DESCRIBE THE COUNTRY AS YOU SEE IT: "The first word that comes to mind when I hear the word America is 'Arrogance.' But while these American traditions might seem normal stateside, they are certainly not universal. How big the country is and the amount of time you guys are willing to drive. - Kanti, 74, travel agency owner, New Delhi. Innovation is widely viewed as an engine of progress not only for driving economic growth, but also for bringing vital improvements in a variety of domains, from science and medicine to inequality and sustainability. Uber-Friendliness. Coming from the UK where a university is used to gain your degree then its a case of thanks for the piss ups, bye! People are mostly not concerned with what another (person) is doing. The second one is "B", the one you're attempting to write about (say, Chinese, Vietnamese, French). I believe they should understand the values that we have as Arabs, embrace them and try to go to a more local level to comprehend why we think and why we live the way we live." If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. While other countries boast colorful bills with cultural figures, the U.S. seems determined to keep their barely-green dollars as unexciting and indistinguishable as possible. As is tradition. 15 Unique Aspects of American Culture. Through this process, Asian American parents can be transformed themselves, and maybe shift their own conceptions of education towards the one I hold and do their part in encouraging a cultural shift that will benefit future generations, as this new conception of education becomes the one that is passed down. - Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway, "Everything in America is high tech!" You can describe American culture in general, as Miner does, or you can describe an American subculture, such as a specific geographical group (e.g., New Yorkers), a . Trick-or-Treating. "Here in New Zealand, lemonade generally equals . First, I began pondering this when I couldnt really think of anything distinctly American. The Outsiders was written by a teenager about teenagers. What we know so far about the Chinese spy balloon and other objects shot down by U.S. 20 American Habits That All Other Countries Think Are Crazy. In a moments answer, a culture is revealed anew. The United States of America serves as the global symbol of 'madness' and 'non-stop chaos' in the best and worst ways possible. - Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, Havana, "I think the way they are talking and dealing with personal relations is quite direct. It's baffling. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider (New York: Penguin . - Ingerlise Kristensen, 68, retired bank employee, Copenhagen, Denmark, "America is food fast food and (Coca) Cola. 2016 The Associated Press. Driven by sustained immigration and refugee resettlement during the 1970s and 1980s, Asian Americans have emerged as the nation's fastest growing racial group. Why go Tall when a Venti is just a dollar more? He clearly thought that was more important than spending time with his family or friends. People are nice but superficial. The Associated Press sent reporters across the world to ask ordinary people about their views of America. 1 - A Chinese woman with her feet unbound. There is some discussion of dolphin infant mortality, but not so much about the issue in America even though it ranks close to the bottom among the advanced economies. Supersizing Food. America permeated their lives - through comics and Coke, through Hollywood and Neil Armstrong, and via the internet, iPhone and Facebook. Miner describes Americans as "magic-ridden people" (Miner 2009, 507). This works in making work more enjoyable too. On TripAdvisor, one German tourist even commented on her love of visiting New York, save for these restroom door gaps. To find out, I thought that I should get a view from the outside of the proverbial white picket fenced, good ol Murican home. - Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway, "When I was driving to North Carolina I stopped at McDonald's. If you're a member of B, then . Here are some of the best: 1. In fact, in a 2017 report from the National Retail Federation, 65 percent of consumers reported owning a U.S. flag. The Greek term "ethno" refers to people, and "graphy" refers to writing. As the stage moves on, Claudette has managed to separate a little more of herself from wolf culture by saying "I used my new motor skills. I've seen that many times they are very charismatic, friendly but that does not mean that they share the political thinking of the United States (government)." Americans are gallant." While many Americans feel their nation is divided as never before, a sampling of the rest of the world reflects a more charitable view. Whether it be through something small or something quite significant, it's a . I explained it was a joke, I was from Canada. [] https://thesocietypages.org/toolbox/nacirema/ (Links to an external site.) We're desensitizing the wrong thing. In most European countries, service fees are included in the price of a meal, and tips don't usually go above 8 to 12 percent. Okay, so besides us Americans in general, what about the other stuff, like our food, drink and entertainment? The general consensus is that American's are very optimistic dreamers and have been; that we believe that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. In most other English-speaking countrieslike Canada, Ireland, or England, the letter Z is pronounced zed. I prefer it here. - Ksenia Smertova, 21, student, Moscow, "America? We in Europe have smaller things What I liked when I was over there was the service level, it was very high. This is down to the US communication style which is influenced by the need to be direct, clear . Wrapping up in a warm blanket with a hot drink and some calming music is one of the best ways to spend and indoor kind