One of the fun things about being in a different country is learning a new culture. And usually through this process, you learn a lot about your own culture.
Culture is all around us. It invades every aspect of our lives and as a result we rarely think about or question our culture. A common analogy would be asking a fish, "What is water?" The fish never considers water because it is just there. Similarly, we don't think about our culture because it is just there. Only when you step into a new culture do you realize that not everyone does the same things you do or grows up in the same way you are.
Culture is multi-layered and affects us at the very core of our being. So it takes a long time of study and searching to peel back the layers of our own culture to discover why we do what we do. It takes even longer to discover the same things in a new culture. We only see the very outer layers and have to patiently discover the deeper motivations underneath. It is a huge topic and necessitate long devoted study and great patience.
However, it is fun to compare some of the lighter outer layers of culture, especially among friends. I love hearing what people assume about Americans because it causes me to reflect on my own behaviors and how I am perceived by others. I also enjoy the little "ah-ha" moments when I once again have the realization that not everyone does the same things I do.
My roommate and I were the only two Americans on the team when I first arrived. Here are some of the silly realizations that I had, things I do that show to the rest of the world that I am obviously an American.
-You know the national anthem of your country and have repeated it on a regular basis throughout your years in school. This one was kind of interesting. As I have been asking, most people have a vague idea of their national anthem but few can sing it by heart. And when I mentioned the morning routines from elementary school of reciting the pledge, many of my friends looked at me as though I was part of a cult.
-Speaking of elementary school, that was a difficult barrier to conversations initially. The US school system is different from most other countries. For example, kindergarten only lasts one year and then you are in elementary school, which is followed by middle school and then high school. Even whether you call college "university" or "college" can be communicating different levels of education, something I learned to be careful with when telling my students what level of education I had completed.
-You eat peanut butter on a regular basis. Apparently in other cultures, peanut butter is not a sweet treat and the idea of eating a peanut butter sandwich for school lunch would get you ostracized in some countries, similar to a tuna fish sandwich in the States.
-Still on the topic of food, it isn't strange to eat honey straight from the spoon and when you are not sick.
-You would not consider Coke-cola a medicinal drink or the remedy for an upset stomach. Everyone has their own home remedy for upset stomachs, some being more familiar than others. Drinking Coke when you're sick still makes me shake my head. Even stranger is that it seems to work, depending on how sick you are.
-You drink coffee on a regular basis and often at times outside of breakfast. I often was the only one drinking coffee when I am with a group of locals. On numerous occasions someone would order coffee for me, whether I wanted it or not, assuming that I couldn't survive without drinking coffee.
-Tea time would involve a cup of tea
-Swiss cheese is a specific type of cheese that has holes in it. I felt slightly stupid when living with a friend from Switzerland and she started to talk about different Swiss cheeses. I didn't realize there were different kinds, nor did I make the connection between Swiss cheese and Swiss as in from or relating to the country of Switzerland.
-Your world geography is a little lacking. One friend obligingly said that since the US is so huge, it is slightly understandable. However, it is a generally assumed fact that Americans know or care little about what is going on in the world outside of their borders unless it directly involves them.
-You don't talk about religion, politics, or money. This idea made for some awkwardly stilted conversations before I realized that such conversations were not taboo in other cultures and questions were just genuine interest and not rude or nosy.
-Weird and fun get-to-know-you games are normal ice breakers for meetings or introductions. This might also be an age or generational thing.
-Limbo is a fun game you play as a child, trying to walk under a stick, not a place where you bury dead people. This was a fun realization I made while playing a game of charades. I immediately decided we all needed to play limbo so that they would really know what the game was. It ended in much laughter as seven grown adults all attempted to pass under the broom handle we used for a limbo bar.
-Water boils at 212 degrees and freezes at 32 degrees. Temperature conversations are the worst because it is such a complicated conversion equation. I have gotten used to certain conversions (Between 31-45 degrees C) but anything outside of that range, I still struggle with. I am constantly saying the temperature in the wrong units and having to look up the right one.
-You most likely only know the km to miles conversion because you or a friend ran cross country. Another metric vs US standard issue. I am a strong proponent of getting rid of the US Standard system and switching to metric. Metric is already used in the science communities and it is easier to learn and use since it is based on units of ten.
-Being able to drive at 16 was a major mile stone in your life and almost everyone you know has a license. When you are allowed to drive is different in different countries. And in countries where public transportation is prevalent, many people don't have a license because they don't need one.
-You only speak one language-English.
-Baseball caps are normal outdoor attire, especially if it is sunny or summer time or hot. I never wear baseball caps myself and didn't realize they had such an association with Americans until one of my friends teased us mercilessly about them. Apparently they are to Americans what a cowboy hat is to a Texan. Only some people can where them unironically.
-You tend to walk a bit quicker than your neighbors from other nations and have a generally regarded confident stance and pace. I can tell my roommates walk from a mile away. It is funny because she is often told that she walks like a man, but it is just the faster pace and confident strides. Ironically, I often walk quickly, not because I am confident and know what I am doing, but because of the exact opposite and I don't want anyone to stop me and ask any questions, because I have no idea what is going on.
While I am sure there is a lot more subtle things that I unconsciously do that show observers that I am not from around here, this is the list of the ones that have been pointed out to me. Some realizations caused me to laugh; others to cringe. But for the goods and bads, I am grateful for the country and the culture I have grown up in. And I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to enter a new culture which has allowed me to reflect on my own culture with a slightly more unbiased lens.
Ultimately I want to reflect the culture of the Father's kingdom. This means peeling back the less flattering layers from my home culture, learning about the good aspects of my host culture, and clinging to the truths found in His Word. I have a lot more growing to do.