To know a culture is to know its jinxes and camel toes

It embarrasses me greatly to admit this in public but there are some phrases and slang words in English whose origins or meanings still trump me.

Case in point: today, a friend posted on his Facebook status that he was going to audition for a Gilbert & Sullivan production. Excitement! So as a response, I wrote “good luck [friend's name]!”

I know what you’re thinking: I single-handedly ruined his chances. What kind of a Terrible Person does that?! But honestly, I thought it was okay and kosher to say “good luck” AS WELL AS “break a leg.” I really really did! I didn’t even really grasp the idea of “jinxing” until my ever-patient boyfriend explained why it is bad to say what one really means to a stage performer because of the aforementioned concept.

So after over 10 years of living in Canada and obtaining two degrees in English Literature, I finally grasp the idea of a “jinx.” Hallelujah. As far as I know Koreans don’t have superstitions like this, so I’m going to selectively apply my cultural background to this situation and say that I am in the clear. Because that is how cultural analysis works. I know this because I once TA’ed for Cultural Studies, okay?

It’s like that time two years ago, when I tried so hard to impress my [same] boyfriend with my impeccable knowledge of slangs by erroneously labeling a girl wearing too-small shoes as having “serious camel toe.” Yes, you can imagine what ensued after that. Miraculously enough, our relationship is still intact, but my innocent days of thinking camel toes were far away from one’s lady parts are long gone. How I wish for those simpler, happier times.

[Photo from Bryanboy.com]

Posted by RK on September 19, 2010

http://jroselkim.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/to-know-a-culture-is-to-know-its-jinxes-and-camel-toes/