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- The one aspect of U.S. culture that I think resonates the strongest is its individualism. Generally speaking, Americans are very individualistic, carrying values focused on the self. The American culture is fast paced and work oriented, the mindset of “putting yourself first in order to succeed” comes from these aspects of individualism. Since the U.S. is considered a “melting pot” I think it is hard to specify unique cultural traits that don’t stem from other cultures, so its individualism is one aspect of its culture that is easy to pinpoint and understand.
- My perspective on the individualistic culture of the U.S. is that it is more limiting than liberating to those who follow it. I believe this because the mindset of putting yourself first in order to succeed stops you from gaining helpful and important relationships with others throughout life. If a person is constantly focused on themselves and their fast-paced, work oriented lifestyle; their life will fly by, and with that comes the realization that they were not living it to the fullest. Something that I think will put into perspective my take on the individualistic culture of the U.S. is the following scenario: a person trying to climb up the corporate ladder into a high job position. In America, many people would think they have to fend for themselves in order to achieve this and that they cannot waste time making friends. But a person in another country that has a collectivistic culture would see the benefits of making those crucial connections with their coworkers, taking the time to get to know other people, and valuing their time at work could make all the difference in who is decided for the promotion in the end.
- I think someone outside of the U.S. culture, especially someone who comes from a collectivistic culture, would find these values and mindsets to be very isolating and unfriendly. I know this from experience because I am Hispanic, coming from a collectivistic culture, and have gone through what a culture shock it is to be in an individualist country. For people who put others before themselves, being put in an environment where quite the opposite is true, can be very shocking and confusing because you would not understand why people will not help or make niceties with you. I am not saying that all Americans are like this or that every person who values individualistic culture is selfish, but I am saying that people from other cultures will find it hard to adjust to this mindset if it is not a part of their own culture.
- This exercise helps me prepare for my time abroad because it makes me aware of other cultures and how people may experience/feel about cultural differences. By being mindful of any language or cultural barriers, I think a person will find themselves much less likely to be put in an uncomfortable position or at least be understanding if some difficulties were to occur.
