Treatment from the locals; your experiences

[J&D 0]

In general I find Americans to be very welcoming and friendly, and I have had no problems at all in my 3 years in the US. Of course there is the odd moment here and there. The most notable (as a few posters mentioned already) being where someone asked me where I was from, when I said Ireland, they said they would love to go there as they had never been to a "third world country before"....

Edited July 4, 2009 by J&D

[SP&JM 0]

I think you'll get a lot of well-meaning but stupid questions/comments. And I think that's the same everywhere. People ask my husband about speaking "Mexican" - right, it's Spanish, he's from Spain, Spain is in Europe...but then when people learned that I was from the US they kept telling me how their kids like to eat hotdogs and hamburgers.

And the people who are rude are probably rude to everyone, not just immigrants.

Interesting topic, I'm trying to think of more things to warn my husband about and this has given me a few good ideas.

[trinket 30]

A lot of people have German ancestors in the area where I live and the most common comments I'm getting is "I wish I could go there and see it one day" and "what does my last name mean in English?"

My husband gets a lot of people that once they hear he is German will say random things to him in German, which turns out to be all they know or can remember. But he says he was surprised how many people here took German in school. He didn't know so many people here cared that much to actually attempt to learn it.

My husband is of German heritage and proud of it. They didn't learn German as kids (except for "Danke" and counting to three) but they love German restaurants and food. Anytime he wants to treat his parents to a nice dinner it will most likely be German food.

Wisconsin and Ohio at least have a lot of German history (don't know about Indiana). Though my husband tells me there is a good German bar in downtown Indianpolis. Go figure he would find it.....

I don't know about other places in Indiana, but the town I live in has a big German influence, they even do something similar to Oktoberfest Fest every year. The German restaurant near our apartments have some really good beer collection and I love their food.

What my husband has told me is in this town, if its West side -- its more German descendents, if its East side-- its more of Irish descendents.

[Krikit 1,165]

In general I find Americans to be very welcoming and friendly, and I have had no problems at all in my 3 years in the US. Of course there is the odd moment here and there. The most notable (as a few posters mentioned already) being where someone asked me where I was from, when I said Ireland, they said they would love to go there as they had never been to a "third world country before"....

[Nina~ 431]

A lot of people have German ancestors in the area where I live and the most common comments I'm getting is "I wish I could go there and see it one day" and "what does my last name mean in English?"

My husband gets a lot of people that once they hear he is German will say random things to him in German, which turns out to be all they know or can remember. But he says he was surprised how many people here took German in school. He didn't know so many people here cared that much to actually attempt to learn it.

My husband is of German heritage and proud of it. They didn't learn German as kids (except for "Danke" and counting to three) but they love German restaurants and food. Anytime he wants to treat his parents to a nice dinner it will most likely be German food.

Wisconsin and Ohio at least have a lot of German history (don't know about Indiana). Though my husband tells me there is a good German bar in downtown Indianpolis. Go figure he would find it.....

You should visit Texas Hill Country which was largely founded by German (& Chezk) pioneers.. There are towns where people still speak German and restaurants that serve authentic German food.

[forever_green 0]

NO bad experience at all. Been here a few times before as a tourist. My friends who went along with me in the previous times told me they were only to good to us because we were tourists but not when they come to know we're immigrants. Well, I'm an immigrant now and nothing has changed. In fact, I think the locals are great - very helpful & considerate to other people. I like it a lot when people whom I ask for directions or assist me at the grocery store call me, "baby, darling, sweetheart, honey, missy". I do encounter some of this people who call me all these names at the same time like the lady at the subway who taught me how to go home. I think the locals treat me this way because they think I am only a teenager. Back at home, people who do not know me mistake me to be younger than my age, too, so they're always kind to me

[NatPatBen 3]

My husband acts as translator in the US, and I act as translator when the roles are reversed. Even after all these years we still encounter words, phrases, or situations which are new to us. It's interesting. Like learning a whole new language.

You're from Canada, right? I'm surprised to hear about needing to translate for each other.

My pet peeve though is the confusion between Swedes and Swiss. People here ask me where I am from and I reply Sweden, they then continue by telling me what nice watches we make or how good our chocolate is.

That's hilarious. The people are clearly well-meaning... just a bit uninformed.

And the people who are rude are probably rude to everyone, not just immigrants.

I agree!

[Krikit 1,165]

My husband acts as translator in the US, and I act as translator when the roles are reversed. Even after all these years we still encounter words, phrases, or situations which are new to us. It's interesting. Like learning a whole new language.

You're from Canada, right? I'm surprised to hear about needing to translate for each other.

