What do you Really think about Americans?

[the_bob_delusion]

Go.

[lalbo-81]

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@zanadoo_56 wrote:

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@domino-710 wrote:

Years ago - my first venture into a pharmacy in LA - I asked - ' May I have a box of tissues - please '.

Lady behind the counter ' excuse me '.

I repeated my request.

Again ' excuse me '.

I said to her - ' do you understand what I am saying '.

She said - ' of course - I just like to hear you speak '.

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My aunt went to America for a holiday (must have been back in the 60s) and her broad Aussie accent had the Americans entranced.  They were always asking her to 'say something'.  Mind you, this was balanced by a few Americans who possibly confused Australia with Austria and marvelled that she even spoke English!

She was also taken aside by some white American women at a laundromat which was apparently segregated to white and black areas, and my aunt had struck up a conversation with an African American woman which was not allowed.

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I hope your aunt told the white woman where she could take her racist self! I admire her for the fact that she didn't see people the way American white folks did back then, and even now in many cases. Good for her! 

[the_bob_delusion]

I was in a more remote area of the States once. They noticed my accent and asked where I was from. I told them. They were very impressed how good my English was for someone from Australia. 

[zanadoo_56]

@lalbo-81 wrote:

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I hope your aunt told the white woman where she could take her racist self! I admire her for the fact that she didn't see people the way American white folks did back then, and even now in many cases. Good for her! 

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My aunt was incredulous.  They had finally approached her at the end of the drying cycle of her washing (my aunt was a big woman and could look intinidating), just when she was about to leave.  She said goodbye to the lady she had been talking to and ignored the white women......very typical of her. 🙂

[zanadoo_56]

I think America is still very ignorant about Australia. 

Some years ago I was at the Melbourne Zoo admiring the koalas.  An American tourist said somewhat dismissively, "We've got these in America."  Silence all round, after a gasp or two.  Finally the tourist continued ".....at the San Diego Zoo."  There was much laughter after that.  She might have meant she knew koalas were native to Australia and simply that the San Diego Zoo had some.

But at the San Diego Zoo itself....anyone remember this embarrassing incident from only two years ago:

https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/viral/american-zoo-blunder-over-new-zealand-dancers-for-austra...

[icyfroth]

When we were in France a cpl of years ago, we went to Normandy where Hubs wanted to visit the D-Day beaches. Of course there were lots of American tourists there doing the same thing. There are quite a few US military war graves in the area.

So at the end of the day we were in a restaurant alongside a couple of tables occupied by a large group of Americans.

The waitress had not brought any salt and pepper along with our meal, so rather than wait, I approached the American group and asked to borrow theirs. They aquiesced, and there was hushed conversation amongst them for a few minutes.

Then one of them, a man, said in a voice loud enough for us to overhear: "Australians are all descended from convicts". Hubs and I pretended not to hear, though we thought it rather rude.

It surprised me, because I've always known Americans to be quite courteous.

[domino-710]

You could have answered - unfortunately we had to pay our own way. 

Rather than be offended by either ignorance or humour.

[not_for_sale2025]

Were they drinking? Some Americans are quite entitled and genuinely believe they are the supreme beings. The comment was quite degrading IMO, but typical.

[domino-710]

The only thing right - was - some.

We have them also.

Degrading - hello - most wear their convict heritage as a medal - we are Australian.

[not_for_sale2025]

Very obviously not to them!

[not_for_sale2025]

When I was a teenager I worked very briefly with an American Marine Biologist who couldn't find work in Australia, so he got a job beside me labouring. One day he started talking about the Universe. I said I was very fond of the Northern Cross. He replied, "Don't you mean the Southern Cross?" I said no, here were call it the Northern Cross.

He asked me which way was north, and I pointed upwards and said, "see". He became upset and didn't talk to me again until he left. Of course I was goofing with him, but he didn't seem to have a sense of humour. That is what I remember the most and why it has stuck with me all these years.