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And the people who posted about how different it is here from state to state are right. If I go to a different state, I will tell them where I am from just to prepare them. To let them know that I probably don't know where any of their towns are. If I'm in Florida, to warn them that I'm not used to their warm winter weather. Once, on a cruise, when I said I was from MA, the person I was talking to said, "Well, in that case we'll avoid some topics." We continued to have a great conversation but I'm glad I warned him first to avoid embarrassment and strife.
I've been to 40 states and this plus more are true. This is especially true it seems if you're from California or Texas which seem to have the most distinctive cultures and mindsets.
Not sure but, until I cover every inch of this country, I see little reason to go find out.....lots of those same challenges exist here to be sure but, it's a whole lot less expensive, the water clean, and everyone speaks the same language to varying levels of competency....good enough....
Agree with most of that but you'd be better drinking what passes for beer in the U.S.
Your understanding of the US beer market may be in need of an update. Currently, there are over 4,000 breweries in the US, vs 1,300 in Germany. 75% of the US population lives within 10 miles of a local brewery.
High end beers sell for $30 per 750ml bottle.
Because it's just a fact that many people DO have strong opinions about "America", if not Americans. As we know, sometimes it can be dangerous in today's world to advertise, but other times it's just unpleasant:
My brother was on a tour bus in France with other "anglos" (Canadians, British, Australians) and said that some of them tried to pick political arguments with him, even though he's not really a political person. They apparently have a chip on their shoulder and relished the opportunity to vent on him.
When I was in Bermuda, I noticed a couple of times that different tour guides unnecessarily took shots at America. Talk about biting the hands that feed you.
In Canada we took a river rapids tour near Niagara Falls and the tour guides started bragging about the War of 1812 when the Canadians and British pushed back the "American invaders" who wanted to conquer Canada. It seemed like major stretch to include that factoid in the tour.
Because it's just a fact that many people DO have strong opinions about "America", if not Americans. As we know, sometimes it can be dangerous in today's world to advertise, but other times it's just unpleasant:
My brother was on a tour bus in France with other "anglos" (Canadians, British, Australians) and said that some of them tried to pick political arguments with him, even though he's not really a political person. They apparently have a chip on their shoulder and relished the opportunity to vent on him.
When I was in Bermuda, I noticed a couple of times that different tour guides unnecessarily took shots at America. Talk about biting the hands that feed you.
In Canada we took a river rapids tour near Niagara Falls and the tour guides started bragging about the War of 1812 when the Canadians and British pushed back the "American invaders" who wanted to conquer Canada. It seemed like major stretch to include that factoid in the tour.
That's just little brother syndrome.
I used to get that when living in the UK, but it was more good natured than anything else. The same stuff happens here in the States. Northerners take shots at Southerners, Southerners take shots at Northerners, etc but you'd have to be very thin skinned to let it get to you. It's worldwide. The Italians do it among themselves, the English and the Irish, etc. I've never had it get violent and that's all that really matters.
This is a question I see over and over and over everywhere
Americans asking: If I go to X place will I fit in? I am blonde with blue eyes!!
I am black will they look down on me if I go to Y place??
Should I tell people I am an American when I visit so and so??
Why this question?
No one cares (I've been all over the world and most people dont even bother to ask where the strangers they come across come from!!!!)
Much less they care to know if you're an American or not!!
The normal reaction people outside the US have when they meet an American, it's the normal reaction Americans have in NYC when they see a tourist from Canada. Nothing in particular!!!
What makes Americans think their presence and nationality will cause some sort of admiration/reaction on strangers in other countries?
You think only Americans ask questions like these?
My brother was on a tour bus in France with other "anglos" (Canadians, British, Australians) and said that some of them tried to pick political arguments with him, even though he's not really a political person. They apparently have a chip on their shoulder and relished the opportunity to vent on him.
.
This reminds me of when I was at a conference in The Netherlands, and the staff had billeted me with a local person. She kept trying to pick political arguments with me, even though she and I had similar views and values. It was really odd; she was really spoiling for a fight, but we were on the same side of the issues she chose. I couldn't help wondering why she had the expectations she did of what my views would be. She picked some fairly obscure issues.
I know your country and you're a racially infatuated nation, most Americans have a very hard time understanding the world beyond the superficial concept of race.... aspects such as culture, history are completely irrelevant to the American experience, US created race labels are truly what defines the way Americans see the world.
This is why questions such as.....
I AM WHITE, WILL I BE SAFE IN MEXICO CITY? pop up often!! (As if Mexico City wasn't full of European, white Americans tourists and even white Mexican people)
Sometimes you see forums with American men asking how the women in Asia will react when they see them because they're white and American! (As if they were expecting people to worship them just because they're white and American), then they go to Asia and get disappointed about the fact Asian women dont throw themselves at them just based on the fact they're white Americans.
Because there's a bunch of crackers in the US that rarely travel outside their community. Just like when some Catalan cracker living in a town near Mollerussa decides to go to Madrid....but he thinks they will kill him just by his accent. There are many people like that all around the world.
If the US was a country with many borders, and people travelled more often to different cultures without reading tabloids and mannic telecasters, priests, etc, they would be just like the typical Poppel family.
Because there's a bunch of crackers in the US that rarely travel outside their community. Just like when some Catalan cracker living in a town near Mollerussa decides to go to Madrid....but he thinks they will kill him just by his accent. There are many people like that all around the world.
If the US was a country with many borders, and people travelled more often to different cultures without reading tabloids and mannic telecasters, priests, etc, they would be just like the typical Poppel family.
Is that really necessary?
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