immigrants assumptions of America

[alienlovechild 75]

I'm more struck by how our culture has been spread about the world through the media. I know a lot of foreigners who aren't shocked or that interested in this country's background. Why? They already saw plenty of American images abroad and this place isn't that exotic to them. Come to think of it, the only foreign person I've met that has unending curiousity about America was a Russian guy I met in grad school.

[Laveau 67]

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.

What r u talking abt? It's the ones that have never been here who know EVERYTHING about USA!

I find that the money stereotype has been the one I have encountered the most. We are ALL rich. As a matter of fact, I was once abroad telling a story that involved a homeless man and the question I got was: there are homeless people in America???!!!!!????????!!!!!!

[panamania79 2]

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!

That is too funny.It reminds me of one of my visits to my suegra's huband's farm and when I didn't want to eat the weird looking chicken,she yelled at me and said there was no McDonald's in the area for me.

[_Simpson_ 250]

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

and your the expert...its not, really! We did elect a black president, when are people going to give it a break.

[Ladylethal 12]

I'm definitely not an expert but being latin I've certainly seen and experienced it in several different places in America. Plus I've met my share of people with very prejudiced opinions about different races.

[AlHayatZween 2]

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

Ha!

That's funny.

When i interviewed for a job in Morocco, the director of the program asked me if living in New York was really like Sex in the City... :blink:

i said, "Naww, not for me anyway..."

For some reason, they still hired me for the job.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I'm definitely not an expert but being latin I've certainly seen and experienced it in several different places in America. Plus I've met my share of people with very prejudiced opinions about different races.

I see but wouldnt you say that out of all the people you met these racist individuals are only but 1%. It also works both ways, living in the bay area I ran across some racist people, was referred to as a gringo and a white boy a couple of times but it was a few and i wont let them speak for the other 99% of people who are not.

[panamania79 2]

I'm definitely not an expert but being latin I've certainly seen and experienced it in several different places in America. Plus I've met my share of people with very prejudiced opinions about different races.

Me too.I'll never forget my neighbors who had a dog named "N."

[panamania79 2]

What r u talking abt? It's the ones that have never been here who know EVERYTHING about USA!

I find that the money stereotype has been the one I have encountered the most. We are ALL rich. As a matter of fact, I was once abroad telling a story that involved a homeless man and the question I got was: there are homeless people in America???!!!!!????????!!!!!!

I know.It amazes me how people,especially my SO's family think everyone has a money tree growing in their backyard!

[panamania79 2]

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

[/quot

It's either Friends or Baywatch for the warmer areas of the USA.lol

[Ladylethal 12]

Simpson, am not saying it's just a US problem, Brazilians are actually very racist and prejudice too, to the point of a person who's slightly lighter in color than someone else already has prejudice against that person. I knew sisters who were black, but one had straight hair and so she used to say she wasn't like her black sister in a very negative way.

But I still met more people with prejudices in America than I have back home, especially when I worked here in PR in call center that took calls from US and I'd say 30% of everyone that talked to me treated me badly due to my accent, and some would actually be very rude, without even know I wasn't in the US, I wasn't illegal, and I wasn't some unschooled latin girl.

[panamania79 2]

I see but wouldnt you say that out of all the people you met these racist individuals are only but 1%. It also works both ways, living in the bay area I ran across some racist people, was referred to as a gringo and a white boy a couple of times but it was a few and i wont let them speak for the other 99% of people who are not.

It does work both ways,I can admit that I've met racists of all different ethnic backgrounds!

[_Simpson_ 250]

Simpson, am not saying it's just a US problem, Brazilians are actually very racist and prejudice too, to the point of a person who's slightly lighter in color than someone else already has prejudice against that person. I knew sisters who were black, but one had straight hair and so she used to say she wasn't like her black sister in a very negative way.

But I still met more people with prejudices in America than I have back home, especially when I worked here in PR in call center that took calls from US and I'd say 30% of everyone that talked to me treated me badly due to my accent, and some would actually be very rude, without even know I wasn't in the US, I wasn't illegal, and I wasn't some unschooled latin girl.

right but my point was that the numbers are small when you consider the entire population, I dont see it as a huge problem. My wife also worked at a call center, she did come across a$$holes. Some of which would b!tch about immigrants taking american jobs but once again the number was small.

That being your native country would you experience it as much as say a foreigner? I was never trying to compare countries but just pointing out that its not as huge a problem like you first made it out to be.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I'm more struck by how our culture has been spread about the world through the media. I know a lot of foreigners who aren't shocked or that interested in this country's background. Why? They already saw plenty of American images abroad and this place isn't that exotic to them.

I just thought that was funny because 'exotic' was a word my husband DID use to describe me and my culture when we were first together. And I was laughing nearly to the point of needing an ambulance, but he was completely serious.

[AlHayatZween 2]

I just thought that was funny because 'exotic' was a word my husband DID use to describe me and my culture when we were first together. And I was laughing nearly to the point of needing an ambulance, but he was completely serious.

once i dated a man who called me "exotic" to his friends and family...

i'm from Jersey... ####### !