What are the worst things you've heard someone say about your culture or country here in the States?

[Chrito 8]

"I'm from Germany" reply: "Isn't that in Bavaria?"

[Calypso 464]

The senseless comments that I got are from my husband's friends.

"Wow! Your spoken English is pretty good. You don't have the Filipino accent."

That's a common one.

I met a neighbor in my very first night in the U.S., just barely an hour from my arrival.

Neighbor: I was born in Canada but my parents are both U.S. citizens.

Me: Oh great! Did you live in one of the French-speaking areas in Canada? In Quebec perhaps?

Neighbor: I grew up in Nova Scotia and learned a little French. I left Canada when I was 19 to study here. I spent a couple of months in the Southern U.S. but it's not my type.

Me: In the South? Were you in Tennessee? Did you have problems with the Southern accent?

Neighbor: Not in Tennessee. It wasn't just the accent but everything from their food to their culture. Wait... how come you know all of these things?

So she didn't say where in Canada specifically or where in the South because she thought I wouldn't be able to identify anyway. Low opinion.

Sure, I don't know everything but to look shocked that I have Justine Timberlake songs in my phone, I watch American movies, I can speak English, I am aware who Tyra Banks is and her ANTM is not something that makes me glad.

One more thing here in VJ. Scandal.

Last week, he was surprised why I know what the Sybian is.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Pretty much any post by Paul and Vanessa in the Canadian forum...

Totally agree with you

[Calypso 464]

Totally agree with you

You don't have to worry about him. He has enough to care for, especially his spelling.

[Peikko 1,575]

So I was here at work and I said something in Spanish and this guy who is my supervisor's assistant says ''I thought u told me u don't speak Spanish'' and I said: ''not much, but I learned some in college, ...'' and he says ''they have college in Brazil?'' #######?

Share some of the stupid, racist, diminishing, moronic, or just plain mean things people have said about your country and or culture.

Your husband isn't above stupid comments about other cultures. The English have bad teeth, the French are cowards to name a couple.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

"I'm from Germany" reply: "Isn't that in Bavaria?"

Yeah, that drives me up the wall. When people start to talk about Oktoberfests and Lederhosen. Both of which are unique to Bavaria which isn't really Germany to begin with.

[Malrothien 6]

I keep reading about how ignorant we Americans are.

As if there aren't ignorant people in other countries.

[Marzy 1]

One of my classmates told me that it's legal to have sex with children in Philippines! I was upset, so I asked her how she discovered it. She told me that her 52 year old neighbor visits Philippines every six months to buy a 12 year old girl from poor families.

[Peikko 1,575]

I keep reading about how ignorant we Americans are.

As if there aren't ignorant people in other countries.

I don't think anyone really beleives that ignorance is restricted to Americans.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Malrothien 6]

Just seems to be a common sentiment around these parts lately.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Yeah, that drives me up the wall. When people start to talk about Oktoberfests and Lederhosen. Both of which are unique to Bavaria which isn't really Germany to begin with.

Isn't Bavaria a German state?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I keep reading about how ignorant we Americans are.

As if there aren't ignorant people in other countries.

There are ignorant people everywhere but the US happens to have a large population with little clue about what's happening beyond the US borders.

[Calypso 464]

There are ignorant people everywhere but the US happens to have a large population with little clue about what's happening beyond the US borders.

Precisely.

[Peikko 1,575]

Just seems to be a common sentiment around these parts lately.

Perhaps a little visit to the American Appreciation thread?

I don't believe that Americans are any more prone to ignorance than any other culture to be perfectly honest.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Isn't Bavaria a German state?

Yes, you'd have to be from the real Germany to appreciate the sentiment. Folks in Bavaria are, well, Bavarians. Texas would perhaps be to the US what Bavaria is to Germany. It's just different than most of the rest of the country.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog