16 People On Things They Couldn’t Believe About America Until They Moved Here

It’s a bit startling to be confronted with the fact that everything you find customary is a surprise to the rest of the world. This article has gathered opinions from all over the globe (mostly non-western) of great American wonders, from politics to food to family relations, and the results can be quite shocking. Some of these reactions might make us giggle, for example John Levingster’s surprise at our slang like “OMG;” others may cause us to squirm with discomfort or shame, like Rakib Islam’s remark on our severe poverty and homelessness; others still remind us of our inherent privilege of living in the first world, for example our hot showers, washing machines, and wall-to-wall carpeting.

It seems that some of these surprises in American culture are fostered by the image that the United States projects to the rest of the world through media: news outlets, music, television, movies and books. Hollywood’s creations are prolific throughout the world and most Americans would agree that neither racy action flicks nor optimistic romantic comedies reflect reality; however, as we paint these self-portraits we can hardly expect that they will not be considered authentic.

It seems no one is exempt from misconceptions about the rest of the world. We all hold truths of how we consider ourselves, our nation, and the rest of the world; however, we have to realize and accept that they may not always be true. This article perfectly exemplifies the importance of travel and how it provides a new perspective on the world and its diverse people. In our increasingly global culture, it is impossible to grasp any sort of understanding of a foreign people without living among them and trying to experience life in their shoes. This type of openness to diversity will foster a more understanding and communal world.

After reading these accounts of what is surprising about America, I began to think about what surprised me about Paris when I studied abroad there for 5 months. Some are silly, all are eye opening to the fact that we never give a second thought to things that could be completely different somewhere else. (*These are all my personal experiences and interpretations, and if any of them are misguided it only further proves that we can even misconstrue a culture in which we live*)

1) There’s different sized paper? I’m almost embarrassed to say I had no idea that the US was the weird one when it came to paper size; everyone else uses A4!
2) Where’s the recycling? Paris wasn’t very big on recycling. Unlike the separated bottle and trash bins we have in the US lining our sidewalks, Paris just does trash. However they are very conservative when it comes to other resources like water and electricity.
3) When’s the next train? Oh, here it is now. The metro is far superior to any public transportation I have ever taken in the US. It’s always on time and waiting 5 minutes for the next train is considered a “long wait.” I very much miss the metro.
4) French people are nice? It’s pretty unfortunate that the major stereotype for French people is that they are “snooty” but the vast majority of French people I met were very nice. Meeting strangers in Paris is just like meeting strangers in New York city ; for the most part people keep to themselves, but when you do get the chance to talk to someone, interactions are pleasant.  French students were very interested in American culture and excited to practice their own english.
5) You heard what? One of the most surprising things was being confronted with stereotypes about America. I met a girl who was sure that gun violence was constant and ubiquitous throughout the US. On a less political note, some europeans were shocked that a normal dinner time was about 6pm

Top Foodie Cities by StudyAbroad101.com

I am completely shocked to see that Paris doesn't make this list! However I can personally attest to the wonderful food of the wonderful ville that is Aix-en-Provence. <3 Visiting Aix is one of my favorite memories from studying abroad. The food: delicious. The people: extraordinarily kind. The architecture: Romanesque. The night life: Bumpin'.

Immigration Legislation Update

From the Wall Street Journal by Carol E. Lee

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama said Tuesday he would accept a piecemeal approach to overhauling the immigration system, a move aimed at jump-starting a moribund process that reflects the realities of a divided Congress.

Mr. Obama has long favored the sweeping immigration bill that passed the Senate in June, but the House has made clear it wouldn't consider that measure. In a wide-ranging interview before business executives at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council, the president said he is amenable to House Republicans' taking up elements of the Senate bill, as long as the end result is the same.

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President Obama was interviewed at the annual Wall Street Journal CEO Council in Washington on Tuesday. Ralph Alswang for The Wall Street Journal

"If they want to chop that thing up into five pieces, as long as all five pieces get done, I don't care what it looks like," Mr. Obama said. "What we don't want to do is simply carve out one piece of it…but leave behind some of the tougher stuff that still needs to get done."

Many advocates of a broad immigration overhaul have worried that Congress would pass some elements, such as business-backed measures allowing more temporary workers into the country, without setting a path to citizenship for people now in the U.S. illegally, as the Senate bill does. Mr. Obama's statement was his most extensive about accepting a piecemeal approach.

The president said he was "optimistic" that Congress would meet the goal he set of passing an immigration bill by the end of the year.

But just after Mr. Obama spoke, Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), chairman of the House Budget Committee, poured cold water on that idea. In his own appearance before The Wall Street Journal CEO Council, Mr. Ryan said there wasn't enough time left to tackle immigration this year.

