I’m an international (Dominican) living in the States with my American husband, now raising our American-Dominican daughter. I forwarded this to him because I appreciated the way you wrote about this aspect of American culture in a positive light. I also thought it was lovely how you tied it back to the deep-seated values of individual freedom and the self-made man that have been in the US from the start. Although as a foreigner this “hype-culture” can often bother me, I loved reading your perspective and being confronted on some negative assumptions I’ve made!!
There are so many wonderful and positive things about American values (which is why so many still follow the American dream!) and I enjoyed reading your thoughts. As I’ve been trying to learn myself—it’s OK to love your own culture while also having the ability to recognize things you enjoy (and even prefer) in another. From a foreigner to a foreigner, great piece👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
lol this unearthed a long lost memory: going to my high school’s award ceremony with my parents proudly seated in the auditorium seats. They call me up and a few others and present me with the “100% attendance” award. My parents were completely baffled. They said to me: “You got awarded for doing the bare minimum?!? They made us come for this? We got our hopes up! You weren’t even the only one!”
The joys of bridging Indian culture and American culture 🤣🤣🤣
Interesting observation ! I never thought how hype culture has seeped into even the gym. When mentioning about the language used in American hype culture, it reminds me how militaristic/agressive American language is (ie “I would kill for *blank*,” “cheap shot,” “shoot the breeze,” “If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.”)
Great post. My husband an I just spent three months in SE Asia and are ramping up for leaving the U.S. entirely for a life of global nomadism. We are learning so much about how Americans are perceived around the world. Some cultural mindsets being added value, and others could just as well be set aside. But how? How do you just drop a part of you that has been built-in since your earliest days? We will likely be wrestling with things like this for years to come. Thanks for taking the time to address this one factor. It's something to chew on.
I can’t give up my hype culture! I use it all the time. When I listen to music, when I’m writing, when I’m exercising: I love it! That’s why I love the Neapolitan passion ❤️🔥
Never even really thought about it before, but America definitely does lean into an idea of hyping people up. Makes me think of high school when we did “pep rallies” to get people excited about homecoming and whatever else they were trying to push
Omg. Hahaha how could I forget about pep rallies? I actually think they were so fun. Our teachers used to get involved and do dances and challenges and things 😂
yeeep, even the yoga classes in America are hype. The guided meditation "if you're thinking about what's on your TODO list, an argument at work, things you have to do when you get home, let it all go, NOW." I wasn't thinking about any of that before you said it, and you're still talking!
Yes. In San Diego a “high octane” breathwork studio opened up. Super pricey and then you cold dip after. I did some of their free classes on the beach and it was so intense! You actually feel quite naturally high after… anyway I can’t imagine ever going to something like this in Italy.
My Italian grandmother once asked my mother why her husband (my American step-father) was building a 3-car garage to have space to work on the cars, when he could "just build a two-car and rest."
Since you ask…I am an American and I stay far away from any manifestation of this weird, hype, pseudo-sports approach to anything. American culture is strongly skewed to extroversion, and as an introvert at a cultural organization I disliked the recent workplace push toward a “team” environment. Teams are not optimal for everyone, especially in a dysfunctional workplace. A significant part of the population work, create, exercise etc best on their own, and for us, hype is just as odd as it is for Italians.
there are some of us who have adopted a much slower life. In 2019, walked away from corporate america. I work 3 days a week now for a small consulting company. last year had a long-distance family emergency and they did not blink an eye at my absence for 2 weeks.
When she returned to Italy, she tried this same approach during an emergency situation. Her colleagues thought she was drunk. They wondered if she was OK. 😂😂😂😂
I'm from Australia. My best mate and I have made a regular activity of sitting on the couch with a wine and watching American sporting team field entries. Holy cow, do you guys REALLY go for it. We keel over with laughter, especially at the firing of a canon while a cheer squad parades with rifles, slowly falling into a weird dullness as we realise that we long for the same thing. Keep on keeping on you absoulte hype animals.
I know I am so used to everything in sports being extra. Eg. Here in Italy I knew soccer was big and at the start they only had one single dj. And then the game just started 😂 in the US people drop from planes at our soccer games! Hahaha 😝
Hahaha it is essentially the same here in Australia. I honestly think it all links back to "tall poppy syndrome", a cultural indiosyncrasy of shooting down people who stand up from the crowd and try to be the best. It's embedded in much of life here. Worth a Google perhaps.
