I just thought, since there is quite a diversity of nationalities on here it might be interesting to know what the images of eachother look like in our heads.... and how much that relates to the truth. This is not about insults or the like, but rather to give anyone the chance to say, this is what I've heard and now I'd like to know whether it's true, and for others to confirm or correct statements about their culture/religion/country etc.

We all are aware of the many many clichés out there and in our own heads, so wanna destroy some?

I have heard that all German people wear lederhosen and drink beer.

And that if you live in mainland Europe, the women have a tendancy to be a little unkempt in the underarm hair department.

^ LMAO, missy.
I did wear lederhosen when I was a kid. I guess my parents thought it was a nice idea, lol. Though that's a Bavarian thing. And even there lederhosen are usually not a daily item, lol... The beer... *cough* yeah :P . It is true that beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages here. Doesn't mean everyone drinks it of course. All my male friends drink it, most of my female friends prefer sweeter stuff...

As for the underarm thing... I don't feel addressed, hah. Heard that's a French cliché. Anyway, so not true, as you know damn well yourself, lol.

Ok, here is what I hear from my friends after I told them about my England trips:
- It rains every day (that's why they're all pale too)
- most of them have red hair (I really don't know where this is coming from, lol, but heard it twice)
- aaaand they drink lots of beer, hah! Now which's the greater beer-drinking country, lol??

Rains most days, but not every day. Didn't rain today for instance. teehee. But in an average year, it will rain more than half the time. The red hair one is odd. Irish people have a tendancy to have red hair, but not English folk. I know of only two red heads. I would say brunette is predominant. And yes, we drink lots of beer...and spirits...and wine...and bitter...and lager. We have a strong culture of drinking. Teehee.

Hmmm, one thing I've heard is that most Europeans don't use deodorant.
I hadn't heard of the underarm hair thing though.

YESS! :angel:

That is very true.

The unshaven pits thing, i thought that was a French thing too, i cant think of any other cliches just yet.

Haha. That's funny...but totally untrue. Well, as far as I am concerned. All of my friends use deodarant and perfume, and smell nice and fresh.

Here's an American one, very few of you know how to really drive a car. You all drive automatics and don't know how to drive a car with gears...sorry, drive stick. Lol.

And one for our Scandanavian members, are you really all blonde?

Hehe, well I can say we know how to drive a car. Now driving a stick, I don't know how. I know alot of people who do know how though, and pretty well actually.

:lol:...haha I love this..

so not true..

this about americans (the vibbs I get from tv, news paper, movies etc etc)..okey...wedding-crazy..in a household of like 4 people, there as to be at least 3 bathrooms..not very good at geography outside the US

true? :brow:

Well, here at home there are 5 of us....three full baths, and one half. And the little guest room outside also has a full bath.

Kinda true for us I guess.

Oh yeah, you know how to drive. No disrespect there. Just automatics are such a lazy way. :P Glad to know it's not the case for all of you. :) Just there was this case of a woman from America who drove from London to Cardiff which is a good 200-300 miles all in first gear as she thought it was an automatic. Poor poor car.

It's much easier though, we tend to like easier, lol.
Oh god, poor poor car....poor woman. Lmao.

Now...why do you all drive on the other side of the road. Do not let me anywhere near a car if I have to drive on the left side, I'd forget and totally end up killing someone.

Haha. I don't know. We're only one of I think a handful of countries who drive on the left. I think most of the others are former British colony countries like Australia and New Zealand. I think we just like being different. There might be a more specific reason, but I dont know it.

Another US one. Why do so few of you have a passport? Is it simpy because you have every type of holiday available within the boundaries of the country? Or do you just have little desire to travel outside the US?

I just want everyone to know that I live in Canada, and NO I don't live in an igloo...I actually live in the hypest city in the Canadian region ;) and NO I don't take a polar bear to get to point A from B instead of a car.

That is all. For now...

Vxn

^Beki - I'd imagine it's a combination of the US being so large, international travel being expensive, and most adults not getting all that much vacation time from work!

And just to clarify, while I live in Texas, I do not wear a cowboy hat or ride a horse. I don't have a heavy accent. I live in a very suburban area near an urban city. There's a Starbucks every 5 miles, there's 4 huge malls within a 30 mile radius of my home, and high-end shopping boutiques everywhere. Half of the people in this city and surrounding areas are Obama supporters, and the area is filled with every kind of person of all races, orientations, and nationalities and it's quite the metropolitan city with one of the top and most advanced "local" news agencies in the country.

Yes, I can drive about 20 miles and be in the open country or drive 40 miles and be in a small dusty town, but the reality is that Texas is home to many major metropolitan areas, is a booming business capital, and is home one of the 3rd busiest airport in the world.

Just FYI. ;)

L.

Not even a hat?! Aw damn, you so disillusioned me now, lol. ;) . *goes to get some sauerkraut* (no, not for real, hate that stuff)...

Suzy

But I love that accent! Im disappointed. :P

What's sauerkraut?

Well if it makes you feel any better you can slightly detect a bit of accent when I'm goofin off, really tired, and/or talking lazily. But as for regular conversation hell no, lol.