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My Reactions:
To me, this seems like bipartisan action towards an important issue. We all know that our politicians don't get along all that well, but immigration reform is a subject in which both parties have an interest. It is clear that the two sides don't share the opinion of how reform should be passed; democrats prefer a large sweeping bill, while republicans want to consider each piece of immigration legislation separately. Both approaches have positive qualities: one large bill would have ensured that the reform does in fact pass before this year while several bills will ensure that it is more thoroughly considered. I agree that it would be detrimental to take just one piece of the bill and leave the tough stuff behind. It seems to be a problem that our representatives are averse to getting down and dirty with those tough problems (government shutdown, anybody?). As long as Obama is confident that Congress can still pass the legislation by the end of the year, this is positive news. 

News in Immigration policies on capitol hill

Speak Out: Take It To The House « Connecting Our World

Speak Out: Take It To The House « Connecting Our World

The US is a country built on immigration. It's so important that immigrants have a reasonable way to become citizens.

Studying Abroad Can Be an Expensive Waste of Time - Room for Debate

I got a little inflamed by this “study abroad waste of time” business. So inflamed I wrote a long response to this article… and sent that response to the NYT…
Here it is:

While I agree with some of the opinions stated by Chin, I think the association of his opinions to study abroad is misguided and I have apportioned my responses to counter his main arguments with my own.

“Study abroad is not essential to a good education or to helping one better understand the changing world we live in.” I agree that study abroad is not essential to a good education however I disagree that that it is not essential to helping understand the changing world. Yes one may study the history of foreign countries, observe their cultures by film, and learn the current events of the world, but one cannot fully understand a culture or a place by studying it remotely. Nothing compares to the amount you learn about a foreign country and yourself when you study there. Later Chin says that “education is about instilling knowledge, increasing opportunities, and opening the eyes of young people.” Study abroad accomplishes these goals and while an education in the United States can accomplish them as well, study abroad makes these goals, and the entire world, so much more accessible to students.

“It can also be a waste of time, or simply a good time, for an unfocused - and privileged - high school or university student” and later he adds: “even the best programs will do little for an unmotivated student”
This is also true however it is also accurate that even the best high school and collegiate programs in the United States will do little for an unmotivated student, so this is an inconsequential argument against study abroad. By that same argument, an unmotivated and unfocused student shouldn’t bother applying to college either. Perhaps a study abroad program could cause an “unmotivated” student to have more excitement for knowledge and life experience, because it is education presented in an exciting new way from that to which he or she is accustomed.

“We should focus on improving the US education system for all instead of widening a gap between those with the means to study abroad and those without”
Of course we should focus on improving the US education system, and making good education more accessible for all. As things stand now, if you have the means to be enrolled in college, you have the means to be enrolled in a study abroad program. I know many students for whom, study abroad was equal or even less than the cost of university tuition. Furthermore, there are countless scholarships and financial aid options and the type of “focused,” “motivated” student that Chin exalts, and the vast majority of students will be able to find a solution.

“the value of the experience comes down to motivation, attitude, and a given program’s quality”
Personally, during my time studying abroad I gained priceless and incomparable life experience, that I do not believe I could ever have gained in smalltown Massachusetts, or at my home university. This is not to undermine my university and the value it has in my life in any way, but comparing my education in the US to my education in France is truly comparing apples to oranges. I went abroad with Academic Programs International, and I believe whole-heartedly in the excellent quality of the program that made study abroad an indescribably significant time in my life that was so unique it could never be recreated in the United States. Therefore, I concede this point to Chin; however as I stated before, the case is no different for the academic experience in the United States.

“A business school student once asked me, “Which language should I study?” My answer: English.[…] I would rather that American students, including those with English as their first and only language, mastered English, including how to write a resume and a business letter and give a presentation”
Of course, it is imperative that students, especially university students, master the english language and perfect these skills, but again, a motivated student can master these skills as well as learn a different language. Why should a student be so limited as to only consider one language? A student benefits the most from having many skills, not merely one. Multilingualism is perhaps not necessary for success, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. That isn’t to say necessarily that learning a language will put you on the fast track to a six figure salary, but it does lead to a richer intelligence and understanding of the world. This statement suggests that learning a second language would be a waste of time, but if we, as a nation want our students to benefit the most from their education, a second language is an extremely valuable way to do that.

My core values of education align quite a bit with Chin’s, however while he believes that study abroad is irrelevant to these values, I earnestly disagree because I myself benefited immensely from Study Abroad and I believe that all other students will also benefit in some way.