Justine Leconte officiel I'm French too. The whole "lack of personal hygiene" stereotype is big. And annoying. So once and for all, Yes, I shower every single day, Yes I brush my teeth at least twice a day, Yes I shave/wax regularly, etc... 💚
I am from Germany. In Australia (I've been there very often) they always ask me wheather I'm from Bavaria. And I got always told how tasty our beer, bread and sausages are. That part I love. Oh and me and friend who is living there, will always be asked "Are all women in Germany so tall, blond and good looking?" which is a hilarious question.
J'adore cette vidéo 😍 c'est toujours intéressant ou drôle de discuter les stéréotypes... Une fois j'ai parlé avec une hongroise et elle m'a dit qu'en Hongrie beaucoup de gens pensent que les français étaient sales et que c'est la raison pour la quelle ils utilisent autant de parfum 😂 moi je suis allemande mais je vis en France et mes "phrases à ne jamais dire à une allemande" sont surtout des blagues sur les nazis ou sur la bière. + le stéréotype que la Bavière = toute l'Allemagne et que les Allemagne sont discipliné, organisé, toujours à l'heure, aiment travailler et n'ont pas d'humour 🙄🙄🙄 Liebe Grüße in meine Heimatstadt Berlin 😄
yes! I’m Russian, and I’m not homophobic. I’m actually homosexual, but that’s a different story and I shouldn’t have to justify my being a decent person with my lesbianism 😂😂
asmita2500ify Yes. I think it's the younger generation that is so crass about asking such things. Many feel that they can say anything and expect an answer.
I toured the Lipizzaner stables in Vienna and someone on the tour asked what kind of salary the riders make. The tour guide was extremely uncomfortable and told us that they don't talk about such things in Austria. Comparing pay is actually a good way to ensure that you're earning a fair wage for your work, but maybe that's just my American attitude showing through!
Agreed. I live in Canada, and I don't even know what some of my friends of 20+ years earn. I have a rough sense, but it's just not something we talk about.
Oh so many. I'm Indian and this one I get a lot - "Do you speak Indian?" First of all that's not a language and second there are literally hundreds of languages in India. A different one for each state almost and many other regional ones. The most popular in terms of population are Hindi and English. Yes, English.
lol! So true! “How is your English so good?” has been the second favorite question closely followed by “Oh, you must be vegetarian!” and “did you have an arranged marriage?” 🙄🙄
Supriya Naidu you're skipping a great opportunity to take the piss, here!! 😂 You could totally say, "Of course I speak INDIAN!! Duh?!" then just make up something that sounds legit! 😂😂 They wouldn't know any different & wouldn't even question it, til they were long gone & you're in the clear! lol 👍👍👍👍
Well, I'm from Sweden, born and raised :) but 159 cm (5'2") tall and with dark hair and brown eyes. People get really confused when they ask where I'm from since the general perception is that every Swede looks like a tall, blond blue-eyed viking. They also think we all like raw fermented fish and swim naked in lakes all day long ;)
I totally understand the misconception, but I have to admit that (in comparison to other countries) you do have a much higher amount of blond and blue-eyed people😅 but I see your point ofc!
Loved the video! As a Peruvian young woman I'm always asked (mostly from Europeans) if there's cars in Peru, McDonald's, etc... most people think we use llamas as transport and live in the Andes. And I'm like no! We have the same things as other people in other countries! We just have a very rich culture :)
My husband is from Peru and the only thing anyone who meets him seems to know about it is Machu Picchu haha. I love Peru and all it’s regions, I agree it has wonderful culture (and the food!)
I am German, married to an Italian,and our daughter is from Ecuador,.holding all 3 nationalities. We are travelling the world and....I know something about stereotypes. I was told that Mexican people think of Germans that they will not wash themselves very often and that's why we stink. You see, Justin, you are not alone. lol I find that very interesting because we Germans think of ourselves to be very clean. By the way, I was in Yucatan and I loved it! The mix between culture, white beaches and nature, fun evening with mexican food and hospitality- great place to be. And yes,.sometimes people say the same about French people. I think, this comes because we learned at school that all this beautiful French chateaux had no toilets and people were literally going to the toilet everywhere, using the garden or normal rooms. And that they never washed their hair but put powder on it or on the wigs. To cover up the smell they used a lot of perfume. In any case, even if this was true, it has surly nothing to do with French people ourdays, nothing at all. Many people in Italy think that we Germans still live all the prussian style marching around like soldiers. My Italian husband was very surprised as he knew all my frinds from Munich and he completly changed his mind about Germans. Italians think that we eat only potatoes like we think that Italians eat only pasta. I know Italians who eat pasta every day like I know Italians eating pasta once a week. So in our house we often laugh because I call my husband 'spaghetti' or 'maccaroni' while he calls me 'Kartoffel' or 'Kraut'. Some of the clichées are true, some are old and not valid anymore and some were maybe never true.
Mexicans think that... that Germans rarely wash??! I've never heard that before, that Mexicans thought that. Where on earth did they get that idea? Germans have always had a solid reputation to be the opposite to a fault. Lol, I thought THAT was the cliché. That Germans are pristine and rigidly disciplined in everything they do
The European stereotype in Mexico is that the Europeans aren't exactly clean people and don't wash themselves. That's because a lot of things, for example I've heard from some Mexicans living in Europe (it could be any country, Italy, Germany, France, etc) say there are apartments over there in wich there is not a shower or a bath in the bathroom only the toilet and a sink (I've never been in Europe so I don't know). There is also the theory that because Europe is a lot colder than Mexico so probably they don't wash themselves because its so cold that its imposible. Or maybe there is the history fact that when colonizers came here they weren't clean people and bring a lot of diseases on the contrary of indigenous cultures that were very clean and even washed themselves many times at day. So still, to this day, many people think that Europeans are the same that many centuries before. Others think it is because there is not enough water in Europe so they don't want to waste it...
@@claudcloud47 I find most Mexicans I meet are super clean....just kidding, but yes, and in general, is the case in most of Latin America. I think this stereotype about Europeans evolved from migrants fleeing the wars and coming to the Americas throughout the 20th century. Higiene standards, just like people, evolve. Back then, bathrooms were outside the home, there was no heating, hot water may have been a luxury, so people didn't shower like now. I read stories where people would share the water, and everyone in the family would use the same water. Times have changed. I also know another stereotype, Europeans don't like antiperspirants. Paris is like what you mentioned, but there are showers you can go to (sort of public)...someone from Paris explain this, please, plus it is a very cosmopolitan city, how do you know they are locals or tourists? In Paris, it has to do with the housing system and standards, grandfather buildings into housing codes, etc. These stereotypes take hold and become legends, urban legends...and keep on being passed on. I think a subway in any major European capital may give you that impression...hey NYC, Bs As, D.F. too. Think about some other more horrible stereotypes, like the racial cast systems in colonial Latin America or the one drop rule in the US that have caused, inequality, prejudice, and fear of "the none white" populations while depriving them of access to equal opportunities, as we can still see it going on today through biased norms or what is called institutionalized racism, we perpetuate it many times unaware of their implications throughout the American continent and elsewhere. There are more examples in history and present time, sadly, but true.
Someone from Hawaii asked me these once and I barely restrained myself from asking if everyone wore grass skirts, went topless, and ate coconuts all day.
Loved this. I am a classical pianist and I am always shocked when people directly ask me how much I make for a concert or judging etc. It is like they don't think of it is a real profession but I find it so very rude. It is a question I would never ask. Also, I am from Canada and no, it is not winter all the time. We are generally polite though! Thanks Justine:)
Two men in Spain not only asked what I did for a living(I'm a professional fine artist IN THE US). Though they did not ask how much I make, they volunteered that no one in Spain could make a living doing that. I did not assume they knew EVERYONE in their home country, but said "you would be surprised". I know 30 people who DO make a very nice living making art. Some of them are even Spanish and follow me on IG.
Canadians don't all live in Toronto or even anywhere near it. We don't live in igloos. All of us aren't hockey players. I live in a rural place but I'm not a bumpkin/hick. I'm actually quite sophisticated. I don't say eh or aboot.
Spanish here. Quite obvious, but, as it is the subject, i'm in: many of us have no clue about dancing flamenco. Many of us hate bullfighting and have never been to one. "Siesta" is not a common practice. "Paella" is typically cooked in Valencian regions and Baleares, anywhere else, you'd better ask for the local dishes. In the north, you'll find the influence of celtic cultures. I'm pretty pale. It rains, sometimes, it's cold. You'll find touristy resorts, you'll find "fiestas", and friendly people dancing and singing there, but our reality has more to do with the rest of the country, the rest of the year and the rest of us.
I'm not Spanish but I can't believe siestas aren't real!! I'm quite sad actually. Was in Barcelona last year and was hard pressed to find a shop open at lunch time, just assumed it was because of the siesta culture.
yipyipitsme123 Hope you had a nice time in Barcelona! The big break for lunch is not because of siesta 😀, it is because our lunch is the most important meal of the day: people commute, join their family (if possible), and commute again. Working from 9 to 5 and having a little lunch at work is not something we are used to. We really "STOP" to have lunch... but then we go back to work. From 9.00 to 13.30/14.00, then from 16.30/17.00 till around 20.00 (Well, big brands open the whole day, 10.00 to 21.00/22.00). Retired people, if the weather is hot and they feel like it, yes, they do have siestas, especially in the south. And young people if they are in holidays, but not necessarily. I'd say it is heavily influenced by the possession of an air conditioner, if you don't have it and you don't work in the evening, chances are you will sleep. Not in the north, though.
Inés G.A.T. thank you for explaining it!! yes we both noticed the shops were open much later than our own (well, not all of them but some of them), it was definitely strange. Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, even though we managed to catch the wettest week of the year and it poured the whole time 😂
Oh, as a Brazilian who have lived in Japan for 9 years, I have been asked constantly if I like/play soccer (no), if I go around naked during carnival (err... no), how come I don't eat churrasco (I am a vegetarian), why are my clothes so formal and monochromatic when I should be dressing like Carmen Miranda, etc. After a while I gave up on getting annoyed and just answer them with stupid stereotypical questions. It surprises them and the message becomes very clear. Looking wonderful, Justine. Loved the fun video! :o)
I'm from Guatemala and I hate when people don't recognize my country in a map or say we are part of Mexico. Another: people think we live in trees. But we also have a cosmopolitan city, the biggest in Central America. Love your channel
I'm a Korean who live in the U.S. The most of question that I get is, "Are you Chinese?" If I answer no, then another questions follows. Such as, "Oh, Japanese?", "South-east Asia?(which is not just 'a' country, but also not just 'a' ethnic group)". If I finally say I'm a Korean, then this follows, very awkwardly.. "OH~ ...... North?.. Or South...?" Sometimes even whisper that to my husband.
I was born in east Tennessee nearly 57 years ago and have lived here all my life. The stereotypes are endless, but one of many that irritate me most is that we supposedly all love country music. I despise country music and so do a lot of people I know. I could go on and on about stereotypes in Tennessee and the south in general, but instead I'll thank you for your wonderful videos. I just discovered you a few days ago and am in the middle of binge watching your content and loving every minute! :)
I'm Hungarian. I know the "Budcharpest" problem. It happened couple of years ago that 400 Spanish soccer fans were accidentally flying to Hungary’s capital for a Bucharest-based game.
Because you can spot polar bears in the streets at Svalbard (not that common but it can happen). And that's an island outside of Norway. But because they can appear in Svalbard, people think that they are all over Norway as well! x) We also have stereotypes where we only eat fish and potatoes, and all of us obviously loves skiing and snow.. :p
I was living in the us and got asked where im from. I answered Norway, and the guy at the store went "oh is that in Ohio"? A different time during my stay, a women asked me if the official language in my country was english.. And told me to migrate to the us, since we probably had it bad..
As a German doing a semester abroad I have been asked this question countless times: Ah, Germany.. Are you from Berlin?, No, I am from the South. Aah, Bavaria? No, not from Bavaria either
Alicia Velice - not your fault Alice, but thank you! I was shocked as well, but I didn't create prejudices myself against americans in general from this incident.
