"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
02/18/2015 at 16:00 • Filed to: None
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"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
02/18/2015 at 16:00 • Filed to: None | 1
| 8 |
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
She might be a little off at some points, still a neat little read.
KnowsAboutCars
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 16:18 |
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Getting rid of American habits while abroad seems to be popular subject nowadays.
Funktheduck
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 16:18 |
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Interesting. I wish some of those ways of life would make it here.
Captain of the Enterprise
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 16:22 |
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I didn't know I was German this whole time.
Boxer_4
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 16:36 |
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I found the lack of chit-chat talk to be an interesting point. I grew up in an area with a pretty large Pennsylvania Dutch (German) population. While they are really far removed from Germany now, the lack of chit-chat seems very familiar. It's not quite to the level as described in the article, but it still takes some adjusting when I'm not in the area and complete strangers try to start conversations.
E. Julius
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 17:02 |
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I'd be interested in seeing an article like this from the other way around, if such a thing exists. Perhaps the desire to shed one's "national" traits is a peculiarly American phenomenon. I've definitely observed that desire amongst the other American international students here in Paris, and even had people tell me that I'm acting "very American".
Personally I don't really understand this. Obviously every individual is different and there's a certain level of cultural adaptation that's necessary to live and work in a foreign locale, but I know many Americans who seem almost ashamed of their cultural traits and eager to abandon them, at least superficially. My viewpoint is that beyond observing certain standards of decorum to avoid offending people, there's no need to change your behavior if you're happy with it.
My reasoning is that if I'm in a situation where I encounter a foreigner in the U.S., I know that they will behave differently in some respects largely due to circumstances outside of their control, and thus I try my best to withhold from judging them by my own cultural standards. When traveling abroad, I assume any reasonable individual from another culture would be tolerant in this same way, so I feel no shame about whatever aspects of my behavior which might be unabashedly "American". Perhaps I've got it all backwards and most of the people I encounter when I travel are secretly disdainful of me, but this hasn't been my experience.
This was more inspired by some personal experiences of mine than the article you originally posted, but it was definitely thought provoking. I know there are certainly some bits of French culture that I've observed and would like to incorporate into my own behavior, but I usually base these decision off of a positivist desire to improve myself instead of some sort of anxiety over how I think people from other cultures are perceiving my behavior.
Just some other observations I guess.
ly2v8-Brian
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 17:04 |
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Good I apparently don't have to change anything about what I do when I go to Germany in May.
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Klaus Schmoll
> E. Julius
02/18/2015 at 17:23 |
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You brought up some good points there. The idea of shedding cultural traits completely is obviously wrong, as that would go pretty close to denying who you are and where you came from. Being open to other concepts and maybe adapting to them if that suits you would be a more healthy alternative.
I've seen it work the other way around with people at university. People would spend a semester in the US and come back with an accent that sounded like Cletus from the Simpsons.
I just did an english lesson with my 9th graders in witch I wanted them to at least become aware that cultural stereotypes are only pre-conceived notions and not hard facts. I used a Simpsons episode (Bart going to fat camp, his family having to accomodate backpacker Germans) for that.
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E. Julius
> Klaus Schmoll
02/18/2015 at 17:27 |
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Being open to other concepts and maybe adapting to them if that suits you would be a more healthy alternative.
I definitely agree with this. Also, great Simpsons episode haha