Does how you are treated in a foreign country depend on who you are and / or where you are from?
I had been taught that French people were snobbish over 10 years ago because I had heard such a reputation many times from a wide variety of people and media.
One day I met an Indian-American from New York, who had graduated from a world-famous university and currently works as an economist. He told me that French people were really nice and warm to him when he visited France while German people were very cold to him when he visited Germany. He seemed to be bewildered by the Germans yet without any anger towards German people.
When I heard this, I was astonished because German people were always seemingly friendly, well-mannered and helpful to me when I traveled for 2 weeks in Germany. I have traveled to many countries and got an impression that German people are one of the nicest people in the world. But I noticed through the Indian-American’s words that because I am Japanese, German people were so nice to me. However, over the next 3 years I had kept my image that French people are snobbish.
I had not at all been interested in French culture or language all my life until last winter despite realizing in my world history high school class that French history is significant because modern times, in large part, could not have started without the French revolution. But I finally came to be interested in French culture when I noticed that the society is more tolerant toward change and French people like to think and live with ideals of freedom and individuality.
Now, I have studied French for about a half year and I have been very happy with what I have learned.
From my own experiences I deffinetly believe one is treated different in a foreign country depending on where they’re from.
I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, but I am a white american, as are my parents. In Saudi Arabia my family was treated extremely well, and we assimilated into the culture and with the people very well because we share the same religion. But when I talk to other people who had lived in the same country, mostly pakistanis and indians, I find that they are not treated very well at all, and even other arabs aren’t treated well either. But I assume because we were not only american but muslim as well, we were welcomed into their society very easily.
By the way I have read most of your blogs articles, and loved each one!
Ismail
2009/08/05