Laura Corin Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Surely, it is at least *understandable* that our dedication to our flag stands out? Heck, our national anthem is dedicated to our flag. The fact that some people not from the US would be puzzled by this has nothing to do with patriotism or lack thereof. .... that I connected dedication to the flag in the US with lack of a non-political, enduring figurehead. In Britain we have (for good or ill) a queen who endures and doesn't get involved in politics. Our national anthem is all about her. In the US, you have an apolitical flag that endures and an anthem dedicated to it. Each system may find the other difficult to comprehend, but each country seems to have a similar need. This is my thought now, twenty-seven years after I had that initial impression about the prevalence of flags in the US. Many thanks to those who have understood that I was trying honestly to answer the question put in the OP. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Another thing that screamed "United States" to me was mowed lawns with sidewalks and curbs. Just lawns. period. We have no lawn. Just a small cement slab. Our home is surrounded by a cement wall with a motorized gate that lets our car in and out. And we have no sidewalks at all. We actually sold our bikes before we moved here because we were told there is no where to safely ride them. It is very interesting to me to read the impression that non-Americans have of America. I can totally see everything you are saying now that you mention it. America IS a big, young, scrappy country. Individualistic as it gets but generous, too. Yes it is flags and guns and super-sized portions but it is also progress and freedom and beauty. It felt weird being split between two countries but I can definitely see how very blessed I am as well. Thank you all for sharing.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Strangers will say hi and smile when they pass by. My second day in the U.S. I was at a university campus waiting on a friend. Every single passerby smiled. I was convinced my skirt had a whole or something horrific was happening to my outfit otherwise why would people be smiling at me? :D Oh yes churches. Churches have toilets inside? Who thought of that? Aren't they all suppose to be built prior to the invention of modern plumbing? Honestly I had a difficult time using it the first time around. I kept feeling somebody was watching from the other world.:blushing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Just lawns. period. I remember being suprised in the US by front lawns/gardens without fences. In Britain (or at least in the inner cities where I grew up and went to university) I think it's rare to have a front garden that doesn't have a low wall, fence or hedge to separate it from the pavement (sidewalk) and also from the neighbouring gardens. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
********* Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 The other thing that stood out to me was the shallowness and exorbitant wealth of the American churches. Amen to THAT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 May I ask, is having the flag on display at one's home associated with a particular socio-economic group, or is it more of a personal/political choice? Funnily enough, we currently have 4 US flags in our house and only one Australian flag (just little ones you hold and wave, not proper ones), and I'd actually forgotten we had the Australian one until the kids dug it out for their Olympic parade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Nothing about the flags bother me. Not much does actually bother me enough to alter my mood. However, I swear people around here are in some kind of competition come Christmas time for who can make their meters spin faster. We are guilty, but have only LED lights. And I don't do it, DS and grandpa do it as tradition. My dad's cul de sac could blind a person. He also displays a flag and is very patriotic. I still don't know what patriotic means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I'll have to ask my husband. He kept wanting to come back so I assume he didn't hate it. LOL He does complain about the lack of good bread and cheese. Gosh Wendy :) I keep missing bread and fresh mozzarella from NY/NJ!! And Pizza, too.... The food... is one of the biggest things I miss from there... oh yes, And Friday night meals.... from the Jewish Delis... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 May I ask, is having the flag on display at one's home associated with a particular socio-economic group, or is it more of a personal/political choice? I would just hitch on to Wendy's remarks that I think too it depends on where in the country you are as well. I think in some places, displyaing the flag on your home is much more important as a show of your patriotism than it is in others. Down here in metropolitan South Florida, you just don't see it very often at all on people's homes, but I think in many other places it is much more common. I have never been to the Midwest, but I hear it is very prominent there, for example, and that to not have a flag is akin to being unpatriotic. People down here are just as patriotic, I reckon, as up there, but it's just not a part of our regional culture down here to have a flag on our homes. Maybe it has to do with hurricanes? I don't know, it's just not really done, but I guarantee you you will find many many people here who love this country and are grateful to be in it. Shoot, just go down to Little Havana in Miami and you'll meet a whole community of people who are grateful to be here and who proudly serve in our Armed Forces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) When my BIL visited us for the first time several years ago, he was totally unprepared/ had no understanding of distance. He lives in the Netherlands. He is a sweetie and I loved having him visit, but he had no idea about how far apart things are in middleTN. When I told him that I needed to drive my oldest who was a senior to tutorial in the morning, he thought I was being bizarrely over-protective and asked why I didn't let him ride his bike. Uhhm, the tutorial is a 20 miles/ 32 km drive one way. It is up and down hills that don't have a shoulder much less a bike lane. Gee, he would need to leave really, really early and then I would certainly be concerned that a car would come over a hill at 55MPH and plough over the top of him, because no one would be looking for a bike on these roads. Heck, it may even be illegal on some of the local highways, but I wouldn't know. I have never checked, because what nut would ride a bike on those roads. After he had been here awhile he said that he now understood that you would need a vehicle to live here. Yeah, thanks, Captain Obvious. :001_smile: My children don't have any friends and don't attend any lessons or activities that are closer than 10 miles/ 16km away and you thought we should all just have bikes?! Mandy Edited August 2, 2012 by Mandy in TN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 What an interesting thread! I'm not sure your reaction is totally the same as all expats. I remember a guy from our church who came back from living in the middle east for a couple of years to be totally shocked by clothing in the US. Similarly I remember a friend who had lived in China for 3 or 4 year, thinking, while at one of those pizza and games places, how much the place was like a casino and how this was a weird place for children. However, I do know that she was pretty blitzed by some aspects of living in China as well. DH and I thought the same thing the one time we attended a birthday party there. DH was absolutely disgusted and didn't want DS to do anything at which you won tickets. I'm American, born and raised, and have never tried biscuits and gravy, or grits, and have no desire to. :iagree: and I'm from the South. I agree with you Ravin and Meriwether about the flag. I'm pretty much a "live and let live" type of person when it comes to what others do, but I have to admit I do get upset when I see a people flying a ragged and torn Old Glory. It seems so disrespectful to me. :( Agree. And isn't there something in the rules about not wearing the flag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadianmumof5 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 What I notice: Amazing customer service everywhere (hotels, stores, restaurants) - the people seem genuinely pleased to help. Huge number of choices in everything from groceries to clothing - love shopping in the US Big backyards!!! You aren't right on top of your neighbors Better road planning and neighborhood layouts - you have multiple highways all over the same area! Definitely much more patriotic than here If it wasn't for the healthcare situation, I would love to live in the US! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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