When I stepped out of the plane at Reykjavik airport in Iceland, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Someone told me Icelandic people are beautiful. They are tall, blonde and have great style. This was true. Iceland is expensive. An island that imports almost all of its consumer goods couldn’t be cheap. I heard the food was weird. Icelanders dine on sheep’s head, years-old rotten shark and puffin (a cute penguin-like bird). It scared me to look at some of the menus. Americans think Iceland is covered in snow. This is almost completely wrong. Sure it is cold. It is freezing all the time, but the interior actually melts during the summer months leaving the glaciers as a reminder of the country’s name. I guess I can’t really know what to expect when I visit another country. I decided to take it easy with the myths and experience the country for myself. Not everyone takes this approach, definitely not every American. I don’t know when the image of the travelling American became well-known across the world as conceited and arrogant. I just wish the locals would treat every foreigner individually, and I wish every traveller would be courteous. I can understand why they would view Americans in an unfavorable light. The American culture creeps into the world’s individual cultures creating an English-speaking, capitalistic, consumer driven planet. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. Blame your franchises for over-stepping oceans. The world doesn’t need a McDonald’s around the corner from every famous building. When you enjoy your American culture in a country that isn’t America, you are really missing out on why you are there. Driving from the airport to Reykjavik, two older Americans in the front of the bus burst out with excitement. “Look, a KFC! Now we know where to eat tonight!” Two younger Canadian travellers shook their heads as if to say, “Stupid Americans.” I was so ashamed to be part of the image Americans project to the world. Conceited, loud, obnoxious Americans. Canadians seem to distance themselves from the American image as much as they can when they travel. Obviously Canadians look as though they could be Americans, and they sound American, too (until they blurt out an “eh” or “aboot”). But the Canadians travelling in Iceland bore large maple leaf flag patches on their packs as if to signal the locals—you can count on us not to act like stupid Americans. Don’t blame individuals. Blame our society that won’t teach their children different languages. Children are more apt to learn when their brains are still developing. Why doesn’t America start teaching languages in elementary schools instead of waiting to start in high school? I took a language in high school, and I’ve already forgotten it. I felt illiterate when I couldn’t even say “thank you” in Icelandic. Iceland’s language is an adaptation of the Viking’s Nordic language. I think they might be offended if I try pronouncing words like “Umferdarmistod.” But I don’t flaunt my ignorance. Americans expect English to be spoken in America. When foreigners come to visit or to immigrate, Americans expect them to learn English. After all, we don’t speak other languages. But it’s hypocritical for Americans to expect English to be spoken everywhere they are travelling, too. They’re in luck. Most European nations speak English as a second or third language. But why should they? They have their own language, and I am sure they like the language. Why do other countries think languages are important enough to teach their children? They teach multiple languages because other countries have a better cultural perspective than the United States. Compared to other cultures of the world, America is just a baby. I know I can’t define our culture. There are just too many. Even the families who immigrated to America a century or two ago still hold on to their original culture. Look at Little Italy or China Town. We haven’t broken off a personality of our own, yet. We are still defining our identity. We’re young. We are not going to be mature and understanding. We are still trying to figure ourselves out. While we figure out our identity, other countries should cut us some slack. We’re defining ourselves in a much less war-like fashion than most. At the same time, Americans be wary: every step you take is watched and locals of foreign countries might make a generalized assumption about your entire country based on your actions. Tara Payne is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Rock Rapids. She is studying in Swansea, Wales this semester.