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gracias · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 27

I think that if the USA offered such great things, then Americans would stay there. It clearly doesn't. But you can't have your cake and eat it. You can't say "Hey Americans are great, some of the nicest people I ever met" and concomitantly BE an American abroad. Face it, if you are an American in Europe, you will be lucky to make friends. Maybe you are a good individual, but before you even step on the ground here your country has already blown it for you. Accept that, try and live a good life here, and move along. It doesn't mean we hate you, but I think it does mean that the great majority hate your country's pathetic propaganda and posturing, and so to live in Europe as an American - well - I think you have to object to that too, probably in the first few phrases you utter to each new stranger.

jr1965 · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 175

jonniboy · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

gracias · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 27

Rereading this thread, I realise it should be called "Why do Americans have a bee in their bonnet about Americans working in Spain".

I mean, really. I have a Ph.D. from a British university and I don't need to be taught comprehension by someone who has a US degree and (maybe) a CELTA.

yawn.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I have a British MA (sure, you can trump me with your Phd, but that's beside the point). And have lived in Europe for over ten years as an American citizen.

I have lots of friends from a wide variety of countries. (I admit that none of them are other Americans- I don't seek out my countrymen). I have a great job, and I think it's safe to say I'm as respected as my European colleagues.

Simply being a US citizen does NOT mean
1. that one is poorly educated
2. that one will not be accepted as an individual in Europe.

Finally, I can assure you I won't be 'moving along.' I've got a permanent, full-time university contract with benefits, own a flat, and have every intention of retiring here.

Bradfrd12 · Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Valencia Spain

gracias

I too have been living in Spain for quite sometime and have to disagree with most of what you are saying. I think that on the whole Americans are very very nice people. I also think that the US has a lot of nice things to offer people living or traveling there. But I was curious about what the world had to offer and landed in Spain. I have made a lot of friends here in Spain and I think your comments are bordering on offensive and xenophobic.

I found my wife here, I have two wonderful daughters, I bought a house, and opened a business. I found the typical stereotyping of Americans but nothing to the degree you are describing.

One more item. Having a PhD doesn't by definition make you intellectually superior to every American with a degree and no CELTA. Everyone in the world can learn something from every other person in the world no matter what their formal education is.

My 2 cents.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Re-reading my earlier post, I sound anti-American! I'm not - I just happen to live in an area with few other Americans and my friends happen to all be from someplace other than North American...not because I don't like them, but I'm not hunting for them particularly.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

You've been hanging out in teacher's lounges too much and found us out.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

bnd1983 · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

Americans are really oversensitive to all this anyway. When Ive been on holiday in Spain and France Ive often felt animosity towards me, being English.

And I think its deep-rooted in Europe, if you go to the pub now during the Euros you are almost guaranteed to hear about the 'greasy cheating Itais' 'the Spanish spics,' 'French surrender-monkeys', and the less said about the anti-Turkish comments the better. There are plenty of rivalries here and no one really gets away from it.

I can show you more anti-American feeling in England than you�d probably find in Spain anyway...Just today, in the teachers room in my job here, I walked in on a long, deep discussion on how Americans don�t get irony and how deeply uncool they all are. The chat stopped a fraction short of the burgers and fatness digressions I hear anytime the talk turns to American people in England.

Basically being American is really unfashionable in Europe, and you�ll have to get over that. Americans aren�t popular in Spain but they�re hardly popular in England either. It must be so, so annoying, but it isn�t personal.

If you are American and having trouble making friends in Europe I advise you, in the strongest possible terms, to get into Football. Follow the local team and you have an instant conversation starter.

Don�t get all defensive and patriotic like Ive seen with so many Americans/Candians, its half the problem!!!!! You�re better off getting on board with us, and moaning about things at great length.

What it comes down to anyway is how much can you really care if someone dislikes you for your nationality? Theres a word for that and it�s �bigot.�

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject:

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