Sometimes Americans are so ignorant and rude it's embarrassing!
By now we all know how other countries view us. They say Americans are elitists. They say we are fat, loud and rude. I always knew this was true to some extent but working for a Japanese company, more specifically the subdivision that caters to Americans in Japan, has allowed me to step back and see the real face of many Americans who are in Japan for business and not pleasure as many will quickly tell you upon introduction.
One of our offices runs an on-base internet service and while all sorts of characters walk into that office most are officers and enlisted military members of the Unites States military. There is only one American working in this office but a year ago there were a couple more, however the rest are Japanese females. The first thing I notice is how boys walk into the office and try to pick up these poor girls like it is their responsibility in life. They come off loud and rude as if showing off to everyone else in the room, but this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as my complaints are concerned.
My number one complaint is that military members AND their spouses feel they can talk to these employees like they are troglodytes! They demand to speak to Americans when upset although all of our employees speak impeccable English. These Americans will call our employees stupid, and swear at them out loud and in front of everyone else in the office. About a year ago when our manager was American she had a military officer come in and complain about a discrepancy in his account. She tried to calm him down and help him out but he came back with a very snappy, "You know you are an American, right? Just because you are working for a Japanese company doesn't mean you have to act like one of 'em!"
I was shocked when she told me this story! Apparantly racist comments came out of American military members on a daily basis. Wives of military members are also obnoxious many times and they too treat the Japanese employees like they are second-rate citizens because they call them names like stupid, ignorant and crazy out loud. Some have even asked out loud, "How were you able to get a job on base if you can't even understand English!" (even though they all do or we wouldn't have hired them in the first place) I find this aggravating and embarrassing. As a former Marine, I'm especially amazed that Marine officers of all people would talk to any on-base employee like this, ESPECIALLY while dressed in uniform. One person left an anonymous message and said, "You know what? I don't even know why I'm leaving this message because it's not like any of you guys will be able to understand one word of this!" Regardless of rank, back home if someone treated another civilian employee like this there would have been hell to pay. It's almost like the Japanese are disposable in many Americans' eyes. I call it the "I-didn't-ask-to-be-here" syndrome.
Just how bad are Americans over here? Here is a great example but for emphasis I will tell it from a Stateside point of view:
Imagine you are in Target by the video game section just having a look-see. Right next to you is a guy in his late 20's who keeps picking up and putting down a PlayStation 2 starter kit. By the way he's acting you can tell that he is a hard-working guy who probably can't afford this item but it's something he really rally wants. Okay. Just as he seems to have made the decision to buy this for himself his 300lb gringo-American wife rounds the corner and in the loudest, bi-polar, controlling voice she yells, "Oh hell no! You are NOT bringing that thing into MY house! If you do I swear to GOD I will divorce you," and she stomps away. Have you ever seen or heard of this back in the States? I've never seen anything like that until I moved here!
This really happened at the on-base Post Exchange (like a small American department store) while my husband was there. This lady was crazy and acted like so many other loud women I have seen on base. There is more to this story because after that guy's wife stomped off my husband who was one of about 5 other guys standing right there when it happened said, "Hey man, it's okay! Just take the money you were going to spend on that PlayStation and spend it on a divorce!" The guy laughed and said, "Haha good one! Ya maybe I will." All the other guys laughed too. I don't mean to single out the "fat chick" thang but it is true that a large number of military spouses are seriously overweight and they are always the ones who have this huge, grumpy chip on their shoulders. Can't we all just get along? What about that old saying, "Fat and happy"? jeesh!
Oh another thing - Young American men have the habit of insulting Japanese people right in front of their faces because they ASSume that they can't speak English. These people are too ignorant to realize that English is taught in Japanese schools from Elementary school all the way up to high school. Just because someone doesn't use English doesn't mean they can't understand what you are saying!
I swear almost every American man and women here in Japan, who is attached to the military anyway, has a little bit of that crazy chick in them! These people think that Japan owes them something kind of the way the Air Force gives it's members hardship money when they have to live in Marine Corps facilities that are less posh than their counterparts' dwellings and therefore it is their right to act loud and obnoxious and downright mean whenever they wish.
snort. I feel better now.
