Two Frequent Questions About the U.S.
During my 35 years as an American expat living in Indonesia, I’ve been asked a lot of questions about the U.S. Some of the questions were normal –
• What it’s like to experience snow?
• Do U.S. cities experience bad traffic jams like big Indonesian cities?
• What happens to old people if they don’t live with their children in an extended family?
• Could they find rice in the United States?
There have been lots of other questions. That’s normal. Most of the questions came during the time I taught English to Indonesians who were planning to attend college in the U.S. They were excited about the adventure that they were getting ready to embark on and wanted to know as much as possible before leaving Indonesia.
Just like people all over the world, Indonesians had often gotten unusual ideas about the U.S. from movies they watched, and they wanted to know what was true and what wasn’t.
The interesting thing is that there were two questions that were asked most often during all my years in Indonesia.
These questions centered on things Indonesians had seen in American movies and just couldn’t believe.
The first question – Do people really drink water straight from the water faucet without boiling?
The second question – Do Americans really wear their shoes inside the house?
Certainly, we Americans take it for granted that we have potable water straight from the tap (although there have been some places where that wasn’t true recently). Much of the world’s population doesn’t have that luxury.
And as far as wearing shoes inside the house, I know a lot of Americans who have lately started asking people to take their shoes off at the door, but I don’t think that’s become commonplace yet.
Check out some of my other posts -
Interesting to hear the questions you get while living aboard. I can see the water one being a thing, but I didn't think they would ask about shoes in the house!
Yes. Another frequent question or comment shows that people in other countries think we're all packing guns. After all, that's what they see in the movies and they generalize.
As an ex-pat Brit living in Spain I can understand about being asked questions by the natives. They are just keen to learn about your country and its customs.
Right. Especially my students who were heading to an American university.
As a South African living in England, I have been asked some strange questions. 1) Did I live in a mud hut? 2) Did lions and elephants roam my neighbourhood? 3) How can you be white and an African? These are just a small selection
Yes, I get it. I'm ashamed to admit that many many years ago when I was still very young, I asked a new German friend living in Los Angeles whether Germany had escalators. She responded very sarcastically - something about using their wings!!
I can imagine that happening. Although I must say that the frequency of those sort of questions has lessened over the years. I think it is the fact more and more people travel, and the growth of social media.
Wow reminds me of all the things we Americans take for granted. I feel down on myself sometimes for not working harder even with things I ’m passionate about
Yep we have a lot to be grateful for.
Hey, Kate,
SOOO interesting that those were the two most popular unusual questions. You live such an amazing life!
xox