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the US: memories of being a legal alien
May. 9th, 2003 10:28 pmThis is partly a reply to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lacrimosa's question, and also something I've been thinking about for a while.
Before I write anything, I want to point out that I really like the US. I met wonderful people, I want to return some day, and I think it's a nice country. So I have no intention of offending anyone, I'm just writing about my personal impressions and experience.
Saying something is different does not mean it is better or worse. Also, I don't even think the differences are that huge.
The first thing most Europeans notice about the US can be summed up in a short and simple sentence:
Everything is much bigger.
People usually expect to hear something more exciting, and they won't understand until they see it for themselves and invariably express that exact same thought. For example, the first encounter with an American refrigerator is an experience. To European eyes (who, in contrast to a relatively common American idea of Europe, are quite familiar with fridges as such), they are gigantic. They are about twice as big as a standard European one, which starts to make sense when you notice the size of the things inside. When milk is sold by the gallon, you simply need much more room than when it comes in liters.
Then, directing your view from small things to houses and cars, streets and entire cities, the same thing applies. It's probably not very surprising when you consider that the US aren't very densely populated. In comparison to Germany, the US have 26x the space for only 3x as many inhabitants.
So there's not only more room per person, there are also vast open spaces and a nature that makes everything Europe has to offer seem insignificant. The mountains or rocks or canyons or woods we deem impressive would go entirely unnoticed if they were located next to their American counterparts.
But to a small human being without access to a car, it sometimes got quite annoying to not be able to go anywhere without asking for a ride, even to simple things like the mall or the movies. Europe seems more people-sized because things aren't as far apart. Also, I was never able to eat up at American restaurants, and I don't think I could ever consume a gallon of milk before it gets sour.
The size of the US, as well as the geographic location, also lead to one thing foreigners notice very quickly: the US-American culture, no matter how diverse in itself, is unbelievably self-centered. There are only two neighboring countries, one of which isn't all that different, and everything else is far away. While I met many people who were interested in where I came from and the world in general, I have never been to a place where as many people were as unaware of the world around them. I patiently answered countless questions that clearly showed that Non-American equalled lack of civilization in the mind of the speaker. I don't want to preach because my lj friends list is definitely the wrong audience, and I'm well aware that many of you have been to Europe and probably heard more than your share about the lack of basic knowledge of your compatriots, so don't take this personally. I just wanted to say that when you're sixteen and all by yourself in a new country, which happens to have a similar standard of living and be among the world's 5 richest nations, it is quite irritating to be asked again and again if you have ever seen things like electric light or automobiles or apples or grapes, or computers or jeans, or if Hitler is still alive and in power or if you usually wear dirndls and flowers in your hair and yodel all the time (which would be like assuming that all Americans always dress like cowboys). It is a bit strange to keep insisting that we do have cars while hearing they dream of owning a Mercedes or Volkswagen or BMW, and even more to hear they think it impossible to learn a foreign language and/or ask for applause for the two gramatically incorrect sentences in German that they managed to memorize during their 8 years of being in Germany with the US army -- while ignoring completely that English is not your native language, and you still manage to communicate with them quite well. Also, I admired the stoic expression with which an Australian friend of mine accepted compliments on his English (or hints at his "poor" pronunciation).
This lack of interest clashes with the fact that most Americans are very proud of their cultural origins. Most will quickly inform foreigners of the 1/8 of "blood" they may have in common with them. Hm.
This is still quite raw and unedited, I think I'll have more to say sometime later.
lacrimosa's question, and also something I've been thinking about for a while.Before I write anything, I want to point out that I really like the US. I met wonderful people, I want to return some day, and I think it's a nice country. So I have no intention of offending anyone, I'm just writing about my personal impressions and experience.
Saying something is different does not mean it is better or worse. Also, I don't even think the differences are that huge.
The first thing most Europeans notice about the US can be summed up in a short and simple sentence:
Everything is much bigger.
People usually expect to hear something more exciting, and they won't understand until they see it for themselves and invariably express that exact same thought. For example, the first encounter with an American refrigerator is an experience. To European eyes (who, in contrast to a relatively common American idea of Europe, are quite familiar with fridges as such), they are gigantic. They are about twice as big as a standard European one, which starts to make sense when you notice the size of the things inside. When milk is sold by the gallon, you simply need much more room than when it comes in liters.
Then, directing your view from small things to houses and cars, streets and entire cities, the same thing applies. It's probably not very surprising when you consider that the US aren't very densely populated. In comparison to Germany, the US have 26x the space for only 3x as many inhabitants.
So there's not only more room per person, there are also vast open spaces and a nature that makes everything Europe has to offer seem insignificant. The mountains or rocks or canyons or woods we deem impressive would go entirely unnoticed if they were located next to their American counterparts.
But to a small human being without access to a car, it sometimes got quite annoying to not be able to go anywhere without asking for a ride, even to simple things like the mall or the movies. Europe seems more people-sized because things aren't as far apart. Also, I was never able to eat up at American restaurants, and I don't think I could ever consume a gallon of milk before it gets sour.
The size of the US, as well as the geographic location, also lead to one thing foreigners notice very quickly: the US-American culture, no matter how diverse in itself, is unbelievably self-centered. There are only two neighboring countries, one of which isn't all that different, and everything else is far away. While I met many people who were interested in where I came from and the world in general, I have never been to a place where as many people were as unaware of the world around them. I patiently answered countless questions that clearly showed that Non-American equalled lack of civilization in the mind of the speaker. I don't want to preach because my lj friends list is definitely the wrong audience, and I'm well aware that many of you have been to Europe and probably heard more than your share about the lack of basic knowledge of your compatriots, so don't take this personally. I just wanted to say that when you're sixteen and all by yourself in a new country, which happens to have a similar standard of living and be among the world's 5 richest nations, it is quite irritating to be asked again and again if you have ever seen things like electric light or automobiles or apples or grapes, or computers or jeans, or if Hitler is still alive and in power or if you usually wear dirndls and flowers in your hair and yodel all the time (which would be like assuming that all Americans always dress like cowboys). It is a bit strange to keep insisting that we do have cars while hearing they dream of owning a Mercedes or Volkswagen or BMW, and even more to hear they think it impossible to learn a foreign language and/or ask for applause for the two gramatically incorrect sentences in German that they managed to memorize during their 8 years of being in Germany with the US army -- while ignoring completely that English is not your native language, and you still manage to communicate with them quite well. Also, I admired the stoic expression with which an Australian friend of mine accepted compliments on his English (or hints at his "poor" pronunciation).
This lack of interest clashes with the fact that most Americans are very proud of their cultural origins. Most will quickly inform foreigners of the 1/8 of "blood" they may have in common with them. Hm.
This is still quite raw and unedited, I think I'll have more to say sometime later.
