The Typical American Positions

Attitude Towards Age
Americans do not really value age for two basic reasons:
1. Americans value accomplishments and getting things done. The older you are, the less you are perceived to be able to get things done.
2. Americans value "newness." Older Americans are seen as not being "with it." They may be less likely, and less eager, to adopt something new than younger generations.

Concept of Fate and Destiny
Americans don't leave much up to Fate and Destiny. They believe in self-determination. You can do whatever you want to do with your life and, most importantly, you are the one in charge. If you don't succeed, you have no one, and nothing, to blame but yourself.

View of Human Nature
Americans basically consider people to be trustworthy and good. Because of this, they are pretty friendly to strangers. They tend to look for the reasons why people go bad.

Attitude Towards Change
Americans love progress and are constantly seeking perfection. You can't have either without change, so change is a good thing. Traditions have their place, but they should not be the ruling force.

Attitude Towards Taking Risk
One of the things that I took comfort in when starting my own business endeavors was the fact that many of the successful businessmen we know of today had their share of failures and disappointments. But that was ok. They simply learned from their mistakes and moved on. That exemplifies the American view towards taking risk. Failure is seen as a temporary setback. You will only improve your product via trial and error and if you don't succeed at one endeavor, there are plenty of other opportunities just waiting to be tackled.

Concept of Suffering and Misfortune
If you are unhappy, it's your own fault. You are the one in charge of your life and destiny, so find what it is that makes you happy and do it.

Sources of Self Esteem/Self Worth
In America, you are the maker of your own self worth instead of being born into it or being given it due to your position, rank, or age. You earn your own self esteem.

Concept of Equality
One of the things that the first settlers wanted to leave behind was the disabilitating class structure that was found in Europe. Because of this, American culture revolves around the notion of egalitarianism. Everyone is of equal value regardless of birth, power, fame, or wealth.

Attitude Towards Formality
Basically because of the concept that everyone is of equal value, Americans are usually pretty casual and informal when it comes to social and professional interactions. Americans don't stand on ceremony and don't really use titles or pay much attention to rank.

Degree of Realism
Americans are optimistic. One of the reasons could be the fact that they see themselves as being the ones in control. Americans tend to see things better than they are at times.

Attitude Towards Doing
Not only do you achieve because of what you do, but your survival is based on it. You can't depend on others. Mere talk gets you nowhere and while the arts are nice, it's the activities that lead to concrete results that are of the highest value.

View of the Natural World
There's nothing unnatural about the natural world. It can be studied, predicted, and even manipulated and controlled.

Source: http://www.suite101.com/course/print_lesson.cfm/16618/110/4

归去来兮- 三藩杂感

2009.6.7

搬离加州的日子近在咫尺了。 伤感和留恋应该都不是最恰当的言语来形容此时候的心情。 人在年轻的时候，比如说是现在，总是设想着明天比今天会是更美好的未来。人的移动和改变，是为着寻求更佳的optimization.

可是我知道，我的最美好停留在这里。我和峻说，很感谢在这里两年的经历。因为它，让我对生活和世界认识的限度扩充到一个新的界限。经历过这段美丽的生活实在是无撼，即使是未来的探索路上的艰辛和困难，也不会太过在意了。所以，这段经历对于我来说是财富，是激励我前进的动力。

三藩应该是我所到过的城市里面最优雅美丽的城市。也许是靠近海边又阳光充足，这里的空气感觉很通透，海天相接处色彩纯净又绚烂，再加上金门大桥那亮眼的赤红，整个城市象极了一幅水彩画。

三藩的建筑应该也是非常的有特色的。一幢幢颇带欧式风格的小楼房，紧紧毗邻在一起，每个房子刷成淡淡的黄，兰，紫色，错落有致，别有一番风味。

来到三藩的游人们经常会惊异于这里上上下下的陡坡，实在是有些让人叹为惊止。时常是驾车翻越了一段长长的无比惊险的上坡窄路，心里惴惴不安的担心下面的路途如何的时候，忽然发觉原来已经到了坡的顶峰，一路望下去，长长的下坡尽头，居然是那让人醉心的碧蓝海面。于是这些小小的探索路程经常是充满点点滴滴的惊喜和欣慰。

更有甚，生活在这里的三藩客，无论何时总是那副悠然淡定的神情。经常在海边的黄泥跑道上看到健步疾飞的runner or hiker, 来去中的那种超然冷静，是道别样的风景。 对于Bay Area的美国人，我觉得也许是因为环境太美好，人人陶醉和沉迷于和自然的对话，感觉上人和人之间的关系比较的淡然，甚至有时候会觉得有些distant. 比起东岸有些小城市里的淳朴和温情的人际关系，这里的人们更为超然自在一些。 我曾经一度觉得为此有些遗憾。可是想来，也许上苍恩赐的这块宝地，造就了这样的人群和文化，也是有它独特的地方吧。

从三藩做渡轮可以到达一个小镇Sausalito。 小镇沿海有座山脊，面对着开阔海面。山脚是一条小街，沿街琳琅满目的小商店，街边海岸停泊的yacht, 加上那绚目的碧蓝，让这一切看起来都如诗如画。还记得有天和峻在这条街上游荡，旁边一个年轻的女孩游客惊喜的叫起来， “哦，这是天堂了么?” 听到这里我会心一笑。她的直觉真准确，的确这里是天堂，或者是离天堂最近的地方。

然而，我们还有很长的路要走，直到有天停驻在这里。 离别， 是为了来日的重聚。