Culture Shock, Thursday, 5/14, Period 2

[shiroi_tiger]

When the students settled around the main campfire today, they might notice that their teacher was already sitting there and waiting for them, his arms crossed over his chest, dressed in an outfit that might even be considered fancy dress clothes... If you were looking for fancy dress clothes from America, 1876.

If Algren was going to teach a class about culture shock, he was going to demonstrate that he was just as susceptible to it as any of his students were, around here.

"I see a few new faces," he noted, remaining where he was seated as he surveyed the class. "Which, considering the subject material of this workshop, doesn't surprise me. Either the majority of you have found yourself in a place that's a far cry from the home you're used to, or you're looking to end up in such a place in the future, I'd wager." There was a pause, and Algren allowed himself a moment to look amused. "Or else there was a mix-up in the office. If that was the case, I won't judge. You might learn something here, regardless.

"This class, ladies and gents, is going to cover the several stages of culture shock, one week at a time. I'll do my best to base the course material around scenarios that will serve you well here in Fandom, but the goal when the workshop is through is to give you hands-on experience dealing with culture shock in a less... absurd environment, as well." He was allowed to call Fandom absurd, damn it. "Culture shock, for those of you who might not be familiar with the term, is what occurs when a person spends an extended period of time in a culture that is different from one's own. It isn't necessarily instantaneous, as the name suggests, but it can wreak havoc on a person's mental state and emotions, once that person begins to come to the realization that the behaviors that they're comfortable with won't necessarily get them the results that they expect in their new environment.

"I'm going to make today's class an easy one. Introductions. I want names, where you're from, one thing about Fandom that strikes you as oddly different from the place you call home, and one thing about where you come from that you think might come as a shock to people from the outside, starting with..." He pointed at a random student. "You."

A beat. "Oh, and I'm looking to fill in a second TA spot. If anyone happens to be interested in taking a little responsibility alongside Miss Sawyer in helping the class survive the term, please come and speak to me after we're finished our introductions."

[The TA slots are already chosen, but feel free to ping to Algren to attempt to win him over, if you'd like. Syllabus, rules, and class list are here!]

Comments

Sign In [05/14]

[shiroi_tiger]

Shocked!

Re: Sign In [05/14]

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

Elspeth of Valdemar

The Lecture [05/14]

[shiroi_tiger]

Gawk, listen, start a fire in the firepit. Summer-camp lecture things!

Re: The Lecture [05/14]

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

Elspeth took careful notes using a pen and pad of paper she had purchased the day before at Turtle and Canary.

Re: The Lecture [05/14]

[glacial_queen]

Thank the Darkness. Someone who could potentially explain how to deal with the insanity of Fandom. The place could give the Twisted Kingdom lessons.

Re: The Lecture [05/14]

[saikyou-no.livejournal.com]

Kenshin sat seiza, and listened quietly, with his hands folded into his haori. Maybe this class would help.

Re: The Lecture [05/14]

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine was actually taking notes, though mostly on what had thrown other people when they got here. It could help her be a better Big Sister if she could explain some of those things, right?

Introductions [05/14]

[shiroi_tiger]

"I'm Captain Nathan Algren, most recently from San Francisco, 1876. Coming to Fandom over a hundred and thirty years out of my own time means that I'm still attempting to get my head around most of the technologies here. Meanwhile, my own era and locale would probably pose a challenge to those who are unfamiliar with America's 'Manifest Destiny' notions, and the treatment of people who... got in the way of that ideal."

By that definition, Algren was suffering from culture shock even back in his own element. Ignore that. He had issues.

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

"I'm Lady Elspeth of Valdemar," Elspeth said. "Valdemar is my country. It's on the continent of Velgarth, but I'm not sure where that is in relation to here. The oddest thing I've found here is how boys and girls are quartered together. Many of the people back home would be shocked at the idea." Her mouth quirked in amusement at that thought. "Most people from outKingdom find our Heralds and Companions very strange. The Heralds are the Queen's messengers, though they serve in a number of other roles as well, including diplomat, judge and war leader." The Monarch was required to be a Herald, in fact, but Elspeth didn't see the need to mention that at the moment. "We - I'm a Herald-trainee - we are Chosen by our Companions. The Companions are our friends, guides and advisors." And much more. "And they take the form of white, blue-eyed horses."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"My name is Merlin. I'm from... Camelot--well, Ealdor originally. But that's only a few days journey from Camelot. I'm here with Prince Arthur--" If he's theeere. "--as his servant."

Merlin looked around.

"Er, was there more you needed?"

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[glacial_queen]

"I'm Karla di Glacia. I come from the Territory of Glacia in the Realm of Kaeleer. I don't know if the oddest thing here is the lack of magic, or the..." she struggled to remember the word Claire used "...patriarchy. At home, females rule and males serve and protect." She shook her head, bewildered. "I'm still not entirely certain what your Kings and Queens do, but they aren't like Queens at home. Umm...the thing people would find odd aout Kaeleer? Beyond the female ruling thing?" She thought for a minute. "Probably that in Blood society, there is no law against murder."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[saikyou-no.livejournal.com]

"Himura Kenshin," he started, when it came to his turn. "From Kyoto, in Japan. In the third year of Bunkyuu," he added, not that he thought it would mean anything to anyone. "I think..." Something about home, that would be strange to outsiders? He didn't exactly have a lot of references.

