[Jetmech Jr.]

Asian women never go outside without the latest fashion, make-up, etc. This, I say from Personal experience.

*Is happy that Mother never uses the internet*

[Flipside]

To be honest GW I've seen people from all countries who have no idea what life is like when you get outside the city and are completely unprepared for an environment not designed around their ease of use.

[.::Tin Can::.]

Originally posted by Kalfireth
As do I of course, but I could post a thread about every time someone doesn't look where they're going and walks into me or pushes a pram infront of me as I walk down the street.

It happens a lot - but it shouldn't be discussed here. By all means discuss the cultures, trips you've been on to countries yourself or whatever. But lets try to keep the place free of "The French suck" or whatever.

Instead of just all-out saying French such "just because" I put up a reasonable experience that compared two countries with two very neutral people involved. Be happy, I'm promoting the awesomeness of your country. I plan to visit it someday.

[Flipside]

LOL We try to be fair.....

As for this whole abroad thing... as has been said before, it doesn't really matter where you are as much as who you meet, if you are unlucky enough to be someone arrogant you'll get that kind of treatment.

Alas it is just as easy for Europe to brand all Americans 'Warmongers' as it is for Americans to brand Europeans as 'Spineless', we all know it's not true, but it's easier to think that way.

As far as language is concerned, if you can help, then help, I've helped people with barely no knowledge of English whatsoever using gestures etc (and falling into that stupid stupid trap of s p e a k i n g  s l o w l y). It's not impossible, and it actually feels good, at least it does for me

[Thrilla]

I seen some Japanese tourist at Six Flags once.  That was wierd.  People laugh at rural folks b/c they are practical and always come prepared.  Why can't I wear a realtree parka when it is cold outside in New York without being made fun of, and carry a leatherman?  It's useful.

[kasperl]

When I was in Rome, most people spoke either English, French or German. I did my best to speak whatever  they spoke best. I'm Dutch myself, but my English seems fluid enough, though my French and German are quite horrid. I didn't demand that they'd speak to me in English, though they did as soon as they saw that I spoke it best. The only reason why I expect people to speak English is because it seems a lingua franca, something everyone knows a few words of. The fact that it is easy for Americans, Brits or Aussie's is just an incidental occurence.

The oddest thing I've said while in Rome:
Une boteille wasser please.
(A bottle (in French) of water (in German) please.)

[aldo_14]

I'm ashamed that I can't speak a 2nd language, to be honest (my French is virtually non-existent and well rusty).

 I want to learn Spanish or Catalan one of these days..........or maybe Italian.  Somewhere european & sunny, at least.

[Thrilla]

Originally posted by aldo_14
I'm ashamed that I can't speak a 2nd language, to be honest (my French is virtually non-existent and well rusty).

 I want to learn Spanish or Catalan one of these days..........or maybe Italian.  Somewhere european & sunny, at least.

They say Spanish is easy, but honestly I find it kind of hard to learn.  And I'm from a place where half the people speak it!  I think it is my mind set on it.  I can read it pretty easily, but I have a hard time trying to understand people talking to me even when they are talking so, and me speaking it myself is even more horrid.

[aldo_14]

I think it's all about immersion... i guess you need to be in (this example) somewhere where everything is in Spanish to really get used to it... even if you're somewhere bilingual, you have the easy option of falling back onto english (even if you're trying not to, it can happen subconciously).

[Janos]

I HAVE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT SPEAKS UP AGAINST YOU, YOU POINT IS INVALID

[Kazan]

Originally posted by Mongoose
If you're visiting a country, you shouldn't be expected to learn the language, but in turn, you shouldn't expect people to speak your language.  You'll either have to find someone who does or try to get by as best you can with a travel language guide.  If you're going to live in another country, however, you should learn the language.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  I'm sick and tired of the groups who want to make America into a bilingual nation.  Our ancestors came to this country and learned the language, or at least made sure their children did; why should Mexican immigrants be treated any differently?  America speaks English; France speaks French; Japan speaks Japanese.  If you plan on living there, either learn the local language or leave.  It's that simple.

for once mongoose and i agree


*PST: the official language of the united states was almost german once upon a time

[aldo_14]

If you've noticed this notice you'll notice there is nothing worth noticing

[Kazan]

oh for future reference-  the only foriegn countries i've vacationed in that spoke a different language were countries i also spoke that language

one time on the trip i went into a store in munich and started speaking german, since i was speaking high german with a very slight american accent the store employee started speaking english to me

receive all his replies in german

[Genryu]

BTW, just a bit of advice : if you ever try to learn french, don't bother too much on the written part. Even French like myself are horrified sometimes by the sheer number of rules that you have to learn...
Hmmmm....
Suddenly, I understand why trying to learn japanese with alle the hiragana, katakana and kanji didn't seem to be that much of a problem

[kasperl]

French is do-able when you're talking about reading and perhaps a slight bit of speaking. German is easy enough to read, and quite easy to understand when spoken to you. As a Dutchman, I can always brable away in Dutch with a German accent and be half-right.

As for immersion, geuss we're I'm getting my English skills from.....

[Ghostavo]

aldo, portuguese is the way to go

[SadisticSid]

Originally posted by aldo_14


It's the same in the Uk, except it's illegal immigrants from Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, or the Eastern European nations.  Everyone *****es about it, the government and tabloids and even the opposition party pledge to stop these people.... but these same immigrants are the ones whose cheap long-shift labour keeps the country running.  But because they have no citizenship, they become the scapegoats for societies ills.

It's like the bull**** published in the tabloids that as soon as Poland entered the EU we'd be flooded with immigrants cashing in on the welfare service or stealing jobs.  It's insulting; to them, and to people like me who (like to thing we) know better.

Well it's not fair to tar all immigrants with the same brush, I agree, but you can't deny that a large number of them never integrate into British society at all, ghettoising themselves into areas that rapidly become abject hellholes that no sane person of different ethnic origin would dare cross through on foot.

Oh and the fact that when gypsies set up camp in an area local crime mysteriously triples (which was the main complaint about Poland joining the EU... we have yet to see if they'll all come over here or not).

[Janos]

Originally posted by SadisticSid


Well it's not fair to tar all immigrants with the same brush, I agree, but you can't deny that a large number of them never integrate into British society at all, ghettoising themselves into areas that rapidly become abject hellholes that no sane person of different ethnic origin would dare cross through on foot.

Oh and the fact that when gypsies set up camp in an area local crime mysteriously triples (which was the main complaint about Poland joining the EU... we have yet to see if they'll all come over here or not).

First-generation immigrants very rarely, if ever, fully integrate into their society. They use their own cultural and ethnical background as a protective barrier against the alien society that surrounds them.

[Gank]

Originally posted by SadisticSid
Oh and the fact that when gypsies set up camp in an area local crime mysteriously triples (which was the main complaint about Poland joining the EU... we have yet to see if they'll all come over here or not).

Continental gypsies or Irish gypsys, because that sounds a bit low for the gypos.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by SadisticSid


Well it's not fair to tar all immigrants with the same brush, I agree, but you can't deny that a large number of them never integrate into British society at all, ghettoising themselves into areas that rapidly become abject hellholes that no sane person of different ethnic origin would dare cross through on foot.
 

There's no shortage of white Brits who do that either though - and you don't hear the Daily Express or Sun or Mirror launching campaigns to expell them from the country (they'd lose 95% of their readership if they did that.....)