Periodically, I'm asked about the places I've traveled and the people I've met. The questions vary, but for the most part I think people are genuinely interested in how other folks interact, what their perceptions are of people in different regions, countries, etc. So, I'll offer up this generality about human interaction: people are good. As cynical I often am, this statement may take many by surprise, but I have a strong belief in the human condition and what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.
That's not to say there aren't some turds out there--there's floaters and sinkers everywhere we look-- human beings have a strange ability to surprise me on a regular basis, but I will say that I've met folks from all over the world and I honestly think there is desire to help those less fortunate and just be good to one another (I'm attempting to not sound too Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey here, for those old enough to remember that flick).
We differ significantly on how people should help one another, but manners are rather synonymous amongst us. How we apply those manners them is where we go off the reservations, so to speak.
Americans: we are brash and arrogant in the eyes of the world, but I tend to think of us as aggressively patriotic and advancement oriented. At our core we are wonderfully generous people, but we do expect others to believe what we believe without attempting to see things through others eyes. More interestingly is how we despise each other (Americans) by region, by latitude, by metropolitan area, by hills, mountains and oceans. But mess with one of us and you get all of us--and that's what makes us a little different from other countries.
Canadians are very similar to Americans with some differences. I think Canadians are very kind and polite people, but the eastern and western sides of the country generally don't like each other as a matter of course. The eastern side of the country shows allegiance to France, while the western side to England and self. I've visited both sides of the country and I laugh at how they don't care for one another. More interestingly, but expected, is the disdain for America in the east and general like of us in the west.
The middle east: it's an interesting discourse in human behavior. Obviously, religion drives much of what we see in the news, but for the most part I've found those of middle eastern descent to be polite and kind. Most middle easterners avoid political discussions with me, which probably is good for both parties. We (Americans) struggle to understand Islam and how it affects us, but everyone should understand that not all people from the middle east are the extremist terrorists that Americans have come to loath via the media and the attacks on our country. Before I get hate messages over this, I want to state emphatically that I hate those who attacked us on both 9/11's, and I'm happy we bombed some of those folks back to the prehistoric age, but I just don't think it's fair to lump all middle easterners into one hate-filled group.
The Indians (from India) that I've met are mostly very kind and polite. Conversations with Indians can be very interesting if you get them to open up about religion, politics and their country in general. They are stereotyped as people who come to America and buy hotels and liquor stores. There may be something to this, but don't turn your noses up to a group of people who embrace entrepreneurialism and are successful doing things others may find humorous and/or stereotypical!
So many of the Mexicans I've met are great and studious people. And so many I've met are extremely gracious and kind. I've seen suffering in their country and can understand their want to come to the U.S. for a better life. The one thing I've never heard a Mexican do is complain about his/her way of life. Ever.
Cubans, Venezuelans, Colombians, Peruvians, Puerto Ricans--so many from different Latin American countries are just beautiful, peaceful people. Many have lighthearted approaches to life and proclaim Spanish as "la languia de amor," or the language of love. I think they are right.
To quantify Asians as one group is to show a gross misunderstanding of the people from the many different countries encompassing "Asia." I have found many Chinese to be as arrogant and aristocratic as some Americans (to give some perspective), which is mostly driven via socio-economic classes. I wasn't a particular fan of Hong Kong just because it was so congested and some of the people I encountered were very rude. BUT--I also met some wonderful individuals while I was there who were genuinely interested in me and America (scary they thought of yours truly as America, huh?).
The Thai people are very happy, hard working and kind. But they are a very strong-willed people and have a collective drive like few I've ever encountered. The same can be said of the Laotian and Cambodians I've met. They will embrace whatever chore they are given and complete it with pride. I admire this trait.
The Japanese are incredibly polite and very business-like in their approach to everything they do. The live 'within' themselves as a means of privacy, but work together for the greater good. The Japanese refuge is the Japanese mind. Why, you may ask? Because their history drives them to be a collective good, displaying honor before anything else. Therefore, to show disloyalty or any lack of manners is to display a lack of honor for self and family. This code is embedded in the Japanese culture and I'm enamored by it. I still tell the story of urinating in Narita airport, standing at the urinal trough with a couple dozen men and seeing a little Japanese lady mopping the floor just behind us. Nudity and sexuality are not perceived in the same way as Americans perceive them, and those from other countries perceive them. I couldn't help but grin when I saw her just mopping away (I certainly didn't laugh outwardly, as that would have been disrespectful).
What more can I say about the Filipino culture that I haven't said before? The country is one I love top to bottom. As a whole, the Filipino people are the kindest and sweetest of any I've ever been around. Their mean people are kind by American standards! At every store I entered, I was greeted with a warm smile and a friendly "Hello, sir." Their poor are very happy and are the architects of doing more with less. I'm amazed at the ingenuity of people in the Philippines, and yet they remain kind and gracious even in the face of hunger. Incredible they are!
Cathy and I recently met a young lady from The Ukraine. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and listening to her talk about how girls in The Ukraine would never walk out in public without make up and their best clothes on; yet, she was amazed that women walk into Wal-Mart and girls go to school in The States in their pajamas. I had no idea how to respond to her observation.
A woman from Uganda sat next to me on a flight. I listened to her tell me about the beauty of her country and the lifestyle of her people. She was so kind and soft spoken and so happy to have the opportunity to be in the United States, not only to work and prosper, but to be able to help her people out back home. Her accent was mesmerizing; I'm sure mine confused her.
Another lady I met from South Africa asked that I e-mail her pictures from Alabama, which I did. I was so proud of my home state and the beauty it offered. She returned my e-mails with pictures of elephants, lions and gazelle. I felt like an idiot.
I have a great friend from Croatia. He is probably the kindest, gentlest soul I've met. He makes me laugh with his politeness and how nicely he talks about people he doesn't care for. He also gave a hawk, which had flown into the side of a building, a very touching funeral. When I questioned him about why he buried the bird and reacted the way he did (he was deeply saddened by the bird's death and actually cried a little), he pointed out to me that the hawk was our "national bird." I explained to him that the bald eagle was our national bird, but he told me the hawk was close enough. I smiled at how kind hearted he was. He's a beautiful soul.
A particularly good friend of mine from Poland acts like one of the toughest, meanest guys in the world. Have a flat tire or need help with anything and he's the first one to offer a hand. I love this guy like he was a family member. He has a way of making me laugh like few others!
I've met people from so many other countries--and have traveled to other areas of the globe--but I wanted to give those who haven't been as fortunate as I a taste of what some are like from other places. As I've said all along, folks are just folks; we just eat different foods.
Be excellent to one another.