Speaking of sauerkraut, despite being heavily German, I'm definitely not a fan. Blech. I like cabbage, but whatever they do to it to make it into sauerkraut I'm not happy about. :P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauerkraut

L.

Ditto about Poland ;)

Seriously, it's not only all that cold in winter here, it's actually boiling hot since May till September most of the time, and people like Whitney Houston come here in August (when it's usually about 30 degrees Celsius - that would be about 90 F, right? :-P) in a fur ;-) Not sure where the whole world seems to get it from *shrugs*

(Eee, I LOVE sauerkraut! :D)

not all latinos eat beans ! the first time that i eat beans was here in the US ! noone eat beans from where I come from ! and I'm latino ! so, there you have it ! ;)

ps...it is nothing wrong whit eating beans, but not all of us do ! thats all :)

[QUOTE]I just want everyone to know that I live in Canada, and NO I don't live in an igloo.

I also live in Canada and I do live in an igloo,we all do up here.Come on Vixxen
admit it you do too.

[QUOTE]NO I don't take a polar bear to get to point A from B instead of a car.

Got something against polar bears Vixxen? My bear gets me to work on time every day.

well, some people think that we ride camels to go to work in israel, and that everything looks like a desert here, but its not true XD

it's just funny that people do not believe that.
oh and they also think that there isnt no computers here, when actually each one of my friends has one.
and in every first house in this country ALMOST has a computer.

people in canada are not lumberjacks, and we do not live in igloos...contrary to popular belief....

^I know right, dude I'm a 5'4 twig. I do not wear flannel shirts and eskimo jackets. I don't say "Eh!" in every sentence and just because Canada is smaller, it doens't mean we all know each other so if you ask me to say hi to John, I will not know which John you are talking about...

Oh and we do not only have one season!! It doesn't snow every day!

Vxn

I live in Pittsburgh and I have to admit, YES, we are a drinking town with a football problem. ;)

^LIES!

:D :P ;)

L.

Let me think what else. Oh..

1. I do not drink Iron City (aka Iron Shitty). I prefer beer that does not taste like water.

2. I am not obsessed with Primanti's sandwiches (although oops..they are kind of a must if your out stumbling around at 2:00 am)

3. I am not a Yinzer. I do not say "Yinz" "Yin'z guys" "Dem" "N' at" "Cha know" "Picksburgh" "Da Burgh" "Dere" or any other retarded shit. Although I have been known to call The Steelers "The Stillers"... HA. :D

Dem Stillers can do it cha know!

ETA: Speaking of my hometown, here's a pic of the city (Pittsburgh). I might rag on it sometimes, but it truly is a beautiful city. In this pic you can see what's called "The Point" which is where the three rivers meet and there is a lit up fountain.

http://www.lemontpittsburgh.com/LeMont/ima...epage_r5_c1.jpg

Same here, Leigh. I'm from Dallas and, unless you wanna count the football team, I never see a cowboy or a cowgirl anywhere. I hate it that people assume that all people from Texas have an accent. I don't and no one I know does either. Although I admit I do tend to say "y'all" a lot.

And as for being Mexican-American, yeah I may have a long name, but 'Maria' isn't anywhere in it.

^LOL.

Well saying "ya'll" is just....well it can barely be escaped, lol. I say it every damn day. It's part of my vocabulary, just like for some people it's "pop" for others it's "soda" and for others it's "coke".

L.

I could never not say it.

Hmmm....

Honestly I haven't heard any cliches about Washington State. Yall are going to have to help me out here and ask some questions lol.

Washington? Hmm, *scratches head*, nothing comes to mind at the moment.

Oh, I love this thread. I think Wisconsin is sort of like Texas, in that it has tons of stereotypes (perpetuated by the media) that just aren't true. First, I don't have a hick accent (think Fargo). I do know many people who do...but that doesn't apply to everyone. I don't own a cheesehead, nor do I wear Packer clothes everyday. People from WI are also very VERY well educated. We have one of the best public school systems in the nation. We also have a good number of world-renowned medical facilities. I don't live on a farm either...in fact I've only been on a farm once, and I was drunk. I live in a metropolitan area of just under 2 million people...and an hour from Chicago. Speaking of drunk...most people in Wisconsin are good drinkers. That is a stereotype that I have a weird sort of pride about... Our colleges can drink others under the table :)

Totally off topic but I couldn't help but notice your sig and avatar.

Jeremy Piven/Ari Gold is the shit B)

I could just hug you chika!
I'd be all over him if I ever got the chance to meet him, lol.

Speaking of, here's a random crazy tidbit. Obama's new Chief of Staff is the brother of the Hollywood agent that Piven's character was based on in Entourage.

L.

Rahm Emanuel, who is Ari Emanuel's brother....it's funny how everyone's connected.

Um...Hells yes. I forgot to mention how much I loved that av/sig Ana! I've loved Piven since day one on Entourage. Ari is the f*cking man. ;) Oh yeah, I would totally probably do him... :P Is it me or is Jeremy Piven seriously effing hot in a ...I dunno know...hot weird sorta way? lol

Jeremy Piven's hotness is underrated. He is one of the few men who looks alot better with hair on his face then without it.

http://www.robertascroft.com/images_new/JeremyPiven1.jpg

I'd do him. And coming from me that's saying alot.