U.S. Culture

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No matter how impartial you try to be you will still go to the U.S. with a certain set of ideas about Americans and America. These ideas were planted by things you read, things you watched on television, and people you've talked to. Some of these preconceptions are just and true but others aren't. 

Americans are sometimes difficult to figure out, so keep an open mind and get to know them as individuals. And please don't judge any society by their media image. Each person you meet will have a unique and different perspective of what America means to them, so you can't really ask any one person what America is all about because it means something different to each person. 

Nevertheless, here's three American students perspectives on what America means to them:

What does America mean to you?

#1 - America means to me that its just, well, its freedom.

#2 -  Freedom baby, freedom!

#3 - America means freedom to do what you want, over legalization.

So you would agree that America is "the land of the free?"

#1 - Yes, we have a lot of freedoms. Our most important freedom to me is our freedom of religion. Also the freedom of speech.

#2 - No, not right now. I think our government is a little corrupt and has abused some of it's powers.  I'm wondering what secrets our government has kept from us.

#3 -  In a sense, not the way that makes it sound, not anymore.

Do you think that life is easy in America?

#1 - In general we are very affluent. A lot of us are spoiled and at times very wasteful. But not all of us, a lot of us are poor.

#2  - Depends who you are, where you live, and what you've done to prepare for the future.

#3 - I think it is easy, yes, easygoing, and not necessarily challenging.

What do you think characterizes an American?

#1 - American's on the whole are not just spoiled, but, they are more adaptive and flexible. We tend to adapt really quickly to new situations and make the best of it.

#2 - I don't know but we American's are awesome!

#3 - Your average American tends to be opinionated, have an independent personality, and isn't as respectful towards authority as other countries tend to be.

Do you think American's are racist or tolerant as a whole?

#1 - More tolerant, but see, we are so diverse so you can't say that Americans' as a whole are racist or tolerant, we're all different.

#2 - You can't judge the entire country. We have such a variety of races, religions, and different beliefs. Especially in the U.S., since we are a "United States" type nation. Our people come from all corners of the world. It's a strength that most countries don't have. But it can also be a weakness if we were to disagree strongly with one another and try to stare each other down.

#3 - American's lean towards tolerance.

Do you think the American society has a class system?

#1 - Yes, though its not very defined we have a big middle class, an upper rich class, and a underclass. But I wouldn't say that these classes make any difference. We don't treat anyone differently just because they're from a different class.

#2 -  Like poor, middle and rich class? Well...yeah.

#3 - I believe it has a class system socially, yes.

A lot of internationals think that Americans are rude and loud, do you agree with this?

#1 - I'd say we can be rude at times, but not loud. But I guess that depends on where you're from.

#2 - We can be.

#3 - I think we accomplish ourselves in our society but when we encounter people from other societies we don't know how to adapt to their way of doing things, so yes.

Do you agree that all Americans are rich and drive fast cars?

#1 - I'd say that can be true at times. Not all Americans are rich but we certainly have a lot of stuff. Even poor people have a lot of junk. We are pack rats with lots of junk.

#2 - No, but some are.

#3 - No.

Do you think that American's aren't as academic as internationals?

#1 - Not at all, we are very competitive which drives us academically. 

#2 - I don't know, but people sure make it sound so. So it must be true.

#3 - Depends on the international you're comparing us to really. We definitely are ahead of a lot of countries. But as far as countries near our economic and social standard, we are behind.