Why Foreigners' Impressions of Americans are Often Somewhat Correct

Hello again.

While I sit in this agonizing torture pit they call Spanish class, with people who remember not even the simplest vocabulary, talk constantly, and pay absolutely no attention, I have decided that I will do something that I actually enjoy, instead of listening to all the other people butcher a beautiful language.

So, let's get to today's topic so I can block out these obnoxiously American people and spare my aching ears. The topic is: why foreign people's impression of Americans is often correct.

Impression 1: Americans are overweight. That's true, for some. America is currently battling obesity, and fast-food chains like McDonalds and Burger King aren't helping. But it's not just the restaurants. A burger once in a while certainly won't kill you, and it probably won't make you fat. On the other end, there are those people who don't eat healthily - they practically starve themselves. It's ALL about cutting fats, cutting calories, "lite" foods, "diet" foods. Many of said foods are the most artificial things on the market, like ones with fake sweeteners that aren't sugar, so they can claim "no sugar". We're really a mixed bunch, and almost nobody has gotten the whole "healthy diet" thing right.

Impression 2: Americans care too much about their appearance and spend too much on it. That's also true, this time for most Americans. When was the last time you wore makeup? Put on jewelry? Thought about what other people would think about you if you wore that kind of clothing? Got a piercing? News flash: the rest of the world cares about their appearance too, but a lot of other people do it to feel good about themselves, or because their style is a tradition, not to impress other people. Women: did you feel like you got pressured into getting earrings? Buying certain brands? Everyone else has that feeling, too, but many cultures don't "overdo" it as much as Americans. They look at us and think we're nuts. And don't get me started on unnecessary plastic surgery.

That's all for now. I'll resume my semi-rant next time. Your eyes are probably exploding by now.
- Lazy Girl