I'm Dutch, and people often want to know if I have/smoke weed. No, I don't. Most Dutchies don't. Just because it's available doesn't mean we all use it. We also don't have prostitutes in every city. After that comments usually come down to 'tulips, windmills and cheese', because that's all they know about the Netherlands.
I am British. When I spent some time in Los Angeles, USA, in the eighties, you would be surprised how many people asked me if I knew the British comedian Benny Hill, Britain is small but not that small :)
The deodorant question is a lot older than any recent scientific debate. I got asked that over 20 years ago when I first visited the US. While the question puzzled me then, after several years of living in the US, I traveled back to Europe and rode public transportation in my home town of Geneva (granted, that's Switzerland, not France) in July, pre 2003 heat wave (no AC). I was taken aback by body odor. The use of deodorant is less compulsive in Europe than it is in the US, or at least it was back then. That is when I understood why people in the US were asking me. Personally, I was a deodorant user, but not everybody else was where I grew up. I would say that this is one of those stereotypes that have some truth, but are a gross generalization. And it is a rude question to ask. I also got asked whether it is true that women in France don't wash their hair. What? Yuk.
It is true, the stereotype is much, much older. I remember hearing it as a child in the 90's, not only as a French thing, but as an European issue. The idea behind it was that since the European perfumes were so high quality, they used them to hide their body odors and not bathe as often.(Not saying it's true, but heard it a lot).
My parents remember the difference in eau de natural from the 70’s!.... in GERMANY! France was worse from reports. I noticed individual people in Germany but also deo used in europe tends to be tbe less potent roll on, not bar. Also took me forever to find an underarm solution with alcohol over there (besides vodka!!!!) no one knew of cheap isopropyl, finally found a spray on with alcohol at dm!!!!
Also the lack of compulsive air conditioning changes BO. So germany has changed much over the years but certain people are still old fashioned. And it’s a precious experience to have been there and smelled it!!! 🙂
About 20 years ago, my husband and I went to Montreal for our honeymoon. The people there were beautiful and made up well, but the men, most of them stunk.
Im a russian living in China. So, the most popular is: Oh, u drink a lot of alcohol! And another: Its so cold in Russia! First: we are not alcoholics even if we have drinking culture and many people tryed different alcohol. Many of my friends don't drink at all. And second, Russia is pretty big, so we have many types of climates, even sea where u can enjoy warm winter)
Maria Kram Russian in China, you must be popular. Chinese guys love Russian women, especially since there aren’t many Chinese women compared to Chinese men. I love Russian women too. You are all so beautiful and have lovely accents, just like French women. Too bad I don’t live in China or Russia or France. America sucks. Everyone is obese and stupid. Look at the president... says everything you need to know about the state of the United States😞 I’m ashamed to say I’m from The Fascist States of America.
I'm from Belgium. And the minute I say that, everyone who is not Belgian or Dutch assumes I speak French. They immediately change the conversation to French. I did learn French at school, but it's my third language, so I'm far from fluent...And yes, Belgium is a country. Our country is NOT called Brussels... That would be our capital.
Oh, poor you. When they hear you are Belgian, people try to accommodate you by speaking to you in what they (reasonably) think might be your first language by altering their own...and you speak that language but it's not your first! HOW DARE THEY! They should obviously know Dutch and speak to you in this! Oh, go dip a french fry in mayonnaise. Call us when someone invades you, we'll be waiting.
As a Romanian who worked abroad as a flight attendant, I would always get asked by passengers and even coworkers if I have any studies, if I went to school, how come I speak english, if my family steals, if I drink a lot and the list goes on.
Those are one of most sadest and insulting stereotypes I've ever heard. I'm french and I'm sad to confirm that I hear a lot of ''french people'' having those thoughts towards Romanians... When they do express those thoughts, it's always pissing me off. I also think that western europeans tend to assimilateestern europeans as thieves, narrow-minded, with a lack of education... It's quite ironic, since THEY are thinking that way .
and they also automatically assume you speak russian, at least this is what i get, being from post-soviet country, someone even argued that my accent is russian just to prove they know better (we have our own language that is not slavic, the pronunciation is very different and we write in latin letters), not that I mind being mistaken for russian but it's rude to argue about things that are not true about my culture when one has no idea about it.
I'm from Poland and sadly I agree. Sometimes I think that many people in east-european countries think every country in West Europe is just the same - we all speak the same language (russian!), we are sad, poor people and we steal...
Damn, I can relate so much to this! I'm from Belarus, and we also have our own language and culture that is very different from that of Russia, and people still try to convince me that it's "the same thing" and start saying Russian words they heard somewhere as if our own language were a joke, ugh. Or if I just say I was born in Eastern Europe, people often say: oh where, Russia? Dude, first of all Russia is not even Europe, and second of all there are more countries in that part of the world than just Russia. I don't know why people generalize like that, I try not to because I know it can feel extremely offensive. Like not every Asian-looking person is from China, and not every Latin-looking person is from Mexico, and not every Slavic-looking person is from Russia. There are many more countries out there people, just look at the map.
Haha as a Japanese yes we don't eat sushi everyday, in fact people eat it very rarely. Also our daily lives are just like that in Western countries, and I'm kind of tired with people thinking Japan is super conservative country because it's not like that :)
I can relate. As a mexican, we always get the misconception that we all live north (Tijuana) or south (Cancún) and we wear hats, ponchos and sandals (joke or not).
Reerei Dia Trust me. Not all US people, for example, but most always assume "Oh, you're mexican? I've been to Los Cabos/Cancún/Mexico City, it's lovely!" We could be from anywhere and even those that don't live in the big cities haven't gone to Mexico City.
Elisa Castro just in the past few weeks, at least 5 people have done something like that on a site I am at (obviously they don’t say it like that, but basically the meaning is “I went to some part of Mexico once so I can partake in a discussion about that”); and that’s only the past few weeks
As a Greek living in Germany I get quite a lot of this kind of questions. There are some offensive questions but most people are genuinely curious. And curiosity about an other culture is always a good thing. Btw I'm sure no one would dare ask about the deodorant, if they thought you smell bad
When I went to live in France in the early 1990's as a college student, one of the first (and frequent) questions asked of me, an American, was whether or not I liked McDonalds (and wanted to go). They were quite enthusiastic about it and so surprised when I admitted that I had only eaten there a couple times in my life and that I didn't care for it. (But I did recognize that they were trying to connect with me and make me feel welcome in a new and foreign land.) Not all Americans enjoy or eat fast food! Or when I traveled to Ireland and a local was surprised that a young American was so well-versed in the works of a revered national author.... It helps to remember that people are individuals and are far more interesting and complex than any stereotype. Now I get all kinds of crazy questions and assumptions when people find out I live in California. Thanks for this amusing, but pointed video, Justine!
Yes, it's always funny when people from Europe meet me and act shocked that I'm American and well-educated. They seem to think no Americans are. Yet they've all heard of our world-famous universities. So putting two and two together does seem to be hard for many people. I do think a lot of them are trying to make a point. Why else would they say, "how do you know so much about world politics?" when I've simply been keeping up with them in a political conversation.
Thank you Justine! I never cease to be amazed at the questions people feel free to ask. Your response is gracious but gets the point across! I enjoy your videos & find them very helpful!
Not all Americans. I will say because our country is large and diverse, one can travel without ever leaving and have a multitude of experiences. Western mountains to eastern seashore and seafood, New Orleans for art and music, Manhattan.....................so there are those who do not bother with world geography and other cultures, which is sad because I think other lands and cultures are so interesting.
@@milenasovic Hey, I represent that comment, Never quite got my head around the geometry of the USSR ;). Seriously, there was a huge influx of immigrants from eastern Europe when my grandparents came to the US. I know many US citizens that immigrated to the US, so yes, that is a stereotype. It is a funny one to poke fun at. What was truly funny was that when a co-worker of mine and I were passing though Hong Kong on a business trip, he was stopped as the passport control officer didn't think his Albanian passport was real.
As Germans, we would all be big fans of „Bayern München“, drink a lot of beer, like speeding as hell on motorways, adore „Oktoberfest“ - apart from always being absolutely on time and very eager to work.
I am German and punctuality DEFINITELY is my thing. I consider it rude if someone does not respect my time, and I try hard to be puntual to show my respect to the other person.
Great video, Justine! As a Bulgarian living in the US I have been asked all sorts of rude questions...Some of my favorites “Are you Russian?” and when I answer “No” many people reply “Are you sure?”...Yeah, I believe I AM! Another favorite is “What does your husband do for living?” ...Because you know Eastern European women are all mail order brides and can’t possibly make their own money🙄 And another “How did you get here?”...Uhmmm, by plane...
Oh, that is hard. But please don't take offense by asking what your husband does. I am American born and get asked that all the time. It's just a way to connect, really. They don't mean to insult you or imply you are a mail order bride. That is just a common question to find common ground.
I'm Bulgarian living in Dubai, Q where are you from A Bulgaria Q where is that In Nigeria :):);) Another one: ooooo Hristo stoichkov the football ⚽ player Or do you speak Russian
ChicagoCathrun in many cases (too many cases) it’s a way to inquire where you are on the social ladder compared with the person to whom you’ve asked the question. What’s your favourite movie/band/book; what was the first concert you ever went to; do you like(fill in the blank)...those are also ‘ways to connect’. Just a thought...
Loved this, Justine. You handled it beautifully, as always! We appreciate you. As an American, the thing I would love to say regarding stereotypes is, quite simply: I'm not stupid; or ignorant. I don't watch TV all the time. I do stay current on geo-political situations. I read. Once while skiing in Switzerland (sorry if that sounds cliche, ha!) , I had a French guy say to me, "You are American? But you are so smart!" :-D . Stereotypes are embarrassing--for both parties!
I’m from Ireland, living in Canada. I find that most Canadians are reasonably well informed about Ireland, but people from other countries are often less so. Here are some of the questions I have been asked and statements I have heard. How often do you go back to the UK? (I don’t, because I have never lived there. I’m from the Republic of Ireland, which has been a sovereign state since 1922). It must be nice to have a queen. (Uhhhh, republics don’t have monarchies). Do you have ATMs/Internet/computers/cell phones in Ireland? (Ireland is the second largest exporter of computers and IT services in the world). Irish people live on potatoes, don’t they? No. We have a large dairy industry and loads of farm fresh produce. That’s why we export cheeses to your country..... You are all drunkards, right? No. While excessive alcohol use is unfortunately common in Ireland, it has a high proportion of teetotallers. There are many countries with a higher per capita alcohol consumption. Irish people are lazy, right? If that were true, why did Forbes identify Ireland as the best place in the world to do business (in 2013)? And so on. Ignorance is ubiquitous. We all have knowledge gaps. I think the best we can do in conversation is to ask open ended questions in a respectful manner.
Thankyou for acknowledging Canadians tend to be better informed about other countries. I love Ireland, particularly the beautiful countryside and the food. I have never encountered so many well trained international quality chefs even in smaller towns. I get annoyed when people criticize Irish cuisine, particularly those who have never visited Ireland.
I am from Washington state in the US. When I talk to people from the East Coast, they assume I'm from Washington DC. When I talk to people from anywhere else in the world, they have no idea what I'm talking about. Most of the time, I just say I'm from Seattle, and then everyone gets it. And yes, it does rain a lot, but not much more than NYC. Yes, we do drink a lot of coffee, because we have to keep our spirits up somehow during the 9 months of clouds. Starbucks customer service is excellent here, but we don't go there because we have our favorite small coffee shops we frequent instead, where the coffee tastes better.
Kimberly Conner Hi, visiting friends in Tonasket in June. Used to resort to a lengthy explanation re Washington State vs Washington DC when people ask me where I'm going. Now I also just say Seattle ... even though Tonasket is at least 6-8 hours' travel away.... :)
Same goes for Argentina with Starbucks ! But as people are like sheep that follow the trend, they like to be seen in Starbucks with their laptops sipping their large coffees instead of at the small cafés that have sold excellent coffees for ever !... Such is life !.... then they complain about inflation and so on !...haha !