of day. Non-Americans of reddit, what aspect of American culture strikes you as the strangest. I'll call the first one "A" (Americans, for instance). There are few countries in which you'll encounter a billboard or bus ad for a divorce attorney or see several personal injury spots while watching half an hour of daytime TV. The biggest thing I found was that non-Americans are almost disgusted by the sheer amount of sugar in almost all our food. Y'all get snow up there.'" The report reflected the networks seeming vision of the United States more generally: as a nation dynamic and promising and, at the same time, brutal in ways that distinguish it from its rich-country cousins. After doing a little adventuring on the web and seeing all different kinds of opinions and views from people all over the world, I came to love my country even more. They miss nuances." Now, besides the few, awesome things, I will end with what was a bit of a mixed review from non-Americans. For example, Miner writes The daily body ritual performed by everyone includes a mouth-rite. There was a bit of a culture shock when I first went there because the way people dress there is very much different from the way we dress here. xhr.send(payload); - Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, Havana, "Technology makes Americans American." It's your target audience. In most countries outside the U.S., vacation time is a highly utilized way to get away from work for a few weeks (or even months) every year. One of the reasons why we see so much of servers in the States is because they are constantly refilling customers' water glasses. And after 9/11, the world grieved with America. What may feel totally normal to Americans is often far from it for outsiders. Let's look at 10 traditions Americans celebrate without even considering how strange the rest of world consider them. Our collective workaholism is totally bizarre to outsidersand quite frankly, we can see why. [] detailed search help you gain a new perspective on the Nacirema people. A lot of dresses, and cars, and all that. This story deals with issues that are very close to the hearts of teens, whether in the 1960s when this book was written or today. The difference is one of cultural ownership and general acknowledgement, of giving credit where it's dueespecially when credit is long overdue to a historically oppressed people. Al Jazeera America, since going on air on Aug. 20, has worked hard to fight off suggestions of foreignness. } What am saying, or asking rather, is what makes us American to non-Americans? White or wheat? - B.S. By the time you've been inside an American establishment in the summertime for just 10 minutes, you'll be freezing cold and eager to get back out into the sweltering sun. In the process, the new Pittsburgh is helping point the way to the old. Amazing article that will definitely help people better understand how others may view their culture. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. Costco, Wal-Mart, and other big-box stores that you need a map to navigate are a particularly American thing. "It's uncomfortable and I just don't get why," she wrote. I had a friend who drove for 16 hours to visit family for the weekend . To simplify matters, let's assign letters (yup, engineer at work). Still, and after more than a decade following the publication by Headland, Pike and Harris (1990), discussions about insider versus outsider status of the researcher remain alive and relevant. This extraordinary insight highlights the power that outsiders have, forcing us to see ourselves from an altogether different perspective. This will make any chill session that much more enjoyable. Every once in a while, an outsider comes along with a new vision or a new way of doing things that revolutionizes a . Foreign tourists might be surprised to find out just how many other destinations in the U.S. have restaurants that are open around the clock. To outsiders, Blacks may appear terse or disinterested. - Ingerlise Kristensen, 68, retired bank employee, Copenhagen, Denmark, "I had a roommate a Californian, when I was in Korea as a college exchange student. Mehta, 34, health insurance worker, New Delhi, "America is a land of opportunities. A good book on a rainy day or with calming music is a wonderful way to take a break from the responsibilities of life and escape into another world. They were floored (and clogged probably) -- Marcvsgrippa, Pumpkin flavored things, pumpkin is a vegetable yet it is always in seasonal items in combination with sweet flavors. Search CNNs Web site on the subject, and the links almost invariably carry you to content about beleaguered places like Madagascar. But elsewhere, there's no reason why eggs can't sit out on a shelf or counter. Adam Schubak Partnerships Editor Adam is a writer based out of New . All of the Trump stuff in the U.S. has been depressing you would like to think people are smarter than that but definitely surprising and depressing to see how much support he has and how much support his ideas have." One of the hardest (or at least most expensive) things about being an outsider traveling in the United States is tipping. Go to many other countries and the smallest differences in culture, language, and background will almost automatically cause some major issues. