Posted on 04/19/2015 8:29:54 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
One of the most exciting things about traveling to or living in a foreign land is learning a new culture, especially if the culture is vastly different from your own. Those who have visited or lived in the United States have reported being shocked and overwhelmed by a number of the country’s customs and practices. Here are the top fifteen things foreigners are surprised by in America. 1. The Use of Credit Cards
(Excerpt) Read more at destinationtips.com ...
“People whose exposure to America is via pop culture never see America’s understated genius.”
Yes. Good point.
And, the problem is there are people who live in the US, from America, Americans, whose main exposure to America is by pop culture.
I expected that one, along with "The average person is ignorant about the perils of climate change."
We had a group of visitors from Nigeria, including a judge, attorney, educator , etc. and after touring the local jail, they couldn’t believe the country club existence of the inmates at Milwaukee jail (3 hot meals, a bed, basketball, tv, etc.).
I had a group from Indonesia that commented on the roads not paved in gold and how well they were accepted considering their darker skin and their fear of America’s racism.
A group from Russia was taken to Old World Wisconsin (19th century village) and we found out that many in Russia lived in similar circumstances.
Many others have commented on the size of our houses and land and the distances that we travel.
Even with difficulty with languages, all observed and were curious and shared with us about themselves.
Well,
I am like Abraham, God ? If you can find just 10 righteous ? Will you spare it ?
Had a similar reaction from a Jewish engineer who fled when the soviets relaxed their Jewish emmigration policey. After a few months during a lunchtime chess game, he paused, looked around, and quietly said, “If the people in the USSR ever learned and truly understood the wealth and freedom in the USA compared to the lies they had been fed, every single party member, every single chekist would be killed within a month.
“...how so many dumb people in the U.S. could become successful and wealthy.”
or even president!
Wonderful post.
7 and 8? Seriously? Europeans litter everywhere including the Grand Canyon So do Indians for that matter. And ever seen a German in a thong?
Frankly, that surprises me, too. They're all so much smaller than they were back in the primitive dark ages, when Americans were walking on the Moon and such.
I'd sure like to have my '69 Newport back. At least when the Fed Bubble bursts I'd be able to completely stretch out in the back seat.
Had a four-door Newport that the trunk was big enough to make a double bed in it! Whatta car!
Or even celebraties in Hollywood and the media..
Or how MSNBC can justify it’s existence...
Some of the biggest changes for the better in America have been happening in the midwest as well.
Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana have all gone RTW. All 3 have greatly eased gun restrictions (Including Illinois). All 3 have been easing restrictions on business. Here in Michigan we’ve managed to kill affirmative action in college admissions, dealt with the Detroit bankruptcy without federal interference, and gotten a new bridge started across the Detroit river without federal money (or approval).
Things aren’t perfect and never will be but we’ve got to appreciate what we’ve managed to do.
As an ex-Canadian, one of the things that made me fall in love with my new country is ....BEER.
In canada, booze and beer are regulated and sold by govt offices. When I first got to America, I never believed beer was sold at 7-11 and I almost cried how easy it was to buy it.
I've driven in Ireland and been hauled around Britain by my in-laws. Drivers and roads in Ireland and Britain were pretty good as a rule, but many of the secondary roads are pretty narrow...especially in Ireland. Be thankful for wide American interstates.
here in Hollywood, I deal with countless foreigners who come to audition. The Brits for example, are amazed they could buy a TV, an actual Hi Def TV with cash or card at Best Buy or Costco. And yes, I’ve seen their eyes lit up at Costco and Walmart.
In the UK, you have to “register” your electronics with the govt which is pretty draconian.
“Especially anyone from the British Empire, who has probably never eaten food that wasn’t either boiled, fried, or beaten with a stick.”
We had a British exchange student stay with us in 1977. Took him to a steak place where you pick the raw steak for them to cook. He got a big lump of fat with a small streak of red meat in it then happily ate all that cooked fat and gristle. He said he never saw fat on meat there.
Where is the guy who hates blogs and how can we get him to yell curmudgeonly against people posting click bait??????
If you FReepers find something interesting like this, copy the 14 things and post them in your post instead. No one wants to click through a world of ad pages.
Yeah, you did it!!! Thanks.
Within reason that fat is good for you. I wouldn’t want a whole steak of it but I actually enjoy that little bit you’ll get on the edge of a steak.
Makes me think of this great song from Chris Rea, with a Brit imagining what life would be life in Texas:
Warm winds blowing
Heating blue sky
And a road that goes forever
Been thinking ‘bout it lately
Been watching some TV
Been looking all around me
And what has come to be
Been talking to my neighbor
And he agrees with me
It’s all gone crazy
Well, my wife returns from taking
My little girl to school
She got beads of perspiration
As she tries to keep her cool
She says, “That mess, it don’t get no better
There’s gonna come a day
Someone’s gonna get killed out there”
And I turn to her and say, “Texas”
She says, “What?”
I said, “Texas”
She says, “What?”
They got big long roads out there
Warm winds blowing
Heating blue sky
And a road that goes forever
I’m going to Texas
2, 3
We gotta get outta here
We gotta get outta here
Well, I got a little brother
Several meters high
Yeah, he’s built just like a quarterback
And he swears he’ll testify
He says he’s been to Texas
And that’s the only place to be
Big steaks, big girls, no trouble
Yeah, that’s the place for me
I’m going to Texas
Yeah, yeah
Oh, I’m going to Texas
Yeah, yeah
I’m going to Texas
Watch me walking
Watch me walking
Watch me walking
Yeah, yeah
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.