Miami People are so Nice (RV park, violent crime, car)

[Majami]

Everyone says Miami people are rude, don't even acknowledge you on the street, don't make small talk and make you feel special.

Now listen to this perspective, my cousin (from Serbia) has been visiting since early March. Today I finally had some time to chat with her on her impressions of Miami. She said many things, but one of the things she complained about was that Americans were too fake nice, always saying things they didn't mean just to be polite, making unnecessary chit-chat. Since her only experience with America is Miami, she is basically saying Miami residents are overtly polite.

I almost burst out laughing, and she looked at me a bit weird. I was laughing because I remembered all the posters on CD complaining, endlessly about the opposite.

Maybe it's an European thing, I notice many Europeans love Miami and the Americans who particularly didn't like Miami happen to be from the midwest or the south. I can only imagine what she'd say if she visited those places.

[AnnRyan]

Miami definitely has a reputation problem. A good part of it is that for the average 40 year old, they watched Miami Vice and remember the Cuban rafts arriving in the 1990s. The fact that time has past is irrelevant, those are their memories. The fact that many people in Miami speak Spanish as their first language really doesn't help either. But really, Miami is fast becoming a major world city again, despite any lingering doubts.

(And I suppose I should note, I'm midwestern raised, my family has been in the country over 150 years, grew up English only, etc. I'm the exception to the rule).

[Majami]

Originally Posted by AnnRyan

Miami definitely has a reputation problem. A good part of it is that for the average 40 year old, they watched Miami Vice and remember the Cuban rafts arriving in the 1990s. The fact that time has past is irrelevant, those are their memories. The fact that many people in Miami speak Spanish as their first language really doesn't help either. But really, Miami is fast becoming a major world city again, despite any lingering doubts.

(And I suppose I should note, I'm midwestern raised, my family has been in the country over 150 years, grew up English only, etc. I'm the exception to the rule).

I said this before but Miami to me is the most European-culturally influenced city in the USA. To my shock, I noticed Miami-locals (not FOB immigrants) exchange kisses on the cheeks as a kind of greeting only common in Europe and Latin America.

Keep in mind that Cubans are very European influenced as they're largely Spaniards transplanted to that island. They absorbed some influences from the indigenous locals and African slaves they brought to the island, but culturally they're closer to Europeans than in many ways Americans, well Americans are culturally more northern European whereas Cubans are more southern European culturally.

[ruski]

Miami is so nice they named it twice. Wait, no. That's some other place

[UrbanCrossroads]

Originally Posted by Majami

To my shock, I noticed Miami-locals (not FOB immigrants) exchange kisses on the cheeks as a kind of greeting only common in Europe and Latin America.

Who are the Miami locals and who are the FOBs?

[Majami]

Originally Posted by UrbanCrossroads

Who are the Miami locals and who are the FOBs?

Very simple,

FOB = "Fresh off the Boat" = recent immigrants (not born in the USA)
Miami locals = those born in the USA and Miami specifically.

[ruski]

Originally Posted by Majami

Very simple,

FOB = "Fresh off the Boat" = recent immigrants (not born in the USA)
Miami locals = those born in the USA and Miami specifically.

What am I then?

I came to the US in 1990, but ended up in NYC. Then moved to South Florida in 2000. Am I still an FOB ?

[Majami]

Originally Posted by ruski

What am I then?

I came to the US in 1990, but ended up in NYC. Then moved to South Florida in 2000. Am I still an FOB ?

Grey area. Don't know really, but strictly speaking if I see you greet people by kissing them on the cheek, I wouldn't be surprised. You came from Europe, so you're European culturally. But when I see locals (born and raised do it) I'm surprised, that means European culture is dominant in Miami.

[Ellwood]

I spend the winter months in the FL Keys in a RV Park. My experience is not very positive with Cubans who come down here with car loads of kids, who are rude, loud and disrespectful not only to others but their own parents. Some Cuban families are very nice but the majority of them pay absolutely no attention to rules or respect of others property. I am from the northeast, not the midwest or south. It is not only my opinion but many who stay at the same place. In fact there are older Cubans who complain about the kids lack of control and respect.

On the morning and evening news there is a constant barrage of violent crime in Miami. I am not impressed with Miami at all.

[Reptoid Humidian]

My experience down here has been quite good actually. One of the notable qualities of the Miamians I have met is that they have been very HELPFUL. They give you a heads up if there's something you should know, and as far as rudeness that I have encountered, it has been mostly a driving thing.