Perspectives on Americans (US citizens)

As a study-abroad student, I am required by my college to complete homework. One assignment is interviewing other students about their perspectives on “Americans.” The assigned questions are fairly lifeless, so I came up with a few complimentary ones to help expand each interviewees perspective.

The first person I interviewed was a Palestinian student, Mya (name changed) 

The first question: How do you view Americans?
Mya answered with a sentiment that I’ve often heard here in Israel, but with more poetry: “They are their own faraway island.” I chuckled, agreeing, and simultaneously thought of “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main..”, a John Donne quote regularly used. The quote’s source is a paragraph in a larger work, but it became so popular that most people think it is a singular poem.

Mya explained that she thinks of Americans this way because they choose to be  isolated and involved too much in just the American world. She brought up that too many Americans (outside of our program) choose to travel throughout the states rather than abroad, despite being financially able to explore outside of the US.

I nodded, thinking of the many Americans I know who fear traveling outside of the US and of the ones who have no interest because “ ‘Murica’ is the best”.

Curious, I asked how she would describe “American” personality. She told me that they are very nice people. I was surprised, and she explained her travel experiences in the US. She’s been to Virginia, North Carolina, and California. She said she was surprised by the hellos that she got in the streets, that Americans were very friendly.

Mya paused for a bit, and reflected that Americans typically show that they are happy, smiling all the time. This seemed a bit perplexing to her, and when I asked, she responded, “They have genuine smiles, and you wonder how that is?” This really moved me, for several reasons. Genuine is a small but powerful word. I think there is potentially a significant difference in perspectives about happiness occurring between Americans and Mya.

Americans: I considered how most Americans I know seem to be striving for happiness, confident (or hopeful) that it could be a state of being. At the same time, I’ve found that Americans struggle to find a state of happiness, and often shy away from conflict for fear of jeopardizing that quest. Despite their relentless search for a state of happiness, and their self-induced isolation, they still find happiness elusive.

            Mya: She commented that she chose to stop watching Hollywood movies, because they always predictable, and portray a very comfortable picture of the world, not a reality. As a Palestinian, it is impossible to detach from the painful political realities she lives in. That is not to say that Americans do not experience their own tough situations and traumas, but I do not think they are built so concretely into every-day life. Perhaps for Mya, seeing American, genuine smiles all the time emphasizes a carefree attitude, one that stems from being isolated and unaware. I’ve seen Mya genuinely enjoy the good moments we’ve had so far. But I think her genuineness stems from the appreciation of good moments in life. If she is pursuing “happiness,” it is a celebration of the good experiences and a recognition of life’s injustices, not a life experience that is isolated from all the horrors and injustices of the world.

Mya also offered a few other opinions. She also sees Americans as hard working, fascinating, and innovative. She is impressed with their drive to create and be productive. At the same time, she dislikes other parts of American life, such as the conspicuous consumerism, modeled through tv adds and the sheer quantity of super-sized items.

Second Question: What are these beliefs based on?

Mya answered first, “As the Power of the world.” She meant that it is impossible to not learn about America. She examined media, and how it often portrays Americans as stupid. But then she considered her travels in the states, and how that demonstrated other facets of American culture ignored by the media. Mya particularly focused on American higher education. She said that even after being educated in France post-high school, she felt impressed by the structure of American higher ed. In France, she felt educators didn’t care about her as an individual, that a “sink or swim” attitude is institutionalized. Her brother is pursuing his PhD in the US, and she admires how educators are invested in the individual student, readily giving guidance and advice.

Third Question: Do I fit your image of an American?

I laughed as I asked this question, because I anticipated her first response. Mya chuckled and said, “Yes, you are very nice, smiley.” She noted that I seemed to be very mature, much more so than she expected out of a 21 year old American. We both laughed at that, because she’d told me a little about her American cousins, and how they had gone a bit wild, partying, to experience “life”. I’m straight-edge. Haha.

The second person I interviewed*: H, Arab Israeli “Borat”

*This was a comical interview, so please don’t be literal.  

How do you view Americans?

H: Americans, at least the people that I meet, are self-centered, they think the world centers around them. However, “One bad one good,” it really depends on the person. They have a very superior attitude. Also, Americans “don’t shy” [meaning free or promiscuous]. Also, Obama’s good, he’s an exception in America.

What do you base your beliefs on?

H: Meeting people and media. Israeli media: Walla. I like the show Friends, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They are good things. I started thinking about America when I was 15. All the time, you hear about America. First met an American maybe when I was couch surfacing, and then on Kibbutz [Ketura]. It’s an American Kibbutz.

Do I fit your image of an American? **(I am a dual citizen)

H: I think you are more Canadian. I love Canadians more because they are more social. Been told Canada and Australia is good because they don’t make assumptions about us. You and Sami are good girls.  (H asked his friend before he met Sami and I, “are they beautiful?", so that seems to be a stereotype).

Other than these interviews, I haven't heard much expressed interest in American culture. Truthfully, my other American friends  and I bring American culture up a lot as a way to deal with homesickness or just to celebrate great times with friends.

Living at Kibbutz Ketura

I realized I never did a post about what it's like to live on Kibbutz Ketura!

