Angela
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I just happened to run across this site and thought it was pretty interesting. It reveals as much and sometimes more about the nationalities giving the advice as it does about America, I think.
Tips for Japanese going to America:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55140/10-japanese-travel-tips-visiting-america
Tips for French going to America:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55306/11-french-travel-tips-visiting-america
Tips for Italians going to America:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62515/8-italian-travel-tips-visiting-america
Tips for Germans going to America
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62180/8-german-travel-tips-visiting-america
The collection of tips from Germans was the most rude, which surprised me.
One thing that all foreigners seem to notice is that Americans don't really expect you to answer truthfully when they ask how you're doing. It's not meant to be taken literally; it's become more of just an automatic greeting, to which the expected answer is something like "fine, thanks". That's hard for Italians, in particular, who would be tempted to answer truthfully.:grin:
The answer is also part of the national ethos of always wanting to seem optimistic and on top of things, I think, which is often indeed the reality as Americans are a very optimistic people.
At the same time, Americans are indeed incredibly helpful and friendly. There's no contradiction between the two things; it's just one of those cultural quirks.
Oh, for the clueless Italian posting that adultery is illegal in Virginia, that prohibition is indeed still "on the books" in Virginia and in some other jurisdictions, but just because they haven't bothered to repeal it. Set your mind at rest, you won't be arrested if you lure some married Virginia woman into an affair.
Tips for Japanese going to America:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55140/10-japanese-travel-tips-visiting-america
Tips for French going to America:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55306/11-french-travel-tips-visiting-america
Tips for Italians going to America:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62515/8-italian-travel-tips-visiting-america
Tips for Germans going to America
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62180/8-german-travel-tips-visiting-america
The collection of tips from Germans was the most rude, which surprised me.
One thing that all foreigners seem to notice is that Americans don't really expect you to answer truthfully when they ask how you're doing. It's not meant to be taken literally; it's become more of just an automatic greeting, to which the expected answer is something like "fine, thanks". That's hard for Italians, in particular, who would be tempted to answer truthfully.:grin:
The answer is also part of the national ethos of always wanting to seem optimistic and on top of things, I think, which is often indeed the reality as Americans are a very optimistic people.
At the same time, Americans are indeed incredibly helpful and friendly. There's no contradiction between the two things; it's just one of those cultural quirks.
Oh, for the clueless Italian posting that adultery is illegal in Virginia, that prohibition is indeed still "on the books" in Virginia and in some other jurisdictions, but just because they haven't bothered to repeal it. Set your mind at rest, you won't be arrested if you lure some married Virginia woman into an affair.