Bemused in America

It never occurred to me how other countries are very different than us. I mean I know there has to be something that makes them different to America but i never tried to figure out what it was exactly. Bemused in America helped me to understand what it was that separated America from Germany. I don't know every single detail about what makes us different but it helped me realize the small things and everyday rules have such a large impact on culture. American values and German values are one thing that makes us different. For example, the rule about the times that super markets are open in Germany as compared to America. How often do you think of how late or how early your local super market is allowed to be open? You probably don't very often because in our fishbowl metaphor American values aid in the make up of culture which is the water. Values in America are so strange to the author of Bemused in America because this is not his culture. In his culture having a super market open 24 hours or on Sundays is illegal. So what does this whole 24 hour thing say about Americans? To me it says that we LOVE convenience. Having a 24 hour market makes us able to work around our hectic schedules (which most Americans have) and allow us to work as much as possible. Not having the Markets open on Sundays in Germany shows that they value family time and that the value social lives.