misconceptions and prejudices

[eric_and_teresa 10]

When I was in school I told my friends that I was going to Colombia for summer vacation and one of them had this puzzled look on her face and then asked "How are you going to land?". She thought Colombia was all jungle. IDIOT!

I think many people have this misconception about Latin American countries.. they have no idea our cities are just as big and as modern as other cities in the world. I've heard people asking if there's electricity over here? or if there's water in my house? I guess the idea of my country being all jungle comes from the fact that when they talk about Guatemala all they show on TV or magazines is Tikal (Ancient Mayan City) which is located in the middle of the jungle.. so people think the whole country is nothing but mayan ruins and jungle! LOL

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

She gets the "do you speak spanish" with the follow-up "... oh ... they speak portuguese in brazil?"

also my co-workers only thought of bikinis

It's hard not to equate bikinis to Brazil

PS... ever see the movie Cidade de Deus (City of God)?

I think there is a difference if you just associate certain things to a country or region or culture of if you make assumptions or generalize like "all xy in xy are or do xy!"

Like you automatically associate the Oktoberfest to Germany and the Eiffeltower to Paris and the Staue of Liberty to the USA...

I've been to Germany a few times. Been to Munich but never during Oktoberfest. I equate Germany to quality engineering, fast cars, good roads, good beer, and well disciplined citizens.

[homesick_american 1]

LOL, no. That's a very specific german term and I believe, depending on the region, it even has different names, but that would be the most known. But no, I would not expect anyone to know that. It's just funny when people try to describe it.

Well, it is kind of a funny outfit.

[nane1104 146]

She gets the "do you speak spanish" with the follow-up "... oh ... they speak portuguese in brazil?"

also my co-workers only thought of bikinis

It's hard not to equate bikinis to Brazil

PS... ever see the movie Cidade de Deus (City of God)?

I think there is a difference if you just associate certain things to a country or region or culture of if you make assumptions or generalize like "all xy in xy are or do xy!"

Like you automatically associate the Oktoberfest to Germany and the Eiffeltower to Paris and the Staue of Liberty to the USA...

I've been to Germany a few times. Been to Munich but never during Oktoberfest. I equate Germany to quality engineering, fast cars, good roads, good beer, and well disciplined citizens.

the last one I wished...well, some are..you know..the famous exceptions, but yeah, in generalwe are pretty good in following rules and laws..lol

LOL, no. That's a very specific german term and I believe, depending on the region, it even has different names, but that would be the most known. But no, I would not expect anyone to know that. It's just funny when people try to describe it.

Well, it is kind of a funny outfit.

It is, I had one when I was 5! Silly. Wished I had a picture from that time. And I'm not even from Bavaria!!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

the last one I wished...well, some are..you know..the famous exceptions, but yeah, in generalwe are pretty good in following rules and laws..lol

I remember standing at a crosswalk and no one would cross the road against the light. Even when there was no traffic. I thought everyone was waiting for a parade or something.

[nane1104 146]

the last one I wished...well, some are..you know..the famous exceptions, but yeah, in generalwe are pretty good in following rules and laws..lol

I remember standing at a crosswalk and no one would cross the road against the light. Even when there was no traffic. I thought everyone was waiting for a parade or something.

Hehe, yeah, that's a great example for the german law-obeying..lol

[JODO 2]

When I was in school I told my friends that I was going to Colombia for summer vacation and one of them had this puzzled look on her face and then asked "How are you going to land?". She thought Colombia was all jungle. IDIOT!

[ya falaha! 0]

Ppl are always asking my husband what language he speaks. I'm surprised that ppl don't know that Egyptians speak Arabic. Ppl also tend to think that Egypt is the same as it was in pharaonic times. He gets questions like, do you ride camels there? Oh and ppl also tend to think Egyptians dress in galabiyas (long white dress) and wear turbans like depicted in "The Mummy".

Edited July 31, 2007 by moody

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ppl are always asking my husband what language he speaks. I'm surprised that ppl don't know that Egyptians speak Arabic. Ppl also tend to think that Egypt is the same as it was in pharaonic times. He gets questions like, do you ride camels there?

Which kingdom did he live in? Upper or Lower Nile?

[ya falaha! 0]

LOL actually he's from the lower Nile (Nile delta) near the Mediterranean Sea.

Ppl are always asking my husband what language he speaks. I'm surprised that ppl don't know that Egyptians speak Arabic. Ppl also tend to think that Egypt is the same as it was in pharaonic times. He gets questions like, do you ride camels there?

Which kingdom did he live in? Upper or Lower Nile?

[nane1104 146]

Ppl are always asking my husband what language he speaks. I'm surprised that ppl don't know that Egyptians speak Arabic. Ppl also tend to think that Egypt is the same as it was in pharaonic times. He gets questions like, do you ride camels there? Oh and ppl also tend to think Egyptians dress in galabiyas (long white dress) and wear turbans like depicted in "The Mummy".

I have to admit I wasn't sure about what language they speak either. My bad.

[Mononoke28 134]

Some people from work were shocked when I told them I didn't know what a chimichanga was. I told them it was becuase I was colombian, not mexican. I honestly don't think they understood what I meant by that and they still think of me as mexican.

[Jaseball 0]

I'm trying to prep my fiancee as much as possible before she gets here, but I know no matter what I say or do she is going to face some insane stupidity, racism, prejudice, and miss a ton of things from China she takes for granted that are actually really nice to have that we don't have in the US.

[nane1104 146]

I'm trying to prep my fiancee as much as possible before she gets here, but I know no matter what I say or do she is going to face some insane stupidity, racism, prejudice, and miss a ton of things from China she takes for granted that are actually really nice to have that we don't have in the US.

Yepp. I am really happy to see that my husband more and more appreciates "german" things I introduce him to, anything from german dishes to some "german way of thinking"...it is interesting to mix both our backgrounds, specially since he is 50/50 african-american/filippino!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Oh and ppl also tend to think Egyptians dress in galabiyas (long white dress) and wear turbans like depicted in "The Mummy".

But don't they? I know not everyone does but I certainly saw many people that did on my trips there, especially outside of Cairo.