Impressions of America

608 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Culture diversity

Impressions of America

I have been in this country for almost three months now. One of the biggest challenges is getting along peacefully with the native population. To Americans one of the most important things is to make sure that no one gets insulted or hurt and that everyone is heard. Some would go to the extent of not revealing their true opinion, in order to avoid confrontation. In some group discussion decisions, if reached at all, are made after making long, tedious conversation about the topic at hand. While there are some merits to this kind of behavior, other aspects of interpersonal aspects are lost, such as frankness and being open to one another. Sitting among other international students enhances these observations by listening to the so-called “outsiders” talk amongst themselves. On one occasion a fellow student tried to explain something to his friend from another foreign country that he had different opinions from him on a certain subject, talking and describing the matter and “beating around the bush” as they say, when all of a sudden the listener said,” Just say what you think – don’t be an American.” I was amazed that someone noticed or thought the same way I did.

Being misunderstood is one of the most common feelings I’ve felt since arriving at J.F.K. Airport. People being insulted or puzzled next to me is a pretty common site and a thing I’ve gotten use to, maybe due to my cynicism or the lack of interest in what other people think about me, a thing that is inconceivable by most Americans that I have gotten to meet. Local manners “state” that if another person did not take a liking to what you said or did then you must take that into consideration and try to avoid saying or doing that again. This is something that is very polite and considerate but steels away our individuality and personality and at times takes away the ability to really know the person next to you in class or at work.

The people I encountered here are diverse and intelligent and by majority, opened to new ideas and way of thought. One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, “Are you planning to stay here after school?” Or, “Do you like it here?” These are questions that show interest in me and my future but at times are also implying a certain fear or distrust of foreigners.

Show More
Related

  • Rereading America Summary

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the book, “Rereading America” by, Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, it starts off on page 210 describing a well educated Black Man of the times in 1960s. “Born Malcolm Little; Malcolm X was one of the most articulate and powerful leaders of Black America during the 1960s. A street hustler convicted of robbery in 1946, he spent seven years in prison, where he educated himself and became a disciple of Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam” (p.210). Here I want to focus on the strength of a single black man in the 60’s and what it was like to be uneducated as an African American. The many struggles of a black person in general were enough, but a black man had it hard.

    Read More

  • Portrait Of America Sparknotes

    1864 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the process of reading this compilation of works, Portrait of America, many different point of views were aired. The opinion or attitude on the subject was too tainted. The authors were very biased to their perception of the "story". This book could have been much more beneficial if the facts would have stayed to the straight and narrow. Only the detrimental facts needed to be applied to these chapters. For a history class, as broad as this, this book opened too many doors that could not be explained in as much detail as would be liked. Many of the authors enjoyed mentioning the most scandalous moments of the people's lives then dropped the fact without much support or follow through as to what happened to cause or end these events. Brief summaries only tease the mind, and with the course load of most students, there is hardly extra time to investigate the matter further in detail. For a class such as History 152, biographies and/or documentary style books are more worth the while of the student. For instance make a list of a selection of novels that could be read for the class, so that every student can then explore in depth what that student thinks is interesting. Although the book was teasing in nature the chapters did flow well and were easy to read. The procession of the chapters had wonderful transition as to not loose the student. While proceeding through this book there were several different reoccurring topics that appeared. This paper will discuss these two reoccurring topics: the civil rights movement and former presidents.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Children's Night By Kurt Vonnegut

    1317 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beginning in Chapter Two, the novel becomes a third person account of Billy Pilgrim’s life, jumping back and forth in time repeatedly from his birth in 1922 to his death in 1976 and numerous events in between. There are also hints here that this story might not be entirely reliable. Vonnegut writes th...

    Read More

  • Essay on the Oppression of Ophelia in Hamlet

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...She had lost her father and her lover while her brother was away for school, and she was no longer useful as a puppet in a greater scheme. Ophelia was displaced, an Elizabethan woman without the men on whom she had been taught to depend. Therein lies the problem - she lacked independence so much that she could not continue living without Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet. Ophelia's aloneness led to her insanity and death. The form of her death was the only fitting end for her - she drowned in a nearby river, falling beneath the gentle waters. She finally found peace in her mad world. That is how Ophelia is so useful as a classic feminist study - she evokes imagery of the fragile beauty women are expected to become, but shows what happens to women when they submit as such.

    Read More

  • Ophelia's Virgin Suicide

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the play Hamlet, Ophelia is associated with floral imagery. Her father, Polonius presents her with a violet, she sings songs about flowers when she turns mad, she drowns amid garlands of flowers, and finally, at her burial, Queen Gertrude tosses flowers into her grave. Flowers symbolize her fragile beauty, blossoming sexuality, and a condemned innocence. Flowers are not deeply rooted. They are beautiful living things at the mercy of their surroundings. With no means of self-preservation, a flower's life relies on the natural forces around it. Ophelia's life mirrors this frail existence. She is entirely dependent upon the men in her life to make her choices. With no control over the storm brewing in her own life and no strength to withstand it, her shallow roots are ripped from under her. She loses her mind and takes her own young life.

