Stereotypes in America, true or not

[Robert&Karen 264]

Since moving to America have you found any stereotypes to be true, like we're all fat, or false, like we're all millionaires? I'd be interested to hear of them.

[bigdog 376]

I think it is same in the home country from us perspective..

[scotinmass 588]

I always thought that all Americans were millionaires. After I married an American and moved here I was horrified to find out that I wasn't gonna be able to sit at home all day living the high life. I had to go out and get a job. Next time I'm going to marry a Saudi. They're all billionaires. Right?

[jojolicious 38]

I think the cost of living is higher than I thought it would be which is against the stereotype... but the people are bigger than I'm used to in my home country which confirms the stereotype of americans being fat

Edited January 9, 2012 by jojolicious

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Well, I am in Arkansas, prime bible belt country, and it is certainly true. Everything here revolves around church, teenagers spend most of their social life in church/ church clubs, you get people fundraising for mission travel all the time. Most people's friends are their "church family", which meant it took me, a non-Christian, much longer to settle and make friends as that avenue wasn't open to me. Coming from an officially-Catholic-but-very-secular Ireland, it was a bit of a shock!

[wee carrington 33]

BIG. Everything in America is big-- cars, stores, roads, food portions, pop bottles, rooms, ect...

Now, whether that's a good or bad thing is a matter of personal opinion I suppose.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I noticed people were bigger yes, but what I noticed more was the large number of people 300lbs+. I also saw really skinny people so I can't say "All Americans are huge". I can say I saw one such person at home, but here there's many of them. I thought it was good though that the stores actually offered more sizes.

I noticed the religion. I knew religion was big here but until I experienced it I didn't realise how big. I also noticed a lot of hypocrisy in that. I have seen true religious people, good people. I have also seen a lot of people who claim to be religious but break many of the commandments during the week and think just going to church on Sunday makes them good people. I've also noticed that I can't say anything involving the word God. I consider the terms "god forbid" and "thank God" expressions, but I don't say them anymore because people think I'm actually referencing God and I don't want to open that door. I don't want to get into that discussion. I haven't met one US born person who isn't religious in some form.. that is a shock.

Patriotism and arrogance. Again I heard about it, but until I got here I didn't expect it was this "bad". Flags are everywhere. You have to be careful about what you say, especially being an immigrant, that you're not perceived to be "attacking" the US. A lot of people haven't left the country, some not even their own states yet "America is the best country in the world"... They haven't been anywhere else, it's great they feel that way, but it's rarely open to discussion.

I never thought Americans were all millionaires, but I didn't realise how bad the government support was. I didn't realise there were so many homeless people. I never expected that having kids here would be as scary as it is (financially). I knew the healthcare stuff was bad but until I was able to learn more I just didn't think about it. I realise a little while ago that if Tony and I weren't together I couldn't survive here by myself... not yet anyway. I don't have enough of a credit history (it's getting better though), I don't have enough US work experience, I have no accommodation references (in order to rent by myself). It makes sense now why people jump from relationship to relationship... they need to in order to survive.

[Robert&Karen 264]

Patriotism and arrogance. Again I heard about it, but until I got here I didn't expect it was this "bad". Flags are everywhere. You have to be careful about what you say, especially being an immigrant, that you're not perceived to be "attacking" the US. A lot of people haven't left the country, some not even their own states yet "America is the best country in the world"... They haven't been anywhere else, it's great they feel that way, but it's rarely open to discussion.

Karen was worried that since she did not have a green card yet she may be seen wrong, and even when she gets one she worried about not being a native. I stopped that worry from her when I took her to a gun show. Once she mentioned she has been working for almost a year to get her green card and do it right, she was very welcomed. She also intends on becoming a citizen when eligible. That was music to their ears and she has not worried about it since.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Karen was worried that since she did not have a green card yet she may be seen wrong, and even when she gets one she worried about not being a native. I stopped that worry from her when I took her to a gun show. Once she mentioned she has been working for almost a year to get her green card and do it right, she was very welcomed. She also intends on becoming a citizen when eligible. That was music to their ears and she has not worried about it since.

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm rarely judged for my immigrant status in everyday life (and like you I explain the lengthy, completely legal and expensive process), it's when I make a comparison to home (like, driving on the right is weird. Still freaks me out sometimes, or At home we call that "xxxxx"), or question a way of doing something (Why do people still use cheques all the time?). Occasionally sometimes I do insult (Ugh! Cream in the US sucks!), but people rarely think about WHY I'm saying it (usually the insults are because I'm very homesick and getting frustrated at the differences) and they get REALLY offended. At an old job I had any time I used the "wrong word", which was just either Australian slang or British English (I had to make sure to say British instead of "proper English" ) this one girl (30) would yell "SPEAK AMERICAN!".

[Robert&Karen 264]

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm rarely judged for my immigrant status in everyday life (and like you I explain the lengthy, completely legal and expensive process), it's when I make a comparison to home (like, driving on the right is weird. Still freaks me out sometimes, or At home we call that "xxxxx"), or question a way of doing something (Why do people still use cheques all the time?). Occasionally sometimes I do insult (Ugh! Cream in the US sucks!), but people rarely think about WHY I'm saying it (usually the insults are because I'm very homesick and getting frustrated at the differences) and they get REALLY offended. At an old job I had any time I used the "wrong word", which was just either Australian slang or British English (I had to make sure to say British instead of "proper English" ) this one girl (30) would yell "SPEAK AMERICAN!".

We have the same issues regarding the language, and yes even trying to buy cream. Double heavy whipping cream is still not good enough for what Karen wants! I don't know about yours, but Karen's Scottish accent is so thick that she is loved everywhere she goes!

[N M 96]

The reliance on personal debt. I'd heard it was much more of a problem in America than in the UK, but it wasn't until I arrived that I realised how much.

Not just credit cards, but stupidly high vehicle payments, BOAT payments (#######??), RV payments (ditto), student loan debt, medical debt, rent-a-center, pay day loans....

[Robert&Karen 264]

The reliance on personal debt. I'd heard it was much more of a problem in America than in the UK, but it wasn't until I arrived that I realised how much.

Not just credit cards, but stupidly high vehicle payments, BOAT payments (#######??), RV payments (ditto), student loan debt, medical debt, rent-a-center, pay day loans....

That's because we feel compelled to buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We have the same issues regarding the language, and yes even trying to buy cream. Double heavy whipping cream is still not good enough for what Karen wants! I don't know about yours, but Karen's Scottish accent is so thick that she is loved everywhere she goes!

People are a little confused by my accent but yes, loved. Makes my jokes funnier... .

[Susita 175]

That's because we feel compelled to buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.

This is the problem. You have no idea how often I've been told that I should get a new minivan. Mine's not "up to date" enough, apparently. It works fine! It's a 2005.

[Canadian in GA 34]

I am suprised how many people have criminal records! it could be the state i live in, but for work I need to run background checks, and I am more suprised when they come back clean now! it also could be the industry I am working in, but still, where i came from, I don't think i knew anyone with a record!