So up until this point, we have met very few Americans here in Thailand. We have met a couple backpackers and a guy from San Diego and that's about it. I guess Americans don't come here because it's too far or maybe I just haven't run into the ones that are here. When we refer to the United States, we have to say America because Thai people don't know it as the United States but instead as America. Weird but we've gotten into the habit. Anyways, I know that some countries don't like the United States for various reasons but I am totally shocked how many people actually hate our country and Americans in general. I've had a couple people say "Ugh, America", the Philippino teachers at my school just said "Ohhhhh" and turned away when I first said where I was from, some people ask me twice just to make sure I actually said America and I had one person say "I feel bad for you, America's the worst" WHATTTT Don't get me wrong, there are people that are like "America's awesome" "New York City is so cool" "My dream is to go to Vegas" and things like that but after going abroad to Australia where they love Americans, I guess I had no idea how much we aren't liked in general around the world.
I have a friend Amy from South Africa that I teach with and the other day I asked her to tell me truthfully what people in South Africa think of Americans and that I wouldn't be offended. She said that the general perception of Americans from South Africans is that we are stuck up, selfish and don't care about anywhere else in the world because we are so caught up with our own country. She said it nicely but also said she has no desire to ever come to America and her dad who was visiting said he used to think the same thing until he came to America and then his opinions totally switched after spending time there. So at least people's minds can be changed.
It's not that big of a deal but it's weird to not know if people are going to automatically have bad first impressions of me when I say where I'm from or if they are going to have good ones. Some old guy came up to me at the gym today and asked where I was from and I said America and he was like "Oh I really don't like America, they say it's a free country but it's actually the most unfree country in the whole world." REALLY?? ARE YOU FORGETTING THAT CHINA EXISTS?? After talking to him, I learned that he is from Germany and has lived in Thailand for fourteen years and played professional backgammon for thirty years...
Well tonight is New Years Eve and we are going in full USA attire. I had been on the hunt for a sparkley USA tank top to wear tonight and after failing to find it, Nancy gave me a USA cut off tee for Christmas, which is awesome. Then this week, we decided to go 80's themed for New Years Eve because Thailand is the easiest place to do 80's because of all the crap you can find at markets. Then our theme turned into going as a mix between 80's and USA and we all have USA shirts, red scrunchies, red and blue earings, red and clue nail polish and other good accessories. And if anyone says anything to me tonight about how horrible America and Americans are, they're in trouble. Will post pictures tomorrow...
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