ATFFL
Junior Chimp
Posts: 5,754
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« on: November 23, 2004, 04:42:40 PM » |
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Most nations’ stereotypes come from the largest/most commercial city.
I've known a few frenchies in my time and all four of them have had the same trait that is considered rude in the US. All of them probed too much when it came to money matters.
My favorite story about that comes from a college German class about 10 years ago. The first rude thing he did was sit in the seat in front of me which was normally occupied by the very friendly Dutch girl. We started talking about our weekend plans and he asked me what I was doing. I told him my sister’s wedding was that weekend.
He asked what I was getting her as a wedding present. When I told him I was giving them cash, he asked how much. Everyone was shocked; this is a big no-no in the US. So I told him I was giving one hundred dollars and seventy-eight cents.
Which is what I ended up giving them.
To his credit the answer and silence in the room did let him know his question was inappropriate and he learned from it.
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