A charming short essay by British author Geoff Dyer about the gap between the reputation of Americans as seen by many in the UK, and the reality he encounters.
With so many of us living with one foot in each place via business and family, this is a good read:
The first thing I ever heard about Americans was that they all carried guns. Then, when I came across people who’d had direct contact with this ferocious-sounding tribe, I learned that they were actually rather friendly. At university, friends who had traveled in the United States came back with more detailed stories, not just of the friendliness of Americans but also of their hospitality (which, in our quaint English way, was translated into something close to gullibility). When I finally got to America myself, I found that not only were the natives friendly and hospitable, they were also incredibly polite. No one tells you this about Americans, but once you notice it, it becomes one of their defining characteristics, especially when they’re abroad.
The entire piece here. Enjoy.
And, ya'll come back and see us, ya heah?
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