One of our offices runs an on-base internet service and while all sorts of characters walk into that office most are officers and enlisted military members of the Unites States military. There is only one American working in this office but a year ago there were a couple more, however the rest are Japanese females. The first thing I notice is how boys walk into the office and try to pick up these poor girls like it is their responsibility in life. They come off loud and rude as if showing off to everyone else in the room, but this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as my complaints are concerned.
My number one complaint is that military members AND their spouses feel they can talk to these employees like they are troglodytes! They demand to speak to Americans when upset although all of our employees speak impeccable English. These Americans will call our employees stupid, and swear at them out loud and in front of everyone else in the office. About a year ago when our manager was American she had a military officer come in and complain about a discrepancy in his account. She tried to calm him down and help him out but he came back with a very snappy, "You know you are an American, right? Just because you are working for a Japanese company doesn't mean you have to act like one of 'em!"
I was shocked when she told me this story! Apparantly racist comments came out of American military members on a daily basis. Wives of military members are also obnoxious many times and they too treat the Japanese employees like they are second-rate citizens because they call them names like stupid, ignorant and crazy out loud. Some have even asked out loud, "How were you able to get a job on base if you can't even understand English!" (even though they all do or we wouldn't have hired them in the first place) I find this aggravating and embarrassing. As a former Marine, I'm especially amazed that Marine officers of all people would talk to any on-base employee like this, ESPECIALLY while dressed in uniform. One person left an anonymous message and said, "You know what? I don't even know why I'm leaving this message because it's not like any of you guys will be able to understand one word of this!" Regardless of rank, back home if someone treated another civilian employee like this there would have been hell to pay. It's almost like the Japanese are disposable in many Americans' eyes. I call it the "I-didn't-ask-to-be-here" syndrome.
Just how bad are Americans over here? Here is a great example but for emphasis I will tell it from a Stateside point of view:
Imagine you are in Target by the video game section just having a look-see. Right next to you is a guy in his late 20's who keeps picking up and putting down a PlayStation 2 starter kit. By the way he's acting you can tell that he is a hard-working guy who probably can't afford this item but it's something he really rally wants. Okay. Just as he seems to have made the decision to buy this for himself his 300lb gringo-American wife rounds the corner and in the loudest, bi-polar, controlling voice she yells, "Oh hell no! You are NOT bringing that thing into MY house! If you do I swear to GOD I will divorce you," and she stomps away. Have you ever seen or heard of this back in the States? I've never seen anything like that until I moved here!
This really happened at the on-base Post Exchange (like a small American department store) while my husband was there. This lady was crazy and acted like so many other loud women I have seen on base. There is more to this story because after that guy's wife stomped off my husband who was one of about 5 other guys standing right there when it happened said, "Hey man, it's okay! Just take the money you were going to spend on that PlayStation and spend it on a divorce!" The guy laughed and said, "Haha good one! Ya maybe I will." All the other guys laughed too. I don't mean to single out the "fat chick" thang but it is true that a large number of military spouses are seriously overweight and they are always the ones who have this huge, grumpy chip on their shoulders. Can't we all just get along? What about that old saying, "Fat and happy"? jeesh!
Oh another thing - Young American men have the habit of insulting Japanese people right in front of their faces because they ASSume that they can't speak English. These people are too ignorant to realize that English is taught in Japanese schools from Elementary school all the way up to high school. Just because someone doesn't use English doesn't mean they can't understand what you are saying!
I swear almost every American man and women here in Japan, who is attached to the military anyway, has a little bit of that crazy chick in them! These people think that Japan owes them something kind of the way the Air Force gives it's members hardship money when they have to live in Marine Corps facilities that are less posh than their counterparts' dwellings and therefore it is their right to act loud and obnoxious and downright mean whenever they wish.
snort. I feel better now.
Comments
With that said, the actions of a few spoil the reputation for the rest and this is what bothers me. I only get to see these actions through a slice of life view if you will, and from what I have seen and heard I worry that this issue is more widepread on and off base. Who knows maybe one of those people will read this post and realize how f-ed up they have been acting and then stop someone else who loses his or her temper towards one of the locals.
Lynne
On a side note: you're missing a 't' in the word "Observations" in your blog tagline
Alex
http://hurlnecklace.mu.nu