wes@ukecc.UUCP (11/21/86)
Mark has made some statements based on his experiences as both a soldier
stationed in Asia and as the husband of a Japanese-American. I intend no
insult to his wife; I dated a Korean lady for a while myself. However, my
experiences in the military were quite different.
Most soldiers in Asia tend to be 'Asia-phobic' due to the simple fact
that most of Asia is still 'American-phobic'. Soldiers stationed in Germany,
for example, have no such problem; they readily take part in the local
economy. This is due to several things. The German society does not
class Americans as some outside group; there are no parallels to the
Japanese 'gaijin' attitude. Secondly, the German language is much less
of a barrier to Americans than Japanese. Thirdly, the Germans, while
treasuring their privacy, do not adhere to a strict class culture. (I
have not been in Asia, so I cannot comment on the class structure there.)
I will grant the point that many Germans, especially those living around
US military bases, are fluent in English. This 'slice of home' is defi-
nitely a contributing factor to American involvement in the local culture.
One could expect an American in Japan to have much the same reaction/
culture shock as a Japanese in America. Again, we have come full circle
to one of the major factors in any culture; language. This culture shock
is best dealt with in what manner? It is dealt with through expanded
knowledge of the new culture. What, then, is the first priority in learn-
ing about a culture? It's simple: Learn the language!!!
Many people on the net have told of their difficulties in other countries.
They all seem to have resolved whatever problems they may have had with
one major gesture: LEARNING THE LANGUAGE!!!!
Can we expect any sort of coherent society in the future if we do not
presume our new Americans to do the same??
I've received several reponses via e-mail; all have been answered.
Keep those flames and kudos coming!!!!
--
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Wes Morgan UUCP: !cbosgd!ukma!ukecc!wes
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" Disclaimer? Huh? You mean this was supposed to be *MY* opinion?"
edwards@uwmacc.UUCP (11/22/86)
In article <816@ukecc.UUCP> wes@ukecc.UUCP (Wes Morgan) writes: > > Mark has made some statements based on his experiences as both a soldier >stationed in Asia and as the husband of a Japanese-American. I guess I was not clear, I was stationed on an Air Force base, but I was a sailor and worked as a computer repairman of a large but unpowerful computer system (antiquated but still in use today). As you can see my reaction is based upon being called a soldier when technically in the broad sense the term probably includes sailor. > However, my experiences in the military were quite different. > Most soldiers in Asia tend to be 'Asia-phobic' due to the simple fact >that most of Asia is still 'American-phobic'. Well that is true to some extent. However the main reason is that the Americans (except for the Asian Americans) were limited by the culture and the lack of ability to read signs. At least in Europe the signs do have familiar characters. To a person who can not read even the signs, travel is certainly limited. That is why I mentioned that my case was probably the extreme. >Soldiers stationed in Germany, >for example, have no such problem; they readily take part in the local >economy. This is due to several things. The German society does not >class Americans as some outside group; there are no parallels to the >Japanese 'gaijin' attitude. ( gaijin means foreigner to the japanese, and supposedly it conveys no more information then when we say oriental. Though I think that there is an unconcious negative connotation to it. Certainly to the Americans (or at least me) when I know a person is Japanese I usually use japanese rather than foreigner. ) >Secondly, the German language is much less >of a barrier to Americans than Japanese. Thirdly, the Germans, while >treasuring their privacy, do not adhere to a strict class culture. (I >have not been in Asia, so I cannot comment on the class structure there.) I seem to have seen on 60 minutes of some of the problems that the Americans faced in Germany. I also think that there are many more Americans stationed in Germany then in all of Japan. I am not disbelieving you, but only suggest that since there were more Americans there it seems that a greater percentage of Americans were travelling about. Also it is true that more Americans can identify with being "German" or "European". There has been a direct influence of german on the English language. I think the point of bilingualism really has nothing to do with any of the European languages, except for Spanish at the present moment. Most of the immigrants to this country are not of European descent. That is the problem. When I think of a typical American he ( or she) is of European descent. > One could expect an American in Japan to have much the same reaction/ >culture shock as a Japanese in America. Yes they will have culture shock, but it isn't because they can't speak or read english, although they will not be fluent. It is the difference of culture. The difference of being able to walk around in Tokyo with a fat wallet and getting it ripped off the minute one steps off the plane in America. It is the difference of going into a restaurant, that for one does not have wax models of what they are serving and also not being able to find a restaurant that does serve sushi. >... about a culture? It's simple: Learn the language!!! >Can we expect any sort of coherent society in the future if we do not >presume our new Americans to do the same?? > Yes you have to LEARN the language, but you also have to LEARN the culture. We all can remember President Carter, "Lusting after something or other in Polish", because of the translator. The translator knew the langauge, but had not learned the thing that only someone who also knew cultural nuances knew. Learning the culture does not mean replacing that of your own, the two can exist side by side. For instance while I was in Japan, I did not become fully ingulfed with the Japanese culture. When they were having sushi, I had something else, but I tried some of the sushi. I think that fact impressed them more that just plain eating the sushi. In final, I would like to say that I do not disagree with you, but I am trying to clarify some of things you have said. mark -- edwards@unix.macc.wisc.edu {allegra, ihnp4, seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!edwards UW-Madison, 1210 West Dayton St., Madison WI 53706