s/o "European" myths about Americans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin off from the European myths thread, I am English (so soon I won't be European ) and here are some of my stereotypes about Americans:

- Americans require EXTREMELY cold drinks. If it's a cold drink, it must be served filled with ice. Fridge-cold drinks without ice are not acceptable

- Americans can be identified in the summer by their shorts. Shorts are worn in some places in Europe in the summer but not very commonly outside the beach. Extra American points if there is a shirt tucked into the shorts and a belt, with white socks and running shoes.

- This doesn't apply to people in NYC, but Americans love their cars, have enormous cars (even the ones many people consider to be "small" or "average" are big to me) and drive everywhere. This is a function of low gas prices and poor public transport/infrastructure

- Americans eat at really weird (to me!) times - really early. Lunch at 12, sometimes even earlier. Dinner at 6, sometimes earlier. Before I moved here, the first time I encountered this was a client coming from here who I invited for dinner; he said yes but he'd be arriving late so did I mind having a late dinner.... at 7:30. I thought he was joking, but no!

I will think of more but I think that's a start!

Not to derail this thread, but if you are English how will you soon not be European?

I think they were referring to Brexit... UK will always be a European country. Hard to leave a continent lol.

Eh, it's complicated. My British family don't consider themselves Europeans, at all. They understand the geography but to then Europe is the continent and there's a vague sentiment that "European" refers to a set of values and lifestyle habits that are different from the British but common among the Europeans. When they talk of Europe they don't include the U.K. It's "over there."

As Brexit has shown, Britain has a long, complicated relationship with the continent. Even among the voters who voted to remain in the EU, there's little love for the EU itself or further integration. Which is why I think in the long run Britain and the EU will be much happier post divorce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin off from the European myths thread, I am English (so soon I won't be European ) and here are some of my stereotypes about Americans:

- Americans require EXTREMELY cold drinks. If it's a cold drink, it must be served filled with ice. Fridge-cold drinks without ice are not acceptable

- Americans can be identified in the summer by their shorts. Shorts are worn in some places in Europe in the summer but not very commonly outside the beach. Extra American points if there is a shirt tucked into the shorts and a belt, with white socks and running shoes.

- This doesn't apply to people in NYC, but Americans love their cars, have enormous cars (even the ones many people consider to be "small" or "average" are big to me) and drive everywhere. This is a function of low gas prices and poor public transport/infrastructure

- Americans eat at really weird (to me!) times - really early. Lunch at 12, sometimes even earlier. Dinner at 6, sometimes earlier. Before I moved here, the first time I encountered this was a client coming from here who I invited for dinner; he said yes but he'd be arriving late so did I mind having a late dinner.... at 7:30. I thought he was joking, but no!

I will think of more but I think that's a start!

Not to derail this thread, but if you are English how will you soon not be European?

I think they were referring to Brexit... UK will always be a European country. Hard to leave a continent lol.

Eh, it's complicated. My British family don't consider themselves Europeans, at all. They understand the geography but to then Europe is the continent and there's a vague sentiment that "European" refers to a set of values and lifestyle habits that are different from the British but common among the Europeans. When they talk of Europe they don't include the U.K. It's "over there."

As Brexit has shown, Britain has a long, complicated relationship with the continent. Even among the voters who voted to remain in the EU, there's little love for the EU itself or further integration. Which is why I think in the long run Britain and the EU will be much happier post divorce.

OP here - completely disagree, I voted to remain and am devastated by the result. I absolutely think of myself as a European. The British people who think of Europe as "over there" are of course some of those who voted for Brexit but that view is not shared by most of the younger people in the U.K., nor those living more cosmopolitan lives. Anyway - this is for another discussion!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin off from the European myths thread, I am English (so soon I won't be European ) and here are some of my stereotypes about Americans:

- Americans require EXTREMELY cold drinks. If it's a cold drink, it must be served filled with ice. Fridge-cold drinks without ice are not acceptable

- Americans can be identified in the summer by their shorts. Shorts are worn in some places in Europe in the summer but not very commonly outside the beach. Extra American points if there is a shirt tucked into the shorts and a belt, with white socks and running shoes.

