The “efficient” American
I should think it goes without saying, but anytime I vent about the frustrations of cultural differences, I am fully aware that the need to adjust falls on my shoulders. I remark about how “strange” or “different” things are here, but I don’t mean that in a negative light – I mean it for what it is. Different. Different than me.
I’ve heard it said many times, and it’s true – you never feel more American than when you’re not in America. The flip side is true, too – I feel so-not-American when I’m stateside. That’s because when you live as an expat… sometimes it’s hard to tell what end is up. You don’t really feel at home anywhere. The entire world is your home, and yet – home is nowhere. It’s also been said that the most comfortable place in the world for an expat is in an airplane mid-air.
It still completely boggles my mind that multi-tasking is just not a priority here. That’s not a good thing or a bad thing – it just is. We Americans, whether we are aware, highly value efficiency. The more productive we are, the better. The best kind of day is one where we cross off a long to-do list.
I pondered over this a few days ago on the bus, sitting directly behind the bus driver. It was crowded, and there was a long line of people waiting to get on at a stop. The girl at the front of the line got on, and then proceeded to fish around in her purse for her bus pass. It wasn’t ready in her hand so that she could quickly board and make room for others. She stood there at the front of the bus and explored her purse’s contents, and nobody minded. The bus driver just sat there watching her, the people behind her stood patiently, and my fellow passengers continued chatting or sitting silently. It was no big deal.
After being here nearly two years, I’m accustomed to a few of the cultural differences – heck, I even prefer a number of them. But sometimes, I still can’t get over how ingrained the American culture is in my psyche. We’d be silently wondering why she didn’t take out her pass when she saw the bus coming.
I already know what of my stressors in the U.S. will be the clock. Because we are so keen on productivity, being on time is a high value. You’re rude when you’re late. Here, when you’re late – eh. It happens. Not the biggest deal ever. Where’s the fire.
I apologize in advance if I am late when I meet up with you. It’s not personal at all. I just need to remember to look at the clock again.
posted: 08 September 16
under: culture
oh, i so totally get this. home is nowhere – i always have reverse culture shock when i go back to the states. i live in a 3rd world country, so for me one of the big ones is the excess and waste in the states – especially because when i go “home” its to california (never have lived there, but that’s where my parents and sister are now).
and the time thing is similar here – the culture is much more people oriented than task oriented.
Havng never lived outside of the States, much less in any environment that is not high on efficiency, I read this and can almost taste the slow pace on my lips. While I would probably also feel impatient and frustrated at these things, the idea sounds nice. I spend 10-12 hours a day in a very fast-paced mode that never stops – working thru lunches, crackberry in hand at all times, always resolving 15 issues at a time… it is all simultaneously tiring, old, addictive and disturbing. I look forward to a day when I, along with my surrounding peers are okay with taking our sweet time with the smallest of tasks.
Interesting book about this by Vince Poscente called “The Age Of Speed”. It focuses on how to thrive in the fast-paced world, but distinguishes 4 working characteristics: Jet, Bottle Rocket, Zeppelin & Balloon. The latter sounds nice.