NationStates Jolt Archive

Sort of. One of the guys from my other forums went to France on a trip. I was quite amazed, taken back, and jealous (Never thought I'd say that about France, but there is a first time for almost everything).



The stereotypes that I had - and that are prevalent on this board - simply aren't true. The natives have been much friendlier to me than those of, for example, New York. I haven't come across anyone at all who was reluctant to give me directions, or to speak in English if they were capable. Embarrassingly, most of the people I have seen behaving poorly over there have been American tourists.

In many ways, they've done a better job of preserving freedom than we have, too. Or at least they haven't allowed themselves to become as legalistic as we have. The latest illustration of that for me was when I rented a bicycle last week. Helmets aren't required. The bike shop didn't even have any. There was no waiver to sign. And to top it off, they gave me a bottle of wine when I told them my girlfriend and I were planning to eat a picnic lunch somewhere. I asked if there were any rules about where we could drink it, and they didn't even understand what I was talking about. There's no such thing as an open container law there. How long would it take an American company to be sued into the stone age if they rented bikes with no helmets, no legal waivers, and gave customers booze to take with them?

Yeah, one of the things I really miss about Germany is buying a Jack and Coke in a can and being able to drink it as I walked downtown.

Also, Frenchmen are extremely nice people. However, people have a bad habit of confusing Parisiens with Frenchmen. Just as people confuse New Yorkers with Americans.

Oh, and as soon as Americans leave US borders in numbers greater than 2 they become raging assholes. Why this is, no one knows.

Sort of. One of the guys from my other forums went to France on a trip. I was quite amazed, taken back, and jealous (Never thought I'd say that about France, but there is a first time for almost everything).



The stereotypes that I had - and that are prevalent on this board - simply aren't true. The natives have been much friendlier to me than those of, for example, New York. I haven't come across anyone at all who was reluctant to give me directions, or to speak in English if they were capable. Embarrassingly, most of the people I have seen behaving poorly over there have been American tourists.

In many ways, they've done a better job of preserving freedom than we have, too. Or at least they haven't allowed themselves to become as legalistic as we have. The latest illustration of that for me was when I rented a bicycle last week. Helmets aren't required. The bike shop didn't even have any. There was no waiver to sign. And to top it off, they gave me a bottle of wine when I told them my girlfriend and I were planning to eat a picnic lunch somewhere. I asked if there were any rules about where we could drink it, and they didn't even understand what I was talking about. There's no such thing as an open container law there. How long would it take an American company to be sued into the stone age if they rented bikes with no helmets, no legal waivers, and gave customers booze to take with them?


I was in france about a month ago, and actually they were extremely polite. If they get in your way you get a friendly "C'est Bon?". Everybody spoke english, and they were always willing to help.

Weird, i just bashed the french in another thread not but 2 mintutes ago.

<Snip>
The stereotypes that I had - and that are prevalent on this board - simply aren't true.
<Snip>

Well, who'd'a thunk of it?!?

Yeah, the French are some cool people, generally.

Lots of damnfine things in france.

Also, Frenchmen are extremely nice people. However, people have a bad habit of confusing Parisiens with Frenchmen. Just as people confuse New Yorkers with Americans.

I've been very well treated in Paris as well as in New York. You get what you give, and I don't know if it's my Swedish upbringing that makes me able to more easily manipulate people into polite behaviour or not, but I've never identified with the stereotypes of people from those cities.

If you want some rude people, go to tokyo. True, i cant even make a japanese sound, but people knock into you and rarely ask if you're alright. Thats not cool. (but credit to some, there are a number of polite ones)

Oh, and as soon as Americans leave US borders in numbers greater than 2 they become raging assholes. Why this is, no one knows.

It's a specialty. The germans and the brits are pretty good at it too tho'.

I recently came back from Munich and I must say the people there are very polite. I live in New York and when I go to NYC from my experience the people aren't very nice.

I've been very well treated in Paris as well as in New York. You get what you give, and I don't know if it's my Swedish upbringing that makes me able to more easily manipulate people into polite behaviour or not, but I've never identified with the stereotypes of people from those cities.

My first experience with a Parisien was when I checked in my hotel near Montparnasse and a pair of locals looked at me with my luggage and said in an extremely haughty tone, "Toujours les entrangers en France!"

