When we read The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea, which was originally written in Japanese, in English class, Mrs. Saxsma had us do a few activities to get ourselves more acquainted with the cultural context. We watched a video on the author's life, and read a few different descriptions of the Japanese mentality and way of life. One of the books we read from was Xenophobe's Guide to the Japanese, which is designed to help people planning to travel there get an idea of what to expect. She told us that the Xenophobe's Guides are a whole series of books, and one exists for almost any culture you could want to know about. She said that the American one was especially entertaining.
A few days ago I had some extra time to kill, so I found the IA library's collection of Xenophobe's Guides and started to read through the American one. Now, culture (especially one's own culture) is the sort of thing that is meant to be experienced first-hand, and having it spelled out for me in a book, and somewhat condescendingly at that, was quite an experience. It was so funny (in the IA sort of way, of course) that I checked it out and read through almost all of it on the car ride home that day (no, I wasn't driving). It so fits here, that I decided to share some of my favorite parts. The part that rang most true is under the heading "How They See Themselves."
While reading this I realized, reluctantly, that I actually do think almost exactly like that, not to mention that I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. And I'm fairly certain that you, if you're American that is, do to. Think about it. Now on to "How They See Others." The author explains that
Do you think of Canada as a foreign country? Well yeah they have their own flag and all, but so do Texas and Ohio, right? Here's a section called, "But That Was Last Week."
Then it goes on to describe some other similar cases. It's true, isn't it? Next come "Manners" ("Americans are intrigued by good manners, in part because they don't have any") and "Smoking" ("Americans mind if you smoke, they mind very much, and not being a shy race, they will frequently let you know just exactly how much they mind"). Under the heading "Dying," it is made clear that, "It's in extremely bad taste for an American to die, not to mention inconsiderate to loved ones and friends....getting sick is in almost as bad taste as dying (and significantly more expensive)." Ah, yes, finally something I can use to separate myself from all these people:
That's always baffled me. I also really like the section called, "Bigger and Better." First it complains that we have hardly considered converting to the metric system, which is followed by a list of some common American units of measure. But not of the kind you'd have expected. They include the toaster oven as an easily exaggerated unit of volume ("'We were attacked by mosquitoes the size of toaster ovens'"), the football field as a unit of length or surface area, the New York Minute as a virtually instantaneous measure of time ("Everything moves faster in New York City, including time"), and the wind-chill factor, "which sounds a lot colder and makes those who venture out in it feel hardy and adventurous" (36).
The "In The Office" section states that, "Work, Americans feel, should be rewarding, interesting, and, if at all possible, fun. Play, on the other hand, requires dedication, persistence, skill and effort. No wonder Americans are confused" (59). Next, we move on to the "Language and Ideas" section:
Finally, near the end of the book, a sub-heading under "Language and Ideas" is called "Let's Verb Nouns." I think it must be in my top two favorite parts:
I must point out the irony that in this case Bill Gates has actually verbed an adjective, but I probably can't name the parts of speech anyway, so why not use them interchangeably.
Now before you complain about originality, and about how too much of this post is quoted, I'd like to respond in he following ways: 1) It's very IA-relevant, and deserves a place here, 2) I have a Works Cited, don't I? and 3) In the United States, no book is too proper to be used as a blog post. Since most Americans can't name the media anyway, we use them interchangeably.
I'll have returned the book shortly after break- I'd recommend looking through it when you have some extra time.
A few days ago I had some extra time to kill, so I found the IA library's collection of Xenophobe's Guides and started to read through the American one. Now, culture (especially one's own culture) is the sort of thing that is meant to be experienced first-hand, and having it spelled out for me in a book, and somewhat condescendingly at that, was quite an experience. It was so funny (in the IA sort of way, of course) that I checked it out and read through almost all of it on the car ride home that day (no, I wasn't driving). It so fits here, that I decided to share some of my favorite parts. The part that rang most true is under the heading "How They See Themselves."