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/business/media/an-outsider-looks-at-life-in-america.html. Whether you're heading into a bar or buying a six-pack at the grocery store, there's a good chance you'll be asked for your ID in the United Stateseven if you're well into your 50s. [], Your email address will not be published. Many American kids and teenagers leave home for extended periods of time, often for summer camps or travel. There's an undercurrent of savagery and violence waiting to be expressed on a grand scale it seems, and I believe it's because American culture is unwittingly pushing for complete atomization of society, people can no longer rely on the elite for virtuous principles and leadership, and that people are starting to realize that . The following is an excerpt from one of the excellent papers I received from a student, Emily Ong (used with her permission). Finding creative ways to fry things that probably shouldn't be fried is an American specialty and something that definitely confuses tourists. The material items that are kept, though, seem to consume all the time of the children. We have black, asians, white, hispanics, indians just to name of few and yet we don't have massive in fighting between races or religions. To non-Americans the fact that we have a choice of, what kind of bread we want our sandwich on, and what kind of cheese we want on said sandwich, along with what kind of dressing, is just mind blowing. The photo below shows different tools for cleaning ones teeth yes, even the sticks. So much hard work gone to waste. 3Peter N. Carroll and David W. Noble, The Free and the Unfree: A Progressive History of the United States, 3rd ed. "Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is . In most other countries, when you buy a drink, that prince is for a single cupful of your beverage of choice. Sometimes it doesnt fit very easily through the entrance to their house, and many members of the family have to help get the tree through the doorway. She does a great job of describing the US rituals of the Christian holiday, Christmas. I do not understand the importance of this, as usually the father of the family just eats the biscuits and drinks the milk anyway, and it is always late at night when he does this too. Romances and horrors are great genres to cozy up to in the dark. To examine these facts other cultures are taken into consideration to accurately without prejudices towards African Americans. BANGKOK -- The rest of the world may think Americans eat a lot of burgers, have huge shopping malls and are ruled by an arrogant government. AMS 111: American Culture, Values and Traditions: American Outsiders Section D301 T-Th., 12:30-1:45, Carman Hall, Room 233 Instructor: Kathleen Brennan Kathleen.Brennan@lehman.cuny.edu, Kbrennan@gc.cuny.edu Office hours: Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30, Room 292 Google Documents: Sign In: LehmanAMS111@gmail.com Password: Carman233 This course is designed to investigate issues of American citizenship . Like so much else in the United States, we go big with our roads, which are a huge contrast to the tight city streets of most European towns and winding mountain roads found in much of the rest of the world. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group, Saying "how are you?" Sure, fried chicken is hardly a foreign conceptbut try explaining chicken-fried steak or deep-fried Oreos to a non-American. Water, whiskey, sodaif it can be sipped, we put ice in it. American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. Now without the photo below (but maybe skewed by the photo above) and in the context of the rest of the paper, many students do not recognize this as our daily habit of brushing our teeth. Though this can vary a bit by regionwe're looking at you, New Yorkersin general, Americans are much quicker than the average foreigner to smile at a stranger and offer a warm hello, even if they're just passing each other on the sidewalk. The drum is . An outsider can clearly observe behavior but they cannot understand it while conversely an American would not be able to observe an attitude but they would be able to understand the . Nacirema, that exotic, far-off place where people do strange things is one of the best ways to help students look at Americanculture as an observer rather than as the standard by which all other cultures should be compared. After searching the web, I have found a few answers to my questions and quandaries about what makes usus. If we ask for a high price, they don't bargain. The term is frequently heard in situations . right back and expect an answer," Sophie-Claire Hoeller wrote for The Independent. And it's a country with quite advanced technology industries. We should not ethnocentrically impose our own beliefs and opinions, which are products of our own enculturation. Ethnocentric people compare their culture to others on such elements as religion, behavior, language, customs, and norms. Whether we're dropping by the post office or shopping for groceries, we Americans are surprisingly comfortable with wearing our clothes typically reserved for bed out in public. An odd ritual occurs the night right before Christmas: children hang socks above a structure that houses a fire although they look far too large to be anyones sock. In S.E. And it is a great country; I have visited it. I threw dirt, I threw stones. Your email address will not be published. The tree also seems to serve as some kind of offering place because people gradually place decorated boxes around the tree in the days leading up to Christmas. WHAT MAKES AMERICANS AMERICAN? And they are a people that like having a lot of fun and their brands: McDonald's, all of that, makes the American identity or North American we call them North Americans rather than Americans, because we all are Americans." Oh, and side note, the customer service in America is seen as amazing. Money rules everything. I thought you had to go to a dedicated gun store for that. They simply don't see us as their equal but we are. - Liu Xiaodan, 30, hotel manager, Beijing, "My impression of Americans is that they uncomplicated. An emic view of culture is ultimately a . African . It is more cozy (laughing), less restrictive (made drinking gesture)." But in America, you are expected to add upwards of 20 percent to your bill just to avoid a dirty look from your server. While I dont think its exactly a secret that a stereotype of Americans portrays us as arrogant, ignorant, loud