Sorry, but it rains a lot more in Seattle than in NYC. Perhaps the overall volume of precipitation is the same...but there are many more clear and sunny days in NYC than in Seattle. There is water falling from the sky quite a lot to the time there, even if it's a lighter mist.
I once met an Italian guy who didn't like gelato (or any type of ice cream). He didn't like chocolate either. After that I understood anything is possible.
I have come to accept that people are rude out of ignorance. So, when I get approached by someone about my beloved Puerto Rico, I look at it as a moment of education...for them! 😂 Your gente responses are spot on! Thanks for the video.
Justine, another great video. I'm Dutch living in England and I get a lot of questions which are annoying too so I really understand how you feel. Instead of from Paris I get from Amsterdam, that one really made me laugh when you mentioned it.
I am from Peru and many people ask do you live with llamas? And i am like oh god not again hahaha llamas are lovely animals that are representative of my country but we don't own them like a pet :) thank you for this wonderful video Justine :3
As a dual US/Serbian citizen, the one I routinely get is ''why don't you live in the US?!'' - with time I've learned to smile and say ''personal reasons''. While I love visiting the US, I don't know why it's inconceivable that someone might choose to live in a different country. With Serbia things get political pretty quickly: in Paris: Ah les Serbes, vous faites la guerre!; in Ireland: 'you Serbs are mental!' People tend to assume we're all confrontational and volatile, but I assure you we're not - most are laid-back and fun-loving. Also there's a tendency to confuse Serbia with Siberia - ''it must get pretty cold out there!'' No, that would be Siberia, which by the way isn't a country but a part of Russia; Serbia has a typical European continental climate. Those who do know something about the country tend to ask if we're all tennis-crazy, which is probably because of Djokovic. Frankly, his success is a fluke, we don't all run around in white shorts waving rackets at people! Generally there seems to be an awful lot of prejudice about Southeastern Europe and the Balkans. There's a book called Imagining the Balkans by Maria Todorova, a Bulgarian scholar, which might make for interesting reading if anyone's into that kind of thing :)
I'm from Serbia and I get asked if it is dangerous for black people to visit, or for women and children to go out alone. And some foreigners are concerned we don't have medication, so they don't visit
I've paused the video just to say, you are my biggest inspiration Justine. Your videos are so positive and made me believe in myself. France is now in my bucket list! Love you
I live in South Africa. A question I was asked by a foreign exchange student-why are there no wild animals in the street? I thought there would be lions and elephants all over the place. Uhm no... most of the wildlife in our country live in nature reserves or parks. It would be to dangerous otherwise. Another one is how can you be African? You are white! Yes I am white but also do you even know the history of the world? Vasco da Gama? Bartlomias Diaz? 🇿🇦 Love your videos!!
yup I think many from Africa get that question... i just lived in Kenya and I still got those questions about animals! Most ppl have never been to safaris and have not even seen them... except well, giraffes roaming around in very rural areas.
Well i live in a small city in Mexico and the crocodilles are a very common animal here, even in the rain season you can see one walking on the street, so imagine that!!! We have more wild life here than you!!! The world is crazy...hahaha
For my country, I get: "The Czech Republic? Where is that... ?????... Oh, you mean Czechoslovakia!" and I'm like: "Nope! It's been 25 years, people, come ooon!!! " P.S. I am Czech and I don't drink beer. Shocking, I know.
That's nothing. Some people I met around the globe would even argue with me that there is no such country as the Czech republic. If I respond: "well, believe me, I know where I come from," they still don't trust me. For them it was, it is and it always will be Czechoslovakia. And also - many people assume that our country is a neighbour of Russia...
@@kadlusovak & Maree Pls forgive our ignorance but we have a hard time adapting to change, it seems ! ..haha ! Shameful, I know, and we're not mentioning Africa !. . .That's even worse !. . .Sorry !...
I’m from California and many outside of my state have assumed I live on the beach and see celebrities regularly. Ha ha. I actually live where we grow food and have rodeos and cowboys.
I live in California now and lots of people, even in the US always say: Oh, the next big one...California is going to fall into the ocean!" Okay. Still waiting for it.
I'm American and had someone from an Asian country ask my friends and I what we earn. My friend explained politely that is not something we generally talk about in public. I don't know if that was acceptable in their country or if it was a personal thing on their part.
joyfuljaj Yup it’s definitely an Asian thing. E I’m Singaporean and here, everyone talks about how much they earn. When you get a job, one of the first few questions you get asked will: Oh so how much will you earn?
I think it’s definitely a culture thing but imo, if you ask politely and respectfully, it’s fine. Knowing how much people in your same field can help in salary negotiations etc :)
Justine, I love your videos. I am 72 years young and I love fashion, even more I love to learn about other cultures. I love to travel when health permits. I find wonderful people wherever I go. I want to go to France and visit Monet’s gardens. I live in Houston, Texas. I get tired of people thinking that those of us living in Texas are all cowboys, own an oil well , have guns in our homes, and are rich! Please keep on keeping us informed!
I am Italian too. I ensure you that you can drink cappuccino whenever you want. An american guy once told me that I can't be really Italian because I was drinking a cappuccino in the afternoon. Like... what?
I would love to spend my time eating spaghetti and drinking red wine. I plan to do that when I visit Italy :) Along with all the other wonderful Italian foods.
I am American and I once asked a fellow student who was British what city she was from. Later I heard her say to a Swiss student, “People always ask me where in Britain I am from. It’s not like they are going to know where it is”. She was such a snob. I was really interested and if I didn’t know where it was I would have looked it up.
I am Estonian living in my country and the foreigners/tourists always ask if we are Russians and they assume that we probably speak Russian or something very similar, associate us with everything typical to Russian culture. This is so annoying! No, Estonians are not Russians, not even slavic people and we have our own language (which is actually similar to Finnish) and our own culture.
mmmariis I'm Serbian and I always get the same question: Where's that, Russia? But, this one guy once asked if I'm from South Africa. He thought that because my country's name sounds like it is south, under other countries on the map hahahhahahahaha
Mara 1 second ago I can relate so much to this! I'm from Belarus, and we also have our own language and culture that is very different from that of Russia, and people still try to convince me that it's "the same thing" and start saying Russian words they heard somewhere as if the Belarusian language were non-existent. If I say I was born in Eastern Europe, people often say: oh where, Russia? Dude, first of all Russia is not even Europe, and second of all there are more countries in that part of the world than just Russia. I don't know why people generalize like that, I try not to, because I know it can feel extremely offensive. Like not every Asian-looking person is from China, and not every Latin-looking person is from Mexico, and not every Slavic-looking person is from Russia. There are many more countries out there people, just look at the map. Ugh.
I am Greek and was born in Athens and i remember when i shared a house as a student with other fellow students back in London one of my housemates asked me once if we get snow in Greece...ever...haha..of course it snows in Greece. Not particularly in the capital but in Northern parts of the country temperatures can get really really low.
Please make more french videos! I enjoy these so much! Also, I would like to request for a french pharmacy video if it makes sense, as in which skincare brand is the best, etc. Happy Sunday Justine!
I studied the French language for two years and my teacher is from France, his sense of humour is very much like yours and I enjoy listening to you speaking! :D
It's always interesting to hear the random (rude) things people have about others. Thanks for teaching us about these annoying saying French people regularly hear from others.
Î’m from Montréal, Québec and am often asked by tourists where can they see whales. Montreal is on the St. Lawrence river but the whales are 475 km farther north in Tadoussac. We live in regular homes, not igloos. We do love our poutine though. J’aime beaucoup tes vidéos Justine. Merci
I'm reading a fiction detective series (Inspector Gamache) that is set in Quebec, and I have loved looking up some of the real places the author has used as settings for her stories (she changed names sometimes, but I can find the building she is talking about). It has been interesting learning just a bit about the history and culture of the area from the characters in the books. I wish I could remember the French I learned in college, but I didn't keep up with it. The poutine sounds a bit out of my taste even though as a southerner it seems I should like gravy on french fries. We typically like to cover them in chilli and cheese!
Do more of these types of videos. Love them. When I visited France, all we seemed to get for breakfast was bread (baguette or croissants) as compared to Canada so I think that’s why ppl assume French eat croissants a lot. I loved Paris.
Linda, it’s kind of nice to be offered croissants instead of the typical Canuck bacon & eggs 😊 All I have for breakfast when I go to Paris is pain au chocolat, and the maxi size! I even bring some back home 😍
And that "weekend effect" is what makes me so sad. Amsterdam has so much more to offer, esp. for those of us interested in design, sustainable fashion and culture. The fact that weed is available, doesn't mean that you have to use it. Don't. It fucks (excusez-le-mot) with your brain - esp. in young people. Like most Dutch people leave it and take a good look around in this interesting, historically rich city. Loved the video. Got the twickle and also lightly shocked about the kind of questions you get asked. Really? Apperently, but still
Nathalie Schinkel I live in Michigan, US and there are many of Dutch heritage in my area. Some of the schools offer Clompen (is that right? I mean wooden clogs) dancing as a sport. So you can blame the American Dutch for perpetuating that stereotype. I think it often happens that a community of expats holds onto old ways but the country they are from moves on.
They're called klompen, you are right only written with a 'k'. I used to wear them as a kid, but I think that sort of thing only happens when you live in the country, not in a city. So it is not only an 'old way' but the farmers do actually wear them, they're very handy for putting on quickly when you want to take a look in the garden for example. And to smoke (blow) is not illegal here, that's also true. I was just reacting to the stereo-type thing that Justine was talking about. Suppose it is not true either that all Americans eat out every day and never cook?
I’m British and years ago I was asked how long I had lived in America. When I said six months she replied, “ Just six months and you speak English so well!” Anne😂
As an American who's lived almost 1/2 my life abroad, I've heard a lot of funny stereotypes about Americans (thank you, Hollywood)... like how we all either live in New York or Malibu (I wish! Too bad I'm from the Midwest, a part of the U.S. that no one seems to have ever heard of!), we only eat hamburgers and cookies (I'm vegetarian and have never liked hamburgers!) or, my personal favorite, the comment I once received: "You're not American! How can you be? You're not blonde!"
Amanda Navarra Wisconsin girl slowly backs away from the hamburger and hides the cookies behind her back... (I literally spent the morning baking hundreds of cookies for our Sunday School kids, so yeah, I might’ve had some cookies!)
My favorite things that people ask me is “do you have paved roads? Do you live on a farm? Do you have to travel long distances to shop? When I worked a contract in Boston I even had a perfume girl in Filene’s ask me where I was from because I “talked funny”. When I told her Kansas she asked me “Is that in this country”? I’m dead serious. I had to leave the store quickly before I broke down laughing 😆!
I’m a New Zealand born Australian resident - When visiting Seattle - I was asked at the Thanksgiving Dinner if “I came from down south?”. My reply? “You could say that”.
@@mandyhasler4802 Hahaha that is so funny, being Argentinian I once got asked by an English guy here in London if I was American. I said 'yeah sort of... South American'
Holy smoke really?! She probably wasn't listening! Cos she probably already concluded in her mind that you were from some unfamiliar country cos your accent was so exotic 😅
The problem of binge watching your videos and living in Canada is now youtube keeps asking me everything in French which I haven't spoken in roughly 10 years.
"Learn another full sentence in French!" Love your humor! For Americans: - we all have guns - we are all rich - we are all very wasteful - we are ignorant of other cultures ...it doesn't paint a very pretty picture.
Because I’m from Grand Rapids, Michigan people assume I must be a Dutch descendent and a Calvinist. Hyper frugal. Tall. OCD about sweeping my house clean, BIG boned and have a Puritan work ethic. Oh. Wait. That IS me.
Sue Betten So funny, I am married to a man from Grand Rapids and his family is all of those things. Don't put your coffee cup down or Mom will whisk it away! Each generation has softened a bit but the backbone is there.
