MPH in the UK and Europe - anti-Americanism

[out.to.sea]

Hello, 

 

A 28-year-old American/Brazilian here. 

 

During university, I studied abroad in Denmark. After graduating from university, I worked abroad for the next five years in Brazil, South Korea, the Republic of Georgia, Iraq, and Kyrgyzstan.

 

Living abroad forever changed me. I made friends from across the world. For various reasons, I don't see a future for myself in the US anymore.  As soon as my parents retire, we're moving back down to Brazil, where my father is from.  

 

I am currently applying to MPH programmes in Canada (Simon Fraser and UofA). I am not applying anywhere in the U.S. due to the exorbitant cost and also I don't plan on living in the US anymore. I am also considering applying to programmes in the UK and perhaps other parts of Europe. 

 

Here's my problem. To be honest, out of all of the places I have lived, Denmark was the most difficult. I endured constant criticism from strangers, and even from my fellow classmates and professors, for being American.  Whilst living abroad, I tend to encounter the most anti-Americanism from Europeans. They are very comfortable expressing their disgust with America, and hence their disgust with me. Thank goodness I was born just across the Canadian border close to Winnipeg. Winnipeg, I have claimed to be from you quite often. 

 

I understand it happens the other way around. I know it does, I have witnessed it. I hate that it does and I'm very sorry it does. 

 

According to Wikipedia, foreigners find Americans "aggressive, arrogant, ignorant, overweight, poorly dressed, materialistic, obsessed with making money, too moralistic, and generally obnoxious." 

 

I quote my non-American flatmate in Kyrgyzstan, " I like the Brazilian side of you, it's the American one I hate." 

 

I hate talking about America, but it seems all foreigners do when they go to pubs. The problem is that everyone expects me to talk about America, defend it, explain it, excuse it, and I just don't like doing that. 

 

Canadians and Brits, I have never lived abroad in an English-speaking country. Will I just have to duck my head and zip my lips for the next year or two years until I can make it to Brazil? I wouldn't go to university in your country unless I thought it was better for me but do I have a chance of being accepted?

 

 I can pull of a Winnipeg accent pretty well, so I'm prepared if not. 

 

Thanks. 

 

 

 

[Page228]

I'm an American who went to school in Canada for undergrad. I don't have a strong regional accent, so only one Canadian ever noticed (and pointed out) "You're American?!" Most of the time it didn't come up unless it was relevant.

When it did come up, people would generally express disapproval of the USA's politics, but not of me personally. It probably helped that I don't fit many of the stereotypes. (I'm quiet, on the thin side of average weight, open-minded, atheist, etc.) The Canadians are not a hostile people. While I heard more anti-American rhetoric than I would have liked, it wasn't bad.

That said, I'm applying to universities in the UK for next year, and I have had similar concerns.

[MathCat]

I'm Canadian. I will admit to having negative views of American politics, and people do talk about these things - I think part of it comes from wanting to differentiate ourselves from our American neighbours. But as Page228 said, I don't think it generally presents as disapproval of you in particular.

[out.to.sea]

Page 228, I'm glad you didn't encounter too much negativity. I've dated a Korean, French and a Brit, and I had an extended Couchsurfing experience with an Aussie. I have found that it really depends on the person. 

 

Where in the UK are you applying? Are you looking at Scotland and Ireland also? 

 

Thanks for the reply MathCat! 

[Page228]

I still have a few apps to send out, but the list is primarily English universities (most of which are in London or within an hour or two of it) with one possibility in Ireland (Dublin). I've never visited either country, so I'm applying somewhat blind.

[Al216]

I am Canadian. I moved to the US when I was in high school. My experiences might be due to moving from Toronto to a small town in the South... but I was "picked on" in high school for my "different accent", political views, recycling, trying to conserve energy, and many other "Foreign habits" that they were not use to. My math teacher asked me what language do they speak in Canada, my classmate told me she thought Canada belonged to the US and no one lives there..... and a lot more outrageous questions that I have blocked out of my memory.Anyways, I'm still in the US about to graduate from college and I would say the classmates I met from northern USA (like nyc) very relatable, but my fellow southern classmates are overall pretty nice and educated (but I am in the science department.. I heard students in the business department are pretty stupid.. but people might just be biased). But I guess my point is... you shouldn't experience what I have experienced here in Canada. There are disrespectful people everywhere, but Canadians in general are a lot less aggressive than Americans and in my opinion soooo much nicer but I am biased. 

