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

[Peikko 1,575]

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.

That post earns a wry smile

[Scott & Lai 12]

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.

Ok, that makes perfect sense.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I know what my wife would say.

A friend of hers was introducing her to another unknown friend. That friend said "Wow you speak English really well!" My wife just sort of nodded and replied "Well we did invent it after all"

I've never really had any negative or weird comments directed at me. Maybe random things about guns or that Americans are ####### at holding their drinks etc. while I lived in the UK. I did have one guy ask if I felt bad because the US never had an Empire....I really didn't know what to say to that one.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Sousuke

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That friend said "Wow you speak English really well!" My wife just sort of nodded and replied "Well we did invent it after all"

:rofl:

[Calypso 464]

I did have one guy I ask if I felt bad because the US never had an Empire....I really didn't know what to say to that one.

So... did you feel bad that the U.S. never had an empire?

[TheBears 9]

Husby gets upset when others relate Thai women to prostitutes or "Oh. You're from Thailand? Yeah... Thai chicks are hot!" Apparently he got a lot of that while he was living in Australia.

For me, I don't understand when people are so shocked that he's Christian. Like the belief in God doesn't extend into Asia.

As for anything else, we'll have to wait until he finally gets here.

[Susita 175]

While in my husband's country, I had people tell me how nice my hands/nails were. They then followed it up with a "well American women don't have to clean or take care of their own children, so that's why your hands are so nice."

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

When travelling outside the US, and I tell folks I am from California, "Oh, really? How far is that from Hollywood?"

[Scott & Lai 12]

When travelling outside the US, and I tell folks I am from California, "Oh, really? How far is that from Hollywood?"

I would hope what they meant was, "How far is the place you are from in California from Hollywood?"

[Kathryn41 3,205]

A classic actually - I was with a friend when friends of hers joined us. She introduced me and it came up in the conversation that I was originally from Canada. One of her friends then said, 'Oh, I met another Canadian once. His name was Paul. Do you know him?' I was tempted to say 'oh, yeah, Paul! Good friend of mine!' but bit my tongue instead.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

While in my husband's country, I had people tell me how nice my hands/nails were. They then followed it up with a "well American women don't have to clean or take care of their own children, so that's why your hands are so nice."

Yeah, tell that to my wife. She had servants at her home in Ethiopia - she never cooked, never cleaned, never did any laundry. It's a different reality here obviously and she does, from time to time, draw my attention to the fact that all this domestic work is messing up her nails. But, the good guy that I am, I always have a happy and heartfelt "Welcome to America" for her.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I would hope what they meant was, "How far is the place you are from in California from Hollywood?"

Maybe. But to my surprise, Guerneville is world famous!

[Susita 175]

Yeah, tell that to my wife. She had servants at her home in Ethiopia - she never cooked, never cleaned, never did any laundry. It's a different reality here obviously and she does, from time to time, draw my attention to the fact that all this domestic work is messing up her nails. But, the good guy that I am, I always have a happy and heartfelt "Welcome to America" for her.

I was on a roll with my sister in law, I had her thinking I owned a house cleaning robot.

[The_Dude 1,142]

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.

LoL, I would wager that you could make the same analogy about Brandenburg. My grandfather was from Brandenburg, Prussia and would never admit that he was german.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

LoL, I would wager that you could make the same analogy about Brandenburg. My grandfather was from Brandenburg, Prussia and would never admit that he was german.

Actually, being a born and raised Brandenburger myself, I don't see it that way. May have been different for the older generations, though.