"Never judge a culture by one man and never judge a man by popular culture." (Anonymous, from http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Culture)
The quote above describes the situation of cross-cultural awareness and judgment. Now that you are in America, people will learn about your culture from you. You are, in a sense, a cultural ambassador for your country. Everything you say and do will reflect on you as an individual, but it will also reflect on you as a citizen of your country. Likewise, as you meet Americans, you will form beliefs about American culture based on individual encounters.
Is this a fair way to define the culture of a foreign country? How is it fair? How is it unfair? Can you think of a better way to define a country's culture? How must you be careful when generalizing or stereotyping American culture? Likewise, how do you want Americans to understand your culture when you are probably the sole ambassador they know?
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