TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Multi-Sited Ethnography Project:
Reactions to Americans
In my journey
sailing around the world in three months' time and visiting ten new
countries I
haven’t experienced before, I learned of many stereotypes of Americans
of which I had
been unaware. Every country’s people
had very different, but sometimes similar, reactions to we Americans
due to
pre-conceived notions and rumors of our government and economy or even
sometimes previous tourists to visit the country. In
some of the countries we visited, all
Americans are perceived as wealthy with enormous amounts of disposable
income
just waiting to be spent in their country. Seeing
how six-hundred and fifty of us walked off the
gorgeous, brand
new ocean liner, the MV Explorer, with our designer clothes and
backpacks
jammed to the max and our digital cameras and video cameras in hand, I
could
see how we could be mistaken to be wealthier than many of us actually
are.
For the most part, we were welcomed
with open arms and smiles, which at times were hard to differentiate
whether
the people were glad to see us, or if it was actually our wallets they
were
interested in. I would like to think
that for the most part, people in many of the countries were genuinely
pleased
we were there to learn about their country and culture and not just to
spend
our money. However, I cannot say that
goes for all ten of the countries on our itinerary.
On the other hand, I can understand why
developing countries would be glad to see us, because it is tourists
who help
boost their economy on a large scale and ultimately makes their life a
little
easier; which isn’t such a bad deal if we can help out in the world.
In contrast to holding stereotypes of Americans as
wealthy, I also noticed in
my
encounters and interactions with people of other cultures that many of
them are
simply fascinated with the American culture and what we
are all about. In some
instances even, an American is nothing but a face on a poster or in a
magazine
and not really something they will encounter in their everyday life. I can only imagine that seeing a person of a
human
race never seen before would probably be like seeing an alien to an
American. How can you blame a culture for
not being
exposed to other cultures, like those in Burma
who are practically cut off from the world by their forceful military
regime? Although, in other cultures such
as Turkey
and Vietnam, the fascination with Americans clearly hadn’t sprouted
from lack
of exposure so much as past experiences. The
Turks wanted nothing but to be my friends and to make me feel
at home and
to learn more about our lives back at home. Or
in Vietnam,
in another case, the fascination seemed to stem more from past
experience from
the American War in the 1960s. Reactions
in Vietnam
differed very much from people being very friendly and helpful, to
people who
gave us funny or even dirty looks. I even got some looks of disgust or
awe,
as if to say “I can’t believe you have the audacity to show your face
here with
such history as yours in our country.” Or
maybe that’s just my paranoia kicking in. I
can’t help but wonder if the same interest
and/or hospitality is shown when tourists from Australia or Africa,
for
example, visit particular countries.
Click on
these links to read my fuller discussions of each of these countries:
My
Analysis
As shown in my ethnographies from Vietnam,
Myanmar, and Turkey I experienced very different encounters and
received very different reactions from each group of people in these
countries. It appears to me that people
of different cultures have a lot of respect for Americans and believe
us to be
very trustworthy. Although, in Vietnam
the reaction wasn’t necessarily a positive
reaction so much as it made me feel uncomfortable.
In understanding the fact that in the eyes
of some Vietnamese, Americans are seen as “former” enemies, the
reaction
from the
two men is completely valid. That is
just a cultural difference an American must accept in visiting Vietnam.
However, not all Vietnamese have the
same bitter response as those of the older generation who lived through
the
American War. In Elizabeth Vann’s
article "The Limits of Authenticity in Vietnamese
Consumer
Markets," she explains how many Western
styles are observed and
counterfeited
and sold for a much less expensive price than in the United States because they lack the superior quality of
the authentic product. The Vietnamese do
not see this as an illegal act, as it is merely out of admiration of
the
styles. To the Vietnamese, though, the
authentic products are not affordable. Therefore,
the only option to hold these
brand name styles is through buying the counterfeit products. Consequently, production of these "mimic goods" helps
the economy, especially when westerners, such as us, visit the country
and
purchase the mimic products at a lower price.
In Burma, it seems that in interacting with American
tourists the Burmese hope to seek help for improving their economy or
even
their military government situation. After
speaking with other students after our visit to Burma,
I learned that the Burmese aren’t legally
allowed to discuss the government with foreigners.
Yet, many of the Burmese went against these
regulations and spoke to the students of the situation in hopes the
word would
be spread and help could be sent to help the country when the Iraq
war is resolved. In this case, apparently the Burmese hold great respect for
Americans
and our
government as they feel President Bush is making the correct moves
towards
helping other country’s obtain the freedom they’ve awaited.
My
experience with the family made me realize what wonderful, kind people
the
Burmese are and they do deserve to be a free country instead of living
in
constant fear. Whether or not this was
the sole purpose of the family inviting us into their home, they were
genuine
and are just like you and I. Awatsaya
Panam’s article “Migrant Domestic Workers: From Burma to Thailand”
she discusses how researchers were sent to
the Burmese workers to discuss their work situation and the government
regulations with them in hopes to help their situation.
At times, the workers showed discomfort in discussing
such issues with the researchers as they felt there was an ulterior
motive that
could put them in danger of the military government.
Although the Burmese family and I did not discuss
government issues, after
reading the
article I was surprised that the family was comfortable and trustworthy enough to let
us in
their home, despite knowing that if any government official found out,
they
could be
severely questioned.
My
experience in Turkey, completely different from the other
two countries, showed how much respect and appreciation for the
American
culture the Turks have. Turks already
have a great sense of hospitality and I’m sure they take care of any
and all
foreigners as they did for my friends and me. Although, when Emre and
his boss
mentioned how the two best days in the shop was first, the day we spent
in the
shop and second, the day eleven American soldiers spent the day, it
seemed
odd
that these days only included Americans. After
spending the day talking about what life is like in America,
the men seemed even more intrigued. Yael
Navarro-Yasin’s article “Who is
‘Turkish?’” discusses the Westernizing of Turkey and how it is now much
less common
to see women in veils and robes as it was in the recent past. The obvious Muslim population is becoming
much less obvious as time passes. The
country seems anxious to become more modern and westernized modeling
after
American and European styles and ways of life.
In
Conclusion
I suppose the
reason I
really don’t understand where the fascination with American culture
stems from
is because when we encounter foreigners in our country, it is not a
norm to
show them hospitality or to talk and learn more about them, or to react
at
all. This could be because America
is made up of immigrants from all over the world and it is not uncommon
to find
a foreigner in our country. However, it
seems that many cultures of the world think Americans have a perfect
life whereas in many instances they can only dream of living the
luxurious life they imagine we live
in the
States. At the same rate, though, I
cannot understand why many of the countries are so anxious to rid their
traditional ways and styles. I believe
those styles and traditions are what make the world such a diverse and
beautiful place. If there is no culture
and no tradition, then what is left to live by? I
do hope that the admiration for Americans comes from our
lifestyle and
freedom and not because of pre-determined stereotypes of wealth. After all, money does not make the man.
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