The American Perception

I saw this post on my Facebook newsfeed this morning, and couldn't resist using it as prime example of what many people think of Americans. This particular post is really innocent ultimately, but is still representative of the image that many other nations have of American people. I've obviously edited it so that you don't know the poster's name or what they even look like, but all you need to know is that they are someone who lives outside of the United States . . .

In Prague, the most I've noticed it is in the way that so many people pretend not to speak English around us. I recognize that not everyone here actually does speak English, but there have been a few instances where we have been in situations trying to communicate with locals who deny being able to understand us, but then later on in the instance show that they do understand English in one way or another. It is like they see us as Americans and automatically want nothing to do with us because of the reputation we have. I have met plenty of friendly, helpful people (both English and non-English speakers) here, so I do not want to take away from that. This also isn't about thinking that everyone here should speak English; I don't think that and didn't come here expecting that. This is more so about how people recognize us as Americans and want nothing to do with us in any capacity because of it.

There are some definite ways that I have noticed people destinguishing themselves as Americans within my group. One thing that more and more is driving me crazy, is talking loudly in the metro. Here, communication is quiet and scarce in public places. So when I'm with a group of people-- large or small-- it has become irritating that they do not recognize this and continue to mark the entire group of us as ugly Americans. In restaurants too, of course conversation is encouraged here, but the atmosphere is so much quieter than we are used to. The people across the room don't want to hear your English chatter. In the moments between converstion in restaurants, it is amazing how much quieter the restaurant becomes.

I mention primarily marking ourselves as Americans through speech, but it really happens in so many different aspects of daily life. There is the typical American college student "biddy" wear-- short, tight, and revealing for going out, or even during the day if weather permits. Here though, that isn't the norm and just marks you as an outsider-- particularly, American! I'm also not trying to say that being American is a bad thing-- it isn't-- but, in my personal opinion, part of going to a foreign country is absorbing that culture and respecting it. We've been here long enough that people should have picked up general Czech public practices by now. Those who haven't, sorry to say so, but are a little ignorant, as well as a part of the reason why people like my friend above have the image of the ugly American stuck in their head as representation of our country as a whole.

This whole post has turned into somewhat of a rant, but is something that I think all of the people here, as well as anyone who goes abroad should consider carefully before leaving the U.S. When you go abroad, you are encroaching on someone else's territory, literally. And that someone else shouldn't have to change or be annoyed by you, the visitor. You need to, instead, be observant, accepting, and willing to adjust your own habits that interfere with the local customs. To not do that, you are being ignorant, not actually absorbing the culture which you came to absorb, and are giving all Americans a bad name.

It is just so sad that we can be picked out so easily for such stupid behaviors . . .

On a better note, I was mistaken for a local again yesterday!

Also, most people in my group aren't that bad. There are, of course, exceptions!