I have to feel sorry for people who migrate to the US from other countries. Having lived in Germany for a total of 10 years, I am always surprised of their conception of what it’s like to live in the US. First of all, they believe that it is ok to say, “Fuck!” and “Shit!” in public, and have actually adapted that into their own language. It’s even used on TV. Speaking of TV, nudity is nothing to them. You will see boobs on TV at any given time.  I’ve often seen way more than that, but the other goodies are shown a little later in the evening. Their advertisments for certain adult 800 calls are pretty much what Americans call porn.

The Germans believe that all Americans drink are Budweiser and Jack & Coke. Therefore, they drink “Jacky Cola” themselves. Budweiser is a little harder to come by. If they know that you are going to be in the States, however, they definitely want you to bring back some Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill. Yes, you read that right.

If they come to visit you, you have to warn them that they can’t drink in public. They’ve been told that American’s have some strange rule that drinking in public is ok, as long as you drink it out of a brown paper bag. They think that Americans are so ‘open’ and so ‘cool’, yet they wonder why they are told that they can’t parade around in their underwear, or even much less, around family and friends. Or why  they will be charged with sexual harrassment and have to register as a sex offender for peeing in public. Many public toilets in Germany are unisex. There is a urinal and a stall. So you will actually see a guy peeing, and it’s no big deal. He may even start a conversation with you, while he’s at it.

Actually, if you’ve been raised that way, or, believe it or not, have been around it for any length of time, it does all start to become natural and no big deal.  As a matter of fact, I love it when I see fellow Americans here, walking up and down the street with a beer or bottle of wine in their hand, just because they can. There are lots of things you see them doing and enjoying it, knowing that it is not allowed in the US. It is about living life and loving it. Stuffy Americans would do well with a little bit of culture shock to get rid of some of the extreme politically correct attitudes that are destroying the world as we know it.