I'm from Grand Rapids, too. None of that is true for me, though it fits many of my classmates. (Okay, I am a bit Dutch - but it is from Hessians during the Revolutionary War. That doesn't count in GR.)
I’m Italian from South Philadelphia and when I went to college outside the area, I had people assume that my family was mafia or that I carried a knife or that I could handle myself in a street fight. SMH...
I can relate to #6. I am from rural New York, and I always get asked if I'm from New York City. This question comes not only from foreigners, but also other Americans!!
It seems the Americans don't know their huge country very well !. . . haha !... I remember when someone that had been working in Argentina for 10 years went home longing to tell his family of his stay in the country found that nobody cared to know where he had been...he was very disappointed !...
I also am from New York only 1 hour from the city where people commute everyday, and they call it upstate. People in the city think anyone outside the city is upstate, and it’s mostly not native New Yorkers . They live in a bubble.
I'm from Mexico and there are plenty of clichés about our culture: are you from Cancun? (actually just few mexicans go there), oh! So you love burritos and nachos! (that is not even Mexican food), and... Where is your Mexican hat?
I'm Colombian, so you'd guess... Being overseas I was faced with things like: We all grow and process drugs in our gardens (Most of us have never been in touch with them, let alone use them!)/Colombia is somewhere close to Spain or is actually part of it /All women dance like Shakira or look like Sophia Vergara, and so on... Reading all these comments makes wonder if this is really 21st century😕... Excelente vídeo como siempre! Uno en francés sería genial 😄
When I lived in Spain, everyone, ex-pats, other Spanish speaking people, even the Spaniards would say, the People who speak the best Spanish are the Colombians.
I'm from the US and traveled a bit. I have to say compared to the rest of the world I think the stereotype is true. :-) Sorry to the rest of the world. LOL
I'm a sometimes quiet American. Lol, I get "I can't hear you" a lot. I think culturally, if you're a quieter American, you are seen as meek. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
it's not so much loud as it is that most American accents can be nasal and so it's higher pitched, therefore uncomfortable to the ear. Of course it's not everybody. And there's definitely tons of people in Argentina (where I'm from) with the same nasal pitch in their voice. And then some people have a nasal AND loud voice. Now that's Hell >.
@@aliciafields-worldtravelle8248 I'm of German decent; maybe that explains it. :-) I played volleyball with a gentleman from Nigeria and met his wife and kids. They were all the most polite, proper folks I've ever met. He did refer to his family as warriors...hmm...
Americans are stereotyped that we don't know geography and we are not well traveled? Well, for one, we only get on average of 10 days a year vacation! Some get more, but heaven help you if you take that time off! It is frowned upon! Even if we get a few sick days per year we never take them off! The company and your coworkers see you as a slacker! Therefore, when we take a vacation, we stay in the USA.
Roseanne Pryor My 14 year old, B student doesn't know geography. She thought Paris was a country. B student, how does that happen? And our school district is supposed to be decent.
I get you, I would probably do the same. But there's a difference between the two. You don't have to travel to know geography. Staying in your country is not a bad thing as long as you acknowledge other countries/cultures and are interested in them. Not saying you're like this, or that most Americans are. But of all the crazy stereotypes and misconceptions I've heard, the weirdest ones came from Americans.
ablurida, I’m an American and I’m very interested in other cultures. Sometimes I worry about asking the wrong questions or accidentally offending someone because I really don’t know what I’m talking about. In my experience people are usually understanding especially if they realize I am genuinely trying to learn, but there are a few cases where people think I’m just this willfully ignorant ogre. Then there the whole cultural appropriation issue which also kinda sucks. If I spend time learning or appreciating another culture, of course I’ll want to integrate it to my life, but it seems like some people get so offended if they see someone wearing traditional clothes or cooking traditional foods. Is there a line between appreciation and appropriations?
How come the world tourist sites are full of Americans ?... Is it because they study Geography while travelling ?... There are many Americans that vacation in Cuba or St. Maartens, come on ! I thought Ben Stiller's film vacationing in México on honeymoon was a cliché !!. . .
Wow! This episode received tremendous response. What interesting things our 'community' has to say. I'm from Kentucky...and, we do wear shoes, most people don't have horses, and not every female is pregnant. Seriously, some questions are rude but many times we are just curious, if misinformed, humans. P.S. Loved the black and white video.
Thank you Justine! I always look forward to your Sunday videos in the morning. I'm a Chinese-Filipina woman who lives in America. I get mistaken for many other types of Asians. Its quite awful because people will ask me " what kind of Asian are you?" Like why does that matter? Does it make a person better if they knew? Why does it matter to people that we just met?😠😡 "Can you say something in Phillipines?" This question doesn't even make sense. There is no such language called "Philippines" There are a multitude of languages in the Philippines. I just know the most common one(Tagalog).😬 Or I think this is the worst one "Wow! You're an immigrant? Your English is so good!" 😵😷 Thank you again for posting beautiful videos like this where we can open up about funny/frustrating things. I love you so much. Take care 💗💗💗
andrea k i’m Canadian and was once in Reading,PA. I was asked to speak in “Canadian”. I had to explain we spoke either French or English or both but Canadian is not a language.
So... what are the clichés foreigners have about YOUR culture? :-) Happy Sunday everyone!!
Justine Leconte officiel I'm French too. The whole "lack of personal hygiene" stereotype is big. And annoying.
So once and for all, Yes, I shower every single day, Yes I brush my teeth at least twice a day, Yes I shave/wax regularly, etc...
💚
Justine Leconte officiel this video was a bit cringing.
I am from Germany. In Australia (I've been there very often) they always ask me wheather I'm from Bavaria. And I got always told how tasty our beer, bread and sausages are. That part I love. Oh and me and friend who is living there, will always be asked "Are all women in Germany so tall, blond and good looking?" which is a hilarious question.
J'adore cette vidéo 😍 c'est toujours intéressant ou drôle de discuter les stéréotypes... Une fois j'ai parlé avec une hongroise et elle m'a dit qu'en Hongrie beaucoup de gens pensent que les français étaient sales et que c'est la raison pour la quelle ils utilisent autant de parfum 😂 moi je suis allemande mais je vis en France et mes "phrases à ne jamais dire à une allemande" sont surtout des blagues sur les nazis ou sur la bière. + le stéréotype que la Bavière = toute l'Allemagne et que les Allemagne sont discipliné, organisé, toujours à l'heure, aiment travailler et n'ont pas d'humour 🙄🙄🙄 Liebe Grüße in meine Heimatstadt Berlin 😄
À propos des français + parfum: regarde un des commentaires précédents... 🙄
I'm Jamaican so apparently I lie on the beach all day, smoke weed and bop to Bob Marley. And no, Jamaica is not in Africa.
OMG... In Africa... 🙄😂
Justine Leconte officiel some people just have no idea! Smh
In Africa? Wow.
OMG. That happens to trinbagonians too. Either it's "Trinidad? Is that in Africa?" or "Caribbean? Oh are you Jamaican?"
"Barbados? Is that North or South America? Do y'all celebrate Rihanna day, or is that Jamaica? You speak English so well..."
I'm Russian. I am not homophobic, Orthodox, or an alcoholic.
We are also not all in the KGB, are not spies, or oligarchs, or drink vodka for breakfast and all day long. 😁
yes! I’m Russian, and I’m not homophobic. I’m actually homosexual, but that’s a different story and I shouldn’t have to justify my being a decent person with my lesbianism 😂😂
@Elisa Castro The law defines propaganda so loosely as to effectively cover being out of the closet.
Being Orthodox is not a cliche.
But.. How???
I am from Syria. I am not a terrorist nor a refuge, I come from a Christian family, and I drink alcohol.
Schaza Askar. you’re an example about how stereotypes are just mental clothes we never change
Same. And I'm blonde. I've been insulted for not being "Arab enough" as if there's a "proper" definition.
Good one!
Schaza Askar this is why media is sometimes so dangerous. They spread fear. You dare not mention in the UK you from there.
I'm from Italy. I swear my father is NOT a plumber, nor a criminal.
And your name isn't "primo" if you are the first of the familly ;)
No, I'm pretty sure the only two professions in Italy are "criminal" and "plumber."
You have such a gift for making a point in a gentle, diplomatic way with a twinkle in your eye.
I'm English (well Londoner really) and don't drink tea. I have been warned my nationality is in danger of being revoked.
😅😄
The earning question is uncomfortable in many countries.... France is not only. I think
asmita2500ify Yes. I think it's the younger generation that is so crass about asking such things. Many feel that they can say anything and expect an answer.
I think it's rude in any culture.
I toured the Lipizzaner stables in Vienna and someone on the tour asked what kind of salary the riders make. The tour guide was extremely uncomfortable and told us that they don't talk about such things in Austria.
Comparing pay is actually a good way to ensure that you're earning a fair wage for your work, but maybe that's just my American attitude showing through!
Agreed. I live in Canada, and I don't even know what some of my friends of 20+ years earn. I have a rough sense, but it's just not something we talk about.
@@Bhilithinn I'm Canadian as well and I can attest to that
I'm Brazilian and I can't dance samba! HAHA
Hi Carina! 💛
me too! And don't even know how to play soccer hahahah
I am from Brazil and I really love and learn a lot with your videos. Thank you very much for them
English in Brazil by Carina Fragozo i
Me neither, lol.
I’m from Australia: I ride kangaroos to work, I surf everyday and I’m super laid back ...... not!
But you are in your mid thirties?
I'm from Sweden, so I ride polar bears or rein deers to work😅
Linn Björnfoth but of course........ 😂
😂
I am from Austria, and no we don't have any kangaroroos here.
We get that here a lot haha
"You speak good English for a Singaporean." I hope so. Singapore uses English as its medium of instruction.
Oh so many. I'm Indian and this one I get a lot - "Do you speak Indian?" First of all that's not a language and second there are literally hundreds of languages in India. A different one for each state almost and many other regional ones. The most popular in terms of population are Hindi and English. Yes, English.
lol! So true! “How is your English so good?” has been the second favorite question closely followed by “Oh, you must be vegetarian!” and “did you have an arranged marriage?” 🙄🙄
Supriya Naidu you're skipping a great opportunity to take the piss, here!! 😂 You could totally say, "Of course I speak INDIAN!! Duh?!" then just make up something that sounds legit! 😂😂
They wouldn't know any different & wouldn't even question it, til they were long gone & you're in the clear! lol 👍👍👍👍
Supriya Naidu Also,are there snakes and elephants everywhere
Well, I'm from Sweden, born and raised :) but 159 cm (5'2") tall and with dark hair and brown eyes. People get really confused when they ask where I'm from since the general perception is that every Swede looks like a tall, blond blue-eyed viking. They also think we all like raw fermented fish and swim naked in lakes all day long ;)
What scandenavian doesnt like raw fermented fish!? Youre no swede!
The 'swim naked in lakes all day long' sounds pretty dope, though, TBQH.
I totally understand the misconception, but I have to admit that (in comparison to other countries) you do have a much higher amount of blond and blue-eyed people😅 but I see your point ofc!
How can you swim in a lake when they're all frozen? lol
Loved the video! As a Peruvian young woman I'm always asked (mostly from Europeans) if there's cars in Peru, McDonald's, etc... most people think we use llamas as transport and live in the Andes. And I'm like no! We have the same things as other people in other countries! We just have a very rich culture :)
My husband is from Peru and the only thing anyone who meets him seems to know about it is Machu Picchu haha. I love Peru and all it’s regions, I agree it has wonderful culture (and the food!)
That's okay in Australia they all think Kangaroos hope through the city streets.
Ay te entiendo, cualquier país centroamericano asumen que no hay electricidad, tecnología, etc…
I am German, married to an Italian,and our daughter is from Ecuador,.holding all 3 nationalities. We are travelling the world and....I know something about stereotypes.
I was told that Mexican people think of Germans that they will not wash themselves very often and that's why we stink. You see, Justin, you are not alone. lol I find that very interesting because we Germans think of ourselves to be very clean. By the way, I was in Yucatan and I loved it! The mix between culture, white beaches and nature, fun evening with mexican food and hospitality- great place to be.
