i know one shouldn’t judge a country by its stereotype, but sometimes, you find a specimen so typical, so ironically representative, that you forget all about impartiality.
as i was leaving the netherlands, i met an american guy from los angeles, arriving for a small exchange period. he asked us to use the internet on your computers every once in a while and we got the chance to talk on one of those “visits”.
him – you know…the dutch people… they’re so…
me – what?
him – like… not technologically advanced.
me – hum? what do you mean?
him – bicycles. who uses bikes these days? that’s so… backwards. i gotta get a car here.
i was shocked and speechless and then i laughed inside, secretly wondering if he knew about the dutch gas prices (only the highest in the world), and, let’s be honest, of how stupid he was, really.
the dutch are backwards because they use bicycles? ever heard of environmental friendly way of transportation which is also cheap and good for you? … i thought so. forget the car, try to find some brains instead.
ps – luckily, this stereotype was changed by another student i met later that week, from seattle, which was polite, moved normally and was nice to talk to. but then again, someone told me seattle was not a exactly a typical city… :)
ps2 – i’m back! no more exams for now! :D
5 replies on “los angeles style, man!”
he will have a surprise when he finds out that he doesn’t have enough skills to drive a car in europe, just a bike :D
hurray to stick shift gears! :)
I’m from Seattle and I’m glad you got a better impression from the Seattle student than from the guy from L.A.
I understand the love of cars is very big in L.A. And we Americans in general are very spoiled with our automobiles, especially those who drive those big SUV’s.
I am proud to say I drive a small car with a stick shift. But I would be too anxious to try driving in Europe. My preferred style of driving is calm and methodical which I understand wouldn’t fit in too well in Europe.
Humm i can of understand him as i think I’m going to die everyday after riding the bike up the hill to get home!
I know its good for my health and cheap. But my legs and knees are starting to wheep for so such effort!
well, in shanghai the gas is cheap, the car is cheap, the bus is cheap, the metro is cheap… but the best way to get everywhere is by bike
um beijo!
Haha. That’s hilarious. I’m from Chicago and I try to use my car as little as possible. But people from L.A. are strange in more ways than one. I wish everyone would start using their bicycles here. Europeans are far more advanced in that arena. He’s the one who is backwards!