Well, I did warn you that I’d write a few posts with philosophical mumbo jumbo mushiness. Hopefully this is the first of only a few.

These long trips and living abroad have made me take a good, hard look at my cultural identity. I believe that so much of what I had become accustomed to and what I believed is normal or natural are actually products of being raised as a red-blooded American. I only noticed these distinct differences as my social circle has strayed further from American culture and my differences stand out like an angler fish in a dark sea.

Let’s start off with a simple assessment of what it means to be American. Countries are more than citizenship, bloodlines or borders; they’re places that share a similar social fabric. And what do we think that defines Americans and sets them apart (for better or worse) from the rest of the world? We’re taught that Americans are willing to accept anyone from anywhere in the world, as long as they’re willing to roll up their sleeves and work their way to success. We are renowned for the American Dream, the sense of optimism and the embodiment of the capitalistic mindset.

I can’t stress how that mindset of the American Dream affects our very outlook. We become forward, hardworking optimists who are prone to being brash and loud, and wear our hearts on our sleeves. As a whole, we work long hours, sink our heart and soul into our jobs, and our entrepreneurial drive always pushes Americans to raise their businesses to the next level.

Countries like Spain take a siesta every day around noon, where people go home to nap and hide from the heat. In Italy, coffee breaks are a time to sit and relax while conversing with a few friends. In Vietnam, a hugely successful restaurant only stays open for breakfast so the owners can relax the latter half of the day.

Germans in Munich relaxing midweek on a nice summer day. German workers average over four weeks of vacation a year and I doubt anyone would dare call Germans lazy.

Well in America, we work through the day, heat or cold be damned. We use coffee to keep  awake and moving (probably another reason why Starbucks failed in Italy, the concept of coffee on the go being an affront to their coffee culture). And if you have a successful restaurant, you should be using that free time to start your expansion plans.

Of course, diligent work culture is present around the world, but what I want to illustrate is how dominant those are in America and how much it makes Americans stand out in their own unique way. Our culture of being self-made and hardworking has defined us as individuals more than I realized. Everywhere I’ve turned around the world, Americans are more forward and more likely to sacrifice more in their lives for professional success (with the notable exception of Japanese and Korean professionals).

So why am I talking about this?

Because I feel like we forgot that there are other things in life. We have been ingrained by our culture that long days in the office are part of life. America is the pioneer of so much modern technology and innovations that make our lives easier, yet we seem to work more and more with each passing year. We work these extreme hours while being ambivalent at best. Even if you don’t believe these polls, recent voting trends and the mood of the country have shown that we have become a bit lost.

This is such a huge question that I definitely don’t hold all the answers to, but I believe one piece of the puzzles lies in our priorities. For one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we spend most of our waking hours at a job we hate to come home to bills that are barely paid and spend our precious few hours of free time with loved ones.

Compare that to my aunt’s life in Vietnam. She runs a little soup stand outside her house in the morning. Her husband used to sell coffee with the steaming hot bowls of Bun Bo Hue, but they stopped since it was too much trouble. They open up around 6, and close long before lunch time. One day she felt tired and simply didn’t even open up shop. What does she do with the rest of the day? Spend time with her extended family, prepare a warm family dinner and simply take a nice long nap.

A slow morning for this open air barbershop. Seems like a relaxing time.

Am I advocating for a pace of life like that in America? Hell no. I’m damn proud of our work ethic but I believe we can definitely learn a thing or two from cultures like these. We work all day to provide our family with a quality of life they deserve, but in turn, we don’t spend any of this time enjoying the things we love. In Vietnam, in contrast, slightly longer work hours could help raise one’s quality of life or at least expand that rainy-day fund. Is it so farfetched for us to work hard while at work but after 7 – 8 hours be able to leave the office and leave all of those emails and due dates for the next day?

I would love to see a blending of cultures, as neither side holds all the answers. There are a lot of beneficial qualities that we can take away from these cultures to once again learn how to enjoy life. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I want to continue to work hard and put my best foot forward every day at work. But when I clock out, I should be able to enjoy my time with those I love and do the things I care about.

Let’s take the best from both words and make something new; something distinctly American.

Shit Vietnamese Carry on Their Motorbikes Part 2

Well there's always more ridiculous things people manage to carry here. Who needs a truck when you can do that?