American Relations

Although I’m obviously learning about China and the Chinese people by living here, I have also increased my associations with another group: Americans from the west coast. Three out of four of my classes are associated with the UC program, so I encounter Californians often. I always thought that I would like people from the west coast, but I am finding that I do not.

The best word to describe them is smug. Some of them are the definition of the “ugly American abroad,” but more importantly, they are completely dismissive about why they are here. The majority of them choose not to interact with the locals or the environment. Instead, they have private get-togethers to smoke, drink and smoke weed. They interact with no-one, and that includes the few of us from the east coast. This doesn’t bother me, mainly because I wouldn’t want to engage in their activities anyway, but their clear superiority complex is rather frustrating.

This extends beyond the social scene and their rejection of any attempt to learn about their surroundings. It is most evident in class. Most of the classes are relatively easy, probably in order to give us time to explore China (which they do not do). Because of the ease of the courses, they can become fairly boring, particularly when you have it for 2 or 3 hours. However, this is no excuse for how they behave in class. They are routinely extremely late. Students arrive up to an hour into class. Today, out of a class of 40, only 5 of us were in the room when the bell sounded. By the end of class, about 20 people were sitting at desks. They skip class more than I can handle. In the course of my high school and college career, with the exception of NASB, I have missed a total of four days. Three were freshman year of college due to a deathcase of the flu, and one was here because of a miscommunication of the schedule. 50% of the class showed up today. They talk and make noises all through class to an extreme. They use their laptops to Facebook, look up baseball results, and even Skype during class. A student snored noisily through an hour of class today. THE CLASS IS EASY FOR ME TOO, but I respect the professors enough to at least pretend to listen.

I think that what is most funny, however, is their attitude toward the few people not from the UC program. They look down on us like our respective schools are the riffraff of the academic world. Because my credits from China transfer back to W&J as pass/fail credits, I’m not too uptight about working hard in the easy classes. I simply need to pass. Most of the grades are comprised of essays and papers. Now the punch-line: UCLA and UC Berkley students can’t write worth shit. So far, with virtually no effort, I have routinely destroyed the UC students in regard to grades. They spent days on an essay that I wrote in an hour and a half. After that essay was graded, mine was given the highest grade in the class, and read aloud by the professor as an example of exactly how the essay should have been written. I do not say this because I think I’m a genius or particularly gifted. I’m not bragging. My essay was fairly poorly written and it was an extremely easy topic. I’m simply pointing out that the UCLA and Berkley kids think that they are fantastic students, but in reality, they are disrespectful and particularly sub-par writers.

Oh, and while I’m taking the time to whine and complain about the people, I should also mention that the Californians are complete babies when it comes to weather. They have been so spoiled with their constant 72 degrees and sunny atmosphere, that I have seen students in class wearing a winter coat, hat, gloves, a hoodie, long pants and SNOW BOOTS in 58 degree weather. My shorts and T-shirt may have left me a little chilly, but someone needs to show them that they look ridiculous.

In the unlikely event that a UC student stumbles across this post, please note, this is not a universal rule of the west coast students. It is, however, undeniably true that this is the common trend. Everything stated above is true, and you know it. I might make apologies on a case by case basis, but I find it unlikely. Most Californians here are too self absorbed to delve into the lives of the people around them.

The reason I went on such a tirade about the Californians is really not because they are the worst people ever. I have wanted to say most of these things piece by piece in other entries, but have neglected to do so. Now I put it all in one entry, and it looks like a big whine-fest. Sorry if it seems like that.

EAST COAST USA RULES