Edited January 27, 2015 by Al216

[holykrp]

I'm American and I hate most Americans so I understand their POV 

 

I think as others have said it just really depends on the people you're interacting with and how you present yourself to them. It doesn't sound like you're gung-ho about defending America so I really wouldn't let that deter you. You could always just fake a random accent, ha. 

 

I explored applying overseas and the reason I didn't was because those schools didn't have the CEPH certification. If you don't plan on living in the US, though, that won't matter. As far as to whether or not you'll get in, I don't think it would have anything to do with being from the US specifically, but more along the lines of being an international student and how many spots they have open for them and so on. I know a lot of schools are really competitive for international students because they open up the majority of seats to students from their country. Kind of like here, a lot of schools reserve a certain amount of seats for in-state students (this is especially true for med programs but not so much MPH in the US). So you would just need to make sure you're presenting the best application you can.

 

These are very realistic fears especially coming from your own experiences, but if you would prefer to go to school in Europe, don't let that stop you. People are jerks everywhere.

[tmiaj1]

I wish I have a chance to apply MPH in Northern Europe. I have been researching with a professor since sophomore years and we also collaborate with northern european college doing research. In my opinion, I think some of the problem over there are better than here. 

[out.to.sea]

I'm American and I hate most Americans so I understand their POV 

 

I think as others have said it just really depends on the people you're interacting with and how you present yourself to them. It doesn't sound like you're gung-ho about defending America so I really wouldn't let that deter you. You could always just fake a random accent, ha. 

 

I explored applying overseas and the reason I didn't was because those schools didn't have the CEPH certification. If you don't plan on living in the US, though, that won't matter. As far as to whether or not you'll get in, I don't think it would have anything to do with being from the US specifically, but more along the lines of being an international student and how many spots they have open for them and so on. I know a lot of schools are really competitive for international students because they open up the majority of seats to students from their country. Kind of like here, a lot of schools reserve a certain amount of seats for in-state students (this is especially true for med programs but not so much MPH in the US). So you would just need to make sure you're presenting the best application you can.

 

These are very realistic fears especially coming from your own experiences, but if you would prefer to go to school in Europe, don't let that stop you. People are jerks everywhere.

 

Canada has two universities that are CEPH certified! I've applied to both of those just in case I decide to ever live here.

 

Yeah, I understand the difficulty in applying abroad. Another thing is that I've done the math. Even after paying out of country prices for grad school in the UK, I will only pay about $25,000 to $30,000 for my MPH. Not a bad deal actually. But none are CEPH certified, that's true. The ones in Canada will be more expensive, because they are two year programs, so I'd pay around $40,000. 

 

Decisions, decisions...

[out.to.sea]

I am Canadian. I moved to the US when I was in high school. My experiences might be due to moving from Toronto to a small town in the South... but I was "picked on" in high school for my "different accent", political views, recycling, trying to conserve energy, and many other "Foreign habits" that they were not use to. My math teacher asked me what language do they speak in Canada, my classmate told me she thought Canada belonged to the US and no one lives there..... and a lot more outrageous questions that I have blocked out of my memory.Anyways, I'm still in the US about to graduate from college and I would say the classmates I met from northern USA (like nyc) very relatable, but my fellow southern classmates are overall pretty nice and educated (but I am in the science department.. I heard students in the business department are pretty stupid.. but people might just be biased). But I guess my point is... you shouldn't experience what I have experienced here in Canada. There are disrespectful people everywhere, but Canadians in general are a lot less aggressive than Americans and in my opinion soooo much nicer but I am biased. 

 

I currently live in the south and I can attest that people like that do exist! I went to a town hall meeting in my local city and the topic was health care. I had a guy spit on me and tell me to move to f-in Canada. You can guess I was pro-change. 

 

I've applied to Simon Fraser MPH and U of A. Hopefully I'll get into one of those. If so, I'm pretty excited! 

[AlphacentauriC]

I think that anti-Americanism is goegraphical. In Africa, people don't hate America or Americans. If fact, you will be surprised that President Bush (43) is more popular than the Pope in most parts of Africa. The Canadians I lived with in South Africa, they didn't outwardly tell me or do things that showed they are anti-America. They were cool guys. The Aussies seemed neutral.

[sqrwtrmln]

I'm a Canadian living in America and while I HATE it when people assume I'm American (because of the negative stereotypes), I don't hate Americans in general. I'd say that's basically how most Canadians are, and a lot of my UK relatives feel similarly (not that they're ever mistaken for Americans). If you're looking to study in a country that has close ties to the US, as both Canada and the UK have, you shouldn't have any problems. In fact, I think they'd make more fun of you for being from Winnipeg