User talk:Xns

Balkani
I must warn you; if you delve into the Balkans (or indeed the East in general) be ready to uproot your mentality and replant it. People in the Balkans would have much less patience for idealistic pronouncements and perceptions than the general population of London -- and, as you most certainly know, London looks at the castles in the sky we Americans build and laughs acrimoniously. Be very careful not to tread on the wrong feet. It's harder to hit a Balkan nerve than a Western one, but when you hit one you will face a firestorm for it. Eastern people don't appreciate and don't understand when strangers interfere in their business; so if you want to interfere, you need to know what you are entitled to say and what you aren't. Try not to criticize. If you must criticize, make sure you aren't -- what's the American expression? -- ah, yes...jerking off. :) --VKokielov 07:44, 12 December 2005 (UTC)


 * Hmm...yes I understand, no one likes having people interfere in their business, this I know, but unless one converses and gets to know the view thorugh the other's eyes, then we are doomed to know only what we already know. Such is the case that what I have read is very westernized, but as much as i may read about the Balkans, I cannot grap what it is like there for many reasons, and I hope to begin to just by conversing with poeple who live there or people who have alos conversed with people from there as well as people who know more than just one side of the story.  As I said before, I am also hoping to learn of any family I might have over there as well, since my great grandfather moved to America with his wife (who was from Lebanon), I feel compelled to search for any family i might have in the Balkans as well as learning as much as I can.  Do not worry though, although i do have an aroogant tendancy, i know when it is accepted and when it is not, so do not expect and critizing from me.  I do not wish to interfere, i just wish to learn... Xns 22:20, 12 December 2005 (UTC)