Speaking of Americans ...

Americans are probably THE one nationality in the world that everyone else knows something about - and has an opinion about.

Opinions are based on stereotypes, often wrongly interpreted. I'll admit I've had plenty of opinions about Americans, based on my personal impressions in different situations, on media presentations and on other peoples experiences. For a large part of my life - I believe I've searched to confirm my established negative impressions about Americans, American culture and American politics. I guess I perceive a large part of the American exposure as threatening to my personal values. But then again, attributing this fear to Americans in general could be a bit of a mistake.

I live in the USA for the second time in my life, and my "American-schema" is about to change. Tags are changing label, meanings are being modified. I'd like to pick on these stereotypical tags and explore the substance of them a bit further. Let's start with a fairly well used stereotypical statement: - Americans are loud and obnoxious -

My impression is that individual Americans are generally louder than individuals from other countries, even Canada. Much louder. Why is that?

Here in America, it seems to be more important to be heard than to be listened to. It is a very individualistic society, and being heard means you're being noticed, which could be the first step on the ladder of being socially accepted. If you're the quiet type, nobody waits for you to speak. You're responsible for making and taking your own space. And when you do that, you will receive loud compliments and encouragements from fellow Americans.

There is a lot of background noice wherever you go, always a TV on, a radio, music, people talking, cars ... Even in the life drawing class I'm attending, they put on the radio while drawing. Normally the classical channel, but nevertheless, complete quietness is very hard to find. Where there are people - there is noice.

If you are in the elevator with an American, he or she is very likely to start talking to you. The Americans I've met so far seem to be pretty bad at handling quietness when around other people. It becomes "awkward". So they talk, to wear away the fear of the unfamiliar quiet.

Whenever an American steps out of the elevator, they say "Have a good day" or "good night" or whatever is suitable. When they enter, they greet you, saying "Hello, how are you" or, "Hello, wow, how tall are you?" ... Apart from the proposed fear of quietness and the addiction to some kind of noice, this socially oriented behavior makes people feel ... acknowledged. Perhaps being noticed and acknowledged is a primary factor in this individualistic society for feeling a certain belonging. Being noticed also requires someone to notice you. One comes with the other, loud self promotion is accompanied with loud and vivid external appreciation.

So yes, Americans are loud - and it seems to be part of survival in the American culture. Once used to it, it actually becomes kind of charming. But rude and obnoxious? I'd say they're closer to overdoing the polite and friendliness than being rude. Nobody makes you feel more noticed and appreciated than Americans. Nobody greets you clearer and louder when you meet than Americans. And where else in the world will people you don't even know wish you a wonderful day - every day? And who else but Americans splash out on compliments to you without even knowing you? (Well, except for cheesy italian guys or generally folks on a pick-up mission Saturday night - but they do not count in this setting) And what other country in the world contains so many different nationalities - and has a culture for incorporating them into one nation, as America ...? Americans, we hear you.

Thesi and Raz - Snowbirds turn Beach Bums

Thesi and Raz came down for a visit last Wednesday. The weather wasn't all that great - but for the newly arrived snowbirds from Montreal it was more than good enough.

True to tradition, the first thing we girls did after placing the luggage in the guest room, was to get a manicure and pedicure done. Raz went for his first walk on the beach. When Helge got home from work we went to our nearest tiki-bar and experienced sitting by the water and freezing for the first time since we arrived. It was the coldest night in a long time, almost below 20C.

The next morning Thesi and Raz wanted to go shopping, and we went to Aventura Mall. I'm being treated like a celebrity at the Banana Republic store in this mall after bringing both my younger sisters there. But this time my guests came out empty handed. "What's wrong with them!" I thought. Living in Montreal, I guess ... being used to having some of the best underground shopping streets in the world in their home city. I've been there a few times, and I must admit I've been pretty much broke after every visit.

