Ralph Holz

    > When my wife (Australian) first got a job in the US, she was asked by
    > one of her co-workers “Did you have to learn English to come over
    > here?â€? Unfreakin’ believable!!

Reminds me.

During a stay at a language school in Firenze, Italy. My Aussie friend
was chatting to a US-American girl:

US girl: "So where are you from?"
She: "Australia."
USG: "Oh, so you must speak German."
She: "No, I said Aus-tra-lia."
USG: "Yes, so you must speak German."

It's an incident I still remember.

R

Freda

I suggest the others replying to this thread are confirming my point of
view.
I would know morw than most Yanks about america in a general sense because I
have relatives and friends there, who have the same point of view that i do.
I would ask you a few world questions but what is the use as you would only
google the answers.
Freda
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:12:02 +1030, "Freda" <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    > ><[email protected]> wrote in message
    > >news:[email protected].. .
    > >> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 13:18:54 +1030, "Freda" <[email protected]>
    > >> wrote:
    > >>
    > >> >Typical of most americans.
    > >>
    > >> Most as in what % of the population are you basing that on?
    > >>
    > >> >They are fairly ignorant of any culture outside contintental USA
    > >>
    > >> Well for a country that has so many cultures, that is very difficult
    > >> to believe!
    > >>
    > >> So in your humble opinion, what is "American culture"?
    > >>
    > >>
    > >> >They are brainwashed aboiut USA at school and college and the media
    > >contiues
    > >> >on after that.
    > >> >Freda
    > >>
    > >> What American grade school levels did you attend Freda?
    > >>
    > >> Be interested to hear how you judge your biased remarks if you have
    > >> never lived here.....
    > >>
    > >> Cath
    > >
    > >Well take a long look at the postings from the US on this and
    > >other newsgroups and you will soon learn that what I have stated is
    > >accurate.
    > >Freda
    > >>
    > FFS. You would believe stuff written on ng's only?
    > You haven't lived over here so you do not have a 'true clue'....
    > What school did you go to?
    > Jeeze.............
    > Cath

Ken Pisichko

David Springthorpe wrote:


    > What is a TOFEL and what is am envigilator please.....?

You know that 'Merican stuff that indicates if someone (usually furren to
'Mericans) can understand "Furren Enghleash Languages". The envigilation
process is for to make shure that no one cheets on the examination. Just like
"cheetin", envigilation is also spelt in many wyaz. Sum wyaz are spelt in a
newer (butt not better) 'Merican way and udders are spelt in differnt wyaz two
- like in those furren lands that the XIII colonies types (denizens, etc) came
frum - England fur instance.

I truely hope this explanashon is gud enuff fur y'all. ;-)

Peace and happy daze to all.

Jack

A mate of mine who went to live in the US five years ago - on a recent visit
back, I asked him what he thought of the culture over there - his response -
it's a seige mentality - hence Cath's defensiveness I suspect. Not willing
to accept that all things US are not perfect and the best.


"Freda" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I suggest the others replying to this thread are confirming my point of
    > view.
    > I would know morw than most Yanks about america in a general sense because
I
    > have relatives and friends there, who have the same point of view that i
do.
    > I would ask you a few world questions but what is the use as you would
only
    > google the answers.
    > Freda
    > <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:12:02 +1030, "Freda" <[email protected]>
    > > wrote:
    > >
    > > ><[email protected]> wrote in message
    > > >news:[email protected].. .
    > > >> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 13:18:54 +1030, "Freda" <[email protected]>
    > > >> wrote:
    > > >>
    > > >> >Typical of most americans.
    > > >>
    > > >> Most as in what % of the population are you basing that on?
    > > >>
    > > >> >They are fairly ignorant of any culture outside contintental USA
    > > >>
    > > >> Well for a country that has so many cultures, that is very difficult
    > > >> to believe!
    > > >>
    > > >> So in your humble opinion, what is "American culture"?
    > > >>
    > > >>
    > > >> >They are brainwashed aboiut USA at school and college and the media
    > > >contiues
    > > >> >on after that.
    > > >> >Freda
    > > >>
    > > >> What American grade school levels did you attend Freda?
    > > >>
    > > >> Be interested to hear how you judge your biased remarks if you have
    > > >> never lived here.....
    > > >>
    > > >> Cath
    > > >
    > >
    > > >Well take a long look at the postings from the US on this and
    > > >other newsgroups and you will soon learn that what I have stated is
    > > >accurate.
    > > >Freda
    > > >>
    > >
    > > FFS. You would believe stuff written on ng's only?
    > > You haven't lived over here so you do not have a 'true clue'....
    > >
    > > What school did you go to?
    > > Jeeze.............
    > >
    > >
    > > Cath
    > >

Gerrit 't Hart

"Jack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
SNIP
    > Not willing to accept that all things US are not perfect and the best.

That's a pretty drastic statement.
Or are you just using an American phrase (which is grammatically wrong for
the message supposedly being conveyed) to reinforce your point?

Gerrit - Oz (who has a bee in his bonnet about that turn of phrase)

Gerrit 't Hart

"Ralph Holz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > When my wife (Australian) first got a job in the US, she was asked by
    > > one of her co-workers “Did you have to learn English to come over
    > > here?â€? Unfreakin’ believable!!
    > Reminds me.
    > During a stay at a language school in Firenze, Italy. My Aussie friend
    > was chatting to a US-American girl:
    > US girl: "So where are you from?"
    > She: "Australia."
    > USG: "Oh, so you must speak German."
    > She: "No, I said Aus-tra-lia."
    > USG: "Yes, so you must speak German."
    > It's an incident I still remember.
    > R

Mind you if its said with a broad Aussie accent there could be some excuse
for the USain.

