i am so american

generally i think of myself as being open to new cultures and ideas...but i have these moments where it is so clear to me that i'm an american, an independent, empowered, probelm-solving, don't tell me what to do american.

recently one of my friends was explaining Canada to me. i didn't realize that it was a part of the British commonwealth, and that when Canada passes a law it still has to be approved by Great Britian. when i heard this my first thought was, "and everybody is okay with that?!?! no one is trying to un-do that?!?!" sometimes i'm so american.

the other day i was talking with a Bangladeshi man. he was surprised that "my father let me come over here alone." this comment took me by surprise. i mean, i respect my parents' and their opinion - but it wasn't exactly like i needed their permission to be here. i wanted their blessing of course, but the conversation did not go, "Dad, would you please let me move to South Asia?" yes i'm a woman. yes i'm unmarried...but in the context of american culture i am able to live independant of a man. sometimes i'm so american.

last night i had dinner at a friends' house. when her brother-in-law (who she lives with) came into the room he went around and shook hands and introduced himself to all the men...none of the women. i kinda wanted to yell, "hey, i'm a person too!" sometimes i'm so american.

then today in class were learning about family relationships and what to call all the different relatives, and then we read a paragraph about a brother getting married. it talked about how the relatives looked very hard for a good wife, and how the wife's father gave a dowry (which is illegal in b-desh now as far as i understand, the book is a bit old), and how everyday the wife cooks and cleans and takes care of the family, and how they are all so happy because they got such a good wife (of course they love having her around...she works all the time!). our teacher also explained to us some of the other traditions about how a family picks a wife for their son. by the end of the conversation i was all worked up. our teacher asked if we had any problems (he always asks this to make sure we've understood the lesson) and while i understood the lesson perfectly i did have a problem, but decided not to mention it. i am so american.

i know that sometimes the general perspective that we have in america (Independence, problem solving, making things better, stating our desires) can be negative...but it is also a gift to be wisely stewarded.