Guide to US and American culture, society, language, etiquette, customs, manners and protocol. Many Western media companies have seized upon this reality to create sites devoted to the domestic consumption of their foreign reporting including The New York Timess India Ink blog, to cite an example. Let's look at 10 traditions Americans celebrate without even considering how strange the rest of world consider them. 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. This termas well as terms used in the United States such as "Native American" and "American Indian"refers to hundreds of culturally diverse groups who inhabited the Americas before Europeans settled there. A journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. So, traveling down any city block, suburban street, or rural road, a foreigner will probably encounter at least a few American flags flying high, which likely isn't the norm in their home country. "A black-and-white look at the world. We dream of America and they dream about Europe. Contents. We in Europe have smaller things What I liked when I was over there was the service level, it was very high. One problem that anthropologists may run in to is that people tend to act differently when they are being observed. Our collective workaholism is totally bizarre to outsidersand quite frankly, we can see why. Now, Im not talking about Bud Light and the like, Im talking about the large amount of micro-breweries and craft beers we make. They rip up all of the paper covering the boxes, and leave a mess on the floor. From our portions to our PTO, here's where we differ from the rest of the world. He also emptied my friend's fridge, saying he's used to eating and drinking whenever he feels hungry or thirsty. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. The material items that are kept, though, seem to consume all the time of the children. However, if the commercial itself isn't clear, the long list of side effects the narrator rattles off at the end should at least tip them off. 2016 The Associated Press. WHAT MAKES AMERICANS AMERICAN? 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. The fellow in line asked me in a very American accent, 'Y'all can't get what in the States?' - Sam Wang, 20, university student, Beijing, "My image of America is a country that goes to war anywhere in the world," - Susumu Inoue, 82, retired agricultural lab technician, Tokyo, "I think of Major League Baseball," Ayumi Takeoka, 41, housewife, Tokyo. used by the People to entertain and amuse themselves.". 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. 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. Bacon or sausage? To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click hereto follow us on Instagram! - 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." C. It is important for Asian Americans to learn American culture as quickly as possible so they don't feel like outsiders. I hate to put even more pressure on . - Men Xuezhi, 54, doctor, Beijing, "I don't like American guys who always pursue their own personal interests. Nor am I saying that we dont have an intricately rich history that has shaped us to what we are today. The only normal part of the holiday seems to be the family gathering for dinner on Christmas day. Not sure whether I actually am ready to move there because it must be a tough country to live in. - Karin Cohen, 25, bookshop worker, Jerusalem, "The first thing I think when I hear United States is a world power." 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. has brought about most of the customs and activities. WHAT IS THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD "AMERICA"? I had a friend who drove for 16 hours to visit family for the weekend. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. - 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. Though the conditions of pre-Columbian America and 15th-century Iberia are beyond the scope of Latin American history proper, they must be given consideration in that connection. The greasers live on the east side and are known as "hoods". Oh, and side note, the customer service in America is seen as amazing. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. This is baffling to many foreigners, especially since, by the time they're in their 30s, they've been drinking legally for more than two decades. Cultural Perspective on African American Culture Angela Khristin Brown E-mail: brownlas6@aol.com Received: 05-09- 2013 Accepted: 09-10-2013 Published: 31-10-2013 . To find out, I thought that I should get a view from the outside of the proverbial white picket fenced, good ol Murican home. Old charges of Al Jazeeras giving a platform to Islamists resurfaced. Is this not a national travesty? This weird American habit leaves many foreign visitors asking, "How much water could you possibly need over the course of an hour or two?". Holding "Trials of the Century". Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.". The process often began between four and seven years old. 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." Why did they not just give them to the people in the first place? I prefer hanging out with Canadians or students from Europe, because at least they are quite polite." Their approach is different from ours we do it because we care about others, they do it because they get tips they were raised that way." Andersen, Margaret L. and Taylor, Howard F. 2008. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. xhr.send(payload); -- Nionvox, and extreme violence/gore is considered normal, and shown regularly on TV. We love having lots of options in America, but sometimes for an outsider, ordering food can feel like a multiple-choice quiz. African . Do people of different nationalities and tongues think of our star spangled flag and hyper-patriotism? Reducto_Absurdum, Americans are obsessed with straight, white teeth. . Here are 33 "normal" customs and habits in the U.S. that weird out the rest of the world. Consider that it was written directly from the perspective of a teenager - experiencing life and writing about it. When they do, the house and shrubs look very bright, and not a single house on the street is without these wires. I explained it was a joke, I was from Canada. This might be less surprising these days thanks to the ubiquity of Starbucks, but Americans originated the practice of ordering coffee to go, and it still strikes many Europeans as bizarre behavior. Al Jazeera America, since going on air on Aug. 20, has worked hard to fight off suggestions of foreignness. Americans love their red, white, and blueeven when it's not the Fourth of July or Veterans' Day. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=910c153b-d868-4c76-96ce-cfd4592b1dc7&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=7762223932942864768'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); 'Get away!' I screamed." (234) Claudette resists the urge to use wolf like communication to talk to Mirabella to stop chasing her, and instead uses human communication . Trick-or-Treating. 