- This doesn't apply to people in NYC, but Americans love their cars, have enormous cars (even the ones many people consider to be "small" or "average" are big to me) and drive everywhere. This is a function of low gas prices and poor public transport/infrastructure

- Americans eat at really weird (to me!) times - really early. Lunch at 12, sometimes even earlier. Dinner at 6, sometimes earlier. Before I moved here, the first time I encountered this was a client coming from here who I invited for dinner; he said yes but he'd be arriving late so did I mind having a late dinner.... at 7:30. I thought he was joking, but no!

I will think of more but I think that's a start!

Not to derail this thread, but if you are English how will you soon not be European?

I think they were referring to Brexit... UK will always be a European country. Hard to leave a continent lol.

Eh, it's complicated. My British family don't consider themselves Europeans, at all. They understand the geography but to then Europe is the continent and there's a vague sentiment that "European" refers to a set of values and lifestyle habits that are different from the British but common among the Europeans. When they talk of Europe they don't include the U.K. It's "over there."

As Brexit has shown, Britain has a long, complicated relationship with the continent. Even among the voters who voted to remain in the EU, there's little love for the EU itself or further integration. Which is why I think in the long run Britain and the EU will be much happier post divorce.

OP here - completely disagree, I voted to remain and am devastated by the result. I absolutely think of myself as a European. The British people who think of Europe as "over there" are of course some of those who voted for Brexit but that view is not shared by most of the younger people in the U.K., nor those living more cosmopolitan lives. Anyway - this is for another discussion!

I suppose it really comes down to who you speak to and your cliques. My cousins are all young in their teens and 20s and they don't think themselves as Europeans. They are also well educated. We're not talking of Little Englanders on council estates or even UKIPers. There are a lot of people, not a small minority who do not see themselves as Europeans in the same context as the French or Germans. They have a much more global outlook and are more interested in Australia or NZ or places like Singapore or Dubai. Then you have the recent immigrants from outside Europe, whose allegiance is even less. Which is why I agree with the other poster that the issue is best described as 'complicated'. I supported Remain for various, largely economic reasons but now the decision has been made it's probably for the best.

[Anonymous]

Whenever we go visit family in Italy, Greece, and Iran, they LOVE and live to make fun of me for my obsession with ice. They'll first give me glass w/ 3 cubes like that's anywhere near enough. Then they all laugh and make fun of me when I get up and fill my glass to the brim with ice and start storing drinks in the fridge. In most of our family homes that I stay at, our relatives have bought a secondary mini fridge for beverages for my visits, where they keep drinks, and they've purchased extra ice cube trays, but it's definitely a running joke in the family about how I've become Americanized and obsessed with ice.

(These family members - from all 3 countries - also cannot believe that mac & cheese is complete all on its own and firmly believe it needs ketchup, so their opinions are not valid IMHO)

[Anonymous]

American, lived in 6 countries. Have heard from numerous non-Americans that we smile too much and it seems insincere and weird. Also that when we are talking it sounds like a duck quacking.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with shorts in the summer when it's 85 +?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm half American and half Asian, and grew up in both countries. To natives of my Asian country, Americans are very loud. They talk loud and do things loudly (big gestures, etc.). Everything is big-big people, big cars, big houses, big TVs, etc.

Hell, I'm American and feel this way. I also think sometimes there are too many choices. What would it be like if there were only four types of bread to chose from? Would our shopping go faster? I'd like to find out.

Half Asian pp here. Americans are also wasteful-throwig out perfectly good food, machine drying their clothes, leaving their car running while they wait for someone, buying huge quantities at once (Costco is SO American!)

Of course, these are stereotypes and not every American is this way . I am certainly guilty of some of these things myself!

I am American and have agreed with and enjoyed most of these so far. However, not all Americans are wasteful, no one I know throws away good food, most people do not shop at Costco and most people don't leave there cars running. However, people who leave there cars running when they run into a store to grab something, now that is a hugs pet peeve of mine.

[Anonymous]

I must be the only American who hates cold drinks. Room temperature for everything, except beer. I'm also always cold so no shorts either.