Perceptions of Americans

(Porkchop Express) wrote in
om:

so.. i'll be travelling to europe this summer (france, UK, spain).
being AMERICAN i'm expecting to get hated on, in a major way (nuff
'spect to e40). personally, i choose to shoot that drama to the left
and just be on some "when in rome.." sh*t. HOWEVER, do ya think it'd
make a difference if i'm (1st generation) american born CHINESE?
wouldn't i come off FRESHER than your typical white boy american and
just be another CHINK in their european eyes?? it would be interesting
to get some feedback from local french, british, spanish, euro peeps.
do ya think there's less hate on americans who don't "look" the
Conventional American on first impression?


Assuming you are for real, let me as an American who travels to Europe a
lot assure you that I have never had any problem with my nationality. I
travel mainly to France and find that the French as a rule are much too
polite to point out political differences. I suspect that if I were to wear
a T-shirt proclaiming my undying faith in the policies of George Bush, I
would find it hard to make headway in social situations, but the
shopkeepers would take my money and not get in my face-though what they
said afterward . . . Thing is I don't do that I mind my manners and have
had good relations with Europeans.

So leave your attitude at home and life will be good. you get what you give
and if you are projecting defensiveness or discomfort your prophecy will be
rewarded.

On Tue, 11 May 2004 13:23:38 -0400, "me" wrote:


"st" wrote in message
news
On 10 May 2004 18:14:02 -0700, (Porkchop Express)
wrote:

so.. i'll be travelling to europe this summer (france, UK, spain).
being AMERICAN i'm expecting to get hated on, in a major way (nuff
'spect to e40). personally, i choose to shoot that drama to the left
and just be on some "when in rome.." sh*t. HOWEVER, do ya think it'd
make a difference if i'm (1st generation) american born CHINESE?
wouldn't i come off FRESHER than your typical white boy american and
just be another CHINK in their european eyes?? it would be interesting
to get some feedback from local french, british, spanish, euro peeps.
do ya think there's less hate on americans who don't "look" the
Conventional American on first impression?

I'm fine with you. Providing one thing. When I ask you where you're
from, say the USA. DON'T say whatever state.

What's wrong with saying what state you are from?


It suggests something which I don't like the sound of. I do recognise
any US state but it just frustrates me.

"Owain" wrote in message ...
"Porkchop Express" wrote ...
| so.. i'll be travelling to europe this summer (france, UK, spain).
| being AMERICAN i'm expecting to get hated on, in a major way (nuff
| 'spect to e40).

Is that a London postal area?

e40 is a beloved BAY AREA hiphop artist who is responsible for 88% of
all the "rap" colloquialisms being used in the culture

| personally, i choose to shoot that drama to the left
| and just be on some "when in rome.." sh*t. HOWEVER, do ya think it'd
| make a difference if i'm (1st generation) american born CHINESE?

Oh no. You'll be recognised as American Chinese. We do have lots of British
Chinese here you know, as well as many Chinese Chinese and Hong Kong Chinese
students and expatriates, and we can tell the difference.

| wouldn't i come off FRESHER than your typical white boy american and
| just be another CHINK in their european eyes??

No. Europeans do subtle. And 'chink' is regarded as a derogatory term unless
applied to a carry-out meal.

yes i agree "chink" is derogatory. but i am one so i can say it. they
say "chink" for take-away meals? interesting

| it would be interesting to get some feedback from local french,
| british, spanish, euro peeps.
| do ya think there's less hate on americans who don't "look" the
| Conventional American on first impression?

Act like a prat, be treated like a prat. Nationality and appearance
irrelevant. If you want to try and blend in, lose weight and practice your
use of prepositions and phrasal verbs.

word up O. my mother agrees with the grammar lesson too

Owain

yes i agree "chink" is derogatory. but i am one so i can say it.

Do as you say, not as you do?

