World Citizens Guide
Cleve points us to the World Citizens Guide, put together “by students for students to use when going abroad.” With all the anti-American sentiment in the world today, first time travelers would be wise to read the downloadable document and follow the advice within.
Here in Japan, cleanliness, politeness, non-confrontation, and non-expression of negative emotion are the keys to cultural harmony. Transgression of these norms is a faux-paux the best case scenario, and a serious problem in the worst. Having lived here for almost seven years now, I have begun experiencing to a greater degree the effects of such transgressions.
The other day I saw a young foreign woman lying down on a train with her feet up on the seat. I could just make out the underlying shock and nervous disgust of the other passengers upon seeing this. I even felt it a bit myself. Of course, nobody said anything to her, for that would be too confrontational. And if the train conductor had to do it, he would have most certainly apologized before and after suggesting that she sit up. People do not show their displeasure outwardly, but if you know the contextual signs (short stares followed by looking away) the meaning is clear.
Richard E. Schallert wrote:
This incident seems to indicate an exaggerated sense of self-importance and self-centeredness; very common here in the good old USA. So much of our lives are focused on me, Me, ME!!!! Students in my classrooms years ago were always well-informed about their personal rights in almost any situation, but had very little knowledge or concern about their responsibilities to their famiies, communities, and the nation that had provided them so much.
As great as America is in many ways and as proud as I am as having been a citizen-soldier for over 20 years, this excessive sense of self is personally quite repugnant to me.
Posted 18 May 2006 at 7:27 am ¶
Aaron wrote:
Thanks for your comments, Richard. With the situation I described above, it was probably cultural ignorance more than selfishness that caused the young woman to act that way. I know that during my first year in Japan I acted in ways I wouldn’t dare do now (like walking around barefoot).
I agree fully with your sentiments about there being an imbalance in the locus of awareness in many Americans; too heavily centered on the self and ego. I wonder to what extent our social and institutional structures and practices have to do with this conditioning? I believe we can change this state of affairs through the way we practice our professions and live our lives. For our own sanity, we just have to work toward that change without getting too caught up in its success or failure.
Posted 18 May 2006 at 3:32 pm ¶