I have visited the U.S. last week. (I was in New York). I have spoken with this American woman and she asked me where I'm from because I speak differently (British accent), I asked her to guess and she was like "uhhh... i dunno! Canada?" Then I said I'm from the UK and she was like "ohhh... ok." I'm seriously not sure if she had ever heard of it. I don't wanna offend you, but I just got the impression that Americans kindda live in your own "little" world and the only countries you know something about are Mexico and Canada. It's just, didn't you ever see a map of the world in school or elsewhere?
Really, no offence... I like America (that's why I went there)
2007-12-28 08:04:31 · 15 answers · asked by lc 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
To Polly: I'm not basing all Americans on this. This is just an example. I have other examples... and I'm sure you're not all like this woman but I just have the impression that there are quite some people like her in your country.
2007-12-28 08:11:23 · update #1
American people are also not very nicely portrayed in the media in Europe.
2007-12-28 08:14:47 · update #2
Its something I've been saying for years. Americans are very ignorant about the world around them. Can you blame us? The majority of our news concentrates on domestic issues, celebrity gossip, and sports. I also think our public schools have really failed us. I read a while ago that about 60% of high school seniors couldn't locate Iraq on a map. That is just a travesty. I think Americans need to wake up and become more invested into what's going on in the world around them.
2007-12-28 08:12:38 · answer #1 · answered by harry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look man, I can almost tell the difference between a UK and Australian accent. Also, I know the UK consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - what's with the rest of Ireland by the way? They don't want to be UK or what?
Your first mistake is judging (or getting an impression of) Americans from New Yorkers - please don't, they're really a different breed. Some Americans actually know a lot about what's going on in the rest of the world.
2007-12-28 16:15:28 · answer #2 · answered by tshnobodysfool 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never met anyone who had a self awareness of their own natural accent.
If someone remarked to me that I sound "American" I would most likely ask them what an "American" sounds like.
Everyone I know sounds like me. How could I tell the difference?
In that vein, the only way I would know you are from England is if you told me. Many people from India, New Zealand, Australia, loads of Caribbean islands. and Canada speak with an accent similar to British.
2007-12-28 16:30:31 · answer #3 · answered by Lorenzo H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard of the UK so by your logic all Americans know. Generalities are most always false. I am sure there are some people who really do live in their own little worlds but now all.
2007-12-28 16:11:01 · answer #4 · answered by mnwomen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, second to Math and Science, Geography is something that I am very good at. I love learning about other countries, in fact I think I know more about other countries than Mexico and Canada.
2007-12-28 16:10:10 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. 3.14™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't pick accents at all. A woman in Alabama thought I was from New York becuase of my posh accent.
I'm Australian. She was way off.
Some yank gridiron team played an exhibition match in London and when the plane landed at Heathrow one of the players asked if they speak English in England. Not real smart that guy.
However one friend I stayed with in Georgia could rattle off many world capitals. He stumped me on one. It was Bratislava, capital of Slovakia
2007-12-28 16:11:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LoL it was just one person and she probably had just never heard someone call england the U.K?P.S I watch the BBC world news to try and see whats going on in the rest of the world because most of our news is only about whats going on in the U.S.A and i am really good at picking accents out.
2007-12-28 16:14:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be honest, I think that woman was just an idiot. I'm from Texas and I know what the U.K. is. In fact I even have a few friends from there. She probably even thinks that the Roman Empire was only in Italy. So don't generalize because of one moron.
2007-12-28 16:08:18 · answer #8 · answered by kittysmle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She probably didn't know that the UK was the United Kingdom
2007-12-28 16:08:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um, don't judge all Americans because on one idiot in N.Y. Are all British as judgmental as you. Sounds like you British have more issues than Americans to me.
2007-12-28 16:10:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