Americans? (home, to buy, school)

[Trimac20]

Originally Posted by Neuling

Of course there are Americans who don't appear American, still, I think those exceptions don't mean that it is usually not possible to spot Americans.

Irish English indeed does sound very American, they pronounce the r in pretty much the same way, unlike Brits. After all, that's partly where American English got its characteristic sound from.

Actually that influence is more from Southwestern England - e.g. places like Cornwall, Devon etc. Irish was an influence but minor compared. West of England accents are rhotic (they pronounce 'r').

[f1000]

Originally Posted by Repubocrat

This thread is great! I just came from Montreal and I always had my Minnesota Twins baseball hat on LOL, often worn backwards like someone said and I did not know that was only an American thing I also had a Twins baseball shirt and wore some of my U of Minnesota t-shirts while I was there. I did not wear brand new Nike running shoes but some New Balance running shoes which are definitely an American thing. Now I am starting to understand why I got a few dirty looks

umm i'm an American currently in Canada and Canadians wear baseball caps backwards and also wear N Balance running shoes. I'd say Quebec is different as it aspires to not be anything "North American" like.

i can generally tell the Americans apart when abroad, usually before i hear them speak:
- plain white running shoes
- older women with very coiffed, pouffy hair
- women wearing clothes with glitter/ shiny embellishments straight from Chico's
- there is usually some uncoordination in clothing tastes though Americans do wear brighter colors than say the British..American women love wearing clothes with the blue/ white combo or red/ white combo or red/ white/ blue combo
- men wearing deck shoes/ penny loafers with Allen Edmond tassels
- the younger Americans with the clean cut preppy "American Eagle" or "A & F" look...mainly those from suburban backgrounds though
- very white, generally straight teeth (compared to Europe/ Asia)

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Repubocrat

Unfortunately, a lot of the American stereotypes described here are TRUE One thing that bothers me about the average American tourist is how uneducated they really are. Last week, I was talking to a client about the state of New Mexico and his response was "Yes, I have not been to that country yet"

Recently Texas was listed as a foreign country on the State Department's website, until they caught the error. Our government sets a bad example for us. LOL

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

Recently Texas was listed as a foreign country on the State Department's website, until they caught the error. Our government sets a bad example for us. LOL

How was that an error?

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

How was that an error?

Hmm, on second thought you're right...

[littleandoften]

Originally Posted by orangeapple

Most overweight countries:
World's Fattest Countries - Forbes.com

Lots of other fat countries in there...and I read somewhere else recently that Australia has surpassed the US in highest obesity rates, and the UK and Mexico are up there in obesity too.

I don't doubt your stats at all. There are certainly plenty of overweight people here (UK). But I can't really get past the looks like/feels like reality. Every time I go to the United States I am shocked by how many overweight people there are...it just seems like there are far more than at home. But more than anything, just how overweight they actually are. Fat people in America are sometimes really fat.

I get that many western countries are catching up and I believe that the UK is among the worst of these. But....there are a lot of chubby people in the UK that are risking their health and need to lose a quite a few pounds, but hardly any of the extremely obese people that are a common sight in the USA. I'm talking about people who waddle, and pant when they are walking. They exist here, for sure, but they are unusual enough to turn heads and draw comments. I see one maybe every 4 months or so? In America you see several people like that every day.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by Audrey Ann

Do you wear sox with your sandals?

No, I do not. It's just a different style and I do think many have certain facial features that only Americans have.

[orangeapple]

Originally Posted by littleandoften

I don't doubt your stats at all. There are certainly plenty of overweight people here (UK). But I can't really get past the looks like/feels like reality. Every time I go to the United States I am shocked by how many overweight people there are...it just seems like there are far more than at home. But more than anything, just how overweight they actually are. Fat people in America are sometimes really fat.

I get that many western countries are catching up and I believe that the UK is among the worst of these. But....there are a lot of chubby people in the UK that are risking their health and need to lose a quite a few pounds, but hardly any of the extremely obese people that are a common sight in the USA. I'm talking about people who waddle, and pant when they are walking. They exist here, for sure, but they are unusual enough to turn heads and draw comments. I see one maybe every 4 months or so? In America you see several people like that every day.

I don't know what states you've been to, but obesity like that is unusual in California also. It gets a lot of stares too. I know the southern states is where it's most predominant, and among poorer people. Not saying it has not become a frighteningly widespread problem, and I'm the first to say Americans are fatties, but personal observation doesn't tell the whole story. The statistics I saw had the UK & Australia not far behind in obesity, not just being overweight. Interestingly, the countries with higher rates of being overweight are not necessarily the highest for obesity.

Anyway, I know that's not what this thread is about.... I could start a new thread about most obese countries, but I think it could become inflammatory....

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by XodoX

No, I do not. It's just a different style and I do think many have certain facial features that only Americans have.

What features would those be? I've got some 19th century photographs of German relatives of mine...you could mistake some of them for myself and other living relatives...no unique features I can see...the U.S. is too diverse to have specific facial features, unless you're speaking of Native Americans...

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Whenever I finally get to Europe, I plan on wearing a fishing hat, a photographer's vest over a loud hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, bermuda shorts, black socks, and sandals. And a George W Bush pin, a big one. And I'll tote around a big SLR camera strapped around my neck. And I will wear a fanny pack.

And I will speak English to everyone slowly and loudly so they can understand me. And I will add an "o" to the end of english words as if Europeans will understand it then. Oh, and I will remind them all how we Americans saved their behinds in WWII.

I will do this primarly to spite the other Americans who are around.