Thursday, August 14, 2014

United States History


So I walked into class today and I realized that I was an American in a US history class in Finland and if that wasn't the weirdest experience that I don't know what is...

It started off in an interesting way- a quiz. It went well I knew all the answers( draw the map, draw the flag, lable ten things you think of when you think of the US, the president, the number of states, and the US national Animal)

When all the papers were passed up to the front we viewed them under the projector. Let's see if you can spot a theme.
one of the best.. very descriptive








this is mine, he made me draw the Finnish seal...

So if you spotted the trend you noticed the guns, and the fatness, and the burgers. At first it was funny right, but then by the 20th one it was old. Now I understand they are stereotypes but they are the stereotypes we help create for ourselves. It also got me evaluating a lot that we do with our educational system, welfare, government- all of that- since they were asking me questions. So far, US history is my favorite class because I get to be in the place to see how we are viewed. I feel as though this will be the toughest class too because I will see the flaws. I will have to explain them to the class and I already feel responsibility for them. This also got me thinking if all they see is New York and Hollywood, what are we missing from the rest of the world and from ours as well?