He thought about some of the things he'd talked about, with the people he'd met here.

"I think some people might find it strange that my country has been ruled by a shogun for centuries, and not an Emperor, or a-" he hesitated on the word "-president."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[bitchprince]

"I am Prince Arthur Pendragon of Camelot," Arthur introduced, formally. Look, he was even using the full thing. "There's a distinct lack of recognition of formality around here," and also the place was completely bloody insane, "Or matters of rank. As for my home, the opposite would be true."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine gave a little wave and tried not to think about that thing where you picture the audience naked when you're nervous because it made her think about the thing where she had a really clear picture for at least two people in the room and one of them was her teacher and some things really can't be unthinked. Sigh.

"I'm Francine Peters. I'm from Houston, Texas, pretty much now. So modern culture doesn't freak me out, but magic and aliens and people from other times and fairies are just, well. Fairytales, where I'm from. Or they think you're crazy if you believe in them." She winced a little, wondering if that meant her crazy aunt wasn't as crazy as they'd always thought she was. "Then again if I took somebody from the past home to visit..." No reason to choose that example, really. "They'd probably think cars and electricity and voting for your government were pretty weird too."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[morpherboy.livejournal.com]

"I'm Marco, from Los Angeles, California and about eight years ago. Fandom's actually normal compared to my life, but a bit weird with the magic and sh-stuff compared to home. Except now my version of the United Nations has a treaty with alien civilizations concerning Cinnamon buns." Marco paused. "And cigarette buts. And Captain Kirk, but that's kind of my fault."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[kickyouinthe.livejournal.com]

So far, Chie was only blinking rather dumbfoundedly at everyone else's introductions. More people talking about coming from the past... and the future, and places she'd never even heard of before? Okay, this was getting more and more crazy, and yet everyone was being completely serious about it. Slowly but surely, she began to wonder if instead of 'playing along' with these claims, maybe there was some truth to it.

Not that she'd ask how.

"Uh, hey, I'm Chie Satonaka," she began, pushing her internal confusion aside for the time being. "I'm from Inaba, Japan, and I... I haven't actually seen anything too weird yet, but now I keep hearing all sorts of things. Does that count?" She paused briefly, in case anyone did respond. "My town doesn't have a whole lot in it-- I'm sure anyone who's came in from the city found it pretty boring! So I guess if you find small towns weird, that'd be your place!"

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund had been intending to introduce himself simply as Edmund, but after Arthur's insistence, he decided otherwise. He kept himself collected and rattled off his full title. "King Edmund the Just of Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March, and Knight of the Noble Order of the Table." He took a breath. "If we're being formal. Narnia lacks modern amenities. I'm not sure anything about Narnia would shock anyone here that much, unless they're new. Well, maybe one thing. There are four reigning monarchs."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[nevertobequeen.livejournal.com]

"I'm Lady Morgana," she said, because if everyone else was going to be formal, then there was no way she wasn't following suit. "I am also from Camelot. I think the strangest thing I've learned about this place so far is that there are people here who know one another, and yet...don't? They know younger or older selves, because they've come from different points in the same history. And I must agree with Arthur, I believe many people would find the formality of our daily lives to be quite strange."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[awesomebigsis.livejournal.com]

"My name is Ellie Bartowski," she began. "I'm from Tarzana, California and it's 1996 back home. That's not as far back as some other people, but the technology is still more advanced now than it was then. Also, there aren't people from other planets there as far as I know. And the zombie band is the strangest thing I've seen so far. Definitely."

Re: Introductions [05/14]

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"I'm Kaylee Frye, and I'm from the planet Beylix, and the year 2514," she said cheerfully, waving around at everyone. "Fandom's weird for me 'cause y'all don't got the kind of tech I'm used t'playin' with, but somethin' that y'all would find weird 'bout my home is that we don't really got Earth no more. We used it up, an' humans had t'move to a whole 'nother galaxy."

Talk To The TA/TAs [05/14]

[shiroi_tiger]

Once she pings in, of course. The other TA may ping in here as well, once he gets the job.

Re: Talk To The TA/TAs [05/14]

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

Peyton was here and a little bemused by some of the things the class was talking about.

Talk To Algren [05/14]

[shiroi_tiger]

If you want that other TA position, or even if you just want to chat.

Re: Talk To Algren [05/14]

[bitchprince]

"Captain," Arthur greeted, after class, doing his best to make the unfamiliar title sound natural. If anything, he was happy to find someone actually had a proper title to use. "You were in need of assistance?" he inquired, carefully.

OOC [05/14]

[shiroi_tiger]

For the next few weeks, I'm going to have that insufferable 'works through the week and doesn't get home until 5:00pm Atlantic Time' availability, but I'll pick up all pings that come my way once I get home from work. This shouldn't be too bad once I'm finished training at the new job and they put me on nights, instead.

We think.

Re: OOC [05/14]

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

FORT AWESOME!