Gerrit - Oz

Jack

Nup, just making a statement about the way things are - after all, they
re-elected Bush and so therefore proved they are happy as a nation to walk
around every day with a bulls eye target hanging around their necks - no
wonder they have a seige mentality - poke the dog and its gonna bite you!



"Gerrit 't Hart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Jack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > SNIP
    > > Not willing to accept that all things US are not perfect and the best.
    > >
    > That's a pretty drastic statement.
    > Or are you just using an American phrase (which is grammatically wrong for
    > the message supposedly being conveyed) to reinforce your point?
    > Gerrit - Oz (who has a bee in his bonnet about that turn of phrase)

Poss

Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of Ralph Holz
<[email protected]> :

    >> When my wife (Australian) first got a job in the US, she was asked by
    >> one of her co-workers “Did you have to learn English to come over
    >> here?â€? Unfreakin’ believable!!
    >Reminds me.
    >During a stay at a language school in Firenze, Italy. My Aussie friend
    >was chatting to a US-American girl:
    >US girl: "So where are you from?"
    >She: "Australia."
    >USG: "Oh, so you must speak German."
    >She: "No, I said Aus-tra-lia."
    >USG: "Yes, so you must speak German."
    >It's an incident I still remember.
    >R

A friend, while Everquesting, was asked if we had computers in
Australia.

Alan S

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 18:29:24 +0800, Poss <> wrote:

    |Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of Ralph Holz
    |<[email protected]> :
    |
    |>> When my wife (Australian) first got a job in the US, she was asked by
    |>> one of her co-workers “Did you have to learn English to come over
    |>> here?â€? Unfreakin’ believable!!
    |>
    |>Reminds me.
    |>
    |>During a stay at a language school in Firenze, Italy. My Aussie friend
    |>was chatting to a US-American girl:
    |>
    |>US girl: "So where are you from?"
    |>She: "Australia."
    |>USG: "Oh, so you must speak German."
    |>She: "No, I said Aus-tra-lia."
    |>USG: "Yes, so you must speak German."
    |>
    |>It's an incident I still remember.
    |>
    |>R
    |
    |A friend, while Everquesting, was asked if we had computers in
    |Australia.

OK, I waited and nobody answered the question.
Do we?





Duh :-))

Sheryl Jones

"Jack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Nup, just making a statement about the way things are - after all, they
    > re-elected Bush

I DID NOT re-elect Bush and most of the people in my community didn't
either. The atmosphere here locally is decidedly anti-Bush. I'll admit
there are a LOT of crass, ignorant Americans but not all of us are like
that.

Tom Johnstone

Sheryl Jones wrote:
    > "Jack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >
    >>Nup, just making a statement about the way things are - after all, they
    >>re-elected Bush
    >
    >
    > I DID NOT re-elect Bush and most of the people in my community didn't
    > either. The atmosphere here locally is decidedly anti-Bush. I'll admit
    > there are a LOT of crass, ignorant Americans but not all of us are like
    > that.

Yep - have to agree with that. I live in Madison, Wisconsin, and here
about 80% of the population voted against Bush. The people in Madison
are largely well-educated and fairly well informed.

However, I do have to say that recently I purchased a Canadian satellite
TV system because I was sick of having no international news on TV (PBS
- the Public Nroadcasting System - has decent news, but it's very
limited and only on during restricted times). Anyway, the very first
night I tuned in to The National News on Canadian CBC, I was blown away.
Coverage of events from all over the world, and only one story in the
first 5 was about Canada. *nothing* approaching that is available in the
USA. The difference between Canadian TV news and what's available in the
USA is shocking, and goes some way to explaining, or at least
understanding, the ignorance of many Americans to world affairs.

Tom

badchess

No offense, but maybe you should meet some people who do not "have the same point of view that I do." and you would broaden your perspective.

Sheryl Jones

Tom--
I'm a fellow Madisonian! From time to time I watch BBC News and I'm just
amazed at not only the content, but the different slant on things. In spite
of the fact that I consider myself a liberal, most of my news sources are
conservative (You know, WSJ and WIBA AM). From time to time I listen to
public radio or even Radio Free America. Frankly, I find the news from
those sources a little one-sided as well...even if it is my side!

Tom Johnstone

Sheryl Jones wrote:
    > Tom--
    > I'm a fellow Madisonian! From time to time I watch BBC News and I'm just
    > amazed at not only the content, but the different slant on things. In spite
    > of the fact that I consider myself a liberal, most of my news sources are
    > conservative (You know, WSJ and WIBA AM). From time to time I listen to
    > public radio or even Radio Free America. Frankly, I find the news from
    > those sources a little one-sided as well...even if it is my side!

Yep - you're right, Radio Free America is pretty bad quality and very
biased. WPR is good - left-leaning but high quality. But for TV, there
really isn't much available, unless you tap into Canadian TV.

Tom

Ken Pisichko

Tom Johnstone wrote:

    > Yep - you're right, Radio Free America is pretty bad quality and very
    > biased. WPR is good - left-leaning but high quality. But for TV, there
    > really isn't much available, unless you tap into Canadian TV.

Canadian news has a different "slant" than US television. That said, I don't
bother with CBC television. I prefer CBC radio because i can do other things while
listening to the radio. For news that has different perspectives, I read 5
different newspapers from 5 different countries on a regular basis (Australia,
Canada, Hong Kong, UK and USA) and that gives a bunch of redundancy, but there
certainly are different "slants' on some of the news items. The internet provides
for such instant access...