|
I don't think I will ever truly adapt. I am used to being direct and the first thing I noticed in the US is people will smile at you and hug you hello, and won't hesitate to stab you in the back at the first opportunity.
Sorry I don't mean to hurt feelings but that has been my experience.
I am also often told that directness, even when phrased politely, equals rudeness.
Interestingly in my world, indirectness is considered rude, so go figure.
This has caused me to become pretty much a loner, at least when I'm on US soil. I prefer communicating online because of that.
I paint a very grim picture but it's not all bad:
-Americans are very casual in their dress and demeanor, I like that a lot.
-In NY or LA, there's everything to be found or imagined... TWICE!
-Pharmacies are the coolest things: In France, a pharmacy is for medicine and personal care products, that's it. In the US, pharmacies have everything from batteries to gummybears. Amazing!!!
-If someone wants to buy it, someone else will sell it.
-With all their flaws, Americans can at times show truly exceptional team spirit. But they have to really, REALLY want to. Once they do, they are like glue and nothing can tear them apart. That is why England lost the colonies, the stiff upper lip was no match for the glue.
-Americans are about convenience, and at times, that is priceless.
On debating with Americans: It's not much different than debating with people from other nationalities, sometimes it's really cool, enriching and fun, then other times this big asshole with an attitude problem will get in my face and I deal with those accordingly.
The nationality has nothing to do with the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the discussion. Jerks come in every language and culture.
I could talk for hours about the differences, the pros and cons I've encountered over my years of living in the US.
But I don't think the server could handle my yakking away.
__________________
L'Enfer, c'est les autres.
|