Americans

I've fired a friend's guns in America. I'm quite a good shot, it turns out! They used to live in NY but now are in a remote mountain area and quite honestly, I'd have a gun too, if I lived there.

It's probably 20 miles or more to the nearest police depot and they have bobcats and bears roaming round their property so a gun for self defence makes sense in those circumstances. They themselves don't hunt or allow hunting on their land but some of their neighbours live off the land and hunt for food so I think a gun can be justified there. Of course, the vast majority of Americans dont live in such places!

I also wasn't too comfortable when visiting "Sam's Club" (a Costco type superemarket) in Tampa with the relatives. I was in my element browsing through CD's when DH pointed out the next aisle was the start of the "arms section". Didn't look too closely but there seemed to be every type of weapon on show. Elderly cousin we visited in Alabama showed us her gun she keeps in her bedside cabinet - scary!!

There are good and bad in every country. I have visited USA numerous times. The locals we have met have been polite and welcoming, particularly in New York and Sarasota.

The only thing I had a problem with was a visit to Walmart with youngest 2 C, when the counter next to the children's beach ware/novelty towels was selling all manner of firearms and ammunition. I found it very unsettling. (This was in Haynes County Florida, and admittedly off of the tourist track!!)

I was one of the contributors who posted about certain things that have floated over the Atlantic. It was really an observation, most don't affect me. I only remember the school proms when my boys were at school and some of the mothers with daughters complaining about the pressure to spend on fripperies that their daughters perceived as a must, which quite honestly wasn't so bad for boys.

I agree, it's up to the individual as to whether they patronise fast food outlets, I haven't for a while. I do however remember that "Super Size" film about McDs a while back, and of course one can't help noticing when visiting America they sure have their share of super size and very immobile people as a consequence of such establishments which I believe are even in some of their schools now. We are continually told we are following their route

Exactly Iam64

I have just picked up on some digs in some threads, regarding language and spelling
I have been asked questions when in America, Marylou which I didn't understand because of the different terminology - but that's my bad as they say!

And - those who complain about "American imports" like halloween and baby showers could do well to acknowledge that these things wouldn't have taken off if many people here didn't find them entertaining and enjoyable.

I’m another one who has travelled quite a lot in America (in Columbus MS as I write) and like others, have been met with nothing but kindness, courtesy and generosity from the American people we have met.
To those who complain about MacDonald’s, Pizzahut etc, they are businesses.
They wouldn’t be in British towns and cities if British people didn’t go to them and eat there.

Your trip sounds amazing B9exchange

Their history is so different from ours. At one time I read a lot of travel books eg
www.amazon.co.uk/Ladys-Life-Rocky-Mountains/dp/1483977153?tag=gransnetforum-21
And most of Mark Twain's, especially
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roughing_It
Their history must have shaped their attitudes.

I have an American second cousin I found through Ancestry, we went over to visit her, and she is lovely. Not quite so keen on one of her college friends, white supremacy still rears its head sometimes sadly. Also visited New Orleans, took a dinner cruise down the Mississippi in a paddle steamer during a crazy thunderstorm, everyone lovely except our room chambermaid who glowered at us and made it plain she resented us.

We did go to Memphis, Graceland is incredible, so worthwhile, but also the museum in the hotel where Martin Luther King was shot is a real heart breaker, so dreadful what slavery did, and to see the bus Rosa Parkes sat in.....
Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry, and downtown where I got chatted up, and my husband got his bottom pinched!
On to New York, where we went to see Les Miserables on Broadway, the 9/11 monument and museum, and shopping of course. Would go back in a flash if it wasn't for the cost of the medical insurance!

Went to the USA around the time of our 30th wedding anniversary (20yrs ago). We were on our own the first few days in Chicago and were treated well wherever ate or visited. Met up with family in Kansas who treated us royally - loved the people but hated their way of life. They never walked anywhere, pressed buttons for everything, no windows open in their houses, etc. Family members then drove us down to Florida so we really experienced the American way of life and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Everyone was so kind and welcoming but I really don't think I would like to live there. One reason would be the amount of food around. Huge plates of food and, for us, enormous "doggy bags"! Have been back since on a two week holiday, again staying with relatives, and still loved it and the people.

Well I for one would be over there like a shot if I won the lottery Marylou77

Thanks everyone for writing. I feel better. It’s a tough time to be an American, with all the division in our country. The “Ugly American” stereotype has been around for a while. I have just picked up on some digs in some threads, regarding language and spelling, table manners, baby showers, proms,loud obnoxious Americans, etc. Thanks to all who don’t generalize and are willing to give people a chance, one to one. ?

Some of us may have difficulty understanding some of the language sodapop

It's good to hear positive comments. I can confirm that from time there have been sweeping generalisations about Americans which have not been positive.

I've never had any KFC. It was beginning to be sold in Thailand when I worked there but I never felt tempted as Thai fried chicken was fresh, home-grown and generally ace.

Baggs I like pizza too, but not Pizza Hut variety, they are not very Italian. Pizza Express would be my go to chain, I love theirs.

When I worked up in London, friends and I would get Burger Kings from time to time. I thought they had the edge over McDonalds, my enduring memory, lovely burgers, until an hour afterwards when they left me feeling queasy. I haven't touched one for years. A piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken though, yum! definitely my guilty secret.

My first impression of eating out in America, based on the fact that they are a melting pot of many nationalities is that their food chains take the "old country" cuisines and ruin them to appeal to the mass market. I had some of the worst pasta ever in a chain in America called "The Olive Garden" and some of the best in a family run restaurant in Little Italy, NY.

I would big up Dennys though, great breakfasts and I love all that multi egg choice, over easy, sunny side up rigmarole.

America is a great place in spite of Trump and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

I don’t know any Americans but my parents ( who visited many times when my mum was alive) said they were lovely people .

I would love to visit Memphis Buffybee

As for actual Americans, all the ones I know are nice people just as all the Brits I know are nice people.

McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc haven't been great additions to any town once you are over the age of 14.

A FiveGuys cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake soothed my sore throat on Saturday so I'm sticking up for the etceteras ?. And where the FiveGuys place was in Dundee was definitely improved (aka a great addition) since I knew the town in the seventies.

I stick up for Aberdeen Angus burgers at BurgerKing too. And there's nothing wrong with pizza. Pizzas are just fancy cheese sandwiches. What's not to like?

My son has been married to an American girl for 16 years and has lived there since 2002. On our frequent trips to see them, and also amongst the American friends we've made over the years as we ourselves have lived around the world, I've yet to meet an American I didn't like.

I only know one Trump supporter amongst them and even he's a nice bloke. I can't imagine why he thought a Trump vote was a good idea!

I have been to the USA and would like to go again to see some places I've never visited but under no circumstances would I go there while that ghastly Trump is President.

I've not been to Nashville gillybob but I would love to visit some more of the Southern States. It's just so lovely to be referred to a Ma'am by everyone. They are so polite and lovely. I would like to go to Memphis, Tennessee as I'm a big Elvis fan and also I would like to see Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border, probably because I watched too many cowboy films when I was young. ??
I'm a big fan of America and Americans and love our close relationship with our cousins in the West.

I worked with a charming, quiet and intellectual American many years ago, one of the loveliest men I ever met. Old enough to be my grandfather though (and married).