Friday, 18 November 2005
People Are Strange...
The Doors were right. Don't get me wrong, I like living in North Devon. In fact, it's really great - lovely town, beautiful views, so many interesting places nearby, and a nice house to live in rent-free!
But I do feel out of place whenever I leave the house. Everybody notices that I'm not from round here. Folk are nice and friendly, but if I walk into a shop, everyone looks at me. And when I am out walking, people heading in the opposite direction notice me, but if I smile, they avoid eye contact.
Children look at me too, in that funny way children do when they look at a stranger. They smile in a "you're new!" way, and then get shy. And dogs look at me, follow me, block my path as I walk (sometimes their owners don't bother trying to stop them, even though they are on a lead).
When I speak, the difference is even more noticeable. It kind of makes me rather uncomfortable about going to the bank to talk to someone about my accounts, like I had to do this week. The accent round here is really strong, and everybody has it (even people from other countries!) - when I talk it just further highlights that I'm not from round these here parts.
Call me paranoid, if you like, but Jon's noticed it, too. When we go out together, he has commented on how everyone looks at us when we enter a shop. I stand out as Not From Devon, and first impressions count. As I've said, they're perfectly friendly and nice when I interact with someone, like at church or at the till in a shop, but I still feel that slight discomfort.
I have had enough of feeling this way. I am going to take action. If North Devon is going to be my home from now on, I have to fit in. And that is why...
...I'm going to have accent lessons.
Ok, just kidding. I am going to look into temp work, send out more prospective CVs & do something to finally get me some work and interacting regularly with people. I am also going to try to find out about social groups in the area, such as a writing group thing Jon mentioned yesterday. I have to make friends in the area if I am going to shake this feeling of being a stranger.
Wish me luck.
