What do you think of Americans?

[imported_Yenji]

I am a 16 year old girl and I have many European friends who are exchange students. I am surprised at what they think of us Americans before they came to the US: fat, rich, always eat at McDonald's, etc. This makes me become curious: What do people from Belgium think about Americans? Do they hate us?

[nico1ima]

yenji, i live in the US now, but i grew up in belgium...i still believe most americans are fat, lazy, etc. but i have been with an american boy for four years now and hes great. i think that every place has its flaws. obesity and laziness just happens to be the stereotype that fits americans the best.

[hippie_chic]

I lived in Belgium for 4 years, but was born in the US. Europeans in general tend to have more active, family-oriented lifestyles, so when you compare the two cultures, the American way of living is much more lazy and apathetic. There are always exceptions, so not all Americans can be tagged as lazy and fat,,,,but it's true that most of us are.
So yes, I think (in general) that most Europeans dislike Americans, but then again, a lot of Americans dislike Europeans. *sigh* Bummer, eh??

[imported_sofie]

Hi!
I'm from Belgium and I've been on exchange to Canada, so people have asked me this question like a hundred times or something. it is true though, most of my friends think of Americans as Mc Donald's people. However, that is just a stereotype (partly true though, you have to admit), and I don't know anyone who hates Americans. Contrarely, you make us curious. It's not like 'wow, you're from the states', but like I said, you makes us want to get to know you. Ever since I got back to Belgium and I tell people I also went to the States a couple of times, they're like 'oh, is it like in the movies?'. And I tell them partly yes, but don't worry, you're not always the stupid americans we see here in movies. Just be happy, you live in a beautiful country, where at least not every single space is taken up by buildings, roads, etc. then again, I still love Belgium... but we don't hate you!!!!!

[ThangNguyen]

All Belgium people think that we are fat and lazy.If you tell them you from NYC they think that you cary a gun on you when you walk the streets of NYC.They watch too much Televisions and they start to believe that's how all americans are.As far as hating us i didn't feel that when i was there.They where actually very friendly and polite.

[clodhopper]

You folks are nice people..I was at the airport out of saigon awhile..Ton shu Nut..nice to see you on here..No .not all Americans are fat and lazy..I work for my money and dont sit and watch TV..IM NOT FAT AND LAZY..Oh i have friends in Houston ,vietnamese.Just saw one tonight..They own a laundry and like it in texas..Often call folks back in Saigon..come back Mr Nguyen.

[ROBERT_MARCEL]

It is only my opinion. I think if you look for the flaws in a culture,you will most certainly find them. I am American born, Belgian mother and American father. My only living relatives are in Belgium. Two years ago, after 50 years of separation I met my sister and the rest of the family. If I had gone there influenced by the British opinion of Belgians, I would have spent more time looking for things that were wrong than enjoying the experience. My opinion of Belgians is that they are very much like the people I work and live with here in the U.S. Hopefully they will be able to see that we are not that much different in the things that really matter in life-family and friends

[clodhopper]

you are a very wise man..

[Camrac]

Hi, I am an american college student with a lovely Belgian girlfriend. I have seen the same type of stereotyping that Europeans use to describe Americans. As an American I was at first surprised but if you take a step back and look at your life from another perspective you can see how they have come to judge us this way. It seemed to me that Belgians were basically just like us but as far as weight goes they have a healthier diet. We eat more as a chore and pay less attention to what we eat; they eat to enjoy food and therefore spend more time thinking about what they are putting into their bodies. As far as being lazy, i disagree; Americans work more hours out of the day than most European countries. As younger generations are entering adult age the ideology is that working hard now will pay off later. I can't comment on how Belgians are in this aspect but I am sure they too are very hard workers (by the way, if someone would like to hire me and pay me enough to live in belgium i will be on the next flight!!!).

Basically what I am trying to say is in a way there stereotype of us Americans is slightly overexagerated but I think it has a good point. Maybe we will someday learn from it...

[Huyghe]

Hi there! I'm from Belgium and i must say that not all americans we see on TV are lazy, eat at McDonalds and carry a gun around all the time. Your TV-show's are great!! My favourites are Friends and Dawson's creek :-) , but all my friends totally like angel, buffy, ally mcbeal,..... . I kinda like the american way of living if I see it on TV. Aspecially the school-system. teh american Highschool, and the prom,... seem very nice traditions to me. But hé, its only the oppinion of a 14-year old girl from Belgium!-xx-

[Camrac]

Huyghe,
It's funny you should say those things, that was exactly what my girlfriend thought before she came here (by they way, she is hooked on Dawson's Creek). But she soon realized it is hardly that way at all. Sure, prom and high school are similiar but there are tons of downsides too. Like the quality of education, we focus more on sports and rallies and activities, which is all fun, but it can take away from the whole point of going to school. But that is just my opinion and my girlfriends, maybe you should be an exchange student and see it for yourself...

[imported_hanako]

Americans are lazy and fat and they are great liars...

[Rikbe]

JS,

I am started to think that you are one of those illegal immegrants that are kicked out of Belgium.
Sorry for that but our streets are clean already.

[imported_hanako]

Well,I think you are wrong about the friendly Belgians,JS.
Belgium is a very nice place,much better than my home country...especially they can speak different languages...hehe

[Edited by hanako on 16th December 2001 at 06:33]

[imported_Shadow]

Has it EVER occured to you that Americans in fact ARE Europeans??? Since you're so eager by going back to Gallic times yourself as far as Belgians are concerned........please be consequent in your argumentation : so do not say now that the Gallic ppl are the same as the Belgians are now while defending yourself saying the Americans are different from the crusading Europeans back then coz that doesn't make any sense..

And PLEASE don't let me laugh about Americans being open-minded... Most of them have not even HEARD of Turkey...

Also, if you're really an adult, please don't blame Ribke here for throwing personal insults at you while you're being a champ at that yourself...I'm not even gonna copy them here it's too long..even though I have to thank you for giving us information on your country, that's the FIRST contructive thing you've done so far in my humble opinion..

and I still do wonder how come they are so many turks in this country if yours is so much better...all killers??? no wonder we're getting problems here then...

Also you've never answered my question how YOU can have PROOF that someone is guilty... Sadly enough when some people say things a lot of times others will believe that better than the truth (and I know all about that...). It's called indoctrination, brainwashing, mostly ending in extortion in the long run...

I would post a lot later but I only have two days left.


Thank you Ribke for that one post, it's easy enough to tell the difference in argumentation here, like you I had not heard of the Furball-lady either... I really wonder if there's a personal conflict involved here.....


As my Mother would say.."Be Good"

ne zalige..