Ok…so, I’ve already written plenty about ridiculous stereotypes that many Americans have about French people & let you know which ones I have found to be true & which ones were just…well, bullshit.
But, what is the image of Americans that French people have? Well, as promised, I’m going to tell you all about it…
1 – AMERICANS ARE PURITANICAL
A couple of months ago, my husband & I were sitting in the waiting area of a government office here in Paris to renew my visa. A television was on broadcasting some American soap opera dubbed in French.
A commercial came on for shampoo or something. The entire commercial was basically just a naked woman taking a shower. I was shocked. I mean, this was the middle of the fucking day & there is this naked woman taking a shower.
Now, I don’t have a phobia regarding naked bodies, but it’s a strange thing for some Americans who come here to see boobies on network TV, looming above us on a billboard, or on an advertisement in the street.
Some Americans are uptight & puritanical, I suppose, but when I see a boob hanging up in the air above me, it catches me a bit by surprise.
2 – ALL AMERICANS LOVE MC DONALD’S
Every time someone asks me if I like eating at McDonald’s, I want to punch them in the brain. I politely tell them over & over again that McDonald’s is repulsive. Then I inform them that the only thing it is good for is when you’re hung-over & late for work because at a time like that, a couple of Egg McMuffins & a big-ass orange juice is a quick fix.
3 – AMERICANS HAVE FREE ACCESS TO GUNS, SO THEY JUST SHOOT EACH OTHER WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Seriously, does this one come as a shock to anyone? French people watch a lot of American movies, they keep up on the news…is there really a need for me to elaborate, here?
4 – AMERICANS DRIVE WOOD-PANELED STATION WAGONS FILLED WITH BROWN PAPER GROCERY BAGS
Before we were married, my husband, Olivier, came to Colorado & was surprised to see that we bring our groceries home in a bunch of plastic bags – just as they generally do here in France.
Obviously, this one was perpetuated by American TV shows. Quite a few of them have been making their way over to France for a long time. So, naturally, when they see people on the tube cruising around in those grocery getters, they take things like that to be a true image of American life.
The funny thing is, they often find those cars to be cool, where for many of us, they’re just silly – I mean, we’ve since moved on to mini-vans.
5 – ALL AMERICAN WOMEN ARE BLONDE WITH BLUE EYES
Again, some ridiculous junk perpetuated by movies & TV. However, when I moved here & was introduced to all of my husband’s friends & family, who all saw my blonde hair & blue eyes, I suppose I didn’t help to prove that one wrong.
Sorry, guys. Maybe some of you brunette & red-haired girls can come over & help to straighten this one out.[tags]Americans, Puritans, McDonald’s, Guns, Station Wagons, Blondes[/tags]
The sad thing is, there is some truth to that stereotype…well, at least in my mind.
Of course it isn’t true for all of us Yanks, but now & then, I come across someone that I’d just like to shake a bit & remind them that there is more to life beyond their own backyard. 🙂
Entertaining post. Another stereotype: Americans do not anything outside their homeland and have no idea about what the rest of the world looks like. Somehow, they are very content with their own country.