and so on. } Cushman (2009) used an active learning methodology to explore minority students' insider knowledge and make outsiders aware of their lack of knowledge relative to I have recently begun thinking about my country and our culture, and wanted to learn more about what exactly makes an American. When first reading this analysis, it is not easy to recognize that Miner is talking about American's culture. the United States, along with further themes such as African-American culture, racism, religion, slavery, a sense of home,[5] segregation, migration, feminism, and more. But if you were to use this pronunciation in conversation with an English speaker from another country, they'd probably give you a puzzled look. Here are 33 "normal" customs and habits in the U.S. that weird out the rest of the world. Despite the fact that these people are so punctiliousabout care of the mouth, this rite involves a practice which strikes the uninitiated stranger as revolting. But when Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based television empire that has long broadcast to . To get a better picture, think of 100 percent authentic Italian food and wine, visiting a thousand year old English castle that once held kings, queens, and knights, or the awe-inspired embellished clothing worn in the streets of India. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This writing helped me understand others' perceptive of the things that I find normal. cota main grandstand; chocolate pudding with 2 percent milk - Marren Cahilig, 21, bartender, Manila, Philippines, "It is powerful." Stay up to date with what you want to know. Jeroen Seynhaeve / View all { 18 } / Vertaal naar Nederlands Traditional ways of evaluating cultures, and managing value clashes between these cultures, fail to generate desired results. (2) the interlocking nature of oppression; and (3) the importance of Afro-American women's culture. If not, think of a country or place where youve always wanted to go, and become aware of the images your mind creates when you think of this place and its people. This small lifestyle change could make a big difference to your long-term brain health. This weird American habit leaves many foreign visitors asking, "How much water could you possibly need over the course of an hour or two?". Overweight people, Donald Trump, elections, shootings." The reporter, Lori Jane Gliha, made deft use of practiced innocence. However, often is not noticed or realized how extreme some people are willing to go to conform to the expected norm of American society, until one looks at the demands that society places upon us from the outsider's perspective of American culture. Build a pillow fort on your bed in any clear space using four chairs, an abundance of blankets and all the pillows you can find. Few embrace the spread of American culture in the predominantly Muslim nations surveyed, although many Lebanese (41%) do want American ideas and customs. But there is an ideology that unites them all." As we said before, Americans live by the phrase, "The more, the merrier!". -- Teaching_man, I was not aware that you can buy guns in supermarkets in America. So what does this foreign gaze, as presented on Al Jazeera America, reveal? To begin, Ill stick with the positives. It's not uncommon to chat up a stranger while waiting on line or traveling on public transportation. - Kenni Friis, 28, computer technology student, Copenhagen, Denmark, "You can easily distinguish an American like here in the restaurant. Holding "Trials of the Century". You don't see cheerleaders at the World Cup, do you? Marketing companies that work from outside of your company bring a fresh perspective that doesn't exist from within your company. Throwing Tailgate Parties. The authors' research uncovered four factors: (1) The outsiders were not. "Sometimes I enjoy ordering freakishly large things over hereit turns consumption into tourism and makes me feel as though I'm at a carnival. Figure 1.6. As an American this is something I love. The fellow in line asked me in a very American accent, 'Y'all can't get what in the States?' Scouring forums and blogs, I found that most found Americans very friendly, caring, welcoming, and open people who live in a geographically diverse nation! It is a great country and would love to live there. NEW YORK Al Jazeera wants to make its name as American as pizzaburgers. But when Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based television empire that has long broadcast to viewers around the world in Arabic and English, announced plans to start a U.S. news channel, it ignited a wildfire of controversy. Individualism vs. Collectivism. has brought about most of the customs and activities. American Culture: The Outsider's Perspective. There are two gangs in this novel, the "greasers", and the "Socs". [email protected] +44 0330 027 0207 or +1 (818) 532-6908 . - Gennelyn Escopete, 33, DVD street vendor, Manila, Philippines, "Probably capitalism, but I see it more as freedom that every person can do what he wants, when he wants - true freedom, but it costs a lot I think, and sometimes it brings you lower than takes you higher." Does the eating of the man-shaped biscuits represent some sacrifice? In most other countries, however, an A/C unit is used sparingly, if at all. The small and thin trees with exposed branches are often not given a second look and are left with the person selling the trees. Americans are, apparently, much friendlier than most people around the world. The particular Skittles flavor we call "grape" is an American curiosity of its own, but for those in the United Kingdom and Australia, this flavor doesn't even exist. Boy was I wrong. Once they get home, they have to lift it once again off the car and into their house. A star, or in some cases an angel or other figurine is put on top of the tree, and it seems to be an honor for the person who is allowed to put it there. I hope that, without sounding whiny, sharing this might help others who also feel like outsiders see that, strangely, they are part of a community. Where unity and selflessness or altruism are valued traits in collectivist cultures, independence and . The ones immediately outside their house are apparently not fit. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. In a Reddit thread asking the weirdest things Americans do, many users discussed how strange they thought it was that the US advertised prescription drugs. The paper,written by University of Chicago trained anthropologist Horace Miner wasoriginally published in 1956. - Karin Cohen, 25, bookshop worker, Jerusalem, "The first thing I think when I hear United States is a world power." Many are so flabbergasted by the amount of choices we have in, not only our restaurants, but our grocery stores as well. We don't know what lemonade is: In many countries, lemonade is not the iconic sugary drink that American kids sell at stands in summer. Some of the answers are pretty hilarious and/or eye-opening. By looking at our own cultures as outsiders we can see that we are under the same influence of the power of culture as others are. The etic perspective is data gathering by outsiders that yield questions posed by outsiders. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); WHAT IS THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD "AMERICA"? For those who are used to a more leisurely meal with little interruption, all of those check-ins and the waiter's eagerness to bring the bill can be a bit grating. Culture, or the environment a person is exposed to, can alter how people behave, along with shaping part of someone's, or their whole, life. The first is that, for the longest time, reporters from foreign news organizations sent reports back to the countries that dispatched them, and those reports were seldom seen locally. The amount of older people I saw on my trip wearing college gear was insane. } ); But in the U.S., people are happy to just toss their card in a folder with the bill and let the server take it away for swiping. In most other countries, however, an A/C unit is used . "A black-and-white look at the world. The collector's view of the artifacts as pieces of art is a product of his own cultural background and does not take into account the cultural relativity of the artifacts. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. Foreigners might not realize right off the bat that those soft-focus commercials featuring happy couples prancing through corn fields are advertising medications for diabetes and back pain. Once the tree is inside, for some reason they put it in the center of the room, and proceed to decorate it with various gaudy balls and gems on strings. All Rights Reserved. Let's move to the music, more specifically, blues and jazz, which are two personal loves of mine. But its one thing for big media companies from the prosperous West to make these domestic inroads overseas, and another thing for a network based in Qatar to reverse the flow and give Americans their version of the foreign gaze. You can describe American culture in general, as Miner does, or you can describe an American subculture, such as a specific geographical group (e.g., New Yorkers), a particular ethnicity (e.g., African Americans), or an agerelated category of Americans (e.g., millennials). She was a happy person, better than my Chinese roommate there were three of us in the room. Please enter valid email address to continue. To be fair, most Americans don't either. Through this exercise, students hopefully see both their own and other cultures in a new light one that understands how we are all so embedded in a culture that it is difficult not to see dramatically different rituals as exotic or weird. They are also unified in the sense that the dream isn't really a real thing anymore. Those who choose to study and observe people can take two approaches to in recording ethnographies; a subject orientated perspective or an outsiders perspective. - Summer Abu Ltaif, outside the American University of Beirut, "I think everyone is very tolerant there, in a way that there are all kinds of people, whether from different ethnicities, different countries, different religions. It's like your entire concept of beauty hangs on it. I hate to put even more pressure on . Red Solo Cups are the symbol of college keggers and backyard barbecues alikeand yet, they're rarely seen outside of the U.S. At Slate, Seth Stevenson gave a good explanation of the appeal of the plastic cup: Its opaque color makes it impossible for authorities to casually tell what's in the cup; its sturdy design makes it virtually spill-proof; and its newly created square bottom makes it easy to hold. For example, we can look at Christmas from the perspective of someone who is not a part of American culture. I encourage others to take a step outside, in any situation, to see the broader view of things because what you find may surprise you. Using an etic perspective, we can gain an outsiders view on our cultural practices that we deem "normal" in comparison to other cultures. 2 - A Chinese Golden Lily Foot by Lai Afong, c1870s. What does it mean to be an American? From the exotic to the ancient, and to the high end cities of the world, we are obsessed. In some of my classes, as part of a paper exploring the concepts and influenceof culture, I ask students to explore a ritual within their own culture but from an outsiders view as if they were witnessing the practice for the first time and trying to understand it. My American studies courses here have given me the opportunity to observe America from an outsider's perspective and really get an understanding of what Europeans actually think of us.
What Do Fainting Goats Eat, Tekeyonna Gaming Net Worth, Soto Cano Air Base Housing, Connecticut Police Salary, Articles A