immigrants assumptions of America

[wayno 9]

Just for discussion, being immigrants or pending immigrants what were/are your assumptions of the US and our customs.

For example, I spend a lot of time in Latin American country's and when I talk to the people, including my wife's friends, who have never visited the U.S. this seems to be a common perception of America. It seems that our typical dinner here consists of hamburgurs or hotdogs, of course they must be on alternating nights so we have some veriety, and our nights out always include a stop at McDonalds. Of course pizza is thrown in occasionally but other then that they are typical American meals. It seems we are also very rich and have an endless supply of $100 bills. Of course we all live in Miami where it is always below freezing and snows alot. Our houses all have 5 or more bedrooms with a minimum of 3 new cars in the driveway. My wife's first trip to the U.S. was on thanksgiving several years ago. Shoulda seen her eyes with all that food on the table. She thought it was a normal everyday dinner!

I'm not making fun of anybodys thoughts just curious how others see the U.S. I too had my perceptions of central and south America before I visited that was nowhere near reality!

[NickD 203]

Sounds like to me, you are meeting a group of people that are stereotyping Americans, nothing you have mentioned is unique to the USA, seen fast food restaurants, large homes, plenty of vehicles in the places I have visited in Latin America. In Wisconsin, we have hundreds of towns that are way too small to have a MacDonalds. Perhaps a more realistic comment to make is to how plastic this world is becoming.

Regarding those many hundred dollar bills, a lot of people come to this board wondering where they are going to raise the 545 bucks for the I-751 or the 675 bucks for the N-400, or finding a co-sponsor for the I-864.

Wife's comment about living here, we are far more Victorian and tend to stay to ourselves, just said, we could move to Burbon Street in New Orleans to get that or if you like traffic jams like you had in Venezuela, we could move to Elk Groove Village and you can drive to a job in downtown Chicago.

Coming to an area that has four seasons requires some adapting, daughter did very well and couldn't wait until we got snow so she could go skiing, wife can't wait until spring comes again. But we decided to take our vacations in the winter months and had south rather than the custom of taking them in the summer.

[thongd4me 69]

Adjusting my "mouseketeer" ears...

This is the picture of America most immigrants see

[thongd4me 69]

Sounds like to me, you are meeting a group of people that are stereotyping Americans, nothing you have mentioned is unique to the USA, seen fast food restaurants, large homes, plenty of vehicles in the places I have visited in Latin America. In Wisconsin, we have hundreds of towns that are way too small to have a MacDonalds. Perhaps a more realistic comment to make is to how plastic this world is becoming.

Regarding those many hundred dollar bills, a lot of people come to this board wondering where they are going to raise the 545 bucks for the I-751 or the 675 bucks for the N-400, or finding a co-sponsor for the I-864.

Wife's comment about living here, we are far more Victorian and tend to stay to ourselves, just said, we could move to Burbon Street in New Orleans to get that or if you like traffic jams like you had in Venezuela, we could move to Elk Groove Village and you can drive to a job in downtown Chicago.

Coming to an area that has four seasons requires some adapting, daughter did very well and couldn't wait until we got snow so she could go skiing, wife can't wait until spring comes again. But we decided to take our vacations in the winter months and had south rather than the custom of taking them in the summer.

As I travel to and from work on the NYC subway system I can see we are a nation of immigrants.

I wonder why "typical Americans" always seem to make their way to Thailand

[BishopMnA 0]

When I was living in Asia for a few years, I found that a lot of the people thought that the USA was a lot like the TV show 'Friends'...which made me want to

[slim 1,533]

My wife was shocked when she found out $2,000/month isn't enough to buy us a huge mansion and flashy cars. She was also supremely disappointed when she faced the fact that she couldn't just go shopping everyday and meet with friends for coffee... but had to work! - Oh! And 40+ hours at that! HORRIBLE!!!!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Just for discussion, being immigrants or pending immigrants what were/are your assumptions of the US and our customs.

For example, I spend a lot of time in Latin American country's and when I talk to the people, including my wife's friends, who have never visited the U.S. this seems to be a common perception of America. It seems that our typical dinner here consists of hamburgurs or hotdogs, of course they must be on alternating nights so we have some veriety, and our nights out always include a stop at McDonalds. Of course pizza is thrown in occasionally but other then that they are typical American meals. It seems we are also very rich and have an endless supply of $100 bills. Of course we all live in Miami where it is always below freezing and snows alot. Our houses all have 5 or more bedrooms with a minimum of 3 new cars in the driveway. My wife's first trip to the U.S. was on thanksgiving several years ago. Shoulda seen her eyes with all that food on the table. She thought it was a normal everyday dinner!

I'm not making fun of anybodys thoughts just curious how others see the U.S. I too had my perceptions of central and south America before I visited that was nowhere near reality!

All sensible assumptions.

Our government long ago ran off manufacturing in this country with it's draconian tax code which punishes accomplishment. So the only thing they see of American products is McDonalds and KFC. Do not underestimate the influence that the fact that you CAN fly there makes them think you are rich. International travel, especially by airplane, is simply out of the question for many (most) people in the world. Simply stepping off a plane in their country is proof you are rich. My MIL was sure I was filthy rich because I couldafford to visit Ukraine every couple of months. The average Ukrainian will never see the inside of airplane. S3ending $300 per month to a MIL may not seem like such a big deal, but when it represents a tripling of her previous income from retirement, what is she to think? we can "give away" more than double what she could "earn". But all is relative. She doesn't pay $200 per month for gas to heat a home either and would freeze to death first.

[Ladylethal 12]

Never had that issue. I lived in AZ for almost a year when I was 16, for an exchange student program, so I knew what to expect of the US. Of course I live in PR, and that's entirely different, but soon will be living in the US (probably) so yeah, I think I know what to expect.

[Nessa 23]

everybody always make assumptions of what they'll see in other countries mostly based on what they see on tv. The same way that when people ask me where i'm from, after i say brazil they always think of soccer, carnival, rain forest, favelas, etc.

[Ladylethal 12]

Like I was asked by several americans while living there whether I was enjoying wearing tennis shoes/ sneakers (with the assumption brazillians don't have them), if I liked watching the TV shows (with the assumption we didn't have cable/american shows) and even if my language was actually real and that I could actually speak it and someone else would understand 'cus they couldn't believe anybody could actually hold a conversation in something other than English.

[Ban Hammer 13,641]

everybody always make assumptions of what they'll see in other countries mostly based on what they see on tv. The same way that when people ask me where i'm from, after i say brazil they always think of soccer, carnival, rain forest, favelas, etc.

and they also think of......

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

My wife was surprised to see so many black people. The US is more diverse than most countries.

[Ladylethal 12]

What amazes me is that the diversity is notorious and yet racism is just so high.

[jundp 191]

Yes assumptions always abound. My husband lived in the US before so he didn't have any odd ones, with the exception of regular stereotypes we all have. However, plenty of Americans have had assumptions about him. He must wear Lederhosen, drink lots of beer, barely speak English. They are surprised to find out that not everyone in Germany dresses like a Bavarian or even lives in Bavaria. And often people are surprised that he 'speaks English so well.'

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Most of the worst offenses are by people who have never even been to the US, but read some article in some magazine and think they know all about it. On more than one occasion, my FIL has left me looking at him like that gif after what he said.

Edited December 28, 2009 by Wacken