Assignment 4: Megan Meadors

I’ve normally believed stereotypes when I hear them. This past summer, during my trip to France I saw a lot of things that I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise. Although there are a lot of stereotypes about Europeans, what I noticed most was stereotypes about Americans. Most that I noticed, were the ones I didn’t fit into and people asked me about. Others were ones that I noticed being portrayed in the media. Some were simple, like that some people I met were surprised that I didn’t wear makeup because that’s how teenage American girls are portrayed in the media. Others were more surprised that I didn’t just eat marshmallow fluff all the time (I actually did get asked this) and there were even some people who were surprised that Americans actually learn other languages. I wasn’t fluent by any means, but they were surprised that I was even making an effort. There were a few people who I met that went as far as to only speak to me in English.  They were really surprised when I told them I spoke a little French and that I was there on an exchange. Sometimes it isn’t the groundbreaking revelations that challenge beliefs, but this definitely will affect how I view other people and their cultures.