| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8] > | Off topic: Things people ask you because you are (Brazilian, etc) Thread poster: Nesrin
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| Russian living in Italy | Oct 10, 2010 |
I'm Russian but I've lived in Italy for 8 years now. I can't remember how many times I've heard that I can't suffer cold as it's always cold in Russia and I must be used to it.
And the Cyrillic alphabet, of course. Which is much more difficult than Latin, almost impossible to learn but once you have learnt that you won't have any problem at all in mastering the Russian language.
| | | | TFaulkner 
United States
Local time: 06:46
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| As a Brazilian living in the USA for 5 years now | Oct 10, 2010 |
I was asked things such as:
- Can you show us how to do the samba? - Sorry, I can't... I do not do the samba.
- But don't you all have the carnival? - Yes, but not all of us like carnival and/or samba.
- How is Buenos Aires like? -... Great! I have been there once and I loved it
There were many other comments, but these are the most "remarkable" ones.
Cheers!
| | | | | being Polish... | Oct 10, 2010 |
...I am often asked these questions:
- do you really drink straight vodka?
- do you really drink straight vodka by glasses?
- so you live somewhere in Russia, right?
- what is Lech Walesa like? - I've never met him... - HAVEN'T YOU? BUT YOU SAID YOU WERE POLISH!
| | | | Anja Weggel
Local time: 13:46
Member (2007)
English to German
So, you drink beer all day?
Where is your lederhose?
Are you going to the Oktoberfest?
Do you live in East or West Germany? (asked by an American ten years after the German reunion)
Are you starving because you live so close to Russia and the communist block? (asked by the same American)
we all love our stereotypes....
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 13:46
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| South Africa | Oct 10, 2010 |
The image of all white South Africans having a missionary grand-father or father is still out there... and so is the idea that South Africa is a wild place (with wild animals roaming the streets). Some quips have a grain of truth in them... for example, yes, there is an annual giraffe barbecue (for charity), but it's not something everybody does a... See more The image of all white South Africans having a missionary grand-father or father is still out there... and so is the idea that South Africa is a wild place (with wild animals roaming the streets). Some quips have a grain of truth in them... for example, yes, there is an annual giraffe barbecue (for charity), but it's not something everybody does all the time.2
Also, see here: http://www.snopes.com/travel/foreign/olympics.asp
And of course, South Africans also joke about their own country (I'm sure all nations do that), e.g. http://www.thechiefbaboon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15684 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rad Graban (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:46
English to Slovak
+ ...
| Being Slovak | Oct 10, 2010 |
- How was it during the war in your country? -- I couldn't possibly know as I'm only 39 yrs old and the last war in my country was WWII. Are you talking about the war in former Yugoslavia? :~)
- Do you speak Czechoslovakian? -- No, not really. There is no such language but I speak both Czech and Slovak. :~)
- Is the capital of Slovakia Prague? -- No, it is not. :~)
- Where is Slovakia? -- .................. Answer depends on how willing I am to continue in conversation with a p... See more - How was it during the war in your country? -- I couldn't possibly know as I'm only 39 yrs old and the last war in my country was WWII. Are you talking about the war in former Yugoslavia? :~)
- Do you speak Czechoslovakian? -- No, not really. There is no such language but I speak both Czech and Slovak. :~)
- Is the capital of Slovakia Prague? -- No, it is not. :~)
- Where is Slovakia? -- .................. Answer depends on how willing I am to continue in conversation with a person. :~)
- Statement rather than a question - "I know Dubček". -- Hardly. Poor sod died in a carcrash in 1992.
Great topic, Nesrin. Thanks a bunch. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Being a Mexican... | Oct 10, 2010 |
I usually have to listen to some remark on how wonderful Cancun is (I've never been there, by he way), or how huge and crowdede Mexico City is, but when I was an exchange student in the US I got questions like these:
- Had you ever seen a car a before?
- Are there cinemas in Mexico?
- Do all of you guys wear sombrero and drink tequila?
One of the most memorable episodes though, was when a nurse told me she was going to Barcelona and suggested we met there; ... See more I usually have to listen to some remark on how wonderful Cancun is (I've never been there, by he way), or how huge and crowdede Mexico City is, but when I was an exchange student in the US I got questions like these:
- Had you ever seen a car a before?
- Are there cinemas in Mexico?
- Do all of you guys wear sombrero and drink tequila?
One of the most memorable episodes though, was when a nurse told me she was going to Barcelona and suggested we met there; I said I didn't live in Spain, but in Mexico, and she replied: "is it far away?"
Nevertheless, the cutest one came from my friend's gradnma in Budapest, she asked me if I had ever met.... Tarzan!!! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Korea and Germany | Oct 10, 2010 |
I've been living in Korea for 6 years now.
When I'm in Germany EVERY single person I meet asks me: North or South Korea? (It's not totally impossible to be living in North Korea, but chances are 0.1% that one would actually do.)
In Korea it's always like: So do you eat sausages all day?
Or if I am at a bar people will give me two beers and ask me to tell them which one is better.
On several occasions the following has happened:
I'v... See more I've been living in Korea for 6 years now.
When I'm in Germany EVERY single person I meet asks me: North or South Korea? (It's not totally impossible to be living in North Korea, but chances are 0.1% that one would actually do.)
In Korea it's always like: So do you eat sausages all day?
Or if I am at a bar people will give me two beers and ask me to tell them which one is better.
On several occasions the following has happened:
I've been asked whether I am actually always on time...
I've been told that it's admirable that Germans work so hard...