"st" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 11 May 2004 13:23:38 -0400, "me" wrote:


"st" wrote in message
news
On 10 May 2004 18:14:02 -0700, (Porkchop Express)
wrote:

so.. i'll be travelling to europe this summer (france, UK, spain).
being AMERICAN i'm expecting to get hated on, in a major way (nuff
'spect to e40). personally, i choose to shoot that drama to the left
and just be on some "when in rome.." sh*t. HOWEVER, do ya think it'd
make a difference if i'm (1st generation) american born CHINESE?
wouldn't i come off FRESHER than your typical white boy american and
just be another CHINK in their european eyes?? it would be interesting
to get some feedback from local french, british, spanish, euro peeps.
do ya think there's less hate on americans who don't "look" the
Conventional American on first impression?

I'm fine with you. Providing one thing. When I ask you where you're
from, say the USA. DON'T say whatever state.

What's wrong with saying what state you are from?


It suggests something which I don't like the sound of. I do recognise
any US state but it just frustrates me.

I still don't understand you objection. What does it suggest that you
don't like the sound of?

"Colin McGarry" wrote in message ...
The way anybody is seen in France depends on their own attitude.
No frenchpeople would seek you out to be rude to you. But if you brush
people up the wrong way they will react accordingly then you'll say 'you see
they don't like us"
cpmac

www.cpmac.com/normandy


Difference is, as a US citizen you might get treated rudely from time
to time in some French backwater areas. Not likely, but it happens.

As a Frenchman, you might get treated to some frantic gunwaving (and
flagwaving) when asking for directions in the middle of nowhere (and
not getting any).

....

"Owain" wrote in message ...
No. Europeans do subtle. And 'chink' is regarded as a derogatory term unless
applied to a carry-out meal.

Or a defect in one's armor.

I'm fine with you. Providing one thing. When I ask you where you're
from, say the USA. DON'T say whatever state.

What's wrong with saying what state you are from?


It suggests something which I don't like the sound of. I do recognise
any US state but it just frustrates me.

I still don't understand you objection. What does it suggest that you
don't like the sound of?

I don't understand either. So if I say I'm from Hawaii, your
impression would be what?

in article , me at wrote
on 05/12/2004 3:15 AM:

I still don't understand you objection. What does it suggest that you
don't like the sound of?

I suspect that he means to convey that those who are not familiar with a
country find it a bit frustrating to have a question answered in such a way
as merely to pose yet another question.

For example, (assuming that you're not from England), if you noticed someone
with a Brit accent and, in a friendly manner, asked where they were from you
might find it helpful if the person said that he/she was from the "Southwest
of England", rather than simply saying "Cornwall" or "The Cotswolds". We
Americans may believe that others 'should' know all about our fifty states,
where they're located, what sort of accents one may anticipate from their
residents, etc., but I submit that's simply not a realistic expectation.
Any more than that Americans will be familiar with such information
concerning the various areas of countries in Europe.

That's one of the great charms of travelling, finding out things about new
and different places and people.

HH

On Wed, 12 May 2004 07:43:38 +0000 (UTC), Hawth Hill
wrote:

in article , me at wrote
on 05/12/2004 3:15 AM:

I still don't understand you objection. What does it suggest that you
don't like the sound of?

I suspect that he means to convey that those who are not familiar with a
country find it a bit frustrating to have a question answered in such a way
as merely to pose yet another question.

For example, (assuming that you're not from England), if you noticed someone
with a Brit accent and, in a friendly manner, asked where they were from you
might find it helpful if the person said that he/she was from the "Southwest
of England", rather than simply saying "Cornwall" or "The Cotswolds". We
Americans may believe that others 'should' know all about our fifty states,
where they're located, what sort of accents one may anticipate from their
residents, etc., but I submit that's simply not a realistic expectation.
Any more than that Americans will be familiar with such information
concerning the various areas of countries in Europe.

That's one of the great charms of travelling, finding out things about new
and different places and people.


Spot on. Even though I am familiar with the US, it still frustrates
me. If I said I was from the ACT (which I am not, however) you'd
probably have no idea where I'm from. I'm nitpicking though.