One of the characteristics of American culture that is most renown around the world is that Americans are extremely friendly among strangers. Some find that to be superficial and thus negative because no one actually cares how you are but I believe it makes every day interactions a lot more delightful than in less superficial cultures. Furthermore, foreigners have a hard time adapting to those day to day exchanges and respond within the culturally established framework of phrases. I notice this all over campus and State College when I see international students interact with Americans, whether they are fellow students, faculty, staff or employees downtown.
There seems to be a relationship between general English speaking skills and the ability to interact with American strangers. The more limited the English speaking skills appear the less capable the students are to respond to superficial American kindness. There are international students who barely nod and grunt when they are asked how they are or just plainly need to respond with a thank you. Another common misunderstanding for those students with slightly better conversational skills: actually attempting to explain to a cashier at the giant who much life sucks right now...
It comes down to international students being perceived as rude because they are unable to go along with the rites of American daily interactions. But that's not actually the case, we just don't know any better. How to change that? Make us aware. It took me a while to resist the urge to lengthily explain how life was these days when my counterpart had already moved on to talk to someone else. Also, a good orientation can make an international students life a lot easier and create a more favorable disposition among American students towards those less fluent in the English language because they at least know the basics of daily interactions.
I've never thought of international students as less interested in people. For instance, most of the Chinese students I've talked to are really eager to make conversation and make friends.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friends came to the US last year his junior year from Brazil. He knew how to speak English well and had an accent. But with certain things I'd say, he would ignore me or just barely respond and in the beginning I didn't get what was going on. But until we became better friends, he'd have to ask me to explain certain things or slang if he didn't understand something. After this experience of having a foreign friend, you can't just assume they are being rude on purpose but it's because of the barrier.
ReplyDeleteWow, I always thought that international students were just rude. It makes sense that they don't respond, because of their culture, but it is still really annoying when you hold a door for one of them and they don't say thank you or even give a head nod.
ReplyDelete