Living in Berlin, it just feels really weird that coming from California makes me the exotic foreigner. Having Europeans in awe that I'm all "cultured" or something just does not feel right.
"Where are you from? England?"
"No. I'm from California."
"California! Oh... WOW..."
Seriously. WTF?
Enjoy it until they learn the truth.
In reply to cwh:
No, they still don't believe me when I say that our beer is better.
Salanis wrote: In reply to cwh: No, they *still* don't believe me when I say that our beer is better.
That is because they know you traveled all the way there with great personal sacrifice to learn how to make beer from them. You kinda tipped your hand a bit.
Where about in berlin are you staying?
obviously they are surprised you are not a walking stereotype. You need to do something to reinforce the "ugly american" stereotype and then they will understand
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
Because the Germans are masters of technical process. Americans are better at creativity and daring. The beers here are very well crafted and produced, but they lack the excitement of American beer.
That's fine by me. I can be exciting on my own. I'm here to learn the technical aspects.
mad_machine wrote: obviously they are surprised you are not a walking stereotype. You need to do something to reinforce the "ugly american" stereotype and then they will understand
I don't know about "ugly", but I'm doing pretty well on loud and brash. I have been admonished several times that I need to talk more quietly. And I've had a guy chew me out about "Do you always interrupt people who are working?" when I tried to ask him a question after he had ignored my presence at the service counter for several minutes.
fritzsch wrote: Where about in berlin are you staying?
Wedding. So, there are lots of Turkish people who are really excited to speak English with an American.
Are you wearing Levi's, boots, and a cowboy hat?
I have heard that despite our best intentions, Americans overpower a setting with our boisterous voices.
Have they been introduced to Milwalkees Best yet? That will win you some friends.
And make sure they know the best way to drink Milwaukee's Beast, the shotgun! I demonstrated to some international students last year at a bonfire, while the host just shook her head in embarrassment. Murika!
You need to introduce them to this:
Then they'll understand.
Mitchell wrote: Are you wearing Levi's, boots, and a cowboy hat? I have heard that despite our best intentions, Americans overpower a setting with our boisterous voices.
Not exactly. I'm wearing Carhartt's, steel-toes, and a leather ranch hat. I have had people in the train stations ask me if I'm a cowboy. And apparently Carhartt is the latest hip brand for young people to wear out here.
We Americans have noticed that we just talk louder. I guess it's just more acceptable in America to be loud and enthusiastic.
And there is actually Duff beer in stores around here. I have not tried it yet.
Mitchell wrote: And make sure they know the best way to drink Milwaukee's Beast, the shotgun! I demonstrated to some international students last year at a bonfire, while the host just shook her head in embarrassment. Murika!
In my mind i envisioned you doing that in front of a group of Russian schoolgirls who then proceeded to all whisper in each other's ears tittering with excitement in languages you don't understand.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Mitchell wrote: And make sure they know the best way to drink Milwaukee's Beast, the shotgun! I demonstrated to some international students last year at a bonfire, while the host just shook her head in embarrassment. Murika!In my mind i envisioned you doing that in front of a group of Russian schoolgirls who then proceeded to all whisper in each other's ears tittering with excitement in languages you don't understand.
You have a dirty mind 
huh huh ...he said tittering...
yeah yeah ...tittering is cool!! yeah...
anyone who says they didnt read that in both of their voices is a damned liar
Salanis wrote: I have been admonished several times that I need to talk more quietly.
That's funny. The stereotype of the German tourist is that he's the most vocal AND the loudest.
Germans are very loud, but then again, most of the ones I've been around were close friends. The girls love Americans, by the way.....just saying.
All the germans I know are obstinate, opinionated drunks with a great sense of humor, a bunch of smarts and an aversion to deodorant products. They have THE worst diet of any other people I know but manage to stay poker thin because of OCD-like cycling/climbing/running behavior that occurs just before the rest of the world is willing to get out of bed after a night of hard drinking.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: All the germans I know are obstinate, opinionated drunks with a great sense of humor, a bunch of smarts and an aversion to deodorant products. They have THE worst diet of any other people I know but manage to stay poker thin because of OCD-like cycling/climbing/running behavior that occurs just before the rest of the world is willing to get out of bed after a night of hard drinking.
That sounds EXACTLY like the Germans we met in Nassau a few years ago. They were a blast.
Salanis wrote: Because the Germans are masters of technical process. Americans are better at creativity and daring. The beers here are very well crafted and produced, but they lack the excitement of American beer.
Couldn't have said it better myself. The US really is the best place to be a beer drinker.
I'm pretty sure I didn't get mistaken for anything other than an American when I was in Europe, but I'm pretty sure I didn't totally fit the "loud-ignorant-drunk-fat" stereotype, either.
rotard wrote: The girls love Americans, by the way.....just saying.
I have noticed. 
I also spend a lot of time going out doing things like dancing tango where I am one of the better dancers. These two things compound each other. Most extreme was a gal who started playing with my hair and informing me that I look like the Prince from the Czech movie version of Cinderella.
This all does not help when I have a girlfriend back home who I miss very badly. 
I have only traveled around the Caribbean, but have definitely found that American men get a lot of attention from the ladies. Even in my 60's, with a ring on. Good for the ego, for sure! Of course, they see a walking Green Card.
Oh lord... last time I went to the Caribbean, I had to hide my hair under my hat. They're relentless down there!
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