I think my negative experiences with Parisiens in my first visit was due to the fact that I was a dumb farm kid from Nowhere, Michigan and it showed. Blatant tourists annoy locals to no end. Since then I've become a bit more cosmopolitan and able to blend in. I ran into a friend of mine at the airport in Detroit when I went back to Michigan on leave once and she didn't recognize me at first because I dressed "foreign". I've only been to Paris once since, and I got along just fine. I'll be spending the semester in France this spring, so hopefully I'll be able to visit again.

My first experience with a Parisien was when I checked in my hotel near Montparnasse and a pair of locals looked at me with my luggage and said in an extremely haughty tone, "Toujours les entrangers en France!"

That's when one says "Ouais, et j'en suis très content. Quelle belle ville vous avez bâtie!" in an even haughtier voice. You'll get jerks everywhere (to that I attest) - I find projected sarcasm quite efficient in dealing with them.

I think my negative experiences with Parisiens in my first visit was due to the fact that I was a dumb farm kid from Nowhere, Michigan and it showed. Blatant tourists annoy locals to no end. Since then I've become a bit more cosmopolitan and able to blend in. I ran into a friend of mine at the airport in Detroit when I went back to Michigan on leave once and she didn't recognize me at first because I dressed "foreign". I've only been to Paris once since, and I got along just fine. I'll be spending the semester in France this spring, so hopefully I'll be able to visit again.

What one wears does have a lot to do with it. I can't stand German or US tourists who look like they come from Germany or the US. *shudders*

That's when one says "Ouais, et j'en suis très content. Quelle belle ville vous avez bâtie!" in an even haughtier voice. You'll get jerks everywhere (to that I attest) - I find projected sarcasm quite efficient in dealing with them.

My French isn't (and certainly wasn't then) quite sufficient to come up with sarcastic comments on the fly. Eventually I'll be able to exercise this option.

What one wears does have a lot to do with it. I can't stand German or US tourists who look like they come from Germany or the US. *shudders*

I figured that out very quickly when I moved to Germany. After a month or so I was able to spot an American from at least 800m. The fact that all the Americans in my part of Germany had military haircuts didn't help, though.

That's when one says "Ouais, et j'en suis très content. Quelle belle ville vous avez bâtie!" in an even haughtier voice. You'll get jerks everywhere (to that I attest) - I find projected sarcasm quite efficient in dealing with them.



What one wears does have a lot to do with it. I can't stand German or US tourists who look like they come from Germany or the US. *shudders*

What exactly do American tourists 'over there' wear?

What exactly do American tourists 'over there' wear?

White socks. White socks with sandals. Khaki shorts everywhere; be they touring a royal castle or a government building. Sweatshirts. I've even seen the dreaded fanny packs. Then there's the volume of their voices coupled with the whiny US accent... ugh, I'm grossing myself out.

White socks. White socks with sandals. Khaki shorts everywhere; be they touring a royal castle or a government building. Sweatshirts. I've even seen the dreaded fanny packs. Then there's the volume of their voices coupled with the whiny US accent... ugh, I'm grossing myself out.


Are jeans 'tourist' wear over there?

Are jeans 'tourist' wear over there?

They are if you're over 40, otherwise no.

White socks. White socks with sandals. Khaki shorts everywhere; be they touring a royal castle or a government building. I've even seen the dreaded fanny packs. Then there's the volume of their voices coupled with the whiny US accent... ugh, I'm grossing myself out.
It's like you've known me forever. :p (Well, actually I've never worn a fanny pack, dispite my family pushing them like a crack dealer pushing a new sale) I love sandels. I've worn sandals and socks and shorts in the dead of winter to walk the dog. The only reason I'm not wearing them now is this dang school dress code.

White socks. White socks with sandals. Khaki shorts everywhere; be they touring a royal castle or a government building. Sweatshirts. I've even seen the dreaded fanny packs. Then there's the volume of their voices coupled with the whiny US accent... ugh, I'm grossing myself out.

Don't forget baseball caps and shirts with the names of locations or US sports teams on them.

