You Know you Went to an International School When...

I am a very susceptible person when it comes to fun or useful things suggested by people I really know and love and trust and like.

Take my mom, for instance. She and I had both worn clip-on earrings (or magnetic earrings, etc) forever and ever, and then one day when she was 52, she decided to get her ears pierced (thanks to my sister-in-law, who took her). Within a month, I had gotten my ears pierced as well (at age 25). I have never looked back and am so glad I did. But I never would have if my mom hadn't paved the way (which she didn't know she was doing).

Take my husband, for instance. When we were dating, I told him I didn't like salmon. He encouraged me to try it again when he took me out to a restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island. I did, and have been joyfully eating it ever since. It turned out it's only SMOKED salmon I (still) don't like. Poached or grilled or sautéed is fabulous.

Take Julie Leung as our final example today. She began blogging in 2003, and I loved reading her blog. She began encouraging me to start one of my own (I think maybe I was taking up too much room in her comments! ;-)). I finally founded this blog in June 2004. Hmmm, it's been just over three years now.

Then earlier this year Julie blogged about Twittering. So I began Twittering too (but that was short-lived).

The chain continued as Julie recently Twittered about Facebook. Now there's a website that can make a lot of hours disappear. Julie, I'm happy to report that I am now up to 13 "friends." ;-) Still waiting for someone from my college a cappella group to make an appearance, though. Maybe someday.

I found an interesting list on Facebook's You know you went to an International school when..." group. Below are the ones I particularly identify with (or have in the past):

You know you went to an International school when...
1) You can't answer the question: "Where are you from?"
3) You flew before you could walk.
4) You have a passport, but no driver's license.
7) Your life story uses the phrase "Then we went to..." five times (or six, or seven times...).
8) You speak with authority on the quality of airline travel.
12) You don't know where home is.
15) You realize it really is a small world, after all.
16) You feel that multiple passports would be appropriate.
17) You watch a movie set in a 'foreign country', and you know what the nationals are really saying into the camera.
23) You think VISA is a document stamped in your passport, and not a plastic card you carry in your wallet.
24) You automatically take off your shoes as soon as you get home.
28) You know the geography of the rest of the world, but you don't know the geography of your own country.
34) Your high school football team had to play against itself.. if it had one
40) You are a pro packer, or at least have done it many times
46) When you return to the States you are overwhelmed with the number of choices in a grocery store
53) You are never content in one place, be it city, state or country for long. You're a mover.
56) Class reunions.. are not at your old school.. not even close
59) Your passport has more stamps than a post office
61) When you carry converters because you actually realize there are different types of outlets
65) You wake up in one country thinking you are in another