    Read More

  • Help Ophelia

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...oo many details about Ophelia’s death, plus her behavior at the funeral is quite interesting. Rather than sobbing hysterically or settling in deep depression, Gertrude apologizes to Ophelia’s corpse before talking about things that could have been.

    Read More

  • How Does Shakespeare Present Ophelia's Death

    396 Words  | 1 Pages

    As can be argued with famous literary deaths, death scenes are reflective of the character’s personality. With Ophelia, her nature was also evident in the way she died. Like water, she was intangible and obscured, and had no definite shape. This is due to the fact that she was dependent on men her whole life -- either her father, brother, or Hamlet -- to tell her what to do. Without them, it is not clear what her personality is like. Since water is indefinite, it has the ability to also change, being able to fit the mold of any container. Similarly, Ophelia always submits to any male character in her life, easily shifting her loyalty towards the man who holds authority. After Gertrude tells Laertes of Ophelia’s death, he says “Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears. But it it is our trick; nature her custom holds, let shame say what it will. When these are gone, the woman will be out” (4.7.182-185) Laertes expresses that his sister, Ophelia, has already had too much water by drowning, so he wouldn’t cry for her. In this passage, Shakespeare uses the water reference to turn this on gender, because Laertes contends that grief is seen as “unmanly” despite

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Being An American

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    The definition of an American, is someone who is a citizen of the United States. Many African Americans, and immigrants struggled to become actual Americans in their lifetimes, because others didn 't see them as actual people; and based it on the color of someone. In today 's world people who live in America consider themselves as Americans, but to me there is certain qualities that make a person an American. To me being a true American is not based off of what Country they were born in, or what race their parents are, or even if they were immigrated to the United States. People from all over the world would say that maybe people could base this off of someone 's family heritage, or where they were before they came to America. If you were asked what makes an American an American what would you base it off of? To me there are four specific characteristics that make a person a true American; those three things would be, freedom, individuality, belief in the country, and happiness.

    Read More

  • American Self Perception Vs. The Truth

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    at least I know I'm free." Freedom is the founding pillar of the American self-

    Read More

  • Custom Essays: Hamlet as an Accessory to Ophelia's Suicide

    2101 Words  | 5 Pages

    In act four, scene five; Gertrude and Horatio discuss Ophelia's worsening condition directly prior to her entrance.  They attribute the young girls' decline to her concern for her recently dead father.  Ophelia displays signs of being overly sensitive and volatile, which concerns Horatio: "Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt / That carry but...

    Read More

  • Comparing the cultures of the United States and Japan

    690 Words  | 2 Pages

    In contrast, the United States is a very heterogeneous society known for valuing freedom and individuality. It is the most ethnically diverse country in the world and is often referred to as the “melting pot” (Zimmerman, 2013). Americans try to avoid a miscommunication by being very clear and direct about what they are trying to say (Western Washington University, 2011). In typical day to day social interactions, people in the U.S. tend to...

    Read More

  • Changes in the Roles of Women

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    “…believe that the time has come for a new movement toward true equality for all women in America, and toward a fully equal partnership of the sexes…” (Statement of Purpose, 1966).

    Read More

  • Adapting to a New Cultural Environment

    1289 Words  | 3 Pages

    At some point in our lives we experience a culture as an outsider by moving from one culture to another.In the world today there are so many different cultures and not one of them is found to be the same.Instead they all have something that makes them unique, whether its language or even the clothes they wear and their behavior as well.The differences they have is what separates them from one another and who ever joins that particular culture must get accustomed to their way of life.In the society today we have many people immigrating to the United States to start a new and better life but what they soon begin to realize is that it’s a whole new world out there and in order to survive they have to get accustomed to the new way of life which is much different from their lives before.

    Read More

  • Unite with Unification

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is a uniform? A uniform is the unification of identity, beliefs and strength. Uniforms express unity and equality. Uniforms create safe and better learning environments by preventing physical and mental violence and encouraging a stress-free and successful high school life among high school students. Uniforms develop strength and interaction among diverse students guiding them in the right direction. Even though Uniforms reduce a student's comfort level, they must be mandatory in high schools to maintain discipline, to diminish social and economic barriers as well as to limit physical and mental violence among high school students.

    Read More

  • Problems In Intercultural Communication

    1552 Words  | 4 Pages

    Humans have been communicating since four million years. On the other hand, the birth of culture is estimated to have taken place about 35,000 years ago. Today, both culture and communication have evolved considerably and have become interdependent of one another, to the point that communication is considered to be a product of culture. Thus, our own culture has a deep impact on our thoughts and behaviors. Since each culture has its distinct aspects, intercultural communication can be the cause of conflict and disorder. There are three main issues which are at the root of the problem of intercultural miscommunication : language as a barrier, cultural diversity and ethnocentrism. I will analyze these three notions in situations in which intercultural communication is frequent such as : the workplace, the classroom and vacation trips.

    Read More

More about Impressions of America

Open Document