It’s time for some social studies team! After all, that’s what I’m here for isn’t it? To learn about the mysterious American Culture! Gold.

Right first thing’s first. In New Zealand we have HEAPS of personal space – Americans don’t have quite so much. Admittedly some of the people I apparently hang out with have no personal space whatsoever (creeped me out big-time when I first arrived, but you get used to it really quickly). They hug a lot. A lot. That’s fine, but I’m getting used to it, and who am I supposed to hug when I get home? No one, that’s right. Everyone will just look at me funny and edge sideways out of my reach.

Americans don’t mind people being randomly happy. I’m happy all the time – in New Zealand someone would have gotten grumpy by now and told me to shove it. I love the American accent – it just makes me happy. It’s so light and smooth. My vowel sounds are heavy and dropped in comparison. I like the way they say Margaret – with three syllables. I’ve realised that NZ’ders put ‘ie’ on the end of every name (eg Margie, Bexie, Annie) because it makes the primary vowel sounds longer and nicer to listen to. Try it out – or maybe you need a living breathing American to appreciate the difference.

Americans understand your cultural stupidity. I went to the waterfront in San Francisco today, but was freaked out by the number of people. No, really, I was really uncomfortable. Stupid isn’t it? And we were watching the Blue Angels Jet fighter team who were AMAZING but every time they buzzed the crowd I wanted to dig a hole to hide in and then fire something into the air. And I was paranoid about where they were going to come from next. Gah.

Americans are really nice. I haven’t met one I didn’t like yet. And they seem to like me, or at least they don’t tell you when they hate you. It’s gold.

They do have opinions. Often I’ll be uncomfortable about how strongly they voice opinions. And they’ll argue with you because they want you to have their opinion. I suppose we figure in NZ that the other person just isn’t worth that?

Americans are polite with actions, not words. They’ll stand aside for you in the door, but they won’t make a big deal out of it. NZ’ders are polite, but they’ll draw attention to it with ‘excuse me’ or ‘I beg your pardon’ or something like that.

Anyway, back to my life. Homework is intense – I have about four very large essays due in a very short space of time. Church over here is a bit unusual as well – it’s very Catholic feeling, which is fine, except I go to an Anglican church because it’s different from Catholic churches, not because it’s similar. And they don’t sing. Perhaps there is another Anglican church around here somewhere...

I went to another Mexican restaurant today and had more Mexican food. It is lovely. Someone should start a wee business up and see what happens. I love ordering things that I don’t know – but only if someone that does know what it is knows if its good or not. If that makes any sense. Possibly I’m just like that because I can’t pronounce what I want to order. And the company was good as well – two lovely people from my house came along and we talked about everything and nothing.

A great recipe my friend made me eat today – get plain yoghurt, dump walnuts on top of it and drizzle it with honey. I know it sounds kind of yurgh but it’s really good! Apparently it’s a Greek thing. Those Greeks really know what they’re doing then. I also had chicken that wasn’t covered in sauce. I loved it, but the Americans thought it was a little bland. Obviously I haven’t lost my taste for the simpler things then – this is probably good. If I got a ‘rich palate’ then NZ food would be hard to swallow when I get back! It’s going to be hard to swallow enough as it is after all the yummy stuff over here.

You guys already know that I went to SF and saw the blue angels, but before that I had another soccer practice. We lost our game again the other day – I think I might have already posted that. The upright on the goal is now first-equal in my teams’ goal scoring ranking! And this random bush is the best goalkeeper we have on our team – it didn’t let a single thing through. I have a problem with hand-balls. I leap into the air to try and catch it, but of course I’m on the field now so it is a bit of a sticky habit.

I also got lost on the way to SF and ended up in Oakland. Hmmmm.

Nothing much else happened. I don't want to know about the Rugby.

Cheers

Margie

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written by  Crosswood on October 7, 2007 from Berkeley, United States
from the travel blog: New Zealand Student, American University.
Send a Compliment

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O thank goodness, for a second there i thought i was going to have to think of 4 witty comments of my usual caliber in minus 7 minutes before i should be in bed.