First off, a basic explanation about of a kibbutz.  Kibbutzim are small communities that have agreed to live communally, to varying degrees. Founders wished to create a socialist community that also believed in Zionism, nationalism of Judaism and Jewish culture. Kibbutzim were originally formed around agriculture, but have since diversified economically. For instance, Ketura grows dates, and has a lucrative algae plant. Passing through the decades, Kibbutzim have also diversified religiously. Kibbutz Ketura is not considered a religious kibbutz, but religiously pluralistic. There are buildings for Jewish religious services, but members are welcome to not practice, or to practice other religions. Shabbat is kept, and all meals at the dining hall are kosher. I've attended a few Shabbat services (in Hebrew), which use a lot of sung prayer. There is a translation book, which my friends help me use.
The congregation strikes me as both humble and joyful when they join in the service.

Ketura has about 300 people living within it. Ketura is surrounded by a perimeter fence, as are all kibbutzim in this area. I think this is primarily to provide security. We are a five minute walk from the Jordanian border. That said, I feel completely safe here. It is very easy to leave, you just push a button and walk out the main gate. If you need to get back in, you call, and the gate automatically lets you back in.

Ketura is situated in the Arava desert, a hyper-arid area of Israel. The kibbutz draws its water from the aquifer, which does not recharge. However, the only people living in the area are kibbutzniks, so I am uncertain whether water supply will be a significant issue in the near future. Ketura has also committed to being a green kibbutz, so it utilizes best water use practices. For instance, we use drip irrigation in our student gardens. AIES has also just begun a greywater reuse system for our dorms. It is pretty crazy to look on Ketura from above, seeing a splash of green in the midst of so much sand. I am continuously impressed with the creativity in plant and tree choice on kibbutz, though the amount of water they must use is a bit unsettling. I was able to take a few photos Saturday, posted below. Better pics are coming soon of some of the beautiful trees and flowers. 

View to the West-I live on the second story

We harvested a lot of sunflowers during the first few weeks at Ketura

View of the East, towards Jordan

The Caravans, one type of student housing. Some of the furniture you see has a mud exterior.

A herb spiral, part of the Caravan Gardens. Makes me think of the Carr herb spiral at Allegheny. 

Cacti and date trees

Compost in back right

Student Compost

Wicked house, eh?

One of my favorite spots. Messed around with a few camera settings, here.

Ditto. Love the textures.

Our Student Garden! I'll post later about my plants that I'm growing in Org. Ag. class :) 

Tree outside the Mercaz, where we hang out during breaks from class

I haven't yet had any serious discussions with non-AIES members of the kibbutz. I've applied for the opportunity to have a host family, but so far, there has been no feedback. :/ AIES, though part of the kibbutz, seems to remain pretty separate from the rest of the kibbutz. There have been some tensions between a few students and kibbutzniks, but mostly the mood is friendly. I am hoping that I get to know more kibbutzniks when the pool opens after Passover Break. It was over 90 last week, during a heat wave, 70's this week. There really isn't much of a spring season here, but rather a rough transition from fall to summer. When the pool opens, I'm hoping I will have an opportunity to spend time with my future host family's children.


Food: My diet is very different than what I was eating at Allegheny. I usually have some sort of soy product, rice/grain, sweet chili sauce, lettuce, 1 tomato, 1 cucumber  for lunch (meat meal). About twice a week, they serve chicken wings, which are pretty awesome when you add sweet chili sauce and tabasco over the italian sauce. Dinner is much less varied, so I almost always eat rice, more salad, bread, cottage cheese, jam (delicious), and olives. At week 5, I'm actually starting to be ok with them! I definitely don't crave them yet, as many of the Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs do, but olives have definitely improved in my mind. Success.

Fun: I have a bit more free time than at Allegheny, but it's so hard to choose how to spend it! I am gardening and celebrating/mourning the growth/death of my four basil varieties. I'm not writing or blogging nearly as much as I'd like, but I am trying to write down unique events and experiences which I imagine I'll finish after the term ends. I am also playing a ton of cards. I've learned a new game, Yaniv, which is a lot of fun. I've yet to learn a Jordanian card game, but I've been promised a lesson. I've taught euchre, spades, castle, and ERS to my friends so far. Castle was the favorite for the first few weeks, and yaniv is the dependable game for when we have a lot of time. Yaniv and euchre can also be played on Shabbat, which is a plus. I haven't hiked since the last posts, but I did go out to the desert again to star gaze with 7 other friends. We froze, even with our many layers and blankets, but it was a lot of fun. I'm also continuing to dance. I haven't waltzed in a few weeks, but we are still salsa-ing. We just learned how to bachata, which emphasizes more of a stiff upper body and swaying hips. And as always, we practice our free-form dance moves at pub every Thursday. Ha.
Some of my happiest moments, though, have been general conversations with the other AIES kids. These can be extremely funny, as there are language barriers. But I think it's mostly because students here love to joke. An example:

Cookies: "The Shit" vs "Shit"
 I was looking at one of my favorite photographer's blogs, and I saw an awesome mountain shot taken in Alberta. I wanted to share, so I turned my computer screen to one of my friends, H, and said, "Canada's the shit." (H will be coming up shortly in the next post). R, another one of my friends, laughed, and turned to H. "See, there is a difference between calling something "shit" and "the shit." I chuckle-groaned, saying, "This is why English is so damn hard to learn." R continued his explanation to H. "For example, if someone makes cookies, and S eats them and says they are "shit", that means they are terrible. But if she eats them and says they are "the shit," they are awesome." H laughed, shaking his head. So did I, thinking about the ridiculousness of American slang.