immigrants assumptions of America

[mawilson 2,133]

Just for discussion, being immigrants or pending immigrants what were/are your assumptions of the US and our customs.

For example, I spend a lot of time in Latin American country's and when I talk to the people, including my wife's friends, who have never visited the U.S. this seems to be a common perception of America. It seems that our typical dinner here consists of hamburgurs or hotdogs, of course they must be on alternating nights so we have some veriety, and our nights out always include a stop at McDonalds. Of course pizza is thrown in occasionally but other then that they are typical American meals. It seems we are also very rich and have an endless supply of $100 bills. Of course we all live in Miami where it is always below freezing and snows alot. Our houses all have 5 or more bedrooms with a minimum of 3 new cars in the driveway. My wife's first trip to the U.S. was on thanksgiving several years ago. Shoulda seen her eyes with all that food on the table. She thought it was a normal everyday dinner!

I'm not making fun of anybodys thoughts just curious how others see the U.S. I too had my perceptions of central and south America before I visited that was nowhere near reality!

Sounds about right.

[Amby 490]

When I moved to London this guy I worked with asked if you really can buy guns at Wal Mart because he saw it on a movie

[Peikko 1,575]

and, can you?

[Ladylethal 12]

right but my point was that the numbers are small when you consider the entire population, I dont see it as a huge problem. My wife also worked at a call center, she did come across a$holes. Some of which would b!tch about immigrants taking american jobs but once again the number was small.

That being your native country would you experience it as much as say a foreigner? I was never trying to compare countries but just pointing out that its not as huge a problem like you first made it out to be.

Actually, foreigners are super welcomed in Brasil. I think there's more prejudice against other brazilians than against foreigners, really.

You are right though, I may have made it out to be a bigger problem than it is, but that's my foreigner's assumption of America.

Cleo, I must say I haven't seen guns at Puerto Rico's Walmart.

Edited December 30, 2009 by Ladylethal

[Ban Hammer 14,690]

Actually, foreigners are super welcomed in Brasil. I think there's more prejudice against other brazilians than against foreigners, really.

that's because we have big wallets.

[Ladylethal 12]

Not necessarily Charles, brazilians are indeed welcoming of diverse cultures. Of course some are interested in wallets but even penniless backpackers are well treated. Of course I am talking about your average brazilian and not pick pockets in Copacabana.

[AlHayatZween 2]

and, can you?

i think they used to sell guns in the sporting goods section... now, i think they only sell bullets ?

[NigeriaorBust 4,088]

My wife was surprised to see so many black people. The US is more diverse than most countries.

My husband was surprised at the lack of blacks. I guess it is all a matter of your baseline

[mawilson 2,133]

My husband was surprised at the lack of blacks. I guess it is all a matter of your baseline

As well as your neighborhood

[Nessa 23]

Not necessarily Charles, brazilians are indeed welcoming of diverse cultures. Of course some are interested in wallets but even penniless backpackers are well treated. Of course I am talking about your average brazilian and not pick pockets in Copacabana.

well but it is good for the economy to have tourists spending money, that's no a brazilian thing, it's everywhere.

[Nessa 23]

My wife was surprised to see so many black people. The US is more diverse than most countries.

I was surprised too. But it all depends on where you lived in your country and where you live in here. I;m from south brazil, you rarely see black people, because we're mostly descents of german, italian, european in general immigrants. So I came to Kansas where almost half the people that work with me are black and i've never had a black co-worker before in my life.

[Susita 175]

My husband is sensible and knows that those stereotypes aren't real.

However, his silly sister thinks that I have machines that do everything for me and that I'm lazy. I even had her believing that I had a robot that cleaned my house

[mawilson 2,133]

I even had her believing that I had a robot that cleaned my house

You don't?

iRobot

[alienlovechild 75]

i think they used to sell guns in the sporting goods section... now, i think they only sell bullets ?

So common to me that I don't notice guns for sale. I think you can buy guns in Walmart if that store has a license to sell guns in that area.

[AlHayatZween 2]

So common to me that I don't notice guns for sale. I think you can buy guns in Walmart if that store has a license to sell guns in that area.

In Jersey, they used to have guns in Wal-Mart... but not here in the Bayou... i thought it was a new thing, no guns, just bullets ?

Hey, i don't like this new quoting method either...