What do people think about your country or culture that just isn't true or is inaccurate?

[NwaNaija]

I read a funny thread somewhere else on the myths/misconceptions about different countries. What are yours?

We're loud - Ok, Ok yes we are, especially when on the phone. This one's not a myth but not everyone is.

We all speak one language and understand each other - No we don't.

@ssd

That's so interesting to know ,I really thought you had to have a professional job in the US to get medical insurance with it, much like here in UK

My Walmart employee friends have cheaper and better health insurance than DH who is a company president.

My single mom friend who quit Walmart to become a student gets state Medicaid which is even better and no cost to her.

My neighbour had heart surgery while out of work. The hospital covered his entire bill.

As a self employed person I either get insurance through DH's job or I buy an Obamacare plan through the state health exchange.

When I quit my last job I kept my family on the company insurance for the remainder of the year through COBRA.

DD's boyfriend is a college student and gets his excellent health insurance through the university.

When you buy health insurance, you do not have to declare any pre-existing conditions and the company cannot refuse to insure you.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo I was wondering about Obamacare when you (or was it a different poster) mentioned Medicaid and Medicare. What's the difference between them?

I'm in Italy.

Italian children do NOT eat what everybody else eats by and large, and many live on pasta and tomato sauce till they're about 15. DH used to be a chef and would despair at the mothers who bring their own "baby pasta" to restaurants. Lots of very rigid rules about feeding children.

They definitely don't love children indiscriminately and many wallop their own frequently.

The "but they don't start school until they're 6" thing. No, but they've done three years of full time nursery by then and 99% will be able to read and write.

It's as damp as fuck.

Property and most foodstuffs/groceries are way more expensive than the UK, as are rents and utility bills.

Hardly anyone lives in multi generational households.

Conversely, everyone presumes I am from London, every time I visit the UK that's where I go, and am able to find all their kids jobs there. That I drink tea at 4pm, eat pizza with pineapple, and that I hate Prince Harry.

@WomenAreBornNotWorn

On a similar thread a while ago,a poster said her mate from Poland thought all British women had "wide backs". That had me laughing everytime I recalled it.

And stringy hair 🤣 (from what I remember of that thread).

[quote NwaNaija]@ZZTopGuitarSolo I was wondering about Obamacare when you (or was it a different poster) mentioned Medicaid and Medicare. What's the difference between them?[/quote]
Short version.

Medicare is a govt program for seniors and some people who are disabled.

Medicaid is a govt program for those on low income, particularly families. Qualifying for it varies by state. It covers around $100 million Americans. More here...

www.cbpp.org/research/health/policy-basics-introduction-to-medicaid

Argentine people say the British are very dirty. I don’t know if this is something akin to racism because of bad feelings from The Falkland War or because we don’t use bidets.

Sheesh I keep putting a dollar sign in front of my population numbers... 100 million Americans.

An English person once asked me, "do you have coriander in Wales?"
It was a few years ago, but yes, even then we did have coriander in Wales.

That we dont have telly, or if we do have it we have channels 1-4

@BlackBrowedAlbatross

An English person once asked me, "do you have coriander in Wales?" It was a few years ago, but yes, even then we did have coriander in Wales.

English person asked me if we have McDonald's in Wales

A Swiss friend was once asked by a primary school child if she had a pet cow.

Always interesting to read about how much Italians love children hmm . As someone upthread commented, people in hospitality are paid to grin like loons at poorly-behaved (Brit) kids. People also do not live the Dolmio advert with a moustachioed nonna permanently stirring a big pan of pasta sauce.

My Italian dad absolutely despises the Dolmio advert for this reason!
However, my experience of growing up and living there was that they very much do love children. I remember being stopped by old women in the street who would want to look at and find out about me and my siblings. I do think there is more of a 'children should be children' culture though where I've seen some adults who clearly dislike children that speak to adults in an overly mature/adult way.
I don't know where the previous poster is that's seeing 'many' Italians walloping their kids. It's not seen as the cardinal sin to smack your children there that it is here, but it's not particularly common (and definitely wouldn't describe it as walloping).