And yes,.sometimes people say the same about French people. I think, this comes because we learned at school that all this beautiful French chateaux had no toilets and people were literally going to the toilet everywhere, using the garden or normal rooms. And that they never washed their hair but put powder on it or on the wigs. To cover up the smell they used a lot of perfume. In any case, even if this was true, it has surly nothing to do with French people ourdays, nothing at all.
Many people in Italy think that we Germans still live all the prussian style marching around like soldiers. My Italian husband was very surprised as he knew all my frinds from Munich and he completly changed his mind about Germans. Italians think that we eat only potatoes like we think that Italians eat only pasta. I know Italians who eat pasta every day like I know Italians eating pasta once a week. So in our house we often laugh because I call my husband 'spaghetti' or 'maccaroni' while he calls me 'Kartoffel' or 'Kraut'. Some of the clichées are true, some are old and not valid anymore and some were maybe never true.
Mexicans think that... that Germans rarely wash??! I've never heard that before, that Mexicans thought that. Where on earth did they get that idea? Germans have always had a solid reputation to be the opposite to a fault. Lol, I thought THAT was the cliché. That Germans are pristine and rigidly disciplined in everything they do
@@JoDee172 People in South America think that Europeans in general don't shower as much as we do because they ration water...
The European stereotype in Mexico is that the Europeans aren't exactly clean people and don't wash themselves. That's because a lot of things, for example I've heard from some Mexicans living in Europe (it could be any country, Italy, Germany, France, etc) say there are apartments over there in wich there is not a shower or a bath in the bathroom only the toilet and a sink (I've never been in Europe so I don't know). There is also the theory that because Europe is a lot colder than Mexico so probably they don't wash themselves because its so cold that its imposible. Or maybe there is the history fact that when colonizers came here they weren't clean people and bring a lot of diseases on the contrary of indigenous cultures that were very clean and even washed themselves many times at day. So still, to this day, many people think that Europeans are the same that many centuries before. Others think it is because there is not enough water in Europe so they don't want to waste it...
@@claudcloud47 I find most Mexicans I meet are super clean....just kidding, but yes, and in general, is the case in most of Latin America. I think this stereotype about Europeans evolved from migrants fleeing the wars and coming to the Americas throughout the 20th century. Higiene standards, just like people, evolve. Back then, bathrooms were outside the home, there was no heating, hot water may have been a luxury, so people didn't shower like now. I read stories where people would share the water, and everyone in the family would use the same water. Times have changed. I also know another stereotype, Europeans don't like antiperspirants. Paris is like what you mentioned, but there are showers you can go to (sort of public)...someone from Paris explain this, please, plus it is a very cosmopolitan city, how do you know they are locals or tourists? In Paris, it has to do with the housing system and standards, grandfather buildings into housing codes, etc. These stereotypes take hold and become legends, urban legends...and keep on being passed on. I think a subway in any major European capital may give you that impression...hey NYC, Bs As, D.F. too. Think about some other more horrible stereotypes, like the racial cast systems in colonial Latin America or the one drop rule in the US that have caused, inequality, prejudice, and fear of "the none white" populations while depriving them of access to equal opportunities, as we can still see it going on today through biased norms or what is called institutionalized racism, we perpetuate it many times unaware of their implications throughout the American continent and elsewhere. There are more examples in history and present time, sadly, but true.
Beautiful comment 💜
I like how you went with black and white to make the video look like a "classic French film"
I'm from Texas and I don't own a horse or oil well!
Donna Heinlein I’ll add we wear cowboy hats and boots every day.
...and of course we all drink Lone Star beer and talk with an accent. 🙄
Or live/own a ranch or farm or tractor...
Someone from Hawaii asked me these once and I barely restrained myself from asking if everyone wore grass skirts, went topless, and ate coconuts all day.
Do you own a gun? Is your hair big?
Loved this. I am a classical pianist and I am always shocked when people directly ask me how much I make for a concert or judging etc. It is like they don't think of it is a real profession but I find it so very rude. It is a question I would never ask. Also, I am from Canada and no, it is not winter all the time. We are generally polite though! Thanks Justine:)
I irritated a Canadian friend once by teasing her about it being winter all the time!
Two men in Spain not only asked what I did for a living(I'm a professional fine artist IN THE US). Though they did not ask how much I make, they volunteered that no one in Spain could make a living doing that. I did not assume they knew EVERYONE in their home country, but said "you would be surprised". I know 30 people who DO make a very nice living making art. Some of them are even Spanish and follow me on IG.
No but it’s winter almost half the time. I’m in Minnesota (aka New Canada) and it’s winter for five months out of the year.
Canadians don't all live in Toronto or even anywhere near it. We don't live in igloos. All of us aren't hockey players. I live in a rural place but I'm not a bumpkin/hick. I'm actually quite sophisticated. I don't say eh or aboot.
Canadians generally don't ask people how much they make either, that's just so crass.
Spanish here. Quite obvious, but, as it is the subject, i'm in: many of us have no clue about dancing flamenco. Many of us hate bullfighting and have never been to one. "Siesta" is not a common practice. "Paella" is typically cooked in Valencian regions and Baleares, anywhere else, you'd better ask for the local dishes. In the north, you'll find the influence of celtic cultures. I'm pretty pale. It rains, sometimes, it's cold. You'll find touristy resorts, you'll find "fiestas", and friendly people dancing and singing there, but our reality has more to do with the rest of the country, the rest of the year and the rest of us.
You forgot to end all your sentences with 'ole' ;)
XDD
I'm not Spanish but I can't believe siestas aren't real!! I'm quite sad actually. Was in Barcelona last year and was hard pressed to find a shop open at lunch time, just assumed it was because of the siesta culture.
yipyipitsme123 Hope you had a nice time in Barcelona!
The big break for lunch is not because of siesta 😀, it is because our lunch is the most important meal of the day: people commute, join their family (if possible), and commute again. Working from 9 to 5 and having a little lunch at work is not something we are used to. We really "STOP" to have lunch... but then we go back to work. From 9.00 to 13.30/14.00, then from 16.30/17.00 till around 20.00 (Well, big brands open the whole day, 10.00 to 21.00/22.00).
Retired people, if the weather is hot and they feel like it, yes, they do have siestas, especially in the south. And young people if they are in holidays, but not necessarily. I'd say it is heavily influenced by the possession of an air conditioner, if you don't have it and you don't work in the evening, chances are you will sleep. Not in the north, though.
Inés G.A.T. thank you for explaining it!! yes we both noticed the shops were open much later than our own (well, not all of them but some of them), it was definitely strange. Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, even though we managed to catch the wettest week of the year and it poured the whole time 😂
I am Iranian and have no idea about the oil price situation in OPEC or other political related clashes... :D
You mean you don't have an oil well in your front yard? Lol. ;0)
I'm Jamaican. We don't all have dreadlocks nor do we all smoke marijuana.
Oh, as a Brazilian who have lived in Japan for 9 years, I have been asked constantly if I like/play soccer (no), if I go around naked during carnival (err... no), how come I don't eat churrasco (I am a vegetarian), why are my clothes so formal and monochromatic when I should be dressing like Carmen Miranda, etc. After a while I gave up on getting annoyed and just answer them with stupid stereotypical questions. It surprises them and the message becomes very clear. Looking wonderful, Justine. Loved the fun video! :o)
Aine Alcarohtare it's common in Asia to ask personal questions. Specially Filipinos.
I got so many personal questions when I was in Japan!! "Are you married? Why not?" I was like 😮
I'm from Guatemala and I hate when people don't recognize my country in a map or say we are part of Mexico. Another: people think we live in trees. But we also have a cosmopolitan city, the biggest in Central America. Love your channel
I'm a Korean who live in the U.S. The most of question that I get is, "Are you Chinese?" If I answer no, then another questions follows. Such as, "Oh, Japanese?", "South-east Asia?(which is not just 'a' country, but also not just 'a' ethnic group)". If I finally say I'm a Korean, then this follows, very awkwardly.. "OH~ ...... North?.. Or South...?" Sometimes even whisper that to my husband.
I'm from New Zealand. We don't all wear grass skirts or farm sheep, and most of us didn't work on The Lord of the Rings.
But you sure do have a lot of sheep there.
K D100 we have around 30 million sheep compared to almost 5 million people. It is a huge part of our economy! So yes you’re right! Haha
New Zealand has the best milk
I don't think the cliché is "farm" sheep...
I was born in east Tennessee nearly 57 years ago and have lived here all my life. The stereotypes are endless, but one of many that irritate me most is that we supposedly all love country music. I despise country music and so do a lot of people I know. I could go on and on about stereotypes in Tennessee and the south in general, but instead I'll thank you for your wonderful videos. I just discovered you a few days ago and am in the middle of binge watching your content and loving every minute! :)
I'm Romanian and usually I get a question about gipsy, beggars or Dracula :(.
Ahh and many confuse Bucharest with Budapest.
My father in law is Hungarian but born in the Transylvania area, as was my great-grandfather. I feel this one!
I'm Hungarian. I know the "Budcharpest" problem. It happened couple of years ago that 400 Spanish soccer fans were accidentally flying to Hungary’s capital for a Bucharest-based game.
Omg, there was this movie - Charlie Countryman - where they were repeating one joke all the time "You sure you need to Bucharest, not Budapest?" :)
How about that merry cemetery. I’ve been hearing about that one quite a bit in the past couple of hears. Maybe it will eclipse the old stereotypes.
elenabob but you do have many romas, it’s hard not to notice them
Oh, you´re from Norway? Is that the capital of Sweden? Do you have polar bears in the streets? All Scandinavian girls are easy, right?
The capital city of Sweden?😂😂😂
Strikkelise Needles polar bears in the streets? Really?
Because you can spot polar bears in the streets at Svalbard (not that common but it can happen). And that's an island outside of Norway. But because they can appear in Svalbard, people think that they are all over Norway as well! x) We also have stereotypes where we only eat fish and potatoes, and all of us obviously loves skiing and snow.. :p
THAT is funny !!! Norway the capital of Sweden???
I was living in the us and got asked where im from. I answered Norway, and the guy at the store went "oh is that in Ohio"? A different time during my stay, a women asked me if the official language in my country was english.. And told me to migrate to the us, since we probably had it bad..
As a German doing a semester abroad I have been asked this question countless times: Ah, Germany.. Are you from Berlin?, No, I am from the South.
Aah, Bavaria?
No, not from Bavaria either
Sarah Henning - I was asked (from americans) which part of the US is Germany. And why I am able to speak english if I am from europe...
As an American I apologise Sheesh that is horrible :(
Alicia Velice - not your fault Alice, but thank you! I was shocked as well, but I didn't create prejudices myself against americans in general from this incident.
Which part of US is germany? Really?....? Are you sure?
mrazik131 - yes- absolutly sure. I was quite shocked.
"Oh you're brazilian? Hola! Como estás? " oh God......
HAHH omg so dumb
I'm Dutch, and people often want to know if I have/smoke weed. No, I don't. Most Dutchies don't. Just because it's available doesn't mean we all use it. We also don't have prostitutes in every city.
After that comments usually come down to 'tulips, windmills and cheese', because that's all they know about the Netherlands.
I would ask them What they think of Argentina ?. . . .
Blonde plaits and clogs too
To be fair, you guys did get really crazy about the tulips.
I am British. When I spent some time in Los Angeles, USA, in the eighties, you would be surprised how many people asked me if I knew the British comedian Benny Hill, Britain is small but not that small :)
The deodorant question is a lot older than any recent scientific debate. I got asked that over 20 years ago when I first visited the US. While the question puzzled me then, after several years of living in the US, I traveled back to Europe and rode public transportation in my home town of Geneva (granted, that's Switzerland, not France) in July, pre 2003 heat wave (no AC). I was taken aback by body odor. The use of deodorant is less compulsive in Europe than it is in the US, or at least it was back then. That is when I understood why people in the US were asking me. Personally, I was a deodorant user, but not everybody else was where I grew up. I would say that this is one of those stereotypes that have some truth, but are a gross generalization. And it is a rude question to ask. I also got asked whether it is true that women in France don't wash their hair. What? Yuk.