Yeah, one of the things I really miss about Germany is buying a Jack and Coke in a can and being able to drink it as I walked downtown.
I live in Hong Kong.
The other day I was waiting in line at the Supermarket checkout and the guy in front of me was buying two bottles of Hoegarden. After paying for them, he asked the staff for a bottle opener, which they duly supplied.
He then opened both, handed one to his mate and they continued wandering around the supermarket drinking.
The cashier just stuck a 'sold' sticker on the side.

Kinda cool I thought. I didn't know one could do that.

Embarrassingly, most of the people I have seen behaving poorly over there have been American tourists.
I take it your friend hasn't done much travelling at all, then.
US tourists are the bane of civilisation.

It's hard to say exactly what it is about them, but they're damn easy to spot. I think it's a combination of poor dress sense, cheap clothes, grossly overweight and a palatable sense of bewilderment that not everyone in the world speaks enlgish.
Oh, and loud. Though here in HK that's barely noticeable, the Cantonese, being as they are, the loudest people on the planet.

As opposed to French or Italian tourists, who just exude a sense of style and calmness about them.

Germans are distinguishable by their regimented way of sight-seeing. I'm certain they have it down to the second how long to spend before moving onto the next. They never look lost - I assume because they've meticulously planned everything beforehand from how long to the best route.

English tourists are easy to spot also, because they the palest people on the planet. And they invariably feel the need to wear club football shirts, seemingly desperate to inform everyone that while their country's team is crap, they do have some good club teams.

My boyfriend is Canadian and he was freaked out that people can drink in public places in England...I think that problem that most people from the US have is that they buy into the government telling them the 'Land of the Free' crap..don't you believe it guys...Canada is more free that the US and the UK is more free that Canada...We just don't have a song about it...

As to tourists..I live in a place that tourists come to, we have this ancient castle in our village and a whole bunch of ancient places, areas of outstanding natural beauty, heritage coast, dinosaur bones, historic houses etc etc...so we get tourists..Not so many Americans, as we are not on the 'doing England in a week' tour, but we do get Europeans, and quite often they are fairly rude, have an issue with queuing and barging in front is a big French thing I find, and we also get lots of old English people..and Welsh ones too...old people are rude and ignorant, they have this whole 'I am old so deal with it' thing going on, the worst are old women, I hope that I can be that rude and ignorant when I get wrinkly and incontinent.

The only tourists that I've seen, have had to tell me that they were tourists. All of them seem to speak better English than a couple cashiers at work...

English tourists are easy to spot also, because they the palest people on the planet. And they invariably feel the need to wear club football shirts, seemingly desperate to inform everyone that while their country's team is crap, they do have some good club teams.

What about the rest of the Brits??!

HAving lived and worked in Paris all I can say is that the best thing is for France to be turned into Europes private parking lot.

English tourists are easy to spot also, because they the palest people on the planet. And they invariably feel the need to wear club football shirts, seemingly desperate to inform everyone that while their country's team is crap, they do have some good club teams.
I never wear a football shirt. I don't subscribe to the tribal warfare of the drunken uneducated masses.

I can't believe that the English are paler than everyone else. We might not get that much sun, but we get more than the most northerly countries. Or are tanning sessions compulsory up there?

I recently came back from Munich and I must say the people there are very polite. I live in New York and when I go to NYC from my experience the people aren't very nice.

Mmm, yes, I'd suppose they'd be polite, even if they don't have two brain cells between them to rub together.

The following people/nationalities are always trying to feed me:

Italians
Germans
Any Asian culture, ESPECIALLY the Chinese.
Polish
Checks
American Southerners.

As far as Hospitality goes, these types do it best.
They are constantly seeing to your every need, most especially, the stomach.
These people sometimes get offended if you dont make a pig out of yourself at thier table.

The upside is, these folks generally can cook up a storm.

I've been to France on a near yearly basis in the past few years, and I can say from my experience that French people I have encountered are very friendly and accomodating of English people (I'm English), especially in the Normandy and Dunkirk area, which possibly goes back to the sacrifices the British made in Dunkirk and on D-Day, and the Normandy campaign that followed, and perhaps generations have been taught to remember those sacrifices and how British tourists may be relatives of British soldiers who fought and died there, but also a general nice sunny disposition the French have.

The French people do appreciate it if a tourist at least knows a handful of French words, which I think shows to them you have expressed an interest in France and studied it before touring.

