Culture - Learned collective behavior.

A girl in my stats class today started to have a conversation with her neighbor, however plenty loud enough for the entire computer lab to hear.

Her comments began as follows...

"Im German. When you are in Germany and in a restaurant you can just tell when someone is American."

My first thought was shared by her cohort who asked, "well because they speak English..."

To which she replied, "No, even if you are deaf you just know. They are not dressed as well as Germans...I'm sorry they're just not. They cut up all their food before they eat it, instead of piece by piece like we (the Germans) do..."

As she trailed off I interjected, because this conversation involved all of us (all of us being predominately American) by saying "Wait, I cut my steak up piece by piece, am I German?" She responds, "well its a very European thing to do." So I repeat, "wait, so am I European then?" Her response, "Well you probably had a good upbringing so you do it right..." haha, game on sister. My response, "Millions of Africans eat with their hands...do they have terrible upbringing?"

A guy on my side of the room chimed with a "Boom roasted" comment and the showdown was complete.

First thing I love - This is a German, in America, in a room full of Americans, describing ways that we are not as good as Germans. I can't say that what she said is not true. I know Americans style is often not as chic or clean as other areas of the world, and eating habits are different. However, she is painting with some PRETTY BROAD STROKES which I strongly dislike because it denotes ignorance.

Second thing I love - Again, she is a German in America. If Germany is so great, there must needs be good schools there as well right? But you came here right? So there must have been something here that you valued greater than Germany right? I recognize that nothing is ever 100% right or consistent. However it is interesting to continually hear immigrants trash America, after exerting a vast amount of time, effort and energy to get here.

I'm not trying to be controversial, xenophobic or anything of the sort. I just had this exchange today and thought, not many people speak up in situations like this in fear of other people seeing them as such. So I did it for you.

I promise not all my posts will be so soap boxy or potentially controversial.