It is true, the stereotype is much, much older. I remember hearing it as a child in the 90's, not only as a French thing, but as an European issue. The idea behind it was that since the European perfumes were so high quality, they used them to hide their body odors and not bathe as often.(Not saying it's true, but heard it a lot).
My parents remember the difference in eau de natural from the 70’s!.... in GERMANY! France was worse from reports. I noticed individual people in Germany but also deo used in europe tends to be tbe less potent roll on, not bar. Also took me forever to find an underarm solution with alcohol over there (besides vodka!!!!) no one knew of cheap isopropyl, finally found a spray on with alcohol at dm!!!!
Also the lack of compulsive air conditioning changes BO. So germany has changed much over the years but certain people are still old fashioned. And it’s a precious experience to have been there and smelled it!!! 🙂
I've known people here in America that don't use deodorant. You know who they are right off!
About 20 years ago, my husband and I went to Montreal for our honeymoon. The people there were beautiful and made up well, but the men, most of them stunk.
Im a russian living in China. So, the most popular is: Oh, u drink a lot of alcohol! And another: Its so cold in Russia!
First: we are not alcoholics even if we have drinking culture and many people tryed different alcohol. Many of my friends don't drink at all. And second, Russia is pretty big, so we have many types of climates, even sea where u can enjoy warm winter)
Maria Kram Russian in China, you must be popular. Chinese guys love Russian women, especially since there aren’t many Chinese women compared to Chinese men. I love Russian women too. You are all so beautiful and have lovely accents, just like French women. Too bad I don’t live in China or Russia or France. America sucks. Everyone is obese and stupid. Look at the president... says everything you need to know about the state of the United States😞 I’m ashamed to say I’m from The Fascist States of America.
Gold Wolf You may leave at any time. That's the great thing about America!
Gold Wolf , nothing to be ashamed. U r representor of your country and people understand that we are different. And u can choose where to live)
Sorry you feel that way. I'm an American and I love my country. Where do you get the fascist statement? You watching liberal TV much?
Some Americans just don't seem to value or understand their special freedoms that only America has.
I'm from Belgium. And the minute I say that, everyone who is not Belgian or Dutch assumes I speak French. They immediately change the conversation to French. I did learn French at school, but it's my third language, so I'm far from fluent...And yes, Belgium is a country. Our country is NOT called Brussels... That would be our capital.
Oh, poor you. When they hear you are Belgian, people try to accommodate you by speaking to you in what they (reasonably) think might be your first language by altering their own...and you speak that language but it's not your first! HOW DARE THEY! They should obviously know Dutch and speak to you in this! Oh, go dip a french fry in mayonnaise. Call us when someone invades you, we'll be waiting.
@@KD-vb9hh
Hahahhahhaha I shouldn't have been laughing, but I can't help it. I am not political correct human beeing, hahahah.
This is probably a weird thing to say but you look a lot like my old french teacher except you seem younger and happier and I'm not afraid of you.
haha!!
As a Romanian who worked abroad as a flight attendant, I would always get asked by passengers and even coworkers if I have any studies, if I went to school, how come I speak english, if my family steals, if I drink a lot and the list goes on.
Bia as a romanian myself I am sad to hear people still think like that about us
Those are one of most sadest and insulting stereotypes I've ever heard. I'm french and I'm sad to confirm that I hear a lot of ''french people'' having those thoughts towards Romanians... When they do express those thoughts, it's always pissing me off. I also think that western europeans tend to assimilateestern europeans as thieves, narrow-minded, with a lack of education... It's quite ironic, since THEY are thinking that way .
and they also automatically assume you speak russian, at least this is what i get, being from post-soviet country, someone even argued that my accent is russian just to prove they know better (we have our own language that is not slavic, the pronunciation is very different and we write in latin letters), not that I mind being mistaken for russian but it's rude to argue about things that are not true about my culture when one has no idea about it.
I'm from Poland and sadly I agree. Sometimes I think that many people in east-european countries think every country in West Europe is just the same - we all speak the same language (russian!), we are sad, poor people and we steal...
Damn, I can relate so much to this! I'm from Belarus, and we also have our own language and culture that is very different from that of Russia, and people still try to convince me that it's "the same thing" and start saying Russian words they heard somewhere as if our own language were a joke, ugh. Or if I just say I was born in Eastern Europe, people often say: oh where, Russia? Dude, first of all Russia is not even Europe, and second of all there are more countries in that part of the world than just Russia. I don't know why people generalize like that, I try not to because I know it can feel extremely offensive. Like not every Asian-looking person is from China, and not every Latin-looking person is from Mexico, and not every Slavic-looking person is from Russia. There are many more countries out there people, just look at the map.
Haha as a Japanese yes we don't eat sushi everyday, in fact people eat it very rarely. Also our daily lives are just like that in Western countries, and I'm kind of tired with people thinking Japan is super conservative country because it's not like that :)
I can relate. As a mexican, we always get the misconception that we all live north (Tijuana) or south (Cancún) and we wear hats, ponchos and sandals (joke or not).
Reerei Dia Trust me. Not all US people, for example, but most always assume "Oh, you're mexican? I've been to Los Cabos/Cancún/Mexico City, it's lovely!" We could be from anywhere and even those that don't live in the big cities haven't gone to Mexico City.
Or the classic “I’ve been to Mexico City, I know more about Mexican culture than yourself”, which sadly happens more often than I’d like to think
You forgot that all of us sleep in cactus, and of course we only eat tacos
Elisa Castro just in the past few weeks, at least 5 people have done something like that on a site I am at (obviously they don’t say it like that, but basically the meaning is “I went to some part of Mexico once so I can partake in a discussion about that”); and that’s only the past few weeks
Elisa Castro you haven’t travelled much or read many blogs/sites/comments with foreign people then. This kind of stereotypes are really common.
Persin: Oh you're from Sweden! I went skiing in the alps once!
Me: yes, Sweden and Switzerland are in fact the same country!
From what I'm reading here Europeans are quite Geography-phobic !. . . Amazing !...
Its insulting for many people who are patriots.
I am English, I do not live in London, do not know the Queen and our food is now incredible. And I love French people.
So you aren't a true English rose !. . . haha !
As a Greek living in Germany I get quite a lot of this kind of questions. There are some offensive questions but most people are genuinely curious. And curiosity about an other culture is always a good thing.
Btw I'm sure no one would dare ask about the deodorant, if they thought you smell bad
When I went to live in France in the early 1990's as a college student, one of the first (and frequent) questions asked of me, an American, was whether or not I liked McDonalds (and wanted to go). They were quite enthusiastic about it and so surprised when I admitted that I had only eaten there a couple times in my life and that I didn't care for it. (But I did recognize that they were trying to connect with me and make me feel welcome in a new and foreign land.) Not all Americans enjoy or eat fast food!
Or when I traveled to Ireland and a local was surprised that a young American was so well-versed in the works of a revered national author....
It helps to remember that people are individuals and are far more interesting and complex than any stereotype.
Now I get all kinds of crazy questions and assumptions when people find out I live in California.
Thanks for this amusing, but pointed video, Justine!
Like if the sun always shines in California ??. . . haha!
Yes, it's always funny when people from Europe meet me and act shocked that I'm American and well-educated. They seem to think no Americans are. Yet they've all heard of our world-famous universities. So putting two and two together does seem to be hard for many people. I do think a lot of them are trying to make a point. Why else would they say, "how do you know so much about world politics?" when I've simply been keeping up with them in a political conversation.
Thank you Justine! I never cease to be amazed at the questions people feel free to ask. Your response is gracious but gets the point across! I enjoy your videos & find them very helpful!
I'm Bulgarian...Americans: "Oooh, Hungarian? So which part of Russia do you come from"
Not all Americans. I will say because our country is large and diverse, one can travel without ever leaving and have a multitude of experiences. Western mountains to eastern seashore and seafood, New Orleans for art and music, Manhattan.....................so there are those who do not bother with world geography and other cultures, which is sad because I think other lands and cultures are so interesting.
@@milenasovic Hey, I represent that comment, Never quite got my head around the geometry of the USSR ;).
Seriously, there was a huge influx of immigrants from eastern Europe when my grandparents came to the US. I know many US citizens that immigrated to the US, so yes, that is a stereotype. It is a funny one to poke fun at.
What was truly funny was that when a co-worker of mine and I were passing though Hong Kong on a business trip, he was stopped as the passport control officer didn't think his Albanian passport was real.
As Germans, we would all be big fans of „Bayern München“, drink a lot of beer, like speeding as hell on motorways, adore „Oktoberfest“ - apart from always being absolutely on time and very eager to work.
I am German and punctuality DEFINITELY is my thing. I consider it rude if someone does not respect my time, and I try hard to be puntual to show my respect to the other person.
I have lived in Germany and they are generally speaking very careful about being on time..
Great video, Justine! As a Bulgarian living in the US I have been asked all sorts of rude questions...Some of my favorites “Are you Russian?” and when I answer “No” many people reply “Are you sure?”...Yeah, I believe I AM! Another favorite is “What does your husband do for living?” ...Because you know Eastern European women are all mail order brides and can’t possibly make their own money🙄
And another “How did you get here?”...Uhmmm, by plane...
Oh, that is hard. But please don't take offense by asking what your husband does. I am American born and get asked that all the time. It's just a way to connect, really. They don't mean to insult you or imply you are a mail order bride. That is just a common question to find common ground.
I'm Bulgarian living in Dubai, Q where are you from A Bulgaria Q where is that In Nigeria :):);)
Another one: ooooo Hristo stoichkov the football ⚽ player
Or do you speak Russian
ChicagoCathrun in many cases (too many cases) it’s a way to inquire where you are on the social ladder compared with the person to whom you’ve asked the question. What’s your favourite movie/band/book; what was the first concert you ever went to; do you like(fill in the blank)...those are also ‘ways to connect’. Just a thought...
Loved this, Justine. You handled it beautifully, as always! We appreciate you. As an American, the thing I would love to say regarding stereotypes is, quite simply: I'm not stupid; or ignorant. I don't watch TV all the time. I do stay current on geo-political situations. I read. Once while skiing in Switzerland (sorry if that sounds cliche, ha!) , I had a French guy say to me, "You are American? But you are so smart!"
:-D . Stereotypes are embarrassing--for both parties!
I’m from Ireland, living in Canada. I find that most Canadians are reasonably well informed about Ireland, but people from other countries are often less so. Here are some of the questions I have been asked and statements I have heard.
How often do you go back to the UK? (I don’t, because I have never lived there. I’m from the Republic of Ireland, which has been a sovereign state since 1922).
It must be nice to have a queen. (Uhhhh, republics don’t have monarchies).
Do you have ATMs/Internet/computers/cell phones in Ireland? (Ireland is the second largest exporter of computers and IT services in the world).
Irish people live on potatoes, don’t they? No. We have a large dairy industry and loads of farm fresh produce. That’s why we export cheeses to your country.....
You are all drunkards, right? No. While excessive alcohol use is unfortunately common in Ireland, it has a high proportion of teetotallers. There are many countries with a higher per capita alcohol consumption.
Irish people are lazy, right? If that were true, why did Forbes identify Ireland as the best place in the world to do business (in 2013)?
And so on. Ignorance is ubiquitous. We all have knowledge gaps. I think the best we can do in conversation is to ask open ended questions in a respectful manner.
The Irish are not the second largest exporters of computers in the world. This cannot be true.
Thankyou for acknowledging Canadians tend to be better informed about other countries. I love Ireland, particularly the beautiful countryside and the food. I have never encountered so many well trained international quality chefs even in smaller towns. I get annoyed when people criticize Irish cuisine, particularly those who have never visited Ireland.
