So, as one can tell from my blogs, I've been having a lovely time here in Prague. However, in the past two days, I have encountered two bumps that have made me think a little more deeply about this experience and what it means to be an American abroad.
Bump #1: Americans in Prague
So Prague is a huge destination for Americans who want to move away from the United States and work in Europe. Great, fine, awesome. However, these Americans are drawn, I think, to Prague because of the Bohemian lifestyle, the socially liberal mindset, and the difficulty of the language. In turn, they eschew anything American, especially Americans who do not speak the language or who plan to return to the states one day. I have one of these Americans in close proximity to my life, and it is quite an experience. This person enjoys commenting regularly on what's wrong with America, on American politics, and why this person would never return to live in the States. Likewise, this person revolts against all that America is and refuses any sense of American identity, and yet also feels justified in telling me why my vote was wrong in the election and why this individual voted in a certain manner. Which begs the question - can you eschew American identity, lifestyle, and ideology but still participate in the election process? And, if you consider yourself "Czech" as opposed to American, should you have the right to vote? I found myself troubled with these notions last night. I don't have an answer yet, but I can say that it did signify to me how lucky this person is to be American, to be supported to move thousands of miles away from one's family and to be able to shift identities in a world community by adopting language and style. I have been told time and time again by the Czech people how much they admire our independence and ability to move - most Czech people never move more than an hour away from their parents, let alone across the ocean. And they love that I have been able to live in many cities, with many experiences, and tell me often how lucky I am to have such a supportive family. I agree. :)
I have the feeling that this individual and I will bump heads many, many times over the course of the summer. I find it very interesting that the person refuses to give up American citizenship, but feels no sense of American identity. Perhaps it is just the best of both worlds - but to me, it is the best justification of what is right with America - the ability to make choices to influence who we are and what we want to become.
I have lots and lots and lots to say about this person and the conversations we have had thus far. But I'm going to leave it for now.
Bump #2: 9/11
Today, I had a very interesting conversation regarding September 11th, 2001 and the World Trade Center. My host believes that it is all a massive conspiracy put on by the American Government. Though I believe there were many mistakes made leading up to 9/11, and as much as I dislike President Bush's politics, having lived in NYC and having talked to people who experienced that day first-hand, I think that any inside bombing or wide-spread conspiracy by the American government is untrue. As the conversation continued, I could see this was a losing battle, but it made me sad that the American government would be deemed capable and culpable of such a tragic event and the loss of over 3,000 of our own citizens lives. I dropped the subject, since I could tell it wasn't going anywhere, but I felt sort of dirty afterwards, saddened by my memories of that day and that, in such a short amount of time, 9/11 is just another blemish on American society instead of a day of heartache and heroism.
I guess the basic premise to both these bumps is that being "patriotic" has become such an ugly term in America - associated with the very Conservative. Here, it is definitely "cool" to be un-American, to hate our government, to believe that anything is better than living in the States. But I really do have pride in the service I do for our country, and I have always wanted to work to improve America, which I think makes me patriotic by default.
I love to travel and believe we have so much to learn from other places, from new experiences, from the communities that are created through a passion for life. So I feel odd when I don't feel America is being represented fairly or that the government and its people are being judged on the basis of the current administration. However, rather than arguing or striking out, I hope that through conversations and friendship and my own experiences in service in the United States, people will come away with a more positive view of the country. Okay, this is starting to sounds melodramatic and sappy, but I think it's important. Who else is going to fix our foreign relations if not Americans living abroad?
Unlike Bump #1, I hope to increase understanding of Americans and the government, not eschew my nationality in hopes that people will forget I'm American. Enough for now - I hope everyone is having a happy Friday. I am going to finish work today and hopefully see that great American institution, "Indiana Jones." I just hope it's in English. :)
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2 comments:
sara, very nice pictures - you're raising the flat stanley bar pretty high. my flat is a little camera shy, but hopefully he'll be making his debut soon. take care.
jay
Reading this was very interesting Sara. And I want to say thank you for sharing personal stories with your reflections and feelings… it really makes me put myself into your shoes and think about it as deeply as you as are doing as well.
I think ‘Bump#1’ is something I encounter every time I meet an ‘Arab’ person in the United States. As much as I am sarcastic about Jordan and the rest of the Arab countries, I never forget that this is my home, and where I grew up and spent 21 years. Yet, I am critical about what might some of the governments might decide to do, and I feel that it is important to be as such to introduce a new perspective of opinions to the same topic I used to look at while back home.
Like yourself, I get really frustrated as well when I meet Jordanians who completely trash the whole country, and talk about it as if it never helped them at all in their lives (I meet these people usually when waiting to board on Royal Jordanian at airports) and yet, as soon as they board off the plane in Amman, they act exactly as those people they described to me earlier. Those people who are too vulgar and are uneducated and a drain to the society. So this irony of behavior is what frustrates me most… and reading your blog, I had no clue that some Americans abroad act the same way, and others, like yourself, felt the same way I felt. I was under the assumption that Americans never did that because I frankly find the States to be an amazing country. (Other than Waffle House) I think there are so many opportunities for people over here, and people give you credit for what you do. Have you seen the orientation movie at the Clinton Library? I’ve seen it couple of times, but one of the last sentences that Bill Clinton says is: “we should be proud of being American citizens, having so many opportunities, power and freedom”, and I just get Goosebumps whenever I hear that, and I feel standing up and telling people inside the room: “YES! He is right! You should be very proud!”
I think you are right about your solution to it… Unfortunately, it is a one-man(woman) show… You’re on your own trying to fix this conception, but I want to tell you that it does make a difference… so don’t feel put down at any point.
As for ‘Bump#2’… I completely understand how you feel about this. Every country has suffered from terrorism, and Jordan was one of them. I was planning to go to a movies theater on November 9, 2006 and I did not go because it was too cold outside. The same hotel/building I was planning to go, along with three others, were bombed simultaneously… The target was weddings. It was such a sad day for Jordan, and everyone was feeling bad for all those families who lost so many people on what is supposed to be a happy day. Yet, some Muslim Brotherhood Parliament Members in Jordan, and note that these are Parliament Members, said that those people who died deserved this because they probably were sinners, and did not obey God’s will. When the National Paper did an ‘online-poll’ more than 35% said that they supported the bombing!! Can you believe that?! It was so frustrating to hear that from our own people, Jordanians, who supported the killings of other Jordanian citizens. And it drove me just nuts! Also at another occasion, I was reading Elie Wiesel’s book ‘Night’ and I was just so moved by it, and some of my friends asked me if I really believed in the Holocaust and if I think it really happened. I mean, seriously? Are we asking this?
Again, I’m sorry that I am giving Jordanian versions of your bumps, but my point was to let you know that people from other nations feel the same way about their country’s issues. It is extremely frustrating, but it proves to you how lucky you are to be so knowledgeable and gives you time to reflect on your identity and what it really means to be an American… or a Jordanian.
Sorry if my comment was too long :)
I love you Sara! Keep the posts coming, I love reading them.
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