"Americans are proud to be American - it's the best country in the world - but each individual will explain that he, personally, is not like other Americans. He is better. Americans are proud to be different from each other, and from the world. The only visual difference between Americans and other nationalities is that Americans are taller and have straightened teeth" (5-6).
While reading this I realized, reluctantly, that I actually do think almost exactly like that, not to mention that I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. And I'm fairly certain that you, if you're American that is, do to. Think about it. Now on to "How They See Others." The author explains that
"Only 20% of Americans own passports. They don't need them. An American can travel for a week and still be on home turf. The fact that everyone who lives within 3,000 miles of an American is also an American gives the average citizen a seriously provincial point of view. Because Americans visit forign countries relatively seldom*, they assume that people all over the world are just like themselves, except for not speaking English or having decent showers" (6-7).
*Canada doesn't count.
Do you think of Canada as a foreign country? Well yeah they have their own flag and all, but so do Texas and Ohio, right? Here's a section called, "But That Was Last Week."
"In some countries, disgraced politicians kill themselves. In America they run for office....One mayor of Boston was re-elected while he was in jail" (12).
Then it goes on to describe some other similar cases. It's true, isn't it? Next come "Manners" ("Americans are intrigued by good manners, in part because they don't have any") and "Smoking" ("Americans mind if you smoke, they mind very much, and not being a shy race, they will frequently let you know just exactly how much they mind"). Under the heading "Dying," it is made clear that, "It's in extremely bad taste for an American to die, not to mention inconsiderate to loved ones and friends....getting sick is in almost as bad taste as dying (and significantly more expensive)." Ah, yes, finally something I can use to separate myself from all these people:
The American love affair with shopping is more than the natural by-product of a materialistic society. Shopping isn't a chore, it's recreation. It's a pleasure, an amusement, a way to spend time. Friends will make a date to go shopping together and happily return home empty-handed" (25).
That's always baffled me. I also really like the section called, "Bigger and Better." First it complains that we have hardly considered converting to the metric system, which is followed by a list of some common American units of measure. But not of the kind you'd have expected. They include the toaster oven as an easily exaggerated unit of volume ("'We were attacked by mosquitoes the size of toaster ovens'"), the football field as a unit of length or surface area, the New York Minute as a virtually instantaneous measure of time ("Everything moves faster in New York City, including time"), and the wind-chill factor, "which sounds a lot colder and makes those who venture out in it feel hardy and adventurous" (36).
The "In The Office" section states that, "Work, Americans feel, should be rewarding, interesting, and, if at all possible, fun. Play, on the other hand, requires dedication, persistence, skill and effort. No wonder Americans are confused" (59). Next, we move on to the "Language and Ideas" section:
American speech is remarkably straightforeward. They tell it as it is, even when it's not a particularly good idea do do so. Lingustic sublety, innuendo, and irony that other nations find delightful puzzle the Americans, who take all statements at face value, weigh them for accuracy, and reject anything they don't understand" (60).
Finally, near the end of the book, a sub-heading under "Language and Ideas" is called "Let's Verb Nouns." I think it must be in my top two favorite parts:
In the United States no noun is too proper to use as a verb. 'We're trialing that now', says a company spokeswoman about a new service...'We obsolete our products', says Bill Gates about Microsoft's manufacturing policy. Verbs are action words, much nicer than stolid, immovable nouns. Since most Americans can't name the parts of speech anyway, they use them interchangeably" (62).
I must point out the irony that in this case Bill Gates has actually verbed an adjective, but I probably can't name the parts of speech anyway, so why not use them interchangeably.
Now before you complain about originality, and about how too much of this post is quoted, I'd like to respond in he following ways: 1) It's very IA-relevant, and deserves a place here, 2) I have a Works Cited, don't I? and 3) In the United States, no book is too proper to be used as a blog post. Since most Americans can't name the media anyway, we use them interchangeably.
I'll have returned the book shortly after break- I'd recommend looking through it when you have some extra time.
Works Cited
Faul, Stephanie. The Xenophobe's Guide to the Americans. New York: Oval Books, 1999.