Of course, you do come across surly people in France, who look at you with a grudging stare or mumble, but I found this more down in the south, near the border with Switzerland, and I can only presume they don't like tourists that were 'trespassing' and are not so used to tourists as Normandy.

I remember in '04 just before the 60th anniversary of D-Day, that our British party of tourists was staying in a hotel, and were dining in the dining table when another coach pulled up full of German tourists who were very haughty.

We finished our meal and departed on the coach, where somebody on the coach informed us that the Germans were upset with the hotel that they had not been served breakfast first, when we were at our tables and they were just arriving!

We came back later that day to the hotel, to learn the Germans had left in protest (after their breakfast naturally) which prompted knowing looks between we British and the French hotel staff, as if to say "Germans eh? Don't ever change."


On Parisians, the general reputation they have in the rest of France to the rest of the French is that Parisians are snobby people who think that they are above all other French people.

I have yet to go to Paris, so I can't comment either way.


As for American tourists coming to the UK, a mixed view. There was one occasion when I came back from Spain, had got off the plane and caught the bus to where our car was parked, and an American woman tourist sitting behind me was saying loudly how much she hated the UK already, how it was a mess, etc etc, and all this ranting and whining while the bus was filled with we British coming back from holidays and going back to our cars! I tell you, there was nearly blood shed on that bus, but true to British spirit, we all maintained our compusure.

Two other occasions when I was down in London, American tourists (Spottable from a mile away by their appalling dress sense and loud whiny sounding voices) approached me with "Excuse me Sir, could you please tell me the way to....."

Which I duly did, which led to a high pitched and sincere "Thank you" and a bloody courtesy!

They could have kissed my feet while they were at it, told them I was royalty, but I was in shock.

Americans have "whiny" accents?

The following people/nationalities are always trying to feed me:

Italians
Germans
Any Asian culture, ESPECIALLY the Chinese.
Polish
Checks
American Southerners.

As far as Hospitality goes, these types do it best.
They are constantly seeing to your every need, most especially, the stomach.
These people sometimes get offended if you dont make a pig out of yourself at thier table.

The upside is, these folks generally can cook up a storm.
Best two places I've been to so far for ensuring all your food requirements have been met are Tibet and Taiwan.
Tibet - the food's ok (good and spicy which is a bonus) and they are desperate to make sure you waddle off content. Of course if one does not like yak, one will be disappointed.

Taiwan - the food's awesome. Best I've tried in Asia. They have great (and dead cheap, <$10US) all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants. They put a wok-type thing out on a gas cooker on your table, with one side full of spicy soup, the other garlicky. Then you go pick what you want from the buffet table and cook it yourself. Fresh meats, oysters, prawns, fish, fungi, vegetables - the lot. They even have a sign warning you that wasting food will incur a fine (only $3US, but still) which is a great way to ensure one eats everything on the plate.
The beer's extra, but damn good.

Americans have "whiny" accents?

Yeah. Sorry.

Americans have "whiny" accents?
Yeah, often.
Southerners don't so much, from what I've heard (mostly telly and films), and I had an American lecturer who was very softly spoken (from New York, which shocked me), so it's not omnipresent, but it's common.

The stereotypical "American teenager" accent you get in television programmes? Fingernails down blackboards. *Shudder*

The Americans I've met have been polite and friendly, though.

Americans have "whiny" accents? Yeah, sorry. Not helped by the fact that they often talk very loudly.
(Hell, even when I speak English (seeing as I have an American accent) my voice goes up a notch over how I sound in German. Funny how that works. But yeah, definitely can be whiny.)

Don't forget baseball caps and shirts with the names of locations or US sports teams on them.
Oh, and I can't believe you haven't mentioned the sneakers!!! Every single American tourist wears sneakers (or TEWA sandals, but let's concentrate on the sneakers for now), and why that may go unnoticed if the person in question is younger (although then usually the rest of the outfit gives it away) it becomes *very* noticeable with older people.

The stereotypical American tourist over 40 will wear jeans and a sweatshirt (or, even better, jeans and a denim shirt...), sneakers, a fanny pack, topped off with a hat of some sort for the men and glasses on a chain around the neck for women.

