NationStates Jolt Archive

What is your opinion of USAmerican expatriates working in your country? Personal experiences? What about their wives and children?

And no this will not be a poll.

What is your opinion of USAmerican expatriates working in your country? Personal experiences? What about their wives and children?

I wish they'd speak better Swedish, and catch on quicker on how to lower the volume of their voices. Otherwise, they're not so special for me to have further opinions of them.

Well, except for Francis Strand (http://francisstrand.blogspot.com/), who rules viciously.

Most of the one's I've met have been through work/business. They start out thinking that what works in the USA will work here, but after a while they understand that Australia has a different culture, work practice, expectations, etc. Mostly they're pretty good.

I have issues with the American School kids here. Such ignorant, arrogant farts.

I live in the United States and I can tell you our biggest problem is that we have too damn many Americans living here.

;)

I have issues with the American School kids here. Such ignorant, arrogant farts.

LOL, I heard someone calling a European kid the same thing! I would venture to guess there are ignorant and arrogant farts anywhere you go.

Three cheers for misconcepted idealism (that only Americans have all the ignorant-arrogant farts)!

I have issues with the American School kids here. Such ignorant, arrogant farts.

That's just how they're raised. Give them time - many who are abroad manage to snap out of it.

LOL, I heard someone calling a European kid the same thing! I would venture to guess there are ignorant and arrogant farts anywhere you go.

Three cheers for misconcepted idealism (that only Americans have all the ignorant-arrogant farts)!

Or that only USAmericans can call themselves Americans.

Or that only USAmericans can call themselves Americans.

Oy vey. Here we go again:

Unless you want to call Germans "Bundesrepubliks", you must call citizens of the USA "Americans". We are the "United States of America" -- ANY state can join if they so choose.

If (say) Belize wanted to join, they would become Americans. Until then, they are Central Americans. Ditto Paraguay: they're SOUTH AMERICANS.

Calling a South American an American is as misleading as calling a Netherlander an Asiapean because Europe and Asia are the same landmass.

No, Asiapean doesn't exist as a term. Nor do Usian, USAmerican, etc. :)

I wish people would separate out the US from the American at least. Really looks strange. If you must be insistent and take small jabs at the US constantly, at at least write it US American and don't be a lazy ass.

No, Asiapean doesn't exist as a term.

It does NOW!

Finally, a term for both Eurotrash AND Asiatrash!

Well, except for Francis Strand (http://francisstrand.blogspot.com/), who rules viciously. Ha, awesome. And I never knew that Swedish was so decipherable for a German (well, at least those single "words for the day" are). And you stole "schlager" from us! No wonder you love the Eurovision Song Contest so much. :p

ETA: Um, sorry, topic... I don't really personally know any US expatriats, but I'm sure they're pretty decent people. They tend to get a lot more politically left abroad, so that's always a plus.

Oy vey. Here we go again:

Unless you want to call Germans "Bundesrepubliks", you must call citizens of the USA "Americans". We are the "United States of America" -- ANY state can join if they so choose.

If (say) Belize wanted to join, they would become Americans. Until then, they are Central Americans. Ditto Paraguay: they're SOUTH AMERICANS.

Calling a South American an American is as misleading as calling a Netherlander an Asiapean because Europe and Asia are the same landmass.

No, Asiapean doesn't exist as a term. Nor do Usian, USAmerican, etc. :)
Whatever you say North American.

I wish people would separate out the US from the American at least. Really looks strange. If you must be insistent and take small jabs at the US constantly, at at least write it US American and don't be a lazy ass.
USian is easier and it looks better.

What is your opinion of USAmerican expatriates working in your country? Personal experiences? What about their wives and children?

And no this will not be a poll.Gayle Tuft is a bit annoying, but for the most part, they do well over here. It's the embassy staff and military kids that usually get away with not learning German.

Calling a South American an American is as misleading as calling a Netherlander an Asiapean because Europe and Asia are the same landmass.

No, Asiapean doesn't exist as a term. Nor do Usian, USAmerican, etc. :)You mean "Eurasian"?

