Why Americans Seem So Uncultured To The Rest Of The World

When I first moved to France, I was surprised to hear “Oh, I forgot, you’re American!” anytime I was lost and would ask a question about something. Before moving to France, I didn’t realize just how stupid Americans are seen as. At first, I was annoyed by this. Then, I realized that we are seen that way for a reason sometimes! Here are a few funny and silly reasons why we might have this stereotype.

Our table manners.

Okay, hear me out. I didn’t think I had bad table manners either! Then I moved to France. They are all wizards with their knives and forks there. Even the most simple meals are eaten with a knife and fork. Yes, even pizza! I felt like I was living in the middle of an episode of Downton Abbey… but I was not a part of the aristocratic family. After living through a few of these embarrassing moments, I practiced my knife skills and watched a few Youtube videos on how to be fancy like the French. When I came back to the U.S to visit family and friends, I realized it wasn’t just me! At dinner time, my family asked me how I learned to eat “like a European!”. I thought it was too funny and was also comforted to know it wasn’t just me that noticed the difference.

Our Cooking Skills

When I first moved to Paris, I was so shocked and amazed to see just how into food the French are! Even when going to my then-boyfriend’s apartment, there was amazing food being served for dinner. If it wasn’t my boyfriend cooking, it was his roommates. And they were college-aged guys! I was impressed, to say the least. Coming from the US, where most guys barely know how to boil pasta, I was amazed to see French guys cooking, setting the table, and appreciating good food. Then when eating the food, when in France, you can also expect to be talking about other types of food you love. The French love good quality food and have inspired me so much. I love snacks and convenient food just as much as the next girl, but there is something about eating a nice home-cooked meal that I had been missing for so long. I don’t consider myself to be the best cook, but I definitely now have the desire to learn to be one!

Our Geographical Knowledge

Coming back to the US to visit friends and family, I was sometimes surprised at the responses I got. I remember one day I was telling a few friends how different Paris was from any other city I had seen, and a guy in the group said, “Oh yeah, I heard you were studying in Italy! That’s so cool!” He was very kind, but I wondered how he thought that Paris was in Italy. Americans are so optimistic, enthusiastic, and welcoming. One thing I can’t say, however, is that we have the best geographical knowledge. That one, we might have to work on just a bit!

I am American. Coming to France, there were times where I have to admit that I tried hiding this fact because of the fear of the reactions I would get, most likely due to stereotypes. Now, I own it and choose to laugh about it. Even though some of the stereotypes can be true, it doesn’t mean they have to be true for me, or any other American, for that matter. We decide who we want to be! In noticing all of these cultural influences, I decided to educate myself a bit! The things I mentioned are all silly things, but exposing ourselves to other countries and cultures can help us realize new things about our own country and who we want to be.