Reading "Figuring Foreigners Out" was very interesting because I could personally relate to a lot of it. Having grown up in the United States in a typical Indian household, one could say that I have had the best of both worlds. I would go to school and be American and then I would come home and be Indian. However, that is not to say that there were never times when certain behaviors and manners would overlap. I feel like I was good at keeping both my worlds balanced but reflecting on my own behaviors it is true what the article is saying about different cultures. The American society is an individualist society. Always worried about themselves and pursuing their interests and goals. Not knowing exactly how to explain it, but having grown up within the American culture, it is obvious to me that the American people, including myself, are very self-sufficient and independent. Whereas within the Indian culture, it a very collectivist society. The people in your family will always be there no matter what and you can always depend on them. In fact when you don't ask them for help, they will force themselves upon you. As an Indian you also have certain responsibilities towards the members in your family. There is a close tie between you all and it is a tie you must respect.Who you are as an Indian, is directly reflective of your parents within the Indian society, not of you. The interrelations amongst Indians are very deep and very complex, interrelations nonexistent amongst Americans.
Another interesting point made in the article that I could relate to was that of monochronic versus polychronic. Having studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 6 months, I was able to full embrace the latino culture, not to mention that I was born in Santiago, Chile, and have been well attuned to the latino culture all my life. While studying abroad in Argentina, however, one thing struck me as extremely different, more different than any other observation I made while living there, and that was the Argentinians' sense of time. Having grown up and spent most of my life in the United States, I am accustomed to the fast paced lifestyle of Americans. Americans are always thinking about what's next, they never pause to appreciate the moment they are in. In comparison the Argentinians never think about what's next. They are extremely calm and relaxed. They spend 3-4 hours at dinner, for example. They also don't worry about being late to meetings or classes, whereas in America it is a big no no to be late. Their motto is to enjoy life and to figure it out as they go. Having grown up in America, this drove me crazy because it was hard for me to just stop and relax and enjoy the moment. I realized that I would stress myself out for absolutely no reason. Having come back to the states now, I am trying to combine both lifestyles within my own.
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