Tell Me What You Really Think...

Today after our school visits we had the opportunity to return to Zuyd University in Maastricht and meet with more students from their teacher preparation program.  We had a lecture and discussion with them about international views of Americans and the differences we have all observed between Dutch and American culture.  The conversations we had have really stuck with me and I would like to explore a couple of the ideas even further.  The implications of traveling as an American, as well as our place in the world, is an important underlying issue during any study abroad.  In a way, we are constantly acting as ambassadors and representatives.  In a way, this is really exciting.  We get to interact with so many people and show them how everyday Americans look, act, and think.  While broadening our own horizons, we get to meet people who have sometimes never met an American.  On the reverse side of this, this is also very scary.  Anything we do poorly can only enforce stereotypes or negative opinions.  We have spent very little time actually talking about how the things we are seeing and experiencing relate to our lives as Americans, can potentially influence our teaching, and drawing conclusions about our lives on a larger scale.  I think that the meeting today really helped a lot of us see the purpose and intention of a program like the one we are on.

My inquiry question for this assignment has been a lingering issue since I arrived but has finally materialized after the lesson today.  How do others in the world view me as an American?  What do we do to enforce or change that while we travel?  And finally, how can I use any of that information as an educator? 

While talking to the Zuyd students today, we talked about many interesting observations about Americans.  Some of them were funny: We all like McDonald's, Everyone in the US has been to New York City, We drive everywhere.   One thing that several of them brought up, was the fact that Americans always seem to have an immense amount of pride and patriotism.  I think it is easy to initially be uncomfortable with this statement.  To me, intense patriotism is tied to flag-waving rednecks who think that the American way is the only way.  I think that I saw this reaction from several of my classmates who were quick to qualify that they did not consider themselves very patriotic. However, the more I think about it, I am extremely proud to be an American.  I know that I am lucky to have grown up the way I did and (as a history and politics nerd) think that the way our country came to be is fascinating.  We have a background like no other country in the whole world and  have accomplished things more successfully and at a faster pace than others.  That all being said, I am well aware that this pride can quickly turn to arrogance to the international audience.

I found some really interesting statistics from World Public Opinion and Pew Global Resources about the international view towards Americans and the U.S.  Both sites shows varied responses to the same question over the years.  At times of high military involvement or controversial international policy by the US, our reputation sinks.  However, European countries tended to have a fairly favorable opinion of us across the board, and it has been increasing since 2001.  

As a social studies teachers, I think that it is both my privilege and obligation to incorporate international themes in my teaching.  I think that exposing my students to as many different views and opinions as I can will help them make decisions and form their own thoughts.  European students are in a unique situation in that it is not as difficult for them to be exposed to many different people and cultures.  At the risk of making a large generalization, European students seem to be more aware of the diverse population that surrounds them.  In the US, it will not be uncommon for the majority of my students to have never left the country.  My hope is to help them understand how many different kinds of people there are throughout the world, and to take advantage of the kinds of diversity that already surround them.