In my travels, I have come to notice that each country I have visited has two cultures- the country's own culture and the American culture that has permeated their society. From Bulgaria to Costa Rica I have been bombarded with McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC, Starbucks....the list goes on and on. And the places are always
busy. There is almost always a long line at the Burger King in Plaza Compana when I pass by. In all honesty I try to stay away from those places. I have only been to Burger King once and Starbucks once, and I don't plan on going again. I prefer to stick with local food and drink. When I am back home, I can have a McDonald's cheeseburger anytime I want, but I
won't be able to eat delicious
jamón ibérico from Sevillian pigs. And while a caramel frapuccino might sound tempting, to me there is nothing better than the
cafe con leche Jorge makes me every morning at the school bar. And it only sets me back 75 cents!
Another is holidays. Halloween isn't a Spanish holiday, but every year it is celebrated by more and more people. And Christmas! Santa Claus is an American character, not a Spanish one. In Spain, gifts are given by the Three Kings on January 6th. But you
still see Santa Claus figures around! And Christmas trees aren't done in Spain. Instead, people do
belenes (Nativity Scenes). But there are more and more people every year who put a Christmas tree in their house.
Of course, American movies and television are popular as well here. Lost, Desperate Housewives, the Simpsons, Family Guy, House....they are all well-known here. But in Spain all foreign shows and movies are dubbed, which i HATE.
I cannot stand it when the words don't match the movements of their mouth. I also don't like that
Friends' Rachel's voice isn't, in fact, Jennifer Aniston. Thus, I rarely watch Spanish television.
From my conversations with various Europeans, I have gathered that the saturation of American culture is in ways a blessing, but also a curse. On one hand, many people appreciate the high quality of entertainment that comes from the US and the fact that it is readily available to them. On the other hand, the global prominence of American culture has in some ways diluted the original culture. It's something interesting to think about......
I myself am always shocked by it. I don't come to other countries to eat and shop at places that I could at home. I am in a different country to learn about
that country, and try local things. If I delved myself in all things American while in Spain, then why would I be here? Why wouldn't I just go home?
But maybe part of this American permeation of culture is due to the increasing number of North American expatriates working and living abroad. In Seville, in any given moment, there are 10,000 Americans in the city. Working, studying, traveling. That's
a lot. And it's very apparent too. I have recently seen tons of Americans in town. I can instantly spot one of my own countrymen. These are the dead giveaway signs:
1. North Face jacket
2. Not wearing a jacket at all in February, in fact you are wearing a tank top and sandals at night.
3. Talking really loud and saying "like, like, like" all the time.
4. Sweatshirt and sweatpants combo.
5. Baseball caps. Especially backwards.
6. Anyone who is in an outdoor cafe and puts their feet up on another chair.
7. Apologizing for brushing up against someone; smiling at passerby.
There's more I think but these are the principal ones I can think of.
In all honesty though, I don't have much contact with Americans. Diana, my American co worker, is actually the only American that I interact with. This is intential though. I am here to gain a better understanding of foreign language and culture, so I prefer to hang out with locals and other foreigners. On any given day, i communicate with people from France, Brazil, Germany, England, Israel, Spain, Holland, Morocco and Lebanon. And I love it. Learning about other cultures really is fascinating.
That being said, living in a foreign country for an extended amount of time has made me appreciate my homeland even more. There are things that I sorely miss: my family and friends (Tina!), big open spaces, the smell of my house, the smell of fresh cut grass, Oscar (my former dog), free refills on soda, stores that actually have shoes in my size, DRIVING, chicken wings, 24 hour stores, really spicy food, Oasis Hummus, anything my Mom or sister cook/bake, taking baths, a COMFORTABLE bed!
So a final note on Americanism.....its everywhere. But my advice when traveling in foreign cultures is to step out of that American shadow and try local foods, stores and activities. Try to communicate with locals and not limit yourself to what seems familiar to you. By delving into the culture and "going local", you will be supporting local businesses and get a real taste of the host culture.....