Stereotypes that I would say aren't true is that not all Italians are really religious, this isn't the case at all, particularly for younger generations. Also linked to this is the idea that we have big families because everyone is Catholic. Actually, the vast majority of people I know only have 1 or 2 children, 3 is classed as a lot nowadays!

Also Italians don't just eat pizza and pasta all the time! It's a really varied diet and often Italian restaurants here in the UK don't reflect what Italians would truly eat or what you would get in restaurants in Italy.

Irish person here- we are not all drunks who spend all day in the pubs drinking Guinness. Nor do we speak / look like leprechauns or wear green all the time. Most of us do not say 'craic' or 'be gosh and begora' and everything is not a load of aul ' toora loora'
Despite what Americans may think we do not eat corned beef and cabbage on St Patrick's day (or ever )and it is usually called Paddy's day not Patty's day ffs!
We do not have fairies at the bottom of our gardens either ( American family assumption)

@Pumpkinstace

I'm from Yorkshire and I'm sick of the joke about being a tight arsed penny pincher.

Dp gets this a lot ( born in Yorkshire , Yorkshire dad, Scottish grandparents)

Thank you @ZZTopGuitarSolo What about Obamacare?

That British people have bad teeth. No we don’t we actually have excellent dental hygiene compared to the rest of the world however we just don’t hammer our teeth with braces and whitening treatments like people from some countries!

however when I was younger I was on holiday and people asked me to get up and do an irish dance like from riverdance

That’s hilarious, but yes offensive!

I am loving reading about Nigeria. I would love to go one day.

I dont think I can add anything that hasnt been written but this is a great thread.

People tell me i'm lying when i talk about it snowing here in Brazil.

...however we just don’t hammer our teeth with braces and whitening treatments like people from some countries!

What countries do you have in mind there?

Because if it's America - "not all Americans..."

People tell me i'm lying when i talk about it snowing here in Brazil.

When I'm asked what I miss about Ireland, I say, 'The palm trees'.

Oh... none of my American kids have had braces. Neither has American husband. Their teeth are not perfectly straight. Apparently this is unheard of.

@Tallybeebloom

Always interesting to read about how much Italians love children hmm . As someone upthread commented, people in hospitality are paid to grin like loons at poorly-behaved (Brit) kids. People also do not live the Dolmio advert with a moustachioed nonna permanently stirring a big pan of pasta sauce.

My Italian dad absolutely despises the Dolmio advert for this reason!
However, my experience of growing up and living there was that they very much do love children. I remember being stopped by old women in the street who would want to look at and find out about me and my siblings. I do think there is more of a 'children should be children' culture though where I've seen some adults who clearly dislike children that speak to adults in an overly mature/adult way.
I don't know where the previous poster is that's seeing 'many' Italians walloping their kids. It's not seen as the cardinal sin to smack your children there that it is here, but it's not particularly common (and definitely wouldn't describe it as walloping).

Stereotypes that I would say aren't true is that not all Italians are really religious, this isn't the case at all, particularly for younger generations. Also linked to this is the idea that we have big families because everyone is Catholic. Actually, the vast majority of people I know only have 1 or 2 children, 3 is classed as a lot nowadays!

Also Italians don't just eat pizza and pasta all the time! It's a really varied diet and often Italian restaurants here in the UK don't reflect what Italians would truly eat or what you would get in restaurants in Italy.

That's me.

I'm in the south. Though the almost daily news stories about teachers (usually primary and nursery) suspended for smacking tend to come from all over Italy. Latest one was Bologna I think. I've also stopped parents in parks etc when DD was little who were walloping their kids.

I'd agree about the food being totally different to what's depicted in restaurants abroad. It's not nearly as interesting for starters. Pasta and potatoes anyone? The lo-carb bootcamp posters would have a fit.

I think the "loving" kids can be translated into "spoiling" them tbf. That said, I wouldn't still be here if I didn't think it was the best place to bring up a child, warts and all.