I've been told that it's impossible that I am German because of my last name (I also have been called a liar to my face when I said that I AM German, and that I have no Polish ancestors whatsoever, no matter how far back you go.) (Also, there was a discussion on an internet forum about whether I die my hair to "look more German".)
I've been asked if Germany also has four seasons (Koreans believe that they are one of the few countries in the world with four distinct seasons).
I've been asked if I knew Cha Bum-kun (korean soccer player who used to play in Germany in the 80th).
[Bearbeitet am 2010-10-10 19:59 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Romania / Transylvania | Oct 10, 2010 |
"So are there really any vampires there?"...
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A couple more on Italians:
1. Oh, speaking Italian is easy, you just need to use your hands, don't you?
2. Oh.. Italians!! You are so cute, always so cheerful and loud!
3. Oh, you are Italian.. How do you cope with German weather, in Italy the sun is always shining!
And one more especially for people working freelance (heard more than once unfortunately):
Oh, freelance work is good for Italians, you don't need to work too much, you can always take brea... See more A couple more on Italians:
1. Oh, speaking Italian is easy, you just need to use your hands, don't you?
2. Oh.. Italians!! You are so cute, always so cheerful and loud!
3. Oh, you are Italian.. How do you cope with German weather, in Italy the sun is always shining!
And one more especially for people working freelance (heard more than once unfortunately):
Oh, freelance work is good for Italians, you don't need to work too much, you can always take breaks etc..
Great topic by the way!
Chiara ▲ Collapse
| | | | Wolf Kux
Brazil
Local time: 08:46
Member (2006)
German to Portuguese
+ ...
| Paradise x Hell | Oct 10, 2010 |
You live in a Paradise when
the good order is from Germany,
the food is from France,
the Police is from England, and
the savoir-vivre is From Italy;
but
you live in the Hell if
the good order is from Italy,
the savoir-vivre is from Germany,
the Police is from France, and
the food is from England.
Only to show that stereotypes affect all countries / citizens in the world!
[Editada em 201... See more You live in a Paradise when
the good order is from Germany,
the food is from France,
the Police is from England, and
the savoir-vivre is From Italy;
but
you live in the Hell if
the good order is from Italy,
the savoir-vivre is from Germany,
the Police is from France, and
the food is from England.
Only to show that stereotypes affect all countries / citizens in the world!
[Editada em 2010-10-10 21:10 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Typical weather remarks | Oct 10, 2010 |
I lived in Spain for 24 years and have just moved back to the UK.
The remark I get EVERY SINGLE TIME:
- I bet you're missing the sun/heat!
Actually, I hated the heat in Spain and don't miss it AT ALL, but it's just not worth explaining that it's horrible when it's 50ºC (people just don't get it! They think it's a permanent holiday).
Great topic, by the way! ... See more I lived in Spain for 24 years and have just moved back to the UK.
The remark I get EVERY SINGLE TIME:
- I bet you're missing the sun/heat!
Actually, I hated the heat in Spain and don't miss it AT ALL, but it's just not worth explaining that it's horrible when it's 50ºC (people just don't get it! They think it's a permanent holiday).
Great topic, by the way! ▲ Collapse
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nordiste wrote:
Since I was mainly wearing jeans/t-shirts and no make-up, some were even suspicious that I was not genuine French ...
Ah ah, I got that a lot in Japan.
I met a lot of girls who wanted to study French because they believed every one in Paris in soooo chic and they wanted to marry a French guy because they are all soooo romantic.
When I told them it wasn't exactly that way, they wouldn't believe me. They were horrified when they heard my partner was (and still is) Japanese. Why would you live with a Japanese guy when a French guy would buy you flowers everyday, take you on a surprise romantic week-end every week, cook romantic dinners everynight?
I should have told them "you see, the only problem with French guys is that they don't like to bathe or have showers very often. Maybe once a week, at best. But they are so romantic that you will soon forget about it". Just because I have also been asked many times why the French don't like to shower very often. Or asked "is it true that the French invented perfume to cover up the smell because they never bathe?".
But it's not all about the French anyway. Many Japanese are convinced all foreigners stink. One of my friends have recently sent me a picture of a sign for a deodorant saying "so strong that it even covers foreigners' smell"...
| | | | Niraja Nanjundan (X)
Local time: 17:16
German to English
One of the questions foreigners invariably ask Indians is "Do you eat curry?" which always baffles us a bit, because we have such a wide variety of regional dishes in India, each with a different name and we don't refer to any of them as "curry," but call each dish by its individual name. Of course, you may see "chicken curry" on a restaurant menu, but that's more likely to be in the UK than in India! I suppose it's a bit like Italians getting asked about pasta and pizza.
About twen... See more One of the questions foreigners invariably ask Indians is "Do you eat curry?" which always baffles us a bit, because we have such a wide variety of regional dishes in India, each with a different name and we don't refer to any of them as "curry," but call each dish by its individual name. Of course, you may see "chicken curry" on a restaurant menu, but that's more likely to be in the UK than in India! I suppose it's a bit like Italians getting asked about pasta and pizza.
About twenty years ago there used to be questions about riding elephants and snake charmers, but we don't get that so much any more. I think that generally people are much more well informed these days.
[Edited at 2010-10-11 04:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Taylor Kirk
United States
Local time: 06:46
Portuguese to English
+ ...
(From New Yorkers):
"Is it true that a preacher converted your basketball stadium into a giant church?" (Yes.)
(From everyone else in the world):
"You love George W. Bush right?"
"Who shot J.R.?"
"You have a horse?"
"Do you really want to secede from the U.S.?"
"Why don't you have an accent like the characters in King of the Hill?"
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