| The Reality about Americans: (As I see it) - Page 2 |
| When Germans think about the �typical� American � up pops the figure of John Wayne and Cowboy hats in their imagination. I have yet to meet a character like John Wayne. If you want to see Cowboys including their hats you got to go where the cattle are = to the cattle States. In New Mexico the Cowboy is often a Vaquero. If you see a guy with a Cowboy hat in an American city, he really sticks out as a tourist or it is Halloween. O.k. I admit it, when I visited the U.S. the first time as an adult, I bought my Cowboy hat �. and yes, it was in Florida * sigh* |
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| Now one thing that always ruffles my feathers (just like the earlier mistake that Germans drink warm beer) is that so many intelligent Germans think that Americans have no culinary sense! |
| It seems that they forget, that America is put together by all the cultures of the World who... Guess what?! ...open restaurants, cook at home, have parties and add to the biggest diversity of culinary treasures in the World right here in the States. In Roswell � a small city of just under 50.000 people in the middle of the desert � we have more diversified restaurants (and I leave out the fast food places on purpose) then in my old hometown of Wiesbaden with way over 250.000 inhabitants. |
| Now why did the Germans get such a bad impression of American Food? I just say McDonalds and Burger King. That was the introduction for most Germans to American food and that is what stuck. Of course, those Germans who think this way are usually the ones who have never set foot on the United States soil. My usual reply to those people is: You have no idea! And try to explain. |
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| If I am grouchy though I give the example of the �ugly� German tourist who expects to have his �Wiener Schnitzel� and �Fried Chicken� even in Mallorca, Italy or Thailand. They went even so far to change the local economy in those places: Spain�s Island of Mallorca is fighting now back, to save it�s culture against the invasive �uncultured� German tourists. And then of course, I have to say: �Ha!� |
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| Arts and music are held in a very high regard in the United States � despite the struggle getting funds for public schools. Almost everybody I got to know plays actively an instrument, is in a choir, a local theatre, paints or is writing his/her 3rd to 4th book. |
| The only �art� I miss is the standard dancing or dancing at all. Here in Roswell you find no place where you can go out to dance in a nice environment. But then again, you can�t have everything. |