Read Americans as seen by others. Source: Nancy Adler, International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, page 83:

India: Americans seem to be in a perpetual hurry. Just watch the way they walk down the street. They never allow themselves to enjoy life; there are too many things to do

Australia: I am impressed by the fact that American teachers never seem to stop going to school themselves.

Turkey: Once we were out in a rural area in the middle of nowhere and saw an American come to a stop sign. Though he could see in both directions for miles and no traffic was coming, he still stopped!

Colombia: The tendency in the U.S. to think that life is only work hits you in the face. Work seems to be their one type of motivation.

Japan: Americans seem to feel that they have to say something instead of having silence-even when what they say is so well known that it sounds stupid. They say

things that are so obvious. Japanese people realize that we have all observed these things so that it is unnecessary to talk about them.

Vietnam: Americans are handy people. They do almost everything in the house by themselves, from painting walls and doors to putting glass in their windows, most of them showed me the pretty tables and bookshelves they made by themselves in their spare time

Iran: "The first time...my [American] professor told me, I dont know the answer, I will have to look it up, I was shocked. I asked myself, Why is he teaching me? In my country a professor would give the wrong answer rather than ever admitting ignorance.

Japan: Unfortunately, I was given a bad impression by some American students who speak of their own country very poorly, especially of its foreign policy I knew all of the foreign policy of America wasnt good, but I did not want to be told so by a native. I hate people who speak badly of their land, even if they speak the truth

Colombia: I was surprised to see so many young people who were not living with their parents, although they were not yet married. Also, I was surprised to see so many singly people of all ages living alone, eating alone, and walking the streets alone. The United States must be the loneliest country in the world

Netherlands: Imagine my astonishment when I went to the supermarket and looked at the eggs. You know, there are no small eggs in America; they just dont exist. They tend to be jumbo, extra large, large or medium. It doesnt matter that the medium are little. Small eggs dont exist [in America] because, I guess, that might be bad or denigrating.

This assignment requires you to look at some aspects of US culture and values from another culture's perspective. Keep in mind that the observation probably reflects the values and norms of the person making the observation!

Choose four comments from four of the different countries. What might be the visitor's own values or norms which made him notice the trait and make the comment? Remember that values are positive.

Remain objective and non-judgmental! Remember to substantiate your comments with facts: list the sources/ references.