But you have just posted the same thing four times for some reason.

I ave a real alive American. You are aware you are currently surrounded by the most intelligent ones available right. Outside possibly Harvard. I tink your sample group is to small to make such a grand statement. Stick to "I love Berkley Americans" or i love whatever state i happen to currently be in. You know better than to base conclusions on statistics like that. Have fun

written by  Rebecca Harris on October 8, 2007

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No Bexy, you're wrong. Berkeley Americans are nice, but they come from all over the country. This makes the sample OK. Plus it's not like three or four, it's like 3 or 4 hunderd nice Americans. They've got something going on.

written by  Crosswood on October 8, 2007

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Rebecca is right. The sample is far too small. There is a certain type of person that wants and can go to Berkeley. Remember that this is a country that has a fool for a president and AMERICANS voted him in.
I think because you are in a different country with a whole lot of different people you have a far more open mind to trying different experiences including food. I think you have had a very limited experience of what New Zealand food is. None of the food you have described sounds particularly unusual or exotic.
Its fantastic that you are opening yourself up to all these experiences and that you are enjoying yourself so much.

DX

written by  Donna Cross on October 8, 2007

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You’re probably right that some of the Americans want to be here, but it’s just like any university. Some people just have driven parents, some people come here because they don’t know what else to do, some won scholarships, some are here for the parties and stuff, and some are just geeks. To a wo/man they’re all wonderful people. It might be the accent – they hear it and go ‘wow! She’s not from around here!’ and it’s kinda the same with me. I hear them and go ‘Wow! Gold!’ and so we get along really well.

I wouldn’t say that GW bush is a fool – he did manage to get enough people to vote for him in the first place. I haven’t been able to get a couple of million people to vote for me, so he’s doing well in that regard.

Remember Auntie Donna that this is your niece Margie we’re talking about. I’ve never been considered particularly open-minded! Rebecca yes, Annie yes, but ME? Hmmm.

On a lighter note, I think the food is pretty exotic. Trust me! Mexican, Hawiaiin, Hunan... come and visit – it’s pretty different! (Acutlly, coming and visiting doesn’t sound like a bad plan...)

Cheers Auntie and Bexy

Love Margie

written by  Crosswood on October 8, 2007

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Margie, it got posted twice again.

I don't know anything about Americans except for the three or four i've known personally but i tell you, In a country of a billion people 400 uni students is not a good sample size. My psyc knowledge screams against it. I always assumed that the sterotypes were hypes for our entertainment so never took them seriously however so you know.

Are you eating chocolate pie? My friend from floria is always goingon about te many many types of pie. I still remain unimpressed by pumpkin pie BLEG

written by  Rebecca Harris on October 9, 2007

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My point was that millions of people voted for Bush therefore stupid

DX

written by  Donna Cross on October 9, 2007

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Dear Bexy and Auntie Donna.

Rebecca - There are only 250 million people in America. 1 Billion is China or India. You're right though in that 400 people is not a good sample size. I will have to meet many more Americans and see if it improves.

Auntie Donna: Millions of people also didn't vote for Bush. You'd like it ere in California - they don't like the man at all as far as I can tell. Therefore these people aren't stupid?

As an aside note to everyone:
I didn't vote for Clark, and she got elected, but I don't think the people who voted for her are stupid. Just different. And at the end of the day I'm the one whoes different, because I was obviously out of line with the majority.

written by  Crosswood on October 9, 2007

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Dear Rebecca,

I agree with you that there are millions of people who did not vote for Bush therefore not stupid. I was not saying that ALL Americans are stupid, just that Margaret is making sweeping statements about Americans when she has only been to one section of its society and has really only experienced a very small part of New Zealand's. I live with an American who still thinks of homself as an American even though he has been in New Zealand since he was 4. I certainly don't think he is stupid. Mad maybe. I really like and admire most individual Americans I meet. I enjoy much of theur culture that they export but do not like republican presidents who have all been disasters in foreign policy.
DX

written by  Donna Cross on October 9, 2007

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