Getting philosophical: Be the American China believes you are.

So, there's a minor meme called "Be the American Japan believes you are!" Since memes are meant to spread, I'm stealing it and mutating it.   But it got me to thinking, what does this mean , exactly?  

The Japan meme is just a bunch of funny photos of  a broad-chested, necktied politician called "Armstrong" who, true to his name, has strong arms and does a lot of strong man things and shouts a lot. 

I mean, I'm an American, I've certainly heard my share of this, but I find myself at a loss here. I find myself doing something I don't do much of, getting philosophical. After all, I am an adult man who has pretty much decided that China is my life. It's replaced much of my personality such that I feel like a bore when talking with folks from back home because every topic just becomes "but in China blah blah blah" and I'm sure probably nobody cares.   But later this year I'm applying for my permanent residency and if I get that then it's on.  

I'm not the kind of laowai who longs to be Chinese or says cringe stuff like 我是新中国人. I had already accepted that I'll never be Chinese and probably shouldn't want to be, either.  I had hit on the idea of "be the est   laowai you can  be" already.  

And this is no joke. I am talking about a slogan and a thesis statement for life.  Well, my life, anyway.  I am a Texan, and one of the reasons I got into barbecue cooking was to be as stereotypical as possible, in the most positive way possible.  I mean, who doesn't like showing up to a backyard barbecue with mouthwatering meats cooked to perfection?  Well, besides the local laowai, who mostly no-showed after promising to attend over and over, which is one of the reasons I quit  doing them a while back.  It was just discouraging to go to all this work only to have people treat it like an unwanted chore they had to complete that day.   Chinese people liked it, sometimes.  And I liked doing it, it gave me a great way of paying people back for all the wonderful hospitality Chinese are famous for without it being overly familiar indoor cooking they might have been to shy to attend. And let's be honest, it's a roll of the dice to attend any random foreigner's home-cooked meal. I've had some food that I was promised was the best in the world only to find out that it was...well, edible.  But barbecue, everyone knows what that is.  And I got to be pretty danged good at it. Let's face it, meat and flame aren't really that hard to get right. Add a few techniques like brining or smoking and you've got a winner. But back to the point, what does "be the American China thinks you are" actually mean?  Or, perhaps a better question  would be "what would it mean to live your life in a way that fulfills (in a non-ridiculous, welcome way, positive Chinese stereotypes about Americans?

I don't mean wear a cowboy hat every day and import a block-long Cadillac like Otto in " Fish Called  Wanda".  (although I did once know a Chinese man who did that).  

Now that I think of it, Kevin Kline provides a good negative example of what I'm talking about. He was specifically cast in the movie to be an ass and an unsympathetic buttmonkey that the audience gets to feel superior to. Jamie Lee Curtis' lecture to him about the central message of Buddhism not being "every man for himself and the London Underground  not being a revolutionary movement resonated so well with Hollywood that Kevin Kline won a rare Best Supporting Actor Oscar for a comedic role.  

I'm talking about the polar opposite of that.  

And a follow-up question would be, what would I have to do to achieve these dual goals?   Be the best laowai I can be and be the American China expects me to be?

1. Get a lot better at Chinese, of course. 

2. Study more about China, I do that too.  

4. Shout a lot. Pass.

3. Be a big strong man. Well, all of us can use more physical fitness but if I was going to be a muscle man I could have been that by now, so I think we can strike this one off the list. Maybe I really should split this into two threads but I've talked enough already.  

And for any of you who are wondering about what a weird question this is and if I have recently suffered a head injury?  Yes, you are right.  I recently had a concussion (I received prompt medical treatment and have mostly recovered, thank you!) and have been rather off lately.  But whatever, I am embracing the madness.   it's true, it really is liberating.  I can see why the Joker likes it so much. So if anyone has any good answers I would really appreciate them. Especially from this crowd, this site has got some of the best, most veteran posters of any discussion board of any kind I use.  

On 10/28/2024 at 3:38 PM, vellocet said:

But back to the point, what does "be the American China thinks you are" actually mean?

When living in China, I just tried to be as good a person as I could, without regard to any special national characteristics. No catchy slogans needed. 

I've often wondered about this question. My entire social life when in China is in calligraphy and tea circles. I stick out like a sore thumb, and I've vacillated over the years between living up to the 'englishman' stereotype and being more 'chinese' than the Chinese people around me. I think these days I'm happy in the realisation that the only person that really seems to care about such questions is me. Any new reflections since this post?

On 12/12/2025 at 8:02 PM, Tomsima said:

I've often wondered about this question. My entire social life when in China is in calligraphy and tea circles. I stick out like a sore thumb, and I've vacillated over the years between living up to the 'englishman' stereotype and being more 'chinese' than the Chinese people around me. I think these days I'm happy in the realisation that the only person that really seems to care about such questions is me. Any new reflections since this post?

This struggle with identity is a driving force that led me to pursue China studies in college, which led me to study abroad at PKU for a semester, which led me to working in China. And yes, no one will care as much as you care, so be the person you want to be! I've had many thoughts about this over the years, and I believe I've formed my identity to be fluid, where I flow between the best parts of both Western and Eastern worlds/cultures (but in turn never actually fitting in perfectly anywhere). This is something I've spent many nights musing over, maybe my first blog post will be about it 

Well hell, get a top hat and monocle. Serve people chamomile and Earl Grey and such, they'd like it. Why not? Next time you're home  splash some cash on the good stuff and make a fuss over it. Everyone has had pu'er and oolong tea, but how many have had Darjeeling in anything but an old dried-out teabag at a hotel?

But without milk, I remember long ago some English people served tea and were shocked I didn't take milk in it. I was like, nah I take my tea raw, I only learned tea culture in China. No sugar? They thought I was weirder than any Chinese ever did. 

You'll never out-Chinese the Chinese. I get the whole "I want to belong" thing but be true to yourself. 

Hell, on occasion I wear hats and belt buckles and even brought back a pair of boots last time I was back home just to complete the look, even though walking miles through airports in a pair of new not broken in boots was painful. 

I think it's just plain fun being not a generic foreigner, but one from a specific, identifiable place. Last week a buddy of mine opened an American BBQ joint and I got dudded up in full western wear for the occasion.  Sure enough there was a photographer snapping photos and I'm sure I'll show up in his advertising at some point. Why not?  He's a buddy and I got a free meal out of it. 

Before covid they'd have a comic-con with cosplay and I felt strange walking around in street clothes. At first I thought to be Professor Oak but he's Japanese. I assembled a Victorian outfit from Taobao complete with cravat tie. 

And I gotta tell you, damn I made that look good. I'd wear that every day if I could get away with it. 

I also wear those Tang dynasty shirts with the ties and pockets on the outside. I bought another one that looked cool which turned out to be the male version of a qipao.  I showed up to a gathering and one of my Chinese friends smirked, "what, you just get out of kung fu practice or something?" LOL.

I also wear them back home sometimes.  Usually white men look like total tools wearing that kind of thing but I totally have the street cred to back it up.

You have to figure out what it means to be the Englishman China thinks you are, 'cause I don't know. Tip top, cheerio, just don't burn down the Summer Palace and you'll be fine. Or pick up a redcoat and pith helmet for next Halloween. Costumes are supposed to be scary, right? 😄

[duplicate]

On 12/16/2025 at 3:09 AM, vellocet said:

Tip top, cheerio, just don't burn down the Summer Palace and you'll be fine.

A memorable quote

I'm not the most American of American's - I don't like Football(NFL), hot dogs, or Sam's Club. But living in China, I try to be the best ambassador for my home country I can, while sharing my experiences in China with people back home honestly and positively.