From those i've met, they seem to blend in pretty well over here. It's only tourists that are annoying, but that's not necessarily exclusive to americans anyway. :p

Whatever you say North American.

That's fine. At least it's a continentally accurate if somewhat nationalistically vague term. ;)

USian is easier and it looks better.

If easier means fewer characters to type, sure.

Looks better? Hell no.

Looks better? Hell no.

Especially since it's thinly-veiled assfuckery.

You mean "Eurasian"?

Nope. That one actually exists. :) (And more specifically refers to people living in the Trans-Caucasus. Just like Central American refers to folks living north of the Panama Canal but south of Mexico).

Gayle Tuft is a bit annoying, Heh, yeah, she is, isn't she? I kind of love her, yet she is just so....loud. I don't know, after three sentences I usually want to yell at her to calm down and shut up already.

I think I've just hijacked this thread. Sorry, I'll stop now.

If easier means fewer characters to type, sure.

Looks better? Hell no.
Sure it does. I would think you would like it. It really features the US part.

{American student studying in Dresden, Germany furiously takes notes}

Sorry about talking loudly on the phone. I'm used to having to talk over other people, or my old car back home on crappy freebie Verizon phones, not the nice Motorola I brought here on the quiet trams. I'll pipe down next time.

Especially since it's thinly-veiled assfuckery.

You wish, b-boy.

Heh, yeah, she is, isn't she? I kind of love her, yet she is just so....loud. I don't know, after three sentences I usually want to yell at her to calm down and shut up already.She agreed to do our senior class speech and then cancelled when it was too late to find a replacement... :mad:

Ha, awesome. And I never knew that Swedish was so decipherable for a German (well, at least those single "words for the day" are). And you stole "schlager" from us! No wonder you love the Eurovision Song Contest so much. :p

We didn't steal it from you, you stole it from us. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

She agreed to do our senior class speech and then cancelled when it was too late to find a replacement... :mad:
You had a senior class speech? o.O
Oh, did you attend the JFK school?

We didn't steal it from you, you stole it from us. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Hah, sure, sure. *pats*

You had a senior class speech? o.O
Oh, did you attend the JFK school?Yes to both. Our American Highschool Principal had to take over...

Hah, sure, sure. *pats*

Hey, who does it reflect worse on, those who adopted it, or those who gave birth to it, huh?

Hey, who does it reflect worse on, those who adopted it, or those who gave birth to it, huh?
We only gave birth to it because we needed a word to describe the terrible Swedish songs that kept winning Eurovision. Yeah, that's the ticket. :p

In other news, I think I just broke my small toe. See what your arguing does to me? *cries*

In other news, I think I just broke my small toe. See what your arguing does to me? *cries*Aw...:(
Hope it isn't really broken, and if it is, here's a :fluffle: to get better soon.

Aw...:(
Hope it isn't really broken, and if it is, here's a :fluffle: to get better soon.
I almost think it is. Damn. Thanks for the fluffle, though. *sniff*
Although I'd like to point out that my post above only made it sound like I had been typing it with my feet. I was not. Honest.

I almost think it is. Damn. Thanks for the fluffle, though. *sniff*
Although I'd like to point out that my post above only made it sound like I had been typing it with my feet. I was not. Honest.
I have to admit that it didn't occour to me that you'd be typing with your feet until this, but now that you mention it I'm dissapointed that's not the case...

That's just how they're raised. Give them time - many who are abroad manage to snap out of it.
I guess the French must be raising ignorant, arrogant assholes as well.

Our elementary school here has quite a few French foreign exchange students, and they are all, to the very last one, some of the most arrogant little kids I've ever laid eyes on.

im english and theres one in year 11 in our school
they seem okay
wots the big deal?

I guess the French must be raising ignorant, arrogant assholes as well.

Our elementary school here has quite a few French foreign exchange students, and they are all, to the very last one, some of the most arrogant little kids I've ever laid eyes on.

French people are entitled to it, seeing as France does indeed rule.

