It's Not Easy Being a White American Male in the 21st Century

It's a little strange here, being one of the only Americans. I actually met a few people who had never met an American. I'm used to it being a big thing to other people that I'm from the US, for good or bad in their eyes, but now I'm just another foreigner.

Though I do get more respect in the business school (where I'm the only American masters student) than other internationals. And teachers like me because they can ask me questions in class about US business stuff. Everyone has this idea that Americans are naturally better business people than other nationalities, and American practices on a personal and firm level are held up as the golden standard. This means that I'm in high demand for the group projects (they're all group projects) because I have a huge advantage in giving presentations and writing reports. It's hard being a white American male in the 21st century.

It's hard to make Belgians understand that W was right.
It's pronounced A-Mur-Ka

Regardless, living abroad, you certainly become either more of a patriot or much less connected with your home country. For me, the inner George Washington is rearing its fearsome, wigged head. Or, in my case, the inner Ben Franklin is raising its beer soaked, opportunistic head.

It certainly is easier being American abroad than it was 5 years ago, the first time I was here. Part of that was probably that most have forgotten that we're in Iraq and the other is that I'm the only American and so neither threatening nor obnoxious. Or maybe they're just tired of the Russians. That's probably it.
People complain about obnoxious and arrogant Americans, but I promise you, we have nothing on the damn Russians. It always starts when the professor - even in classes 0f 150+ people - ask where everyone is from. Immediately, the Russians, who are normally seated together yell, "RUSSIA!" in unison, at which point everyone who knows me looks at me until I stand up and say"US".

Last Tuesday in our Political Economics course

It's like they're waiting for a fight to break out. Of course, make a bad Russian joke at the wrong time and you may have to fight someone. They are completely convinced that Russians are God's perfect people, and don't let you forget it. It's really amazing how easy it is to forget the last 100 yrs of Russian history...and to gloss over Putin.

That's me on the right.

That being said, the best part about living in an international community is that I can stereotype so many more groups than ever before. Three weeks ago, I could never have laid out gross misrepresentations of Poles, lithuanians, Ugandans, Urdu or pacific islander.

At breakfast I got to see one of the Indian priests show a Nigerian how to use soap to wash dishes. One of the better things since I've moved in.