Tuesday, May 17, 2005
First impression
i think first impression is very important. i don't mean the appearance is important, but the way of talking or behaving is important, especially when you talk to foreign people. i learned this last February in CIE. at that time, i just started taking classes in CIE and i already knew that i'm going to US if i pass those classes, so i was looking for somebody who's from US because i wanted to get any info about US. i was with my friend Emi, and we decided to talk to somebody who's in the lounge. then, we found 2 girls in there and decided to talk to them. we asked them if they were busy or not and they said they were not busy so we started chatting. they were not from US but from Sweden. that was my first time to talk to Swedish. before this, i had no ideas about what swedish people are like. i'd never thought about it. so i didn't have any stereotypes or some like that about Swedish people.
as we kept chatting, i found that swedish people are reaaaally friendly and kind!!!! they were smiling all the time while we were chatting. and when some of their friends came to our table, they introduced them to us quickly. so we could make a lot of friends in a day. i really had a great time with them.
and now i have a stereotype about swedish poeple which is they are all friendly. i know that not all are friendly as the 2 girls were but i think this is how a stereotype is made. at least i got a really good image on Sweden so if i was asked how sweden is, i would say swedish people are so nice!!!! what i thought is that i should be careful when i talk to especially foreign people because myself's gonna be the first impression about japanese for those who meets japanese for the first time. if i behave bad, they're gonna think japanese are not so good. but if i behave in good manner, they will think japanese are good and they might get interest on japan itself. i feel like this is my responsibility as a japanese.
what do you think about this? do you have the same or similar experience as i had?
as we kept chatting, i found that swedish people are reaaaally friendly and kind!!!! they were smiling all the time while we were chatting. and when some of their friends came to our table, they introduced them to us quickly. so we could make a lot of friends in a day. i really had a great time with them.
and now i have a stereotype about swedish poeple which is they are all friendly. i know that not all are friendly as the 2 girls were but i think this is how a stereotype is made. at least i got a really good image on Sweden so if i was asked how sweden is, i would say swedish people are so nice!!!! what i thought is that i should be careful when i talk to especially foreign people because myself's gonna be the first impression about japanese for those who meets japanese for the first time. if i behave bad, they're gonna think japanese are not so good. but if i behave in good manner, they will think japanese are good and they might get interest on japan itself. i feel like this is my responsibility as a japanese.
what do you think about this? do you have the same or similar experience as i had?
# posted by Aya T : 9:06 AM
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hi,ayatani! i want to make friends from abroad too! it's a respocibility to represent japan but it's really important. u don't only have to study abroad but also represent japan in the US. but don't get so stressed. be yourself and relax. foreign people will find ur qualities naturally!!
Hey Aya, EXCELLENT question. I am aware when I travel abroad or meet foreigners that I am representing my country. Unfortunately many people in the world see the obnoxious American - often a young, inexperienced first-time traveler, or worse yet, an 18 year old egocentric military person. The world judges all Americans by the stereotype that these people make and it makes how I am received by others difficult at times. The only way to fight the stereotype is to not fit it. This can be very difficult.
I think Japanese are a little lucky, because for the most part, the view of Japanese abroad is that they are either shy, polite, innocent or friendly. I seldom find that people have negative feelings towards japanese.
I think Japanese are a little lucky, because for the most part, the view of Japanese abroad is that they are either shy, polite, innocent or friendly. I seldom find that people have negative feelings towards japanese.
Hi ayatani :)
hmm... i think i don't have any similar situation, but you made me realized that i have to be careful!!! that is, you know, i wanna be a japanese teacher so i might give first impression of japanese to my future students!!!!! i have to practice the way of speaking... i think i speak too slowly and it can sound like a child or stupid :( thank you ayatani!!
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hmm... i think i don't have any similar situation, but you made me realized that i have to be careful!!! that is, you know, i wanna be a japanese teacher so i might give first impression of japanese to my future students!!!!! i have to practice the way of speaking... i think i speak too slowly and it can sound like a child or stupid :( thank you ayatani!!
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