We only gave birth to it because we needed a word to describe the terrible Swedish songs that kept winning Eurovision. Yeah, that's the ticket. :p

Wie eine Blume am Winterbeginn, so wie ein Feuer in eisigen Wind... don't make me start - gib mir nur ein bisschen Frieden! :D

In other news, I think I just broke my small toe. See what your arguing does to me? *cries*

It does that to everyone, so, have some solidarity.

Wie eine Blume am Winterbeginn, so wie ein Feuer in eisigen Wind... don't make me start - gib mir nur ein bisschen Frieden! :DOh my God, please tell me you had to look that up. Please.

French people are entitled to it, seeing as France does indeed rule.
I guess that's why they're all behind in math...

Oh my God, please tell me you had to look that up. Please.

What do you think they fed us during German class? When it was time to listen to "German music," that was basically it.

French people are entitled to it, seeing as France does indeed rule.

Rules what? An area about twice the size of Colorado? Martinique? Juan de Nova Island? :D

What do you think they fed us during German class? When it was time to listen to "German music," that was basically it.

Wow. At least we got Peter Schilling and Falco. ;)

I guess that's why they're all behind in math...

They can't all be Fermats or Fouriers or Poincarés etcetera...

Wow. At least we got Peter Schilling and Falco. ;)
Peter Schilling! The crush of li'l 12-year-old Whereyouthinkyougoing! *flashback*

Wow. At least we got Peter Schilling and Falco. ;)Which is interesting, because Falko isn't exactly all that German... :p

Which is interesting, because Falko isn't exactly all that German... :p

Austrian, yeah. But it's singing in German, and (let's face it) I can't think of too many German speaking musicians that got US airplay in the early 80s besides perhaps Nena, Falco, and Peter Schilling (all Scorpions was in English).

Wow. At least we got Peter Schilling and Falco. ;)

I remember Alphaville (*shudder*), Nina Hagen (not bad at all), Udo Jürgens (ja, warum immer ich? Warum frag' ich dich? Du liebst einen Anderen... *throws up a little in his mouth* Or maybe that was some other "Jürgen"?), Kraftwerk (so, so), Herbert Grönemeyer (damn you SoWiBi, damn you to Thüringen!), Blümchen (makes me eerily happy)...

I guess the French must be raising ignorant, arrogant assholes as well.

Our elementary school here has quite a few French foreign exchange students, and they are all, to the very last one, some of the most arrogant little kids I've ever laid eyes on.

Some French kids I know act arrogant in front of USians to annoy them.
I think thats genius.

Peter Schilling! The crush of li'l 12-year-old Whereyouthinkyougoing! *flashback*

I still find it funny/odd that he sang the English version of "Major Tom" ("Völlig Losgelöst") so well without knowing a word. For all he knew, he could have been singing a translation of the Bulgarian national anthem. :)

I remember Alphaville (*shudder*), Nina Hagen (not bad at all), Udo Jürgens (ja, warum immer ich? Warum frag' ich dich? Du liebst einen Anderen... *throws up a little in his mouth*), Kraftwerk (so, so), Herbert Grönemeyer (damn you SoWiBi, damn you to Thüringen!), Blümchen (makes me eerily happy)...

I'm not sure how much radio airplay they got in the US. Alphaville and Kraftwerk are vaguely familiar, but I think I jettisoned those memories in exchange for multi-variable calculus.
...Or Spring Weekend at the University of Connecticut in 1993. Whichever.

I still find it funny/odd that he sang the English version of "Major Tom" ("Völlig Losgelöst") so well without knowing a word. For all he knew, he could have been singing a translation of the Bulgarian national anthem. :)
Huh?

ETA: "Huh?" meaning that I have no idea what you mean. He didn't know what the song was about in English? But...but... huh?

USian and USAmerican, and even the venerable US American all fall before the might of Columbian, largely because so few Columbians would recognize the term.
</rehijack>

Huh?

I read in Rolling Stone many, many moons ago that when Schilling sang "Major Tom" he didn't speak English. He just sang the lyrics over and over again until they sounded good.

