One of my new favorite hobbies is asking Austrians what they think of Americans. It's an easy way to strike conversation and the result is usually hilarious, but not totally untrue. It's interesting to hear what relatively unbiased people think about your home country.
"So, what do you guys think about Americans?"
Freedom and Coca-Cola. True, double true. It's no secret that we Americans love our freedom almost as much as we love our Coca-Cola. Or vice versa. Freedom and Coke basically go hand in hand anyway. Both have become iconic "symbols" of the United States.
You all love your weapons. Another very, very true statement. Usually Austrians follow up this on this statement with "why?", to which I don't really have an answer. Americans love their guns because for most people, it goes with the whole "freedom" idea. It's a right that's protected in our constitution, and therefore people take it to heart. To which an Austrian usually responds "...oh.".
But sometimes the guns are bad. Like the cops shooting the black people? I don't get why that happens.
Me either, Austrian. Me either. With gun ownership comes power, and with power comes responsibility, and right now people are abusing that power and responsibility. I wish that I had a better response to this thought, but I don't. I don't understand it either.
Why was healthcare such a big debate?
Yeah... I don't understand this one either.
Americans love to eat fast food. There is a McDonald's on every street corner.
This is both true... and false. Some people love their fast food, and there are others who are totally against it. I always tell Austrians, that if I'm driving somewhere and I'm hungry, I'll eat McDonald's for the convenience, but I hardly ever go out of my way to get it. Now Chipotle... that's another story.
Obama.
Austrians are split on Obama. Some like him, others don't. But every Austrian follows American news, and every Austrian knows about his policies.
Americans are loud and obnoxious, but some of them are nice.
Whenever we go out as a study abroad group, we (literally) scream American. We all talk loud, make big gestures, and sometimes act rowdy because that's culturally normal in the U.S. We've never been taught to be quiet or reserved, because freedom of speech and expression is protected in our Bill of Rights. We've also never had secret police or communist movements happening around us to change that.
When I was in America, I was wearing shorts and walking down the street. A group of boys starting calling to me, and it made me feel very uncomfortable.
This one made me really, really sad. I didn't even know how to respond. Take note, American boys. Your cat calling isn't appreciated by anyone.
You are all so patriotic.
Yes, yes we are. And we'll make sure you know it, too.
