How do you identify different nationalities abroad? (estimate, cities)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I can tell American by their countenance/ facial expression / spiritual aura (or rather lack thereof) before I decide based on actual physical features (though those can be a good clue too).
Americans tend to look nonchalant, unassuming and socially disconnected. In some of the worse cases - vacuous, self-absorbed but not self-aware.
Ever dealt with Brits?
I remember back in Moscow - even when in groups, even when in closest proximity to each other, they somehow always managed to carry that "personal space" around each and every one of them. Collectively.
I am not saying that they are one and the same with Americans, but the roots of American culture are still essentially Gr-Br. That's why Americans have to smile all the time - to prove to the world that they are not British and to stay connected with each other the best they can)))).
When we smile and people see our teeth, they do know we are not British. I can usually tell a Brit about 80-90% of the time anyways but when I see the teeth it usually confirms it.
When we smile and people see our teeth, they do know we are not British. I can usually tell a Brit about 80-90% of the time anyways but when I see the teeth it usually confirms it.
The Brits live the floor above and the walls are very thin...
Ever dealt with Brits?
I remember back in Moscow - even when in groups, even when in closest proximity to each other, they somehow always managed to carry that "personal space" around each and every one of them. Collectively.
I am not saying that they are one and the same with Americans, but the roots of American culture are still essentially Gr-Br. That's why Americans have to smile all the time - to prove to the world that they are not British and to stay connected with each other the best they can)))).
First, disclaimer: kindly refrain from lamentations about "generalizing".
Second: Yes, I have dealt with the Brits. Have lived in the UK for one year and I know what you are talking about. But this is NOT what I was referring to when I characterized Americans.
The Brits clearly value their personal space but they are NOT psychologically disconnected from their social environments like Americans tend to be. They are keen observers of social life, even if they do it from a "superior" distance; and they have a quality of spirit that few cultures, if any, can match. They are not self-absorbed yet unaware-of-self (and others) as Americans tend to be.
Although I am from a culture that has profound incompatibilities with the British culture, I cannot help but admire the Brits, all in all. Like my sister said, I would go crazy trying to acculturate to the British ways but I DO like to watch them from a distance!
They say the French always try to prove to you they are superior.
The Brits KNOW they are superior.
As for Americans, I stick by my guns that there is no lonelier, more disconnected, more fragmented and hazardous-to-mental health culture than America. It's certainly not what the commercial says it is.
Having lived in Britain, I must say that they do have their fair share of white trash as well. They are also surprisingly vulgar sometimes.
The personal space observation is interesting. I used to frequent an Internet cafe and the other day when there was nobody else in there one of the employees started to talk to me. He said something like he doesn't like people from the south as they tend to get too close. I suppose he said that because the Internet cafe was frequented mostly by foreigners and immigrants, while I was usually the only Northern customer.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,606 posts, read 55,803,323 times
Reputation: 11862
Americans are a mix of different ethnicities, so there is no one American 'look', or facial or body type. An American of Cuban heritage from Miami will look different from a Wisconsinite with mostly German heritage. So I think it's sort of silly to talk about Americans in terms of physical features.
I can often spot Australians because they often wear boardshorts, singlets or t-shirts and thongs (as in flip flops), if the weather is warm. We also tend to look a bit 'scruffy' but I'm talking the stereotype.
Americans are a mix of different ethnicities, so there is no one American 'look', or facial or body type. An American of Cuban heritage from Miami will look different from a Wisconsinite with mostly German heritage. So I think it's sort of silly to talk about Americans in terms of physical features.
.
There is no single American "look" as there are 300 million Americans. But still, there is a stereotypical look that a certain class of Americans seem to have (the "masters of the universe", or at least the "masters of America") and that is easily recognizable.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.