Ok, thanks... But I'm really sorry I swear I still honestly don't understand to which stereotype it refers, the relation with Frenchs or why it can be considered racist? It's the first time I hear this joke.

Or maybe this is a stereotype on Frenchs that I didn't know?

BTW, I still don't understand why it can be considered racist...

Norwegian are not born with skiies on their legs, its just a saying which makes every young Norwegian being forced wether they like it or not, to partake in cross-country activities, to become the new Northug or Dælie

Norwegian doesnt like to talk to complete strangers, that is partly true, we look down, even in a almost empty buss, if one sits in fronts, one walks headfirst to the far back, or sits in an empty seat. not looking or says hi to the other person

BTW, concerning Frenchs going on strike, it's rather due to French constitution than to a genuine French mentality. Very few employees are syndicated in France, but the importance of strikes is inversely proportional.

 

In my experience, I have met two Poles that speak English very well. One is a colleague at work that was born in Poland, but is now a U.S. citizen; the other is an archivist and genealogist that came into the U.S. to give a lecture on Polish genealogy last year. Two branches of my family immigrated to the U.S. from the villages of Borek Wielki and Krzywa (both in Podkarpackie) between 1899 and 1910. I don't know how well my great-grandparents spoke English as both died before I was born.

 

Admittedly those are the only Poles I have met in person.

 

 

 

 One thing I have always admired about Canadians is their amazing sense of humor. I'm a big fan of Tim Hortons. Always have to stop at one when I'm in New York State. Still don't have a passport to get into Canada; but before 9/11 always enjoyed trips to Toronto. I have some distant relatives in Alberta and British Columbia that immigrated from County Antrim, Northern Ireland a long, long time ago.

 

 

Actually all Frenchs buy baguettes and wear scarves. 

It is a cheap joke rather than a stereotype. He/they are referring to the French surrender in 1940 after the British and French forces were beaten during the Battle of France - needless to say this stereotype is used by mostly by Americans and seldom by Brits (certainly not by any Brit who knows the history).

I was about to say the same thing.  

We Americans do, however, view the French as arrogant snobs who are hung up on their precious croissants. 

While I said this originated in WWII its cultural origins are older. Back in the 18th century the phrase "French leave" was commonplace and stems from social gatherings among the aristocracy and ruling classes where leaving a party without thanking the host was considered impolite. This notion of the French leaving a party unannounced quickly crossed the pond and entered American parlance as someone who is absent without permission but also introduced the idea that this was habitually associated with the French. In French the equivalent phrase is filer à l'anglaise ("English leave") and this mutual exchange of nationalities in such phrases is common, especially when the idiom is an unsavoury one, such was the historical animosity between the two nations.

Until the advent of cheap travel and paid vacations the working folk of both nations only ever met on the battle-field so most Englishmen had never seen a Frenchman and vice versa. The apocryphal tale of the fishermen of Hartlepool hanging a ship-wrecked monkey during the Napoleonic Wars in the belief that the poor creature was a French spy as they'd never seen a monkey or a frenchman before is plausible because of that...

The caricature of the French onion seller wearing a striped 'breton' shirt, loose dark jacket, beret and red scarf while pedalling a bicycle laden with strings of onions did. Before the first world war a few French onion farmers would sail across the English Channel and then cycle around England selling their goods. As these were the only Frenchmen most Brits had ever seen their garb and appearance came to represent all Frenchmen in popular culture but is unrecognisable in France (except perhaps in Brittany where there is a http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g196532-d5788479-Reviews-La_Maison_des_Johnnies_et_de_l_Oignon_de_Roscoff-Roscoff_Finistere_Brittany.html" rel="nofollow - museum dedicated to these onion sellers in Roscoff ).

 

 

 

But its not important to split hairs over this. I think that we can both agree that some stereotypes, like other forms of prejudice, result from ignorance of other peoples and their cultures.

 

An easy example is the American view of the so-called "greedy immigrant that works three jobs 20 hours out of the day." I think it's in the culture of these people to be successful at all costs and any less would be a failure, as some form of social disgrace.

 

At one time in the past, Americans were also prodded by their culture to be successful by wisely investing their money in stocks and in business ventures, and buying/selling real-estate. Not much physical work, so to other countries, we get the stereotype of the "lazy American", IMO.

 

This example is not all inclusive, but I believe that it has merit.

 

 

But that isn´t annoying me at all. The one that annoys is that all Finns love ice hockey (also many Finns believe that) - I have never loved to watch any sport.

Very few people wear clogs.

We don't use that much drugs, but we do produce a lot of it.

We're far from socialist, and even social democrat doesn't sound completely apt considering just how much money we make from hosting multinationals and according to some we're a tax haven even.

It is true that we are blunt, although this is most apparent in Amsterdam.

And we don't go to work on skates in wintertime .

I used to follow baseball while growing up, even played it for awhile locally as a teenager. I even fancied myself being a pitcher someday, but alas, I had control issues and sometimes had a hanging curve ball. I lost interest in it with the doping/steroids scandals from the 1990s into the early 2000s. I will readily admit that it's dreadfully boring to watch on TV.

Another U.S. stereotype is apple pie. I eat apple pie maybe once a year at the most and don't care for the sour apple versions.

Another mysterious one: I was once accused of being un-American for hating blueberries! Since when are blueberries an American thing?

Other than the old 'Ugly American' theme....I'm not sure what they are.

Don't you guys have a 25 hour clock? Still doing those seal hunts in Saskatchewan?

Right! at the very least it would be polite to (at the very least) have a phrasebook with you. I know a lot of americans who, when travelling, claim to be Canadians due to the stigma.

Wrong

I just throw my hands up and say.. hey.. the greatest generation is dying off... this is the new America. We are just as stupid and ignorant and short sighted as the world we used to take care of, care take, and occasionally save.  The only savior the world might have to look upon now is the f**king Chinese hahah... don't look to us anymore..  in fact.. next to Russia.. you best fear us... we have slid THAT far....

Can you loan me some money then...?

;)