’m lying it is a complaint. However, it’s not a complaint about my life and what it entails. It is a complaint about the stereotypes involved with it.

Today’s post was first inspired by a conversation I had a with a friend a few months back. They found out I was in Japan and as soon as I told them, here came the onslaught of questions...Where have you been? What have you seen? How was Tokyo? How’s the night life? Did you visit this? Did you take a picture with that?

Those were all valid questions but I had to find a very polite way to bring them to the simple realization that as much as those were valid questions I wasn’t in Japan on vacation. On that day, I decided that I should make a PSA and it would be done via a blog post. The blog post would be about being overseas and what people automatically thought when I told them what part of the world that I was. Suffice to say I hadn’t gotten around to writing it or it would have been up before now. Then last week I saw an article online in which someone had so eloquently described the very sentiments that I felt about this topic. While reading, it was like the writer was in my head and then left to go write it, then didn't tell me about it. So instead of paraphrasing, or summarizing or just flat out repeating what she said in the article, here’s the link.

The Truth About Playing Overseas by Tiffany Clarke.

It is written by a fellow blogger and overseas hooper. I’m sure all my other overseas athletes can thoroughly agree and identify with these sentiments.

Read, enjoy, and feel free to share your thoughts and opinions as well.

Thanks

Magnificent Su

2 Comments

Kaya

5/1/2014 00:03:09

Good topic post. However, you can complain all you want but YOU signed up for this profession, YOU chose to hoop overseas, YOU can enjoy the perks BUT... just like any other occupation in the world, YOU have to deal with the cons as well, even if they are “stereotypes”.
I respect your views and I totally understand that you are not on a vacation. Just like you were able to see Huka Falls (in your picture), you could have very well gone to Tokyo on your day off (if you were feeling up to it), but you probably chose to sleep in and rest... but again, your decision.
But let’s think about this though, there may be several reasons why people ask you those things:
Firstly, People want to ask you questions about things that they think may interest you. (Self-explanatory)
Secondly, you may be misinterpreting what was said. Majority of people ask you those questions just to ask or to start up a conversation. Just because you receive the questions as a stereotype doesn't mean it was meant that way. People may just have a poor choice of words.
Say for instance, comments like: “How’s your trip going?”
Their interpretation: How’s it going over there?
Your interpretation: “how are you enjoying your short vacation?”
… so get out ya feelings. lol

Lastly, For the people that are in the states and not traveling, it’s like living through you when we ask you what it is like over there, and what have you seen, and what have you done, and have you visited this... or that. You’re in a new place, and even though that place may be no different than the last place or wherever you call “home”, WE ARE STILL GOING TO ASK YOU! Lol. So get over it! 

Although there could be other reasons why people say what they say, these are my reasons…
Respectfully Yours,

TIffany Clarke

5/1/2014 00:44:01

Have to let everyone know this isn't a vacation! Thanks for the share :-) Hope your season is/went well!

TC

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