Proud to be an American?

So I realized that whether people like them or not, EVERYONE at least has an opinion about Americans.

Being one of the few here, I get a lot of attention, and it’s always, “Oh you Americans always (fill in the blank). I’ve quickly learned that ALL Americans:

· Wear flip flops all the time

· Carry a Nalgene

· Eat too many Doners

· Are too loud

· Are not loud enough

· Eat too much

· Think they are awesome

· Don’t know anything about any other country or culture, and don’t care

I’m not sure where some of these stereotypes come from, and I’m not sure why people think that a cattle farmer from Texas and a hipster in Portland would act exactly the same because they happen to live in the same country, or whether I should fit all the stereotypes just cause I live there as well. Or if people think that because I do something, all Americans do it, or I do it because all Americans do. I like to think that I do the things I do because I’m me, not because I fit into some bigger picture where everyone looks and acts the same.

I was somewhat amazed to learn that the events that happen in the US get the kind of global exposure that they do. For example, you know how we all remember where we were when we found out about 9/11? Turns out that all my friends here do too, and they have no real ties to the US. I got a taste of this when I was in India a couple of years ago during the election, and everyone had their thoughts (Obama loves Indians/Obama hates Indians/Sarah Palin spends all the US money on her pretty dresses (actual comment)), but I thought I was being egotistical by thinking that everyone in the world pays attention to everything we do. Turns out they do though.

That being said, I’m actually kind of proud of the fact that I’m American – I talk real loud, wear my Michigan hoodie, and will forever claim that baseball is better than football (soccer). Side note – in the champion’s league semifinals, teams play a tournament of best of 2, where goals for the away team count for two. Seriously? Best of TWO? Who comes up with this shit? And no one seems to think that there’s anything weird about that, or that there’s any way to improve this system (oh, I don’t know, an odd number of games? Just spitballin’ here.). I’m also super bummed that I’m going to miss the 4^th of July – this is really the first time I’ve lived outside the country (as a grown up), so I think that it’s actually kind of great to take a day to think about where you’re from, and why you love it. That, and it’s really fun to drink at the beach with your friends, BBQ on the patio, then stay out at Carol’s till 6 am and get McDonalds breakfast. But I still hate fireworks, and anyone who tries to convince me to watch them.

Song of the Day: "American Girls" - Counting Crows

Book of the Day: Blink – Malcolm Gladwell