Originally posted by Fleischwolf
well, what i meant was that they didn't even know we have that much ancient cultural stuff here. i mean i might be impressed by the golden gate bridge, but i know that it exists and i've seen it many times on pics and tv.
maybe you're right that all tourists are like this in a way, but americans are, in general, percepted by us as the ones most easily in awe about everything, like the japanese tourists taking fototgraphes of everything, may it be interesting or not. i know, it's clichee, but that is how they are perceived here.
and concerning education, maybe your school is an exception, or how would you explain those many americans who know nothing about outside of their borders?
also the term "foreign cultures" is a bit odd! unless you're native american, there should be at least one non-american culture not so foreign to you! i know that most european americans are from mixed european descent, many german and irish, so they should at least take some interest in their anchestral land!
i met one american guy who was of german descent, his forebears moved to america in the 17th century. but he had really interest in his heritage and also took german in school. still, he could only speak a few words, but i really honour that attempt.
and if you learn so much about other countries in school, why do we talk english here?
yea I may be of scottish/austrian decent, but I don't speak gaelic. I know a few phrases in german and can speak french for some reason, but that has to do with my parents being ex-canadians. If there's anything I hate, it's dumb american tourists. They totally ruin it for the rest of us. I always try to keep a low profile when I travel just so I don't get associated with them. The ugly american stereotype is not something I want to be connected with, but if you want to make that association, fine. I try not to judge books by their cover, but if you want to, be my guest.