...I suspect this is how Roxette did "Ballades en Espanol". (Marie Fredriksson doesn't speak Spanish)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000VTL/104-8690932-4785532?v=glance&n=5174

I read in Rolling Stone many, many moons ago that when Schilling sang "Major Tom" he didn't speak English. He just sang the lyrics over and over again until they sounded good.
Oh boy, sorry, totally my bad. I just now saw that you had said "the English version". Duh.
I don't think I even knew there was an English version of his, I think I only know "Völlig losgelöst".

Oh boy, sorry, totally my bad. I just now saw that you had said "the English version". Duh.
I don't think I even knew there was an English version of his, I think I only know "Völlig losgelöst".

No prob.
It was kind of funny over here: back in 83' MTV was somewhat starved for content and they'd often play "Major Tom" AND "Völlig losgelöst" within an hour of each other. Sure, the videos were different, but still...

Major Tom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmrQEmVrC4s

No prob.
It was kind of funny over here: back in 83' MTV was somewhat starved for content and they'd often play "Major Tom" AND "Völlig losgelöst" within an hour of each other. Sure, the videos were different, but still...

Major Tom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmrQEmVrC4s
Awww, thanks for the link. Hmm, if that was 1983, that means I was crushing on him when I was all of 9 or 10 years old. o.O I didn't know people had crushes that early. But I have to say, my 9-year-old self had pretty good taste, considering it were the 80's. :p
But for having to learn it by heart, his English is pretty good! But can someone tell me what the chorus is: "Earth below us, drifting *word that doesn't make sense*"? Thanks.

"..., falling,..."

Awww, thanks for the link. Hmm, if that was 1983, that means I was crushing on him when I was all of 9 or 10 years old. o.O I didn't know people had crushes that early. But I have to say, my 9-year-old self had pretty good taste, considering it were the 80's. :p
But for having to learn it by heart, his English is pretty good! But can someone tell me what the chorus is: "Earth below us, drifting *word that doesn't make sense*"? Thanks.

You're welcome.

Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...

http://www.reallyrics.com/lyrics/P009700010001.asp

You're welcome.

Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...

http://www.reallyrics.com/lyrics/P009700010001.asp
Oh boy. Falling. Thanks. And it didn't even occur to me to google it. I'm starting to think I broke my brain, not my toe. :rolleyes:

I have issues with the American School kids here. Such ignorant, arrogant farts.
and always so very fat and spoilt

tbh i dont have a problem with americans over here they normally act like the usual englishman. except when they get all snotty and angry at me because i dont take american express credit cards

What is your opinion of USAmerican expatriates working in your country? Personal experiences? What about their wives and children?

Generally better than that Americans who never left their country.

Oy vey. Here we go again:

Unless you want to call Germans "Bundesrepubliks", you must call citizens of the USA "Americans". We are the "United States of America" -- ANY state can join if they so choose.
United Statesian is totally logical. A citizen of the United States. I don't know why the term arouses such bitter hatred. Do you not think it sounds as nice as American?

I guess the French must be raising ignorant, arrogant assholes as well.

Our elementary school here has quite a few French foreign exchange students, and they are all, to the very last one, some of the most arrogant little kids I've ever laid eyes on.
That's because French people are like American people. They're raised to be proud and nationalistic.

United Statesian is totally logical. A citizen of the United States. I don't know why the term arouses such bitter hatred. Do you not think it sounds as nice as American?


United Stateian = Bundesrepublik'er (Deutschland) = Fuerstentumian (Liechtenstein) = Republicans (Chile)

It's using a statement of governance to name a people. American is the common term, and the logical one.

If I said Fuerstentumian, would you assume I was speaking of somebody from
Vaduz?

Are all Republicans from Chile? I think not.

North America is a contient. South America is a continent. America is short for the United States of America. QED.

United Stateian = Bundesrepublik'er (Deutschland) = Fuerstentumian (Liechtenstein) = Republicans (Chile)

It's using a statement of governance to name a people. American is the common term, and the logical one.
In English, only one country is commonly known as the United States, whereas the Americas cover many countries.