Has anyone, not from the U.S., been to the U.S. and found out that they had a good time?

Question

even though we get all of this negative press? Do you think that the people are nice and what part did you visit? Just curious.

Answer 1

I have been to New York, Baltimore and Florida and what a contrast. People are so friendly and helpful. Impecable manners. I feel embarrased when they come over here and they find poor service.

Answer 2

Of course! I've visited the US 4 or 5 times, and enjoyed every visit. Like most extreme stereotypes, I believe that the truth is somewhere in between "the stereotype is universally applicable" and "there is no truth to the stereotype".

By and large, Americans are friendly people with the same talents and flaws as people all over the globe. I have a few very close American friends, and there are many things about the country, people, and culture that I admire, such as your "can do" attitude, your gregariousness, and your love of achievement.

But I think what is really hard for people from other countries to swallow is that a proportion of Americans - and this does seem to be a characteristic unique to Americans - seem to believe that the USA is the centre of the universe, and that everybody who's not in the USA has getting to the USA as their primary objective in life, and really don't know much about other countries.

As an Australian, I've been asked innumerable times whether I've applied for a green card. When I say no, and that I don't have any immediate plans to do so, I often get asked "why not?". Um, because the USA is not my home, and believe it or not, I'm very happy in my home... even though it's NOT the USA.

I've also been complimented on my English (duh!) and had to explain innumerable times that the seasons are different in the southern hemisphere.

But as I said, despite that, there are many things about the USA that I love and people that I love, too. I've mainly visited Maryland, Colorado, California, Texas, Ohio, and Virginia.

You just need to make more of your compatriots aware that democracy does exist in other parts of the world, that people can be happy and enjoy their lives in other countries, and that the USA is NOT perfect. I think if Americans were more willing to acknowledge their own country's - and more specifically government's - faults, others would be less resentful. I'm a proud Australian, but that doesn't mean that I'm blind to the flaws in our government and people. There's a difference between loving your country "warts and all", which is what most people in the world do, and loving your country "because it has no warts and is the best", which is what, unfortunately, it seems that a lot of Americans think.

Truly, I do love America and most Americans, but there are a minority who make you kind of hard to love at times...

Warmest regards and best wishes.

Answer 3

Hi , I'm from western Canada. And I've been to the U.S. a lot. I've been to Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Chicgao, Kentucky, Tennesse, Alabama, & Florida. The places where I think the nicest people are is in Washington, Idaho, Florida, & Nevada. The people in California and Oregon are alright.
The other places like Montana, Utah, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennesse, Chicago, & Texas, I don't really know how the people are, cause I was just passing through those states.
I usually have a good time when I travel to the U.S.
But I love living in Western Canada. I always think of Americans as our Friendly Neighbors. But I do know that some Americans don't feel the same way about Canadians. which is crazy because, we always help out the U.S. when you're in need. We're helping you in the war. (even though there shouldn't be a war).

Answer 4

Hi,

I have visited the state NY and Michigan as a student, lived in CA (Silicon Valley) for two years and have visited several times on vacation and business trips (Nevada, Utha, Idaho, Wyoming). (Are myself from Germany, studied English and do now live in Switzerland)

I always have a good time and I must say that I miss CA a lot.
Never the less to I need to say that some of the negative press is partly right, especially as I cannot understand why one nation lets itself just educate by CNN.
Being a German I have learned of times when politics manipulated press and it is unbearable for me to see people just follow the "propaganda" they got.
I was in CA on vacation during 9/11 and even though this was surely a tragedy, the biggest tragedy was how people reacted (even being willing to spy on their possible arabic neighbours).
Three years later was I asked by someone why Germany does not like America that much anymore. My simple answer was, because we do not agree with this war, there has been no real proof of wappons (which later on showed was really not there) and you will get yourself into a second Vietnam. He would not believe that, but even though you do not have as many fatalities yet, you are getting close to it. The US got stuck in a situation they cannot get out of anymore and this is sad.