The shopping might not have been Thesi and Raz's favourite thing in Florida - but the beach certainly was. They praised the beach, walked along the shore every morning and went down to get some sun every now and then. I believe they both finished a book or two while laying flat on the beach beds chilling and digging the sun.

At the beach one day, Raz pointed out his observation of the main difference between locals and visitors; their skin color. I have, according to the alert visitor, been here long enough to pass as a local, whereas they were, pointing at his wife's legs, the obvious visitors.

Friday Helge was able to get some time of work, and after a walk on our local beach we headed down to South Beach for some lunch, at Jerry's Famous Deli.

Jerry's diner looks like a candy shop on the outside and a classic Art Deco ballrom on the inside. The atmosphere is laid back and nice, the waiters are charmingly slow and look like they've been working there since the very beginning (sometimes in the 70's). The menu is so crowded that it is impossible to really get an overview of all they have to offer. But it looks cool. I spotted out an avocado burger to order which tasted pretty good.

My most memorable food item at Jerry's however was my milkshake. I haven't had a milkshake since last time i lived in this country, in 1994. And boy do they have GREAT milkshakes. I asked for one as a dessert without looking at the menu and the laid back waiter said they had all kinds of milkshakes; chocolate, rasberry, banana ... "Ooh, rasberry sounds nice" I said, "OK, rasberry" the waiter said and stumbled along to make me a rasberry milkshake. He came back a few minutes later and said:
"Rasberry was no good, ma'm, vanilla ok?"
"No rasberry?"
"No, m'am, no rasberry - so, you want vanilla?"
"No, I don't really want the vanilla, what else do you got?"
"We got chocolate - you want chocolate?"
"... What else do you got?"
"we got Chocolate, vanilla ... strawberry ... "
"Strawberry! Yes, I'd like a strawberry milkshake, please"
"not the vanilla?"
"no I'd like the strawberry, please"
"a'right, strawberry."

The waiter seemed almost disappointed about my choice and moved slowly back to the milkshake machine and a bit later we heard the bang and the loud wizz and the clunk and my strawberry milkshake was on it's way. It was absolutely delicious. After a couple of sips Raz got so envious that he had to order one as well. He'd already complained loudly several times that he was stuffed like a teddybear. Raz had been served an avocado burger, although he asked for an chicken avocado sandwitch, and he got an ice tea when asking for an ice coffee - which the waiter corrected by giving him an ice coffee for free in addition to his tea. He was up for some serious peeing after that meal. But he too loved his milkshake. He ordered chocolate and got chocolate sirup on top.

We did a lot of eating while Thesi and Raz were here, and I have to say eating is one of the goodies in this area. There is plenty of food in all possible categories of prizes, origin, content, philosophy, style and outlet - from oversized sandwitches from a hole in the wall to fine little delicacies hardly visible on the plate in fancy restaurants.

The last evening we paid a new visit to our local Churrascaria. Helge and I have been there before and knew what we were up for. We tried warning our guests, but it has to be experienced to really understand what the concept is about. You sit down, get a brief introduction from the waiter, go to the salad and sides bar to pick your complementaries and start eating. Then the waiters walk around with their barbecue meat on sticks and slices of a piece for you of whatever you want. As much as you want. And the meat is very, very good, perfectly cooked, brazilian style. It is fun, but dangerous. Raz was very exited, best concept he'd seen for a long time, he said. Thesi loved it too. She thought she brought back a small salad from the salad bar to start with but she found herself working on those greens during the whole meal, between chewing one juicy, tasty meat slice after the other brought directly from the grill on to her plate. We all over-ate. Nobody slept well through the night. But it was worth it.

The days went by slowly, comfortable, with as little hassle and as much sun, sand and food as possible. We also managed to spend some time in the Design District and hang out on South Beach. Thesi and Raz did not face the challenge with overweight luggage going back home, I bet the seats on the plane were more likely to be the problem ... :-) It was lovely having their company here for a week, hope they'll come again.