Comments on: Germans wonder why Americans think of Bavaria when they think of Germany http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/ German Quirks from an American Perspective Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:47:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Brynhild http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-20583 Brynhild Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:40:36 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-20583 That is probably true, tim, but honestly, try to compare our general knowledge of the US-American states with yours of the German Bundesländer. That is probably true, tim, but honestly, try to compare our general knowledge of the US-American states with yours of the German Bundesländer.

]]> By: tim http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-20544 tim Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:56:53 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-20544 Funny. When I was in Germany for a few years (smack dab in the middle), I met a few people who honestly thought California was directly atop Florida. They may know of New York, some may even know of Boston, but for many, the United States is California and Florida and nothing else. New York is probably assigned to Canada. Funny. When I was in Germany for a few years (smack dab in the middle), I met a few people who honestly thought California was directly atop Florida. They may know of New York, some may even know of Boston, but for many, the United States is California and Florida and nothing else. New York is probably assigned to Canada.

]]> By: na http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-19294 na Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:34:45 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-19294 to be honest, ive never bavaria untill now. i am from america, and i can name several other german cities. to be honest, ive never bavaria untill now. i am from america, and i can name several other german cities.

]]> By: LowerFranconia http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-19293 LowerFranconia Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:28:41 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-19293 there's just one difference between texas and bavaria: a stereotype texan is stupid and bavarians are the educational elite of germany ;) there’s just one difference between texas and bavaria:
a stereotype texan is stupid and bavarians are the educational elite of germany ;)

]]> By: caligirl http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-13439 caligirl Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:19:29 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-13439 I am from San Francisco and live in Munich - I wouldn't live anywhere else in Germany either (Hamburg was a quick consideration but has too much rain). I ditto what Kitty-kat says about the "California" image. A lot of people in Germany and Europe assume a caucasian blonde girl in a bikini, Baywatch style. They expect California is always warm and sunny (ahaha, never experienced August in SF then). They probably would face a huge shock landing in California (or Seattle or DC or Atlanta for that matter) to see the rich ethnic diversity of what makes up the USA. Anyway, Bavaria is definitely cute, quaint, relaxing yet with nice mixes of modernity (in Munich especially), and thus a welcoming positive image and place for many Americans. I think Germans should already be glad that most Americans have heard of Germany and know it's in Europe, AND have a positive image of the country, culture and people (compare that with the British stereotypes and comments of Germans...). I think more Americans have a better idea of Germany than of Wyoming... I am from San Francisco and live in Munich - I wouldn’t live anywhere else in Germany either (Hamburg was a quick consideration but has too much rain).

I ditto what Kitty-kat says about the “California” image. A lot of people in Germany and Europe assume a caucasian blonde girl in a bikini, Baywatch style. They expect California is always warm and sunny (ahaha, never experienced August in SF then). They probably would face a huge shock landing in California (or Seattle or DC or Atlanta for that matter) to see the rich ethnic diversity of what makes up the USA.

Anyway, Bavaria is definitely cute, quaint, relaxing yet with nice mixes of modernity (in Munich especially), and thus a welcoming positive image and place for many Americans. I think Germans should already be glad that most Americans have heard of Germany and know it’s in Europe, AND have a positive image of the country, culture and people (compare that with the British stereotypes and comments of Germans…). I think more Americans have a better idea of Germany than of Wyoming…

]]> By: Jennifer http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-7042 Jennifer Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:00:54 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-7042 This is very funny! LOL 2 thumbs up! This is very funny! LOL
2 thumbs up!

]]> By: kk http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-3950 kk Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:08:28 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-3950 @simi1983 LOL that was great! :) @simi1983

LOL that was great! :)

]]> By: SFG http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-2792 SFG Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:30:34 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-2792 Ya know guys, the reason everyone in America uses the Bavarian stereotype is that we want something that says 'German' without having to bring up the <i>other</i> German stereotype. Ya know guys, the reason everyone in America uses the Bavarian stereotype is that we want something that says ‘German’ without having to bring up the other German stereotype.

]]> By: Aufrechtgehn http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-2772 Aufrechtgehn Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:07:27 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-2772 Finally an answer to that question! As a part of the aforementioned 90% of Germans, just the thought of being taken as a Bavarian by Americans always caused me almost physical pain, especially as I really never understood why. It almost brought me to believe that Americans must be either a) dumb or b) evil to deliberatley insult me with such behaviour. Now I can sigh with relief, thanks to your wonderful blog. Can't thank you enough! :) Finally an answer to that question! As a part of the aforementioned 90% of Germans, just the thought of being taken as a Bavarian by Americans always caused me almost physical pain, especially as I really never understood why. It almost brought me to believe that Americans must be either a) dumb or b) evil to deliberatley insult me with such behaviour.
Now I can sigh with relief, thanks to your wonderful blog. Can’t thank you enough! :)

]]> By: kitty-kat http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-1648 kitty-kat Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:22:33 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/05/15/germans-wonder-why-americans-think-of-bavaria-when-they-think-of-germany/#comment-1648 I too must be honest- before dating and then marrying my German husband- I could have named Germany on a map of Europe, but would have been hard pressed to have ANY clue about where any major cities were! The thing that Europeans always seem to forget is that the United States is itself an area geographically roughly the size of Europe. Most Americans would be happy to know all the differences between the states in the US, just as I'm sure most Europeans would be happy to know the differences between EU countries- much less the subtle (but incredibly important) differences between all the different regions within each of those different countries! California is area-wise about the size of Germany, and I guarantee that at least 90% of you who just pictured a "Californian" imagine a girl in a bikini or a guy on a surfboard! Is this stereotype truly representative of the entire state of CA? Well, you've the farmers in central California, the wineries in the Napa Valley, the mountains, the deserts, etc. You get the picture. My only question is why are Germans surprised that Bavaria has become the unofficial stereotype of Germany? Especially after the iconic travel documentary, I mean movie "European Vacation"?? I too must be honest- before dating and then marrying my German husband- I could have named Germany on a map of Europe, but would have been hard pressed to have ANY clue about where any major cities were! The thing that Europeans always seem to forget is that the United States is itself an area geographically roughly the size of Europe. Most Americans would be happy to know all the differences between the states in the US, just as I’m sure most Europeans would be happy to know the differences between EU countries- much less the subtle (but incredibly important) differences between all the different regions within each of those different countries! California is area-wise about the size of Germany, and I guarantee that at least 90% of you who just pictured a “Californian” imagine a girl in a bikini or a guy on a surfboard! Is this stereotype truly representative of the entire state of CA? Well, you’ve the farmers in central California, the wineries in the Napa Valley, the mountains, the deserts, etc. You get the picture. My only question is why are Germans surprised that Bavaria has become the unofficial stereotype of Germany? Especially after the iconic travel documentary, I mean movie “European Vacation”??

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