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. -- Source, Amount of cheese Americans can intake at a time. Part 1: An etic view of African American race from an outsiders perspective is believed as religious and demonstrates a unique lifestyle. 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. I mean, for the love of our sacredly majestic Bald Eagle, apple pie isnt even American! - Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto, "Americans are American because they feel (they are) better than the rest of the world but in reality we are as good as they are. What is Ethnocentrism? American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. Marketing companies that work from outside of your company bring a fresh perspective that doesn't exist from within your company. All of them wear shorts." 48-49). Sometimes we are even better than them . At another moment, she sits beside an 11-year-old as he plays the game, asking him, simply enough, what he likes in it. Americans go nuts with air conditioning, cranking it up on hot days to the point that you might actually need a sweater. The background. 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. And it's a country with quite advanced technology industries. Figure 1.6. 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. They look super fake. 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. 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. 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. But to watch Al Jazeera Americas reports is to discover that the truth lies somewhere in between these visions the network as fundamentally foreign versus the network as all-American. The Outsiders was written by a teenager about teenagers. They just don't get the idea of loyalty to the school. People also stop and like to gather around the tree and gaze at it. However, while the quarter makes senseseeing as its value is equivalent to one-fourth of a dollarthat's the only coin whose name is at all logical in terms of its worth. Through the eyes of an etic perspective, we can view the American higher educational system that we all accept as normal and question the system with critical comparisons between ours and those of other . It is told in a first-person narration style, with the narrator being a 14-year-old boy. DESCRIBE THE COUNTRY AS YOU SEE IT: "The first word that comes to mind when I hear the word America is 'Arrogance.' Foot binding was to stop the growth of the foot and make them smaller. - Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway, "I think there obviously is the American dream, the idea that unifies them all. American Culture: The Outsider's Perspective. All the pomp and circumstance surrounding prom, I have cousins who live in the US and just hearing about the number of hoops they had to jump through to ask someone to a dance is hilarious. 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. 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. - B.S. Ck14, 11. NEW YORK Al Jazeera wants to make its name as American as pizzaburgers. 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. - Zhila Gudzueva, university lecturer, Moscow, "My definition of Americans is those who are cheerful, friendly and willing to communicate." The "emic" approach is an insider's perspective, which looks at the beliefs, values, and practices of a particular culture from the perspective of the people who live within that culture. I have recently begun thinking about my country and our culture, and wanted to learn more about what exactly makes an American. The spectacle of the Tupinamb men in the French court, as described by Montaigne, could be said to be an instance of "reverse colonization," a phenomenon in which those who embarked in a colonial . In the U.S., every food order requires several decisions. We like to eat when we like to eatand if that means going to Denny's at 3 a.m., so be it. Once they get home, they have to lift it once again off the car and into their house. What we know so far about the Chinese spy balloon and other objects shot down by U.S. Using an etic perspective, we can gain an outsiders view on our cultural practices that we deem "normal" in comparison to other cultures. As well as supporting your college as an alumni. It's cars. Adam Schubak Partnerships Editor Adam is a writer based out of New . We should not ethnocentrically impose our own beliefs and opinions, which are products of our own enculturation. 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 . 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. Do they think of our wide range of geography and national wonders? 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. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. Americans are gallant." 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." So what does this foreign gaze, as presented on Al Jazeera America, reveal? Driven by sustained immigration and refugee resettlement during the 1970s and 1980s, Asian Americans have emerged as the nation's fastest growing racial group. They must be of some great importance or have some great wisdom, which allows them the honor of completing this task. Independence. - Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto, "I was stunned to see how big everything is over there. On my search I was pleasantly surprised to see the opposite view. The Greek term "ethno" refers to people, and "graphy" refers to writing. The cultural norms and values surrounding the artifacts are relative to the Native American culture and cannot be understood or appreciated from an outsider's perspective. 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. 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. I kind of like doing some things that I know I cant do in real life, the boy replies. In fact, most of these Americans I have observed highly treasure their material items from under the tree as they pay more attention to them than to fellow Americans. What am saying, or asking rather, is what makes us American to non-Americans? - Summer Abu Ltaif, outside the American University of Beirut, "I think that they are formed by an ideology. 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. It was reported to me that the ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures., 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. So that finally, outsiders will feel they belong. A society that has more things than our society." Collectivist cultures are usually contrasted with individualistic cultures. 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. One could almost call them obsessed, as some houses have giant men, white bears, and black and white birds puffed full of air in front of their houses. Many American kids and teenagers leave home for extended periods of time, often for summer camps or travel. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. (She believed) that the people's voice should be heard." All Rights Reserved. They just like speaking their mind, which is a reason that I don't feel quite comfortable going around with Americans." - Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway, "When I was driving to North Carolina I stopped at McDonald's. A European, on the other hand, "will launch into a monologue about their health and wellbeing and ask [how are you?] OR WHAT IDENTIFIES AS AMERICAN TO YOU? Why is so much trouble taken to offer the items to people, wrapped and put under this gaudy tree only to be given away? Some even sell fresh fruit and prepackaged mealsbut if you're visiting the States from another country, we recommend getting your sushi elsewhere. 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. What identifies an American? 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. From an etic perspective, American practices probably seem just as strange or unusual to outsiders as other cultural practices sometimes appear to us before we understand the cultural context behind them. Especially if you have school work to do, background music can help fill the silence of late night studying. Time to forget about any work you have to do, and treat the weekend as a weekend. I read on several different forum sites how things such as the pledge of allegiance and how our flag is plastered everywhere you go is quite strange to outsiders. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. It was reported to me that the ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures.. If you want a second soda in a place like Paris, for example, be prepared to dole out some extra cash. Yet, America's admirers have felt betrayed by other shades of the American character: the military interventions in Vietnam, Iraq and elsewhere; the gun violence; the right (inexplicable to many) to carry weapons; the deep and angry racial divisions; and, lately, a presidential nominee calling for harsh restrictions on Muslims and Mexicans. 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. 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. Miner describes Americans as "magic-ridden people" (Miner 2009, 507). The growth and diversification of the Asian American population in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal. - Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway, "Everything in America is high tech!" According to the (Journal of Psychology, 2000) culture and beliefs about time is . 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. In other parts of the world, however, ice isn't something you'll see nearly as frequently. After all, isn't coffee meant to be enjoyed in a ceramic cup over conversation at a leisurely pace? But, besides the Willy Wonka level of sugar, we use a substantial amount of cheese in everything. but don't tell them (laughing)." - Kenni Friis, 28, computer technology student, Copenhagen, Denmark, "They're generous. It's a wonderful country and there is high security, standard of living is very high. The Outsiders was actually published when the author was only 17 years old. Once the family has picked out their rather plump tree, they have to go through the challenging and exhausting task of bringing it back to their home. Why have an 8-ounce steak when you can have a 20-ounce one? For foreigners, the excessively large cracks in the stall doors in public restrooms are just plain confounding. The authors' research uncovered four factors: (1) The outsiders were not. 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. Extra-Large Food Portions. 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. It examines the body rituals and practices of US culture the way anthropologists used to other cultures in seemingly distant lands that seemed unusual, if not weird. Shopping malls, meals, people, cars. While many love how so patriotic we are as a people, some, to be blunt, find it a bit creepy. Holidays are integral parts of different cultures and by looking at them through the eyes of an outsider, we can see how culture influences perspective. Sociology in Everyday Life. 1) Outside Marketing Firms Bring Fresh Thinking. What may feel totally normal to Americans is often far from it for outsiders. The way its often described to me is that Americans have a very "open mind", and that we can handle having a lot of different people around, even when we don't agree. They also put some wires around it, which when attached to the wall, make the tree look very bright. While we do have some American comfort food, especially here in the South, what is there that we created ourselves? } else { The following is an excerpt from one of the excellent papers I received from a student, Emily Ong (used with her permission). Eggs are a universal delicacy, but outside of the U.S., they are seldom stored in the fridge. 1 - A Chinese woman with her feet unbound. All Rights Reserved. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. The paper,written by University of Chicago trained anthropologist Horace Miner wasoriginally published in 1956. Upon graduating secondary school, many Americans choose colleges and universities outside of and often far from their hometowns. - Marren Cahilig, 21, bartender, Manila, Philippines, "Many things their arrogant ideology of a powerful country and above all they have a language that is practically universal and almost everyone depends on that language. However, young people both in and outside the U.S. are particularly fond of American popular culture. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { 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. See the appropriate sections in the textbook, based on your chosen topic from Week Three, for information on how to approach your paper from an anthropological perspective. 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. An emic view of culture is ultimately a . The term is frequently heard in situations . Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. On TripAdvisor, one German tourist even commented on her love of visiting New York, save for these restroom door gaps. So much hard work gone to waste. American culture is clearly more advanced than all other cultures. Fenrir89, I get made fun of all the time in Russia for having an attachment to my college. For example, Miner writes The daily body ritual performed by everyone includes a mouth-rite. Most European travelers expect to place their order and then be done interacting with their server for the remainder of their meal. Foreigners, on the other hand, aren't even familiar with the concept. It comes as a bit of a surprise, then, when these foreigners visit the U.S. and are checked in on every 10 minutes or so as they eat. Concept of building up the courage to ask someone to a ceilidh is simply ridiculous. Baby Showers. 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. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? It has gone beyond the usual New York-Washington presence of overseas networks, with plans for bureaus in Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; Miami; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans; San Francisco; and Seattle.
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