Respecting lanuage and cultures..?

Question

I see alot of comments here on how people when they live in other countries should respect the customs and learn the lanuage of the country. However when I was growing up in Germany and in Spain there was alot of American Citizens who where living in those countries for several years (meaning 3 to 20 years). Who did not even bother to learn basic German or Spanish how to even communitcate with people in those countries. They did not even bother to learn the customs of the countries. I noticed many Americans would get upset with people since they did not speak English. I find it very ironic in the posts and comments written in these posts comming from Americans. Since most American tourist do not even bother to learn the "basics" of a other country.
Also from these posts I notice alot of stereotyping of people who only want to better their lives. What would you do if you where in there situation and not able to find work in your own country or even feed your family?

Hold em Rox: What do you think we should do with American illegals in Europe and in Latin America?

Sonoran Sun: I have no problems with American tourist who attempt to learn basicas of a other country and how to communicate. My experience has been with Americans living in my country of orgin for several years, and do not bother to even learn the lanuage or customs. So why the double starndard if a American lives in a other country should they not learn the lanuage and customs?

Answer 1

The people you are talking about are Amer-o-centrics. They think America is superior to all others. They are idiots.

Answer 2

I spent time in Germany, Denmark & Norway, with the military. I did research on local customs, as not to make small offenses, especially since we lived with the locals at times.
I tried to at least get the Please / thank you / where is the train staition? parts of the language down as fast as possible.
Americans can be insulated and ignorant on this issue when abroad.
I am rabbidly anti-Illegal.........because it's Illegal. I also think that those who come in the front door have an obligation to learn English just enough to be able to conduct their business and legal affairs here-talk the
old country " language all you want with your friends and family, even in public I don't care.

If I did not think I could feed a family, I wouldn't have on until I could. If my home country was in terrible shape due to corruption, I would stay and try to change it. After all, I know the language and customs, and that is where I was born, right?

Answer 3

The Americans over there may not have learned the language, but did they go around waving American flags and demanding everybody learn English? Did they go to the welfare office and demand handouts? Did they put their kids in school and demanded they be taught for nothing, and in English? Did they clog up the ER when they had a tummy ache, and demanding treatment for nothing? Did they claim part of your country was theirs? Did they enter the country illegally?

Oh they did, did they? Well then ... boot the feckers out ... :)

Answer 4

What does this have to do with ILLEGAL ALIENS living in our country??!!
And as for the stereotyping I hope you have noticed that it is usually a pro illegal that brings race into it!!
~add on~
Are you in Europe?? Well if so I suggest you contact your elected officials and/or the proper authorities and tell them to kick those illegals out.....they are probably wanted for a crime over here anyways....send them back so we can prosecute their @**!!
~add on~ BTW when I lived in Japan I did try to speak the language...and carried around a dictionary to help me out and before I even went I studied the customs and culture....so please do not generalize...most of the people I knew in Japan (that were American) did the same as me....
This still has nothing to do with the ILLEGAL Aliens that live in the states............

BTW those Americans that your talking about are they claiming that part of your country actually belongs to the American people??

Answer 5

i love it plenty truthfully. ever considering i met the primary local americans wherein i used to reside i simply began fitting extra all in favour of their tradition. those i used to be peers with had been cherokee indians. their residence regularly smelled well and everytime i walked within the residence each person might simply come and greet me. i am not definite if that is ordinary local american factor to do however i determined it to be excellent. sadly i dont realize an excessive amount of approximately local americans besides from what i learn approximately them. i will be able to record matters and historical past i do know nevertheless it might be too lengthy. i do uncover aztecs to be very intriguing and that i also have the film apocolypto (if that's the way you spell it) and that i particularly preferred the film. it simply confirmed how brutal however robust the historic aztecs had been. i might particularly like to grasp extra approximately it and commonly i appear on-line to look if there are respectable internet sites that speak approximately them. total i feel it has probably the most nicest folks i've ever met.

Answer 6

I went to Mexico twice,i didn't learn the language because i didn't intend on staying.Had i intended to illegally immigrate, i would have had plenty of time to brush up on my Spanish while rotting in a Mexican prison.

Answer 7

Very convoluted argument. I don't get your point at all. Is it that you hate American tourists or do you want open borders for the poor of the world?

Answer 8

Well that is the few people you met, because most people I knew did try to adapted to that particular culture. I have been to many places (I'm in the military) everyone I know does try their best to adapted. So in my opinion this is just another excuse!