The Stereotypical Image of Americans

It’s really fun when something happens, and people wonder what the heck are these American’s doing? Our response to their reaction is, “Duibuqi, wo shi meiguoren.” (Sorry, I’m American) We use it as an excuse. Let me explain with these recent experiences…

#1

So, it was Kiersten’s birthday a little while ago. She is from BYU – Idaho. What do you do when it is someone’s birthday?…You randomly burst into song when the birthday person is least expecting it and you sing the usual, “Happy Birthday to you!” Right? That’s what I thought too. So we’re in class, and the topic comes up that it’s Kiersten’s birthday! Sweet! Amber and I start singing happy birthday in Chinese thinking everyone would join in. – “Zhu ni sheng ri kuai le….” The teacher joins in. Everyone else is silent while the three of us sing this happy tune. The Koreans, Japanese, and Italian’s stare at us with blank faces wondering WHAT is going on. We awkwardly finish the entire song and end with a smile. Sorry, we’re American.

#2

So, last night, I was with Adam and Josh, walking to the subway on our way home from institute. We were in the busy city part of Beijing, where the sidewalks often have people and bicycles dodging each other. I must have been really into telling a story or listening to them because I wasn’t paying any bit of attention to where I was walking. So I’m looking over at Adam and Josh, and all of the sudden I turn and there’s a guy on a bicycle like a foot in front of me. “Ahhhh!” I jumped out like a starfish! It startled me so bad, I screamed and walked around him. I think I scared him more though, because the super worried look on his face was priceless! Sorry about that. I’m American.

#3

One thing you should know is that, in China, people do not have the right of way. The cars do, unless you are in a huge group of people, and everyone goes against the law and decides to cross in front of a car as a herd. The other day, I was walking with a couple of my American pals and it’s like we forgot that we were in China, because we walked in front of a car that was turning into a business parking lot, thinking that he would stop for us. Well, of course he did, because we’re alive, but he laid his horn down as we ran in front of him, and the look on his face was like what do you think your doing, I’m driving here! Sorry, we’re American.

(Side Note: Driving is crazy in China. The law is like: anything goes! Every which way you want to drive, oh it’s a red light, that’s ok, no seat belts, no helmets, constant horn honking. But accidents rarely happen. In China, there is such a thing as a good, bad driver. They have to be super alert and they are good at bad driving.)

#4

Josh bought a bingbang (popsicle) for 3 kuai. He handed the lady, we will call her Jill, 10 kuai. 10-3=7. Jill handed him back 7 kuai.

Josh: “Wo gei ni shi kuai. Ni gei wo qi kuai.” (I gave you 10 kuai, you only gave me back 7 kuai…)

Jill: ….?

Josh: (coming to the realization of the math) “Oh, duibuqi, wo shi meiguoren.” (Sorry, I am an American.)


It’s funny how people perceive Americans. Adam was talking to a Chinese guy on the subway, and the Chinese guy asked, “In America, does everyone carry around guns all the time?” Adam was like, “What?” The guy continued to explain that’s what they see on American TV shows so he thought that all American’s carry guns with them everywhere they go.

We asked the Korean’s in our class what the English language sounded like to them when they hear American’s talking to each other. They said that we always sound REALLY excited!

Welp. I like being American!

My Kou yu (speaking teacher) Yang Lao Shi and his yellow shirts that he loves.

"Hallo? Wtih you, we can take picture?"

"Oh yeah sure, of course!"

And then, before you know it...The whole family jumps in!

Subways.

Awkward moments.

...and very awkward moment.