“You Have to Live in Somebody Else's Country to Understand” by Noy Chou
What is it like to be an outsider?
What is it like to sit in the class where everyone has blond hair and you have black hair?
What is it like when the teacher says, "Whoever wasn't born here raise your hand."
And you are the only one.
Then, when you raise your hand, everybody looks at you and makes fun of you.
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when the teacher treats you like you've been here all your life?
What is it like when the teacher speaks too fast and you are the only one who can't understand what he or she is saving, and you try to tell him or her to slow down.
Then when you do, everybody says, "If you don't understand, go to a lower class or get lost."
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when you are an opposite?
When you wear the clothes of your country and they think you are crazy to wear these clothes and you think they are pretty.
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when you are always a loser.
What is it like when somebody bothers you when you do nothing to them?
You tell them to stop but they tell you that they didn't do anything to you.
Then, when they keep doing it until you can't stand it any longer, you go up to the teacher and tell him or her to tell them to stop bothering you.
They say that they didn't do anything to bother you.
Then the teacher asks the person sitting next to you.
He says, "Yes, she didn't do anything to her" and you have no witness to turn to.
So the teacher thinks you are a liar.
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when you try to talk and you don't pronounce the words right?
They don't understand you.
They laugh at you but you don't know that they are laughing at you, and you start to laugh with them.
They say, "Are you crazy, laughing at yourself? Go get lost, girl."
You have to live in somebody else's country without a language to understand.
What is it like when you walk in the street and everybody turns around to look at you and you don't know that they are looking at you.
Then, when you find out, you want to hide your face but you don't know where to hide because they are everywhere.
You have to live in somebody else's country to feel it.
What is it like to sit in the class where everyone has blond hair and you have black hair?
What is it like when the teacher says, "Whoever wasn't born here raise your hand."
And you are the only one.
Then, when you raise your hand, everybody looks at you and makes fun of you.
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when the teacher treats you like you've been here all your life?
What is it like when the teacher speaks too fast and you are the only one who can't understand what he or she is saving, and you try to tell him or her to slow down.
Then when you do, everybody says, "If you don't understand, go to a lower class or get lost."
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when you are an opposite?
When you wear the clothes of your country and they think you are crazy to wear these clothes and you think they are pretty.
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when you are always a loser.
What is it like when somebody bothers you when you do nothing to them?
You tell them to stop but they tell you that they didn't do anything to you.
Then, when they keep doing it until you can't stand it any longer, you go up to the teacher and tell him or her to tell them to stop bothering you.
They say that they didn't do anything to bother you.
Then the teacher asks the person sitting next to you.
He says, "Yes, she didn't do anything to her" and you have no witness to turn to.
So the teacher thinks you are a liar.
You have to live in somebody else's country to understand.
What is it like when you try to talk and you don't pronounce the words right?
They don't understand you.
They laugh at you but you don't know that they are laughing at you, and you start to laugh with them.
They say, "Are you crazy, laughing at yourself? Go get lost, girl."
You have to live in somebody else's country without a language to understand.
What is it like when you walk in the street and everybody turns around to look at you and you don't know that they are looking at you.
Then, when you find out, you want to hide your face but you don't know where to hide because they are everywhere.
You have to live in somebody else's country to feel it.
Published in 1986 by the Anti-Defamation League for the "A World of Difference" project.
Sai cosa significa essere un'estranea?
Sai come ci si sente in una classe dove tutti sono biondi e tu invece hai i capelli neri?
Sai cosa vuol dire quando l'insegnante chiede “Chi non è nato qui, alzi la mano!” e tu sei l'unica a farlo?
E poi, quando l'hai alzata, vedi che gli altri ti guardano e ridono?
Devi vivere in un paese che non è il tuo, per capirlo.
Sai cosa significa quando l'insegnante ti tratta come se anche tu fossi stata lì per tutta la tua vita?
Quando parla così veloce che non riesci a capire niente e gli chiedi per favore di andare più piano?
E quando lo chiedi, gli altri ti dicono “Se non riesci a capire, è meglio per te se provi in una classe più bassa”.
Devi vivere in un paese che non è il tuo, per capirlo.
Sai cosa significa stare dall'altra parte?
Quando indossi gli abiti che portavi nel tuo paese e tu li trovi carini, mentre gli altri pensano che tu sia pazza?
Devi vivere in un paese che non è il tuo, per capirlo.
Cosa significa essere una sfigata.
Cosa vuol dire quando qualcuno di da' noia, senza che tu gli abbia fatto niente?
Quando gli dici di smetterla e lui risponde che non ti ha fatto niente.
E poi, visto che non la smette, ti alzi e lo dici all'insegnante.
E lui nega.
E l'insegnante domanda al tuo vicino di banco.
E lui risponde “E' vero, non gli stava facendo niente”.
Così ti prendono per bugiarda anche i professori.
Devi vivere in un paese che non è il tuo, per capirlo.
Sai com'è quando provi a parlare e non pronunci bene le parole?
Quando dicono di non capirti.
E ti ridono dietro, ma siccome non capisci, ti metti a ridere con loro.
E allora ti chiedono “Ma sei scema a prenderti per i fondelli da sola?”
Devi vivere in un paese che non è il tuo, per capirlo.
Sai cosa significa camminare per strada e avere gli occhi di tutti puntati addosso, solo che non te ne accorgi?
E quando lo capisci provi a nasconderti, ma non sai dove perché gli altri sono dappertutto?
Devi vivere in un paese che non è il tuo per capirlo.
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