Everyday I'm shoveling*

One thing that becomes obvious when you live abroad is that you really become your nationality in a way that you never would have living in your home country.  If you are American, for example, you are constantly reminded of, and even forced to analyze what it is that makes you American.  From your child’s teacher requesting you bring a classroom treat from your home country to an acquaintance’s offhand remark about something you’ve done as being “so American!” leaving you scratching your head and wondering, "Really?  Asking people where they're from is an American thing?"

I guess I expected to be analyzing the personalities of people who are native to the country in which I was a foreigner.  And while it’s true that I find myself constantly trying to figure out the local protocol (failing more often than not), it should have been obvious that everything has to filter through my innately American perception first. Whether it’s lining up to pay for my coffee or shoveling snow from our shared driveway.  

FYI, don’t bother shoveling your neighbor’s half of the driveway in Finland, it will just weird him out and he won’t be returning the favor which your American self may perceive as rude.

*Truman said no one will get that this is a reference to Party Rock Anthem, but I know you do.  And obviously I'm not shoveling, Steve is.  So really it would be "Everyday He's Shoveling," but that's just not funny.