So, recently I've really noticed the phenomenon of becoming "more" or your own culture when in a foreign country. Basically, I've never felt particularly American (or German, or Argentinean). Even when I was at Kansai Gaidai in 2007/08, it was hard to place myself culturally. When I first arrived her at IUJ, I just had to laugh and explain how nope, I wasn't really American.
But these past two months, I've started hanging out with other Americans on campus (they're in a different program, I hadn't really talked to them much before). And suddenly, I feel so completely American. The people I hung out with before have commented on it, and I can't help but both feel a bit bad and feel really happy that I've found people with whom I "click" so well -- the "click" being the shared cultural values and backgrounds, the same sense of humor.
I mean, it helps that they're the type of people I would have hung out with anyway. But I feel like I've shifted closer to "American" than I ever was before, and I'm not sure that would have happened if I'd met these two in the States.
no subject
But these past two months, I've started hanging out with other Americans on campus (they're in a different program, I hadn't really talked to them much before). And suddenly, I feel so completely American. The people I hung out with before have commented on it, and I can't help but both feel a bit bad and feel really happy that I've found people with whom I "click" so well -- the "click" being the shared cultural values and backgrounds, the same sense of humor.
I mean, it helps that they're the type of people I would have hung out with anyway. But I feel like I've shifted closer to "American" than I ever was before, and I'm not sure that would have happened if I'd met these two in the States.
Oh cultural identity, you are so complicated.