NS February 18th, 2005

Okay, so I didn’t write the next day, it’s been more like a week and a half. Oops! My procrastination and laziness got the better of me…Never to fear though, as today I will explain the origins and meaning of Noble Savagery. First, the standard definitions:

no·ble ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nbl)adj. no·bler, no·blest
Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor: a noble spirit.

sav·age ( P ) Pronunciation Key (svj)adj.
Not domesticated or cultivated; wild: savage beasts of the jungle.
Not civilized; barbaric: a savage people.
Ferocious; fierce: in a savage temper.
Vicious or merciless; brutal: a savage attack on a political rival. See Synonyms at cruel.
Lacking polish or manners; rude.

Now apparently, because I am an American living in the UK and have retained my savage American-ness and combined it with the more polished, civilized way of life in England (according to my obviously biased and British husband), I am therefore a Noble Savage. If you too are an American living abroad, you are most likely a Noble Savage. Your way of life, manner of speaking, and what you eat, wear, listen to, see, believe, and do are probably at least moderately, if not drastically, different than what you ate, wore, listened to, believed in and did in the States. Your accent may have changed. Maybe you don’t say “awesome” or “dude” anymore. Maybe you have actually gotten used to regular portion sizes and nearly puke every time you visit home and go out to eat. Maybe, just maybe, you are a Noble Savage too.

So far, it probably seems that I am promoting the more Noble way of life and shunning my roots, my Savageness. This is not true. I am not what you would call patriotic in George W. Bush terms (i.e. blindly trusting my government and worshipping Jesus and the flag), but I am still proud to be an American, even when I am ashamed of what the government has done. I am proud to be from such a varied, beautiful land where thousands upon thousands of acres still sit virtually untouched and remote to all except roaming wildlife, nature hikers, and serial killers looking to bury their victims. I am proud to be from a place where people actually smile at each other on the street and complete strangers will help dig your car out of the snow at 3am in a blizzard; where cities run 24 hours a day and 2.5 Americans per year are killed by pencil sharpeners; where prizes are awarded for gluttony and Coke refills are free. It is that combination of peace and insanity that makes me love and cherish it.

When I hear the history of how America was built and settled (okay, aside from blatant land-grabbing and murdering the natives) and read about the hardships and persecution that millions of people endured just to be free and live their lives in a vast wonderland, I think that’s pretty amazing. The technology, industry, inventions, literature, music, ideas and beauty that have been produced there is mind-blowing. America used to stand for something far greater and more powerful than being a global superpower in terms of military and money. It used to be more than a place, it was an epiphany.

Then came the SUVs, PCs, STDs, and WMDs. (Do we spell anything anymore?) More importantly, do we stand for anything anymore, other than always winning? How can one achieve the Nobleness necessary for doing great things, yet retain the Savageness that allows us to survive?

I think that living in a foreign country brings all of these things to mind because when you are faced with a different language (or dialect in cases of other English-speaking countries), a different culture, and a different mentality, you can’t help but question and reassess your own.

So then, a Noble Savage is an expat (or expat wannabe) who appreciates and cares for their roots but is willing to question, explore, challenge and antagonise that place in the hopes that one day it will retain its former glory. Beter yet, that it will evolve into something no one thought possible or dared to dream…

Okay, that’s the serious part over. On to the fun stuff! On these pages, I will explore all aspects of expat life, particularly in the UK since that is where my expertise and home lie. Politics, culture, humour, social norms and values, language, attitudes, fashion, music, books, movies, food, laws, practices, pets, fetishes, slang words, chocolate bars : none will be spared.

Do not be disconcerted by my grammar, I will use both British and American spellings and will switch back and forth between slang — it’s just my transatlanticness taking hold. Can’t completely let go of one and can’t fully accept the other. How typical of a Noble Savage.

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