Stereotyping is understandable... READ THIS!!

Everyone stereotypes. Even people who get stereotyped manage to stereotype others. Here are a few stereotypes and the reasoning behind them.

Stereotype: Germans are punctual, impersonal, and drunks. Reasoning: Germans typically are punctual and take great pride in doing so. Along with being punctual they have more of a need to keep their homes organized and institutional than I have seen in other cultures. They are typically thought to be impersonal and cold because they don't speak unless spoken to. Once you get to know a German they'll talk your ears off about anything from politics to pop-culture. And as for the drunk part, well they drink ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. I mean, I haven't seen too many drunk Germans, but I guess when you start at 9:00 am and pace yourself all day it's more difficult to get drunk than if you were playing power hour. They love their beer as well as their wine, but on the whole I wouldn't say they are drunks unless Germany is playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Stereotype: The Japanese swarm wherever they go, are WAY too polite, and are easy targets for pickpocketing. Reasoning: All you need to justify this is a trip on the Rhein boat tour and a little stroll through Brussels main square. As the boat approached the dock, I jokingly told Masanori his entire country was floating in our direction. Once on board, I realized this joke had some major truth to it. This massive boat was probably 90% Japanese tourists toting all three of their necessary electronic devices (camera, video camera, and back-up camera in case the first ten gigabytes on the other camera get used up from the millions of pictures they snap per second) around their necks and wearing plenty of "funky fresh gear," (souvenir clothing) they picked up on their tours through other countries. The polite part isn't a bad thing. It's actually very nice because at least if you cannot understand them they smile and shake your hand. Lastly, I'm sure the rest of the world loves when the swarming Japanese come to town. As said before, they never look at what is going on around them because they incessantly snap photos of everything in sight. Pick-pockets have stolen the loot out of those Japanese trousers before the kids posing in front of Manneken Pis even have time to smile and say KAWASAKI!!! Poor Japanese.

Stereotype: Amsterdamians are stoned, non-productive, sex-craving perverts. Reasoning: Amsterdamians ARE stoned, non-productive, sex-craving perverts!!!!!

Stereotype: Americans are loud, obnoxious, fat, and extremely arrogant. Reasoning: Our conversations increase in loudness until the person who feels he/she has more important things to say ends up yelling over everyone else to gain control of what is being said. We walk through parks full of couples having romantic picnics obliviously hollering whatever nonsense comes to our minds. Do we notice the stares, rolling eyes, and people moving their recreation elsewhere? Of course not. We sit down sweating and out of breath after walking anything more than ten minutes at a time and cannot help but ask when we are having lunch. When in museums containing antique furniture and beautiful artifacts, we make fun of the penis on the Greek sculpture, lean against thousand year old headstones, and sit down on benches that once belonged to royalty. WHO ARE WE? Lastly, after committing all these atrocities, we have the audacity to ask why no one speaks English and point out every five minutes that one thing or the other isn't like it is in the United States.

FINAL WORDS: I can only speak for Americans because that is what I am, but sometimes I am ashamed of the things we do and say. The point of study abroad and traveling at all is to put yourself in situations in which you are not familiar, to meet the locals, and to learn as much as possible about culture, food, and people. If you want to find American products in stores and you want to act like an obnoxiously loud and uncultured American, there is a time and place for that. The time is August 5th, 2006 and the place is the United States. I don't intend to "hate," on my country or my peers, but simply to point out that stereotypes become stereotypes not because everyone does it, but because a small number of people do enough damage to create misconceptions in the minds of other cultures. Do you want to be part of that small group of people? If not, then become aware of your surroundings, learn from those around you, and embrace the time you have here. FOCKER OUT!! =)