I enjoy reading this. As an immigrant, I find the American way of hyping everything puzzling: before a class presentation, running races, sports, workout classes. I do find myself standing out when I dont find that hype in such mundane things - sure they guarantee some encouragement but to that degree is foreign to me lol
This is fascinating! You’re onto something. The work culture one is so interesting, when you realize how much of the language we use in corporate America stems from war (plan of attack, targets, in the trenches). I LOL’d at “We’re not even saving lives, we’re just trying to grow revenue!”
I can definitely get wrapped up in the hype with sports and such but I do wish we’d learn from the Europeans and relax our work culture here in the states.
I was waiting for the part on political hype in USA. As an Aussie, when I lived in NY just observing their election cycle machine in full action was mind boggling. Then I watched the movie “How Arnie Won The West” and it made a lot more sense, in context. Good piece, thanks.
Oh interesting! My Argentine friends always say we’re apathetic compared to them. They are used to “lighting sh*t on fire” and they find Americans apathy to be appalling. I will have to check out that movie!
honestly, I miss this. I live in France now and it's so uninspiring. maybe it's just that I personally thrive on hype (lots of Leo placements) but I don't think it's a net net bad thing to have a lil enthusiasm about stuff. life's a bitch and then you die either way.
I think French people have Leo vibes. When I studied abroad in Aix en Provence it was very “see and be seen”. Even when I did my high school exchange program there was this one guy who made a big scene about arriving to school with his cigarette, leather jacket, and moped. 😂 the American girls drooled. So drama but definitely no hype, bc hype is tres uncool.
It’s funny, because as an American living in France, the cliché of our reputation is “EVERYTHING IS AMAZINGGGGGGG” and it’s actually so true 🤣
Do you live in Paris? I used to live in Verdun, two hours away! I taught English. Loved it. I feel like I’m “cheating” on France by living in Italy.
I’m an international (Dominican) living in the States with my American husband, now raising our American-Dominican daughter. I forwarded this to him because I appreciated the way you wrote about this aspect of American culture in a positive light. I also thought it was lovely how you tied it back to the deep-seated values of individual freedom and the self-made man that have been in the US from the start. Although as a foreigner this “hype-culture” can often bother me, I loved reading your perspective and being confronted on some negative assumptions I’ve made!!
There are so many wonderful and positive things about American values (which is why so many still follow the American dream!) and I enjoyed reading your thoughts. As I’ve been trying to learn myself—it’s OK to love your own culture while also having the ability to recognize things you enjoy (and even prefer) in another. From a foreigner to a foreigner, great piece👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
lol this unearthed a long lost memory: going to my high school’s award ceremony with my parents proudly seated in the auditorium seats. They call me up and a few others and present me with the “100% attendance” award. My parents were completely baffled. They said to me: “You got awarded for doing the bare minimum?!? They made us come for this? We got our hopes up! You weren’t even the only one!”
The joys of bridging Indian culture and American culture 🤣🤣🤣
Hahahaha 😂 hey the hardest part is showing up!
I know a lot of my basketball awards were for defense? I know they say defense wins games but I would prefer to be a 1,000 point scorer.
Interesting observation ! I never thought how hype culture has seeped into even the gym. When mentioning about the language used in American hype culture, it reminds me how militaristic/agressive American language is (ie “I would kill for *blank*,” “cheap shot,” “shoot the breeze,” “If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.”)
Yes. Language tells you so much about a culture. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!
Great post. My husband an I just spent three months in SE Asia and are ramping up for leaving the U.S. entirely for a life of global nomadism. We are learning so much about how Americans are perceived around the world. Some cultural mindsets being added value, and others could just as well be set aside. But how? How do you just drop a part of you that has been built-in since your earliest days? We will likely be wrestling with things like this for years to come. Thanks for taking the time to address this one factor. It's something to chew on.
I can’t give up my hype culture! I use it all the time. When I listen to music, when I’m writing, when I’m exercising: I love it! That’s why I love the Neapolitan passion ❤️🔥
Exactly! Some parts of our built-in culture are vital for us to keep. Others, not so much. I think it's an individual thing. 😉
Never even really thought about it before, but America definitely does lean into an idea of hyping people up. Makes me think of high school when we did “pep rallies” to get people excited about homecoming and whatever else they were trying to push
Omg. Hahaha how could I forget about pep rallies? I actually think they were so fun. Our teachers used to get involved and do dances and challenges and things 😂
yeeep, even the yoga classes in America are hype. The guided meditation "if you're thinking about what's on your TODO list, an argument at work, things you have to do when you get home, let it all go, NOW." I wasn't thinking about any of that before you said it, and you're still talking!
