Humor is a funny thing. It’s also often culture-specific. Being a newby here, I rarely understand Albanian humor. Sometimes I laugh anyway, but I usually do so as to not get “what’s the matter with you? We’re joking. Why don’t you laugh? Why are you so serious?” It’s not mean-spirited, but I get tired of explaining over and over that I don’t understand humor here yet. It’s a bummer because I like funnies and I find myself a little bored with how serious I am (“So…what is your favorite subject in school? What is your favorite color? What are the long-term consequences of a whole generation of little girls being exposed to ____ and ____ on TV and in store windows? What would you do with a million dollars?”). Sometimes I say something that I find interesting or funny--"So...you eat raw cabbage and cooked spinach, and we eat...wait for it...cooked cabbage and raw spinach! Isn't that...funny?" (I used this brilliant line several times before I realized that this laughter-depraved lass was the only one giggling).
It’s also a bit of a bummer because what I often find funny does not translate here. Making silly faces isn’t done. Making up English-esque words definitely doesn’t translate. Retelling Awkward Roberta in Gjilan stories aren’t very funny to Gjilanians. Making references to Adventures in Odyssey isn’t funny (okay…maybe this isn’t funny to anyone who isn’t as fanatical about AIOs as the Cloggies).
Tonight, one philosophizing gal and I were psychobabbling our hearts out over macchiato. The other girl with us was bored out of her skull, and my frequent attempts to bring her into the conversation were in vain. She finally demanded that we talk about something less serious. After a painful chat about lipstick (no joke), I was asked to say something funny. When asked this on other occasions, I either pretend that I don't understand or I just start belly-laughing and see if anyone will join me. This time, however, I decided to try something new. After a brief explanation of culture-specific humor, I shared something that popped into my head this afternoon that I found quite hilarious:
(to the tune of ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly)
‘Tis the season for snot rockets (tra-la-la-la-laaaa-la-la-la-la)
Keep sanitizer in your pockets (tra-la-la-la-laaaa-la-la-la-la)
(I have more lyrics, but, in keeping with the family rating…)
I then explained what the original lyrics were, what snot rockets are (apologies for being a bit crude, but WOW and ICK), and what hand sanitizer is. Keep in mind, this isn’t even in Albanian! My test proved to be quite accurate because they found the whole explanation and "something funny" boring and lame. I guess I'll go back to talking about whether I prefer macchiato or nescafe, listing my favorite fillings for pite (a main food here), and asking about peoples' favorite (blanks).
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8 comments:
ha! I laughed. Especially because when I looked out my window yesterday there was a cute elderly man across the street blowing snot on the sidewalk. :-) I don't think he had any sanitizer, however.
If it was just cute elderly men, i might have a different view of it. Eh...that's not true. It's gross (esp. in a big hand-to-hand culture...even if they only use their L.hand). Now I know why people here make little eye contact--they're really absorbed in watching where they put their next step:)
I agree berdie that humor is a bit painful here, I used to be a lot more humourous but I think that beat it out of me. Now if I can get an occasional chuckle from people, I'm satisfied, I've fulfilled my mission. Keep trying, don't give up, they'll get it eventually! That might mean you'll have to make a career of it here though.
Visit Doctor Fadil Zuka at the Vitina Health House... he'll turn tables and try all his jokes on you. Tell him Captain D sent you.
Kosovo slogan..."Shake with the right hand...wipe with the left"
You should probably hang out with Prishtina's english-speaking youth a little more. They will be in the same "humor-dimension" as you are. People older than 30 don't have a sense of humor - it's a fact of life in Kosova.
Btw, I am Albanian and to me the stuff that you wrote here is pretty funny. -SK
Hey, anonymous...who are you? (Captain D doesn't ring any bells for me). Thanks!
I'm just a former KFOR guy that worked in the Viti area. I found your blog by being a regular reader of singfiel.blogspot.com
CPT D
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