Well, from Canada, yes.... but England originally. I was thinking more along the lines of British-to-American -- and vice versa -- translations. So when we're in England or with my British relatives or friends, my husband has been working his way through the words and accents. Likewise, I have a difficult time with the southern accents and words. But, yes..... surprisingly, there are a number of differences between Canada and the US. You would think it wouldn't be so, but there is. I think that's due to the largely British influence in Canada.... Canada is more aligned with the UK than America is. Then again, it's also greatly aligned with the US. They're a hybrid, really.

[milesinfront 2]

I have been treated extremely well by Americans. I feel Americans are genuinely interested in finding out about other traditions and cultures. The only things that frustrate me (and are very rare!) are when people who don't know me imitate my accent when first speaking with me, and when people start talking about "the colonies" and "the Empire" as if that means so much to me. I know they are joking and it is not from a bad place, however, so I really don't mind too much. I can say that in general Americans are warm, friendly, outgoing people. There is an optimism here that was sadly lacking in the UK.

[TBoneTX 45,902]

They're a hybrid, really.

Uh, more correctly, Dear: They're a hybrid, really, eh, si man.

when people start talking about "the colonies"

Don't let us Colonists get under your skin, no man.

Very funny: The wife & I frequent a Mexican supermarket. On one of her first visits, I had her ask the staff (all Mexicans, naturally) if they could identify her country of origin from her dialect. The guesses were "Colombia," "Honduras," and "not Mexico." When they learned that she was from Ecuador, one of them apparently exclaimed, "I thought that all Ecuatorianas were UGLY!" Si, man.

Edited July 7, 2009 by TBoneTX

[Krikit 1,165]

When they learned that she was from Ecuador, one of them apparently exclaimed, "I thought that all Ecuatorianas were UGLY!" Si, man.

[milesinfront 2]

They're a hybrid, really.

Uh, more correctly, Dear: They're a hybrid, really, eh, si man.

when people start talking about "the colonies"

Don't let us Colonists get under your skin, no man.

Actually, this 4th July, my wife and were out with friends, and we were on our way to see the fireworks, but my wife was tired so we decided to make our way home. On explaining that we were leaving, a friend of a friend said "Oh, I understand, what with the fall of the Empire and all that." I seem to get this every 4th July - usually it's my father-in-law, subtly reminding me that "this is when we kicked your ####!" I have been jokingly called a "Limey" a few times (I used to work in a large law firm with a real locker-room mentality!)

Anyway, I have been treated with overwhelming kindness over here in the US, and in a free country, we should not find ourselves getting "offended" over jokes, as is becoming increasingly the case, unfortunately, in both the US and Europe.

[BermyCat 1]

Actually, this 4th July, my wife and were out with friends, and we were on our way to see the fireworks, but my wife was tired so we decided to make our way home. On explaining that we were leaving, a friend of a friend said "Oh, I understand, what with the fall of the Empire and all that." I seem to get this every 4th July - usually it's my father-in-law, subtly reminding me that "this is when we kicked your ####!" I have been jokingly called a "Limey" a few times (I used to work in a large law firm with a real locker-room mentality!)

Anyway, I have been treated with overwhelming kindness over here in the US, and in a free country, we should not find ourselves getting "offended" over jokes, as is becoming increasingly the case, unfortunately, in both the US and Europe.

I didn't realise "limey" was considered insulting. It's used a lot in Bermuda simply as a slang for British. In fact, one of our more famous political blogger's site is "A Limey in Bermuda".

I'll be careful not to use it here.

~ Catherine

[milesinfront 2]

Actually, this 4th July, my wife and were out with friends, and we were on our way to see the fireworks, but my wife was tired so we decided to make our way home. On explaining that we were leaving, a friend of a friend said "Oh, I understand, what with the fall of the Empire and all that." I seem to get this every 4th July - usually it's my father-in-law, subtly reminding me that "this is when we kicked your ####!" I have been jokingly called a "Limey" a few times (I used to work in a large law firm with a real locker-room mentality!)

Anyway, I have been treated with overwhelming kindness over here in the US, and in a free country, we should not find ourselves getting "offended" over jokes, as is becoming increasingly the case, unfortunately, in both the US and Europe.

I didn't realise "limey" was considered insulting. It's used a lot in Bermuda simply as a slang for British. In fact, one of our more famous political blogger's site is "A Limey in Bermuda".

I'll be careful not to use it here.

~ Catherine

I didn't say it was considered insulting, although it is usually used in a teasing manner. If, however, the British were considered a "victim group," perhaps the inverse would be true!

Call me a limey all you want!!

[Krikit 1,165]

. On explaining that we were leaving, a friend of a friend said "Oh, I understand, what with the fall of the Empire and all that."

Yes. Because "we're" obviously still smarting over that.

If, however, the British were considered a "victim group," perhaps the inverse would be true!