Yes. In San Diego a “high octane” breathwork studio opened up. Super pricey and then you cold dip after. I did some of their free classes on the beach and it was so intense! You actually feel quite naturally high after… anyway I can’t imagine ever going to something like this in Italy.
My Italian grandmother once asked my mother why her husband (my American step-father) was building a 3-car garage to have space to work on the cars, when he could "just build a two-car and rest."
Because we need space for the toys !!!! 😂😂that’s pretty funny. Thanks for sharing Lauren your grandmother seems pretty awesome.
Since you ask…I am an American and I stay far away from any manifestation of this weird, hype, pseudo-sports approach to anything. American culture is strongly skewed to extroversion, and as an introvert at a cultural organization I disliked the recent workplace push toward a “team” environment. Teams are not optimal for everyone, especially in a dysfunctional workplace. A significant part of the population work, create, exercise etc best on their own, and for us, hype is just as odd as it is for Italians.
Yes so true Carmine! Thank you for sharing your perspective.
there are some of us who have adopted a much slower life. In 2019, walked away from corporate america. I work 3 days a week now for a small consulting company. last year had a long-distance family emergency and they did not blink an eye at my absence for 2 weeks.
Make haste slowly
That is amazing to hear Trisha. Well done you.
When she returned to Italy, she tried this same approach during an emergency situation. Her colleagues thought she was drunk. They wondered if she was OK. 😂😂😂😂
Her telling me this story in person made me laugh so hard 😂😂😂
I'm from Australia. My best mate and I have made a regular activity of sitting on the couch with a wine and watching American sporting team field entries. Holy cow, do you guys REALLY go for it. We keel over with laughter, especially at the firing of a canon while a cheer squad parades with rifles, slowly falling into a weird dullness as we realise that we long for the same thing. Keep on keeping on you absoulte hype animals.
I know I am so used to everything in sports being extra. Eg. Here in Italy I knew soccer was big and at the start they only had one single dj. And then the game just started 😂 in the US people drop from planes at our soccer games! Hahaha 😝
Hahaha it is essentially the same here in Australia. I honestly think it all links back to "tall poppy syndrome", a cultural indiosyncrasy of shooting down people who stand up from the crowd and try to be the best. It's embedded in much of life here. Worth a Google perhaps.
I enjoy reading this. As an immigrant, I find the American way of hyping everything puzzling: before a class presentation, running races, sports, workout classes. I do find myself standing out when I dont find that hype in such mundane things - sure they guarantee some encouragement but to that degree is foreign to me lol
I can truly understand why people wouldn’t relate to this 😂 really not for everyone
This is fascinating! You’re onto something. The work culture one is so interesting, when you realize how much of the language we use in corporate America stems from war (plan of attack, targets, in the trenches). I LOL’d at “We’re not even saving lives, we’re just trying to grow revenue!”
I can definitely get wrapped up in the hype with sports and such but I do wish we’d learn from the Europeans and relax our work culture here in the states.
I was waiting for the part on political hype in USA. As an Aussie, when I lived in NY just observing their election cycle machine in full action was mind boggling. Then I watched the movie “How Arnie Won The West” and it made a lot more sense, in context. Good piece, thanks.
Oh interesting! My Argentine friends always say we’re apathetic compared to them. They are used to “lighting sh*t on fire” and they find Americans apathy to be appalling. I will have to check out that movie!
Hahah 😂
honestly, I miss this. I live in France now and it's so uninspiring. maybe it's just that I personally thrive on hype (lots of Leo placements) but I don't think it's a net net bad thing to have a lil enthusiasm about stuff. life's a bitch and then you die either way.
I think French people have Leo vibes. When I studied abroad in Aix en Provence it was very “see and be seen”. Even when I did my high school exchange program there was this one guy who made a big scene about arriving to school with his cigarette, leather jacket, and moped. 😂 the American girls drooled. So drama but definitely no hype, bc hype is tres uncool.
lol yeah, I need them to work for me too 😂