I’m from Georgia in the USA. Having a southern accent doesn’t mean I’m unintelligent.
"Do you always wear black in France?"
"No, we wear breton stripe as uniform, obviously!" 😂
I am from Washington state in the US. When I talk to people from the East Coast, they assume I'm from Washington DC. When I talk to people from anywhere else in the world, they have no idea what I'm talking about. Most of the time, I just say I'm from Seattle, and then everyone gets it. And yes, it does rain a lot, but not much more than NYC. Yes, we do drink a lot of coffee, because we have to keep our spirits up somehow during the 9 months of clouds. Starbucks customer service is excellent here, but we don't go there because we have our favorite small coffee shops we frequent instead, where the coffee tastes better.
Kimberly Conner Hi, visiting friends in Tonasket in June. Used to resort to a lengthy explanation re Washington State vs Washington DC when people ask me where I'm going. Now I also just say Seattle ... even though Tonasket is at least 6-8 hours' travel away.... :)
I'm also from the Pacific NW...for some Eastcoasters, its as if America stops at the Mississippi and nothing exists west of that.
Same goes for Argentina with Starbucks ! But as people are like sheep that follow the trend, they like to be seen in Starbucks with their laptops sipping their large coffees instead of at the small cafés that have sold excellent coffees for ever !... Such is life !.... then they complain about inflation and so on !...haha !
Sorry, but it rains a lot more in Seattle than in NYC. Perhaps the overall volume of precipitation is the same...but there are many more clear and sunny days in NYC than in Seattle. There is water falling from the sky quite a lot to the time there, even if it's a lighter mist.
I'm a Swiss person that doesn't like chocolate. This seems to shock way too many people
Leonie Gasser I'm shocked that any person, regardless of nationality, doesn't like chocolate!
I once met an Italian guy who didn't like gelato (or any type of ice cream). He didn't like chocolate either. After that I understood anything is possible.
ablurida hahahhaahhahaha
Heheheh I am also swiss, I love chocolate (which doesn't like me in return), but I am not rich and don't sing yodel.
It shocks me when anyone doesn't like chocolate - not just the Swiss.
I have come to accept that people are rude out of ignorance. So, when I get approached by someone about my beloved Puerto Rico, I look at it as a moment of education...for them! 😂 Your gente responses are spot on! Thanks for the video.
Justine, another great video. I'm Dutch living in England and I get a lot of questions which are annoying too so I really understand how you feel. Instead of from Paris I get from Amsterdam, that one really made me laugh when you mentioned it.
Love the philosophy of a natural makeup look! I like to still look like me when I wash it off at the end of the day.
I am from Peru and many people ask do you live with llamas? And i am like oh god not again hahaha llamas are lovely animals that are representative of my country but we don't own them like a pet :) thank you for this wonderful video Justine :3
Yzabel Braun hahahahahha no
LOL, Australian get asked if we have kangaroos in our backyard! Funny enough, we do have possums in our backyard!
there goes a dream I had... :p
Denise Sheehan hahahahahaha omg but imagine how cool would it be if we really had those pets 😅
the1Elly hahahaha they are super cute :3!
As a dual US/Serbian citizen, the one I routinely get is ''why don't you live in the US?!'' - with time I've learned to smile and say ''personal reasons''. While I love visiting the US, I don't know why it's inconceivable that someone might choose to live in a different country.
With Serbia things get political pretty quickly: in Paris: Ah les Serbes, vous faites la guerre!; in Ireland: 'you Serbs are mental!' People tend to assume we're all confrontational and volatile, but I assure you we're not - most are laid-back and fun-loving.
Also there's a tendency to confuse Serbia with Siberia - ''it must get pretty cold out there!'' No, that would be Siberia, which by the way isn't a country but a part of Russia; Serbia has a typical European continental climate.
Those who do know something about the country tend to ask if we're all tennis-crazy, which is probably because of Djokovic. Frankly, his success is a fluke, we don't all run around in white shorts waving rackets at people!
Generally there seems to be an awful lot of prejudice about Southeastern Europe and the Balkans. There's a book called Imagining the Balkans by Maria Todorova, a Bulgarian scholar, which might make for interesting reading if anyone's into that kind of thing :)
I'm from Serbia and I get asked if it is dangerous for black people to visit, or for women and children to go out alone. And some foreigners are concerned we don't have medication, so they don't visit
Tako je sestro!
@@musicbox2466 wow, that's ridiculous... sorry to hear that
Oh don't get me started on that lol... drives me crazy when Americans assume everyone wants to live there. Like how about the opposite?
I've paused the video just to say, you are my biggest inspiration Justine. Your videos are so positive and made me believe in myself. France is now in my bucket list! Love you
Same! She is SUCH a breath of fresh air. Justine for French prez!
I like your videos. You have a very calming voice and very natural and warm mannerisms.
Merde, je suis parisienne et je mange des croissants le matin 🙈😂
Je voudrais aussiI,
si j'habitais en France. Avec cafe! (
Veuillez excuser le manque d'accents)
Formidable!
@@ladyraven3418 Les meilleurs d'entre-nous laissent tomber les accents en ligne de temps en temps... XD
Je mangeais des croissants à tous les matins ou presque à un certain point. Je suis du Québec, mais maintenant je vis en Finlande!
C est pas grave 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I live in South Africa. A question I was asked by a foreign exchange student-why are there no wild animals in the street? I thought there would be lions and elephants all over the place. Uhm no... most of the wildlife in our country live in nature reserves or parks. It would be to dangerous otherwise. Another one is how can you be African? You are white! Yes I am white but also do you even know the history of the world? Vasco da Gama? Bartlomias Diaz? 🇿🇦 Love your videos!!
Charne Tippetts havebeen asked that severally as well .
yup I think many from Africa get that question... i just lived in Kenya and I still got those questions about animals! Most ppl have never been to safaris and have not even seen them... except well, giraffes roaming around in very rural areas.
Well i live in a small city in Mexico and the crocodilles are a very common animal here, even in the rain season you can see one walking on the street, so imagine that!!! We have more wild life here than you!!! The world is crazy...hahaha
😂 Oh my god Karen, you can't just ask people why they're white.
For my country, I get:
"The Czech Republic? Where is that... ?????... Oh, you mean Czechoslovakia!"
and I'm like: "Nope! It's been 25 years, people, come ooon!!! "
P.S. I am Czech and I don't drink beer. Shocking, I know.
But you guys do make great beer.
That's nothing. Some people I met around the globe would even argue with me that there is no such country as the Czech republic. If I respond: "well, believe me, I know where I come from," they still don't trust me. For them it was, it is and it always will be Czechoslovakia. And also - many people assume that our country is a neighbour of Russia...
@@kadlusovak & Maree Pls forgive our ignorance but we have a hard time adapting to change, it seems ! ..haha ! Shameful, I know, and we're not mentioning Africa !. . .That's even worse !. . .Sorry !...
As a Canadian, I don't have moose in my backyard, I don't eat maple syrup and back bacon with everything, and I don't say 'eh'..... Much... 😊
I eat maple syrup with everything tho :P
I’m from California and many outside of my state have assumed I live on the beach and see celebrities regularly. Ha ha. I actually live where we grow food and have rodeos and cowboys.
I really wonder who the ridiculous people are that are asking these stupid questions. Wow!
I live in California now and lots of people, even in the US always say: Oh, the next big one...California is going to fall into the ocean!" Okay. Still waiting for it.
@@chicagocathrun7738 Wasn't that a James Bond movie?
-You don’t drink vodka? But wait, you are from Ukraine!
-Do you feel cold (in -17)? But wait you are from Ukraine, it’s in Siberia, right?
Ouch.
ME: Hi, I'm from Hungary.
RANDOM FOREIGN MATE: Ohh, Hungary.. So are you hungry.. Hahaha 😂
ME: So original, I never heard that one before.. 😒
Annavirág Klausz I laughed a little to hard.
That one always makes me cringe!
Oh yes, Hungary! Are you from Bucharest?
You speak Polish then... ;)
Annavirág Klausz oh people are like "where is that?" they don't even know our country 😂
I'm laughing so hard!
NOBODY should ask the question about your earnings ... nowhere in the world. It’s rude and private
I'm American and had someone from an Asian country ask my friends and I what we earn. My friend explained politely that is not something we generally talk about in public. I don't know if that was acceptable in their country or if it was a personal thing on their part.
joyfuljaj Yup it’s definitely an Asian thing. E
I’m Singaporean and here, everyone talks about how much they earn. When you get a job, one of the first few questions you get asked will: Oh so how much will you earn?
I think it’s definitely a culture thing but imo, if you ask politely and respectfully, it’s fine. Knowing how much people in your same field can help in salary negotiations etc :)
@@rachelshuxin True ! But not done in the West, it seems !...
Actually, in Finland earnings are in public records I believe!
Justine, I love your videos. I am 72 years young and I love fashion, even more I love to learn about other cultures. I love to travel when health permits. I find wonderful people wherever I go. I want to go to France and visit Monet’s gardens. I live in Houston, Texas. I get tired of people thinking that those of us living in Texas are all cowboys, own an oil well , have guns in our homes, and are rich! Please keep on keeping us informed!
I'm Italian! Apparently I spend my time eating spaghetti and singing; I m blonde with blue eyes and people go: "Come on are you seriously italian?" 😑😂
And drinking cappuccino 25 times a day?... 😉
I am Italian too. I ensure you that you can drink cappuccino whenever you want. An american guy once told me that I can't be really Italian because I was drinking a cappuccino in the afternoon. Like... what?
I would love to spend my time eating spaghetti and drinking red wine. I plan to do that when I visit Italy :) Along with all the other wonderful Italian foods.
I am American and I once asked a fellow student who was British what city she was from. Later I heard her say to a Swiss student, “People always ask me where in Britain I am from. It’s not like they are going to know where it is”. She was such a snob. I was really interested and if I didn’t know where it was I would have looked it up.
I am Estonian living in my country and the foreigners/tourists always ask if we are Russians and they assume that we probably speak Russian or something very similar, associate us with everything typical to Russian culture. This is so annoying! No, Estonians are not Russians, not even slavic people and we have our own language (which is actually similar to Finnish) and our own culture.
mmmariis I'm Serbian and I always get the same question: Where's that, Russia? But, this one guy once asked if I'm from South Africa. He thought that because my country's name sounds like it is south, under other countries on the map hahahhahahahaha
Mara
1 second ago
I can relate so much to this! I'm from Belarus, and we also have our own language and culture that is very different from that of Russia, and people still try to convince me that it's "the same thing" and start saying Russian words they heard somewhere as if the Belarusian language were non-existent. If I say I was born in Eastern Europe, people often say: oh where, Russia? Dude, first of all Russia is not even Europe, and second of all there are more countries in that part of the world than just Russia. I don't know why people generalize like that, I try not to, because I know it can feel extremely offensive. Like not every Asian-looking person is from China, and not every Latin-looking person is from Mexico, and not every Slavic-looking person is from Russia. There are many more countries out there people, just look at the map. Ugh.
Great video! I'm African American...as far as stereotypes I don't think I need to say more.
My profound apology for rude people and the questions.
I am Greek and was born in Athens and i remember when i shared a house as a student with other fellow students back in London one of my housemates asked me once if we get snow in Greece...ever...haha..of course it snows in Greece. Not particularly in the capital but in Northern parts of the country temperatures can get really really low.
Please make more french videos! I enjoy these so much! Also, I would like to request for a french pharmacy video if it makes sense, as in which skincare brand is the best, etc. Happy Sunday Justine!
I studied the French language for two years and my teacher is from France, his sense of humour is very much like yours and I enjoy listening to you speaking! :D
It's always interesting to hear the random (rude) things people have about others. Thanks for teaching us about these annoying saying French people regularly hear from others.