But this sad, I still like my friends, even would move back to the US (mostly enjoying the great outdoors). Americans are always open to new people they meet, which is quite different to Europe, but making real friends there or here takes as long.
Well, I also think I have one advantage when going there, I'm white, from Europe (which interests many and their ancestors come from there) and well educated, not sure what would happen if I would be dark, from an arabic country and less educated.
Ina

Answer 5

My wife and I first visited U.S.A. in 1975. We picked up a car in New York then drove down to Florida, stopping off for sight-seeing en route. Having visited the usual attractions we drove back through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Pittsburg where we stayed with friends.We then carried on the Niagara Falls where we stayed for a couple of days before flying home from New York. On that holiday, when speaking to Americans, we were told that we had seen more of their country than they had.
Our next trip was to the West coast picking up a car in San Francisco and touring that coast for three weeks including a trip into Mexico.
Another time we went to New Orleans for a week then drove down to the Gulf Coast of Florida for a couple of weeks.
Another visit was to New England for the fall and we spent some time in Boston.
Our last visit was by flying to Florida, picking up a car and spending six weeks driving to New York, where we left the car and visiting friends on the journey and returning to U.K. by Q.E.2.
On none of our journeys have we ever pre-booked accommodation, simply stopping wherever we found ourselves and we were never disappointed.
By staying in some out of the way places we met so many friendy people who, when they found out that we are British, simply wanted to hear us speak. I don't know how many times we heard "Oh,I love your accent" We would often say that we weren't the ones with the accent.
We have always been amazed at just how insular the American T.V. news programmes are. As far as they are concerned the civilised world ends at the Eastern and Western seaboards.
It is not only some American citizens who have little knowledge of the rest of the world, apparently some British holidaymakers, returning from an overseas holiday, cannot point out on a map where they have been.
Some Americans, when overseas, have the reputation being rude or brash but, on occasions, when I have been abroad with my compatriots, I have hoped that the natives do not realise that I am British
There are so many things that I like about the U.S. that my wife and I would go back tomorrow if she were well enough to do so.
I always advise people who have asked me about visiting America to go to Disneyworld by all means but please extend your trip to other States and meet th "real" people. You won't regret it.

Answer 6

Yes I have and have found the people to be very nice.
I have been to mainly tourist destinations such as Vegas,LA, and New York so I suppose people there are more inclined to assist us strangers.

I dont think the negative press is to do with how you are to people visiting your country, more the way you try to muscle in a political sense and try to be the policeman of the world. Plus american tourists are quite ignorant and rude when they are abroad (a bit of generalisation maybe) and this rubs people up the wrong way.

Answer 7

I loved USA,been there with kids.People very friendly and helpful.Talked to lots of people even in shops when asked for simple informations.North Carolina simply rocks....also been to South Carolina,Georgia,truly the best.
Kids loved every minute of it.
p.s.only things that we didn't appreciate was the long waiting at the immigration to enter US,unbelievable!I understand why they do it,but maybe they should speed it up for EU citizen (proper EU citizen,not the one that receive passport after certain years.....like English for generations,or Spanish for generations and so on...)And maybe concentrate on those that are creating us all the problem.
p.s.it is quite annoying for an honest person to be treated like a terrorist,specially when you have kids with you.

Answer 8

Been to California, drove Highway 1, superb...Alaska, New England in the fall which has to be seen to be believed, and of course Florida and the theme parks. I love America and the Americans. They are friendly and genuinely like the English. The majority of Americans do not travel outside the USA and so the tourists we see here are the minority. I have always found Americans to be loud and brash outside their own country as though they have something to prove as the worlds only superpower. Generally I found them well mannered, very customer friendly...and great cars to drive.
Don't feel bad America, its your leaders that let you down, not he man in the street.

Answer 9

Just come back from kissimmee, ( third time I've been ) and can't wait to go back again. The people were lovely and so helpful. My daughter is autistic and no one looked at her like she was from another planet or commented on her behaviour. When she behaved really badly all people wanted to do was help me. The customer service in restaurants and shops is also far superior to what we have in the UK. I have now booked a holiday to Memphis Tennessee and will be taking my daughter.

Answer 10

yep yep yep i love it i visit orlando florida around three times a year the people are some of the nicest ive met i know you get your bad press but dont we all we just seeem to hear more about yours because of all the media hype surrounding it. i love it so much ive been looking to buy a holiday home there.going in the end of august and i cant wait. i feel so at home over there love the food, atmosphere people. rock on !