I deal with American tourists on a daily basis in my job (I'm a train conductor, I work the main line between London and Dover going through Canterbury) and I have to say that they are in general some of the most polite people on the planet. Every other word seems to be please and thankyou, and if you don't know something they don't kick up a stink and demand you find out.

However, several pet peeves;

1 - Teeneagers. American teenagers seem to be complete arseholes when their on their own. They arrive in England aged 18 and 19 and suddenly discover they can legally drink, in public as well. Cue lots of drunk idiots n the train. This could, however, be my own 'old man' aversion to idiotic teenagers of all nationalities.

2 - Voice. I don't find the whiny accent annoying, but the volume. Americans seem to speak several decibels louder thanm everyone else. Anyone know why this is?

3 - Info. Certain tourists (I would guess the first timers) almost expect a running commentary from me as the train progresses through the Kent countryside. My job is train safety and ticket inspection, not tourist guide. I got so annoyed with it once I managed to convince a middle aged Texan that Rochester Castle was Camelot.

As I say, the one thing that stands out from the majority of US tourists is how polite they are. Not sure if this is a reaction to a uniform or what, but it can be very nie after dealing with surly commuters alll morning.

I was in france about a month ago, and actually they were extremely polite. If they get in your way you get a friendly "C'est Bon?". Everybody spoke english, and they were always willing to help.

Weird, i just bashed the french in another thread not but 2 mintutes ago.

It was that way in Brittany for me, and in Nice, and in other places OTHER than Paris.

Paris, on the other hand, seemed to be filled with assholes. I am convinced that there's some French law that requires assholes to register and live in Paris, thus sparing everyone else the pain of having to live with them.

They may be like that to americans, but not to us brits I assure you.

It was that way in Brittany for me, and in Nice, and in other places OTHER than Paris.

Paris, on the other hand, seemed to be filled with assholes. I am convinced that there's some French law that requires assholes to register and live in Paris, thus sparing everyone else the pain of having to live with them.
I have had that experience in a few big US cities as well … Chicago comes to mind, Atlanta was no peach either

I can't believe that the English are paler than everyone else. We might not get that much sun, but we get more than the most northerly countries. Or are tanning sessions compulsory up there?

People in the Nordic countries tend to worship the sun. We usually have quite sunny summers, and the winters in the resorts can actually offer quite nice snow tanning opportunities. That and solaria being popular and paleness seen as unattractive.

As I say, the one thing that stands out from the majority of US tourists is how polite they are. Not sure if this is a reaction to a uniform or what, but it can be very nie after dealing with surly commuters alll morning.
Nah, I don't think it's the uniform. They are very polite/friendly at home in the US, too. The whole kind of "fleeting" social interaction you get for example when shopping is very friendly and polite.

It's what makes for the eternal dilemma of the European observer: do I roll my eyes and say they're superficial for being friendly to a degree that kinda leaves the friendliness devoid of meaning or do I appreciate that they make day-to-day social interaction bearable and pleasant (does grumpiness really equal honesty?)?

Yeah, sorry. Not helped by the fact that they often talk very loudly.
(Hell, even when I speak English (seeing as I have an American accent) my voice goes up a notch over how I sound in German. Funny how that works. But yeah, definitely can be whiny.)
Funny. For some reason I always get louder when I speak German. Those resonant, booming tones . . .

I have had that experience in a few big US cities as well … Chicago comes to mind, Atlanta was no peach either

Ah, the blue areas...

I can't believe that the English are paler than everyone else. We might not get that much sun, but we get more than the most northerly countries. Or are tanning sessions compulsory up there?
Well, it's not like *all* English are paler than *all* people from other nationalities. But chances are that of the really, really, REALLY pale people you'll see, 9 out of 10 will be British. Sorry. :p

It was that way in Brittany for me, and in Nice, and in other places OTHER than Paris.

Paris, on the other hand, seemed to be filled with assholes. I am convinced that there's some French law that requires assholes to register and live in Paris, thus sparing everyone else the pain of having to live with them.
Oh, yes, they are very nice in Nice (wishes the pronunciation could come through).

Well, it's not like *all* English are paler than *all* people from other nationalities. But chances are that of the really, really, REALLY pale people you'll see, 9 out of 10 will be British. Sorry. :p
I thought those were the Dutch.