Î’m from Montréal, Québec and am often asked by tourists where can they see whales. Montreal is on the St. Lawrence river but the whales are 475 km farther north in Tadoussac. We live in regular homes, not igloos. We do love our poutine though. J’aime beaucoup tes vidéos Justine. Merci
I'm reading a fiction detective series (Inspector Gamache) that is set in Quebec, and I have loved looking up some of the real places the author has used as settings for her stories (she changed names sometimes, but I can find the building she is talking about). It has been interesting learning just a bit about the history and culture of the area from the characters in the books. I wish I could remember the French I learned in college, but I didn't keep up with it. The poutine sounds a bit out of my taste even though as a southerner it seems I should like gravy on french fries. We typically like to cover them in chilli and cheese!
That's not a stereotype...that's just people not knowing anything about geography.
mmm...poutine!!
Thank you Justine for another great video. The comments are so interesting. :)
Do more of these types of videos. Love them. When I visited France, all we seemed to get for breakfast was bread (baguette or croissants) as compared to Canada so I think that’s why ppl assume French eat croissants a lot. I loved Paris.
Linda, it’s kind of nice to be offered croissants instead of the typical Canuck bacon & eggs 😊 All I have for breakfast when I go to Paris is pain au chocolat, and the maxi size! I even bring some back home 😍
Linda Dupuis I visited my brother and his family who live in Paris, he eats croissants every day for breakfast lol....
Gold Wolf,they are hard to resist! France has the best croissant in the world! 👍
I'm Dutch, don't wear wooden shoes en do not smoke pot. But when in France, I often get these questions ;)
Hahaha that's the "weekend trip to Amsterdam" effect, I think...
Nathalie Schinkel, my ex was Dutch and he was asked those questions often.
And that "weekend effect" is what makes me so sad. Amsterdam has so much more to offer, esp. for those of us interested in design, sustainable fashion and culture. The fact that weed is available, doesn't mean that you have to use it. Don't. It fucks (excusez-le-mot) with your brain - esp. in young people. Like most Dutch people leave it and take a good look around in this interesting, historically rich city.
Loved the video. Got the twickle and also lightly shocked about the kind of questions you get asked. Really? Apperently, but still
Nathalie Schinkel I live in Michigan, US and there are many of Dutch heritage in my area. Some of the schools offer Clompen (is that right? I mean wooden clogs) dancing as a sport. So you can blame the American Dutch for perpetuating that stereotype. I think it often happens that a community of expats holds onto old ways but the country they are from moves on.
They're called klompen, you are right only written with a 'k'. I used to wear them as a kid, but I think that sort of thing only happens when you live in the country, not in a city. So it is not only an 'old way' but the farmers do actually wear them, they're very handy for putting on quickly when you want to take a look in the garden for example. And to smoke (blow) is not illegal here, that's also true. I was just reacting to the stereo-type thing that Justine was talking about. Suppose it is not true either that all Americans eat out every day and never cook?
I'm American, from Chicago and all over Europe people would say "Oh, Al Capone." Like we are all in the mafia.
YES! The Al Capone thing! I was in France and the taxi driver actually said, "Al Capone! Chicago, BANG BANG!"
Lolololol smh!
Go to Poland, people will ask you if you know their relatives.
Treepose Go lol
At least in the 90s they switched to "Michael Jordan!" for a while. 😆
I’m British and years ago I was asked how long I had lived in America. When I said six months she replied, “ Just six months and you speak English so well!” Anne😂
I’m from China. I Don’t eat dog, and I don’t know anyone who eats dog...
I am Canadian, so of course I know your cousin Bob, eat seal meat and end every sentence with “eh”. 😉
Oh you know Bob? 😂🤣
Polly Dolly yes!!! Lol
The "eh" thing seems regional. my best friend really does end almost every sentence with eh...
Polly Dolly. Omg! I bet they think they're being witty when they end every sentence with, "eh" when speaking to you.
Polly Dolly But what if you did know Bob? It happens.
As an American who's lived almost 1/2 my life abroad, I've heard a lot of funny stereotypes about Americans (thank you, Hollywood)... like how we all either live in New York or Malibu (I wish! Too bad I'm from the Midwest, a part of the U.S. that no one seems to have ever heard of!), we only eat hamburgers and cookies (I'm vegetarian and have never liked hamburgers!) or, my personal favorite, the comment I once received: "You're not American! How can you be? You're not blonde!"
Amanda Navarra Wisconsin girl slowly backs away from the hamburger and hides the cookies behind her back... (I literally spent the morning baking hundreds of cookies for our Sunday School kids, so yeah, I might’ve had some cookies!)
I love all these comments but this one was brilliant. Also Bob Dylan was a good boy from Minnesota, don't get me started …. great comment.
A German, upon finding out that I am American, said, "Really? I thought Americans were supposed to be cute."
My favorite things that people ask me is “do you have paved roads? Do you live on a farm? Do you have to travel long distances to shop?
When I worked a contract in Boston I even had a perfume girl in Filene’s ask me where I was from because I “talked funny”.
When I told her Kansas she asked me
“Is that in this country”? I’m dead serious.
I had to leave the store quickly before I broke down laughing 😆!
I’m a New Zealand born Australian resident - When visiting Seattle - I was asked at the Thanksgiving Dinner if “I came from down south?”. My reply? “You could say that”.
@@mandyhasler4802 Hahaha that is so funny, being Argentinian I once got asked by an English guy here in London if I was American. I said 'yeah sort of... South American'
Holy smoke really?! She probably wasn't listening! Cos she probably already concluded in her mind that you were from some unfamiliar country cos your accent was so exotic 😅
You should have ! In her face for being so ignorant !...
The problem of binge watching your videos and living in Canada is now youtube keeps asking me everything in French which I haven't spoken in roughly 10 years.
"Learn another full sentence in French!" Love your humor!
For Americans:
- we all have guns
- we are all rich
- we are all very wasteful
- we are ignorant of other cultures
...it doesn't paint a very pretty picture.
- you all are very superficial people,
- you all eat junk food
- shopping is considered a hobby
The last one is true
Because I’m from Grand Rapids, Michigan people assume I must be a Dutch descendent and a Calvinist. Hyper frugal. Tall. OCD about sweeping my house clean, BIG boned and have a Puritan work ethic. Oh. Wait. That IS me.
Brilliant 😂
Sue Betten So funny, I am married to a man from Grand Rapids and his family is all of those things. Don't put your coffee cup down or Mom will whisk it away! Each generation has softened a bit but the backbone is there.
I'm from Grand Rapids, too. None of that is true for me, though it fits many of my classmates. (Okay, I am a bit Dutch - but it is from Hessians during the Revolutionary War. That doesn't count in GR.)
That is HILARIOUS! I grew up in D.C. I'm not Dutch but went to a Dutch school. You crack me up!!
Wonderful. Someone with a stereotype.
I’m Italian from South Philadelphia and when I went to college outside the area, I had people assume that my family was mafia or that I carried a knife or that I could handle myself in a street fight. SMH...
I can relate to #6. I am from rural New York, and I always get asked if I'm from New York City. This question comes not only from foreigners, but also other Americans!!
It seems the Americans don't know their huge country very well !. . . haha !... I remember when someone that had been working in Argentina for 10 years went home longing to tell his family of his stay in the country found that nobody cared to know where he had been...he was very disappointed !...
I also am from New York only 1 hour from the city where people commute everyday, and they call it upstate. People in the city think anyone outside the city is upstate, and it’s mostly not native New Yorkers . They live in a bubble.
I'm from Mexico and there are plenty of clichés about our culture: are you from Cancun? (actually just few mexicans go there), oh! So you love burritos and nachos! (that is not even Mexican food), and... Where is your Mexican hat?
But sure you love Frida Kahlo?
I'm Colombian, so you'd guess... Being overseas I was faced with things like: We all grow and process drugs in our gardens (Most of us have never been in touch with them, let alone use them!)/Colombia is somewhere close to Spain or is actually part of it /All women dance like Shakira or look like Sophia Vergara, and so on...
Reading all these comments makes wonder if this is really 21st century😕... Excelente vídeo como siempre! Uno en francés sería genial 😄
When I lived in Spain, everyone, ex-pats, other Spanish speaking people, even the Spaniards would say, the People who speak the best Spanish are the Colombians.
Same thing living in New York!😂We are not all in NYC.
@Suzanne Kemper As a Buffalonian I can attest to this.
Elizabeth Anne - oh yes! I can relate!
Great video. We would like to see a video about French savoir vivre as well
That Americans are loud. I'm not a loud person. That's a personality-thing, not a regional thing.
I'm from the US and traveled a bit. I have to say compared to the rest of the world I think the stereotype is true. :-) Sorry to the rest of the world. LOL
I'm a sometimes quiet American. Lol, I get "I can't hear you" a lot. I think culturally, if you're a quieter American, you are seen as meek. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
it's not so much loud as it is that most American accents can be nasal and so it's higher pitched, therefore uncomfortable to the ear. Of course it's not everybody. And there's definitely tons of people in Argentina (where I'm from) with the same nasal pitch in their voice. And then some people have a nasal AND loud voice. Now that's Hell >.
@@kich6172 Oh Germans and Nigerians are louder..no other people come close to these 2.
@@aliciafields-worldtravelle8248 I'm of German decent; maybe that explains it. :-) I played volleyball with a gentleman from Nigeria and met his wife and kids. They were all the most polite, proper folks I've ever met. He did refer to his family as warriors...hmm...
Americans are stereotyped that we don't know geography and we are not well traveled? Well, for one, we only get on average of 10 days a year vacation! Some get more, but heaven help you if you take that time off! It is frowned upon! Even if we get a few sick days per year we never take them off! The company and your coworkers see you as a slacker! Therefore, when we take a vacation, we stay in the USA.
Roseanne Pryor My 14 year old, B student doesn't know geography. She thought Paris was a country. B student, how does that happen? And our school district is supposed to be decent.
I get you, I would probably do the same. But there's a difference between the two. You don't have to travel to know geography. Staying in your country is not a bad thing as long as you acknowledge other countries/cultures and are interested in them. Not saying you're like this, or that most Americans are. But of all the crazy stereotypes and misconceptions I've heard, the weirdest ones came from Americans.
ablurida, I’m an American and I’m very interested in other cultures. Sometimes I worry about asking the wrong questions or accidentally offending someone because I really don’t know what I’m talking about. In my experience people are usually understanding especially if they realize I am genuinely trying to learn, but there are a few cases where people think I’m just this willfully ignorant ogre. Then there the whole cultural appropriation issue which also kinda sucks. If I spend time learning or appreciating another culture, of course I’ll want to integrate it to my life, but it seems like some people get so offended if they see someone wearing traditional clothes or cooking traditional foods. Is there a line between appreciation and appropriations?
How come the world tourist sites are full of Americans ?... Is it because they study Geography while travelling ?... There are many Americans that vacation in Cuba or St. Maartens, come on ! I thought Ben Stiller's film vacationing in México on honeymoon was a cliché !!. . .
@@lovemesomeslippers Why don't you talk to her about the world and its countries?
Wow! This episode received tremendous response. What interesting things our 'community' has to say. I'm from Kentucky...and, we do wear shoes, most people don't have horses, and not every female is pregnant.
Seriously, some questions are rude but many times we are just curious, if misinformed, humans. P.S. Loved the black and white video.
Thank you Justine! I always look forward to your Sunday videos in the morning.
I'm a Chinese-Filipina woman who lives in America. I get mistaken for many other types of Asians.
Its quite awful because people will ask me " what kind of Asian are you?" Like why does that matter? Does it make a person better if they knew? Why does it matter to people that we just met?😠😡
"Can you say something in Phillipines?" This question doesn't even make sense. There is no such language called "Philippines" There are a multitude of languages in the Philippines. I just know the most common one(Tagalog).😬
Or I think this is the worst one
"Wow! You're an immigrant? Your English is so good!" 😵😷
Thank you again for posting beautiful videos like this where we can open up about funny/frustrating things. I love you so much. Take care 💗💗💗
andrea k i’m Canadian and was once in Reading,PA. I was asked to speak in “Canadian”. I had to explain we spoke either French or English or both but Canadian is not a language.
You should be happy to get a compliment on your language skills ! It's a great boost to me !...