Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

August 26, 2008

With the Olympic games coming to a close and Michelle Obama’s incredibly moving speech at the Democratic Convention (watched it today, cried like a baby…see if you can resist doing the same) U.S. patriotism is in the air.

Jayna just posted on why she loves the Oh-lympics — because the contingent of athletes shows off just how diverse a nation we truly are. I couldn’t agree more. That’s definitely an aspect of my country that I really ache for sometimes.

One day while watching the Games, S. tried to get me riled up and started heckling me because the U.S. was behind in the medal count. I snidely replied, “Four little words, baby. Michael mother-effing Phelps. We don’t need anybody else…BOO YA!”

Ok, so maybe the “BOO YA,” at the end was a little unnecessary. Out pops my U.S.A.’ian arrogance — or is it sense of pride? The two are easily confused, or maybe interchangeable.

Don’t get me wrong, the stereotype of the arrogant American bastard is very much alive and kicking, and I hate it. But, I do long for that certain je ne sais quoi that many people from my country seem to have. My mom would probably call it a “can do attitude.” It’s a sense of you-just-can’t-get-us-down.

Some might call it a superiority complex, and when done wrong, I think that’s exactly what it is. But in most people, I believe it’s more of a sense of optimism than anything else.

I love that about “mi gente,” and I miss it.

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I’m with ya on that girl. My mom always used to get looked at funny in Mexico because she ALWAYS saw the positive in things while others prefered to either be a nay-er or else keep their mouth shut.

In part, it’s her personality, but mainly it’s her “gringa” side. She’d always be the first to go “Orale guys! Let’s DO IT!” or “Ay! pero claro que es posible FNED! Go for it!”. It never felt like she was saying we were better than others, simply that if you put your mind to it, work hard and stay positive, things CAN get done. I think americans have that positive way of thinking, realiy truly believing that everything is possible, that some nations take for arrogance.

I’m grateful for it too. People in Mexico are SUCH pesimists that they probably miss out on so much without even realizing it and don’t get me started on the French!

Fned.

Comment by Fned — August 27, 2008 @ 3:27 am

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As if a Chilean can heckle an American about sports success!

Except tennis perhaps. And polo. And maybe hockey. Chileans are great at sports where you hit balls with sticks. Why is this exactly?

Think of you often lady. And am trying my best to like Papito even though I’m a dog-unliker. He really does look kissable.

besos

Comment by Raybelles — August 28, 2008 @ 6:12 am

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I am proud of my countrymen as well but it is hard because I am not proud of the arrogance…just some people here have that never say never attitude. But people who already have preconceived notions of what we are like, blanket every attitude as arrogance. BooYA…whoops did I just say that out loud?
p.s. tell S. that I think Chilenos are world class at picking wives

Comment by Rachel — August 28, 2008 @ 12:58 pm

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