English tourists are easy to spot also, because they the palest people on the planet. And they invariably feel the need to wear club football shirts, seemingly desperate to inform everyone that while their country's team is crap, they do have some good club teams.

Bullshit, firstly England is one of the top 10 teams in the world. Secondly hardly any british tourists where football shirts. Also we have moderately average looking skin unless it's someone from the north.

It's what makes for the eternal dilemma of the European observer: do I roll my eyes and say they're superficial for being friendly to a degree that kinda leaves the friendliness devoid of meaning or do I appreciate that they make day-to-day social interaction bearable and pleasant (does grumpiness really equal honesty?)?

The former, the former. I personally can't stand it. -_-

Yeah, sorry. Not helped by the fact that they often talk very loudly.
(Hell, even when I speak English (seeing as I have an American accent) my voice goes up a notch over how I sound in German. Funny how that works. But yeah, definitely can be whiny.)

Hehe, my voice has always gone up a notch when I'm speaking German (my accent is a twisted combination of a Luxembergese and Austrian accent.)

Hehe, my voice has always gone up a notch when I'm speaking German (my accent is a twisted combination of a Luxembergese and Austrian accent.)

Try speaking German on maneuvers with German soldiers, and then affecting the ridiculous accents you've heard in US movies where German officers confer with one another (in German with subtitles).

One German officer told me, "you know, the war has been over for some time now..."

Try talking like Karl Michael Vogler. I used to repeat his lines from the movie Patton over and over again, to get the mannerisms correct.

Hehe, my voice has always gone up a notch when I'm speaking German (my accent is a twisted combination of a Luxembergese and Austrian accent.)
I was just about to say "Damn, there goes my theory" - but then I decided you're just a wonky exception and don't count. :p Plus, it may be only a female thing. I mean, I guess I wouldn't really describe e.g. Backwoods Squatches deep booming voice as "whiney", even though he's American.

[...] Secondly hardly any british tourists where football shirts. [...]*Recalls the english guy who came to Düsseldorf dressed in the english flag*

I suppose that during the world cup, this counts as 'Football Shirt' :P

I found it quite amazing, mind (And it suited him). Pity they lost that day.

*Recalls the english guy who came to Düsseldorf dressed in the english flag*

I suppose that during the world cup, this counts as 'Football Shirt' :P

I found it quite amazing, mind (And it suited him). Pity they lost that day.

Can I fluffle you for a bit out of...missing the red robes?

Can I fluffle you for a bit out of...missing the red robes?'Can'? I insist!

'Can'? I insist!

:fluffle:

I knew you needed it. Is it warm there in Deutschland?

Well, it's above the freezing point, so that counts as 'Warm', I suppose...

So yeah, very much needed.

Yeah, often.
Southerners don't so much, from what I've heard (mostly telly and films), and I had an American lecturer who was very softly spoken (from New York, which shocked me), so it's not omnipresent, but it's common.

The stereotypical "American teenager" accent you get in television programmes? Fingernails down blackboards. *Shudder*

The Americans I've met have been polite and friendly, though.


"American teenager" accent? It's fake. Trust me, it's fake. I'm an American teenager, and I can tell you that TV teenagers are WAR different that real teenagers. TV idiots talk differnt, dress different, and act different than real American teenagers.

As for that last bit... I'm very happy to hear that. :D

"American teenager" accent? It's fake. Trust me, it's fake. I'm an American teenager, and I can tell you that TV teenagers are WAR different that real teenagers. TV idiots talk differnt, dress different, and act different than real American teenagers.

Or perhaps the American teenagers on TV have an accent different from yours.

well...

it all depends where you go. just like here in the USA. if you go to the big cities people are going to be rude, in a hurry, and probably alot more law enforcement. you go to the country people will most likely be alot friendlier and more willing to help you. also small businesses in the middle of now where get away with all kinds of things they would probably be sued for in an instant if they did it in an area where there was to be someone willing to take advantage of them.

i will have to say that old german people living in the undeveloped areas of germany are the nicest people in the world. they are very friendly there. and when they find out you are from America they always seem so interested.

[QUOTE=DesignatedMarksmanIn many ways, they've done a better job of preserving freedom than we have, too.[/QUOTE]

since when does america perserve freedom? last i heard they are still killing people.

