"First Times"

I have really just been bombarded with a slew of American "first times" eversince I moved here in the US. First classes in grad school, first time living alone, first bagel and creamcheese breakfast, first Yugo boss, first Ebay purchase, first hockey game, first football game and many others.

David has been very helpful in explaining different practices in American culture when they do nothing but create confusion. Like for example, what does "red eye" or "elephant party" mean. Or how does warm apple cider taste? Who was the Man in Black? (It's Johnny Cash - but...errr, Johnny who?) And what is Diwali? Or Hannukah?

This culture is very misunderstood, that I really wish I can talk to each and every first-time tourist in this country that their (often misguided and negative) perception of the American culture is erred. I don't mean to say that I have embraced this culture fully and I know every single thing about it. I don't, in fact, and I am still a Filipino in mind and heart. The tourist spots, however, at least in New York City - such as Times Square, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center and the like - display a different "America", which is not necessarily true. Food in excessive servings, loudness and rudeness of people abound, exaggerated patriotism and hardcore commercialism. TV shows like Jerry Springer and Pat Croce Moving In tell the whole world that the whole America relies on despicable TV shows to solve their personal problems. Not really.

I suddenly stepped back and thought about the misconceptions my own culture has. Dog eaters? Cavemen? Hopeless cases in Political stability? Abu Sayyaf infested? On the flip side, we are known for being one of the most hospitable cultures in Asia. We are also commended for our very good English. We also have the best beaches in the whole world (although, every tropical island on earth would contest to that)! Despite all political and social disorders and our low GNP, we are people who are passionate, and love to smile our problems away.

Whenever I encounter a foreigner saying misguided notions about the Philippines, saying that we are hopeless, that it’s a very dangerous place to live in and all that disdain, I wish I could afford to buy him/her a ticket to Manila and let the Filipino hospitality erase these judgments off. And maybe he can write too about his slew of Filipino “first times”. First Filipino Pasko, first puto-bumbong, first Megamall experience and first balot ;-)

But I can’t. So all I do is offer a sharp retort, be a humble ambassador and hopefully, prove him/her wrong over time.