The Ugly American

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Posted by Abner from user-2ive89q.dialup.mindspring.com on April 30, 1999 at 20:27:52:

In Reply to: To Abner posted by Michaelson on April 29, 1999 at 10:55:19:

: : : Regarding your comments (way) below on the way Americans dress compared to Europeans. The sad fact is you're right. During Indy's time of the 1930's, Americans, though basically poor from the Depression, took great pains to dress well within their means. Today it Americans have gotten a reputation for bad dressing.
: : : I liked your observation about American tourists visiting Europe. I see the same thing living here in Seoul. The Koreans, men and women, dress very well. They don't run around in clownish basketball sneakers or hip hop, garbage bag size jeans. I think the nicest compliment I ever got here was when I first arrived last year. I was riding the subway and a Korean gentleman approached me and tried to speak to me in French. When he realized I was American, he quickly apologized in English and said that I did not dress like an American. I was wearing a button-down shirt, pleated trousers, and dark leather shoes!
: : : Do you ever feel like you were born in the wrong era? -MP

: :
: : Yes! I often feel like that! It sometimes makes you wonder about reincarnation and past lives and all that. It can be dangerous though, because in over-romanticizing the past you can forsake the future. But no doubt about it, modern dress has become way too casual in the name of "comfort". It's sad, because what could be more comfortable than a properly fitting suit and pair of shoes? We are just too used to buying clothes off the rack ten sizes too big. (Maybe 'cause Americans are so fat?) But now the clothes are REALLY BIG. ( I recently saw a high school kid walking down the road wearing a hooded sweathirt and jeans and from far away I though he was a Jawa!

: : With regard to outdoor equipment as well, I am aware and appreciative of the benefits and practicality of modern materials like nylon and plastic, but there really WAS something great about the look of cotton canvas, leather, and brass.

: : It's funny, but I've had experiences abroad similar to yours. I lived in Ireland for half a year and often people would not believe I was American- they thought I was French or German or something. I guess the lack of a baseball cap, sneakers, and a Gore-Tex parka fooled them!

: : If you want to look European, it seems to me that you need to wear lots of BLACK. Actually, NYC is kind of like that now... "How much more black could it be? None...more black." (kind of a cliche, like the Spinal Tap album cover). I don't like to wear black (preferring brown, khaki, and other natural colors) but I do avoid jeans and sneakers.

: : As a whole the Irish were very well dressed, at least in Dublin. But of all the Europeans, I really liked those French girls and the way they dressed--very attractively. And that accent...

: : Cheers,
: : Abner

: Sorry Abner, but had to say something about your "broad" statements regarding "Americans being so fat". That's like saying all Canadians only run around in the north woods and wear Mountie uniforms or stocking caps of the French batteau boatmen and speak only broken French/English. A lot of the kids here do indeed wear clothes 3 sizes to big intentially, though not in the vast numbers you imply. Why? I don't have a clue. It's the current fad, and my daughters have tried to explain it to me, but wearing a pair of pants with legs 3-4 sizes to big around and weighing 10 pounds per leg is beyond me. But then bell bottoms, flairs, platform shoes and those tiny sunglasses were beyond my parents when I was in high school. Let's not go there. Most Americans have suffered from the generalization of the "Ugly American" book published back in the 1960's. The majority of us are NOT like that, thank you very much, and a lot of us still dress according to the situation and locations we find ourselves in. Major Paul is a good example. Regards. Michaelson

I know it's a broad statement but just spend some time living overseas and you'll realize it's true! Americans ARE fat compared to the rest of the world, and I make no exception with regard to myself. In Europe this becomes plainly apparent with a walk down the street. However, it's also a scientific fact based on a comparison of the extra pounds per person in each country. However, not to worry, the rest of the world is catching up --I read that the English are putting on the pounds at a prodigious rate and by about 2010 they will be fatter on average than Americans! Burger King! Mmmmmm, fish and chips!! In the meantime I'll be at the McDonald's Drive-Thru window chomping down burgers, fries and cokes.

Cheers,
Abner

PS- The Candians don't wear mountie uniforms, but overseas they do almost always wear a patch or a pin with the Canadian Flag on it because they don't like being mistaken for Americans.



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