White socks. White socks with sandals. Khaki shorts everywhere; be they touring a royal castle or a government building. Sweatshirts. I've even seen the dreaded fanny packs. Then there's the volume of their voices coupled with the whiny US accent... ugh, I'm grossing myself out.
good to know when you are trying scam yanky tourists. selling them shramrocks for €5.

English tourists are easy to spot also, because they the palest people on the planet. And they invariably feel the need to wear club football shirts, seemingly desperate to inform everyone that while their country's team is crap, they do have some good club teams.

after coming from working in england, i was very surprised how fucking hot it is there. it was like 36 degrees celcius.

since when does america perserve freedom? last i heard they are still killing people.
Everyone kills people. It's an age old profession.

Or perhaps the American teenagers on TV have an accent different from yours.

been to america alot. deffinitily the accent is still really annoying.. after a couple of days in nyc i had to to book an earlier flight cause that city drove me up the wall.

Everyone kills people. It's an age old profession.

alot of countries havent gone to war in a long time.

alot of countries havent gone to war in a long time.
Don't have to go to war to kill people.

We haven't had an officially declared war in a long time here. Just police actions, peacekeeping, and other non-war violence.

been to america alot. deffinitily the accent is still really annoying.. after a couple of days in nyc i had to to book an earlier flight cause that city drove me up the wall.

Keep in mind that there are a number of accents in the US. We don't all sound like New Yorkers.

Or perhaps the American teenagers on TV have an accent different from yours.
I was in a cafe a couple of weeks back and honest to god I was certain I had Paris Hilton and Frank Zappa's daughter Moon Unit sitting next to me chatting.
The entire conversation consisted of, "I was so, like, y'know, reilly, y'know, like soooo bogus, y'know and she was, y'know, reilly like, y'know, so..."

I did not honestly believe American teenagers spoke like that up until that moment.

People in the Nordic countries tend to worship the sun. We usually have quite sunny summers, and the winters in the resorts can actually offer quite nice snow tanning opportunities. That and solaria being popular and paleness seen as unattractive.
Also - I don't know if it's a genetic thing or what - Nords seem to tan easier than Britons. Your average Brit seems to go bright lobster pink as soon as there's a hint of sunshine out there. Your average Nord just goes that deep well-tanned, well, tan colour that matches the blonde hair perfectly.

I was in a cafe a couple of weeks back and honest to god I was certain I had Paris Hilton and Frank Zappa's daughter Moon Unit sitting next to me chatting.
The entire conversation consisted of, "I was so, like, y'know, reilly, y'know, like soooo bogus, y'know and she was, y'know, reilly like, y'know, so..."

I did not honestly believe American teenagers spoke like that up until that moment.
Hehehe. I remember when I studied in the US and started to pick up the "like". I thought it was fabulous - a filler word that I could use anywhere in a sentence to gain a few precious seconds to try and come up with the word I was looking for! I didn't know that it also decreased my IQ by 10 points every time used it.

My housemates staged an early intervention and sat me down to tell me that no, I didn't really want to talk like a Valley girl. :p

So it never became really full-fledged but it still, like, totally stuck. :D

Also - I don't know if it's a genetic thing or what - Nords seem to tan easier than Britons. Your average Brit seems to go bright lobster pink as soon as there's a hint of sunshine out there. Your average Nord just goes that deep well-tanned, well, tan colour that matches the blonde hair perfectly.
Hey, that's true. Hmmm. Strange.

My english teacher was South African, half german, half british ascendance. Pretty an "africaner". Imagine us, his class, trying to pick his accent with our spanish tamed tongues...

I figure I ended with a really nasty imitation of british accent with the unmistakable touch of latino whispy tone behind. Luckily, people still understand me when I speech. I have even managed to record some advertisement for the radio in english, mainly for deluded companies that think my english accent is "neutral". Go figure it.

Also - I don't know if it's a genetic thing or what - Nords seem to tan easier than Britons. Your average Brit seems to go bright lobster pink as soon as there's a hint of sunshine out there. Your average Nord just goes that deep well-tanned, well, tan colour that matches the blonde hair perfectly.

Chalk it up to the übermensch genes. ;)

Chalk it up to the übermensch genes. ;)
They look so hot in those movies...