What cultural warning should we give people who visit the USA?

I always thought that there are certain aspects of American society that we should warn visitors about who come here. Someone should meet them at the airport or border crossing with a greeting that begins, "Welcome to America...." and then warns them.

What warning would you give visitors after saying "Welcome to America...?"

(This is some good-natured ribbing.)

rent a car, our public transportation pretty much sucks for 1000 miles anywhere near the Grand Canyon.

Welcome to America: We're not perfect but at least hour roads don't look like Swiss cheese.:)

I say that based on personal experience.The difference is astonishing.

You could lose a car in some of our potholes.

Always have to be better than everybody.Our potholes are bigger than yoours ! Neener neener. :P

pecan
coconut cream
peach
cherry
apple
lemon
chocolate
chess
buttermilk

you get the picture.

Check your critical thinking skills at the door.

The tittle is Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan.One of the best author in the genre IMHO.In the story

the U.S are divided in 3 parts.The west cost,Most of New England + New York and DC and

the rest is called Jesusland.And it's an horrible fundie dystopia. :scared:

Now Bush Free.:)

It would be a shame to pass up this golden opportunity.

As for "Sorry about the South", do please bear in mind that quite a few people come here specifically to see the South, especially New Orleans, of course, but also Acadiana (Cajun country), Charleston, Savannah, etc.

edit: spelling, Acadiana

I will not apologize for my home, although I am always willing to accept a hand from those who are willing to lend a hand coaxing my neighbors toward a more progressive stance. One neighbor at a time.

Seriously this is the biggest problem I have with foreigners. Gratuity is included over there so I am told. It aint over here. Plus most states don't even pay the waiters minimum wage. I get paid $2.13 an hour plus tips. The CUSTOMER pays the waiter.ugggh I waited on a table with party members from Italy their tab was around 150. I joked I never let their drinks run out and then fucking nothing I should just given them crappy service

gratuities in the rest of the world are just that - waiters get paid. Here you live on tips - the "wages" ARE the cheap ass "gratuity"

;)

Unless you brought your own army with you...

The Alamo Drafthouse (a film nerd's mecca) NASA, Beautiful Barton Springs ,(which has been blessed by the Dali Lama) The drop dead gorgeous Florida Keys,the everglades and saving the best for last you would miss out on kick ass Tex Mex. You would miss a whole lot by writing off Texas (am not so knowledgeable about Florida)

Then what are they coming here for?

Or that it's my fault that they have "shoot first and ask questions never" laws in Texas and Florida, but not in places like Vermont or Minnesota.

I'm not the enemy, guys... :eyes:

My opinion is that the people who are now going to pack heat in the national parks legally have already been packing heat illegally there for years anyway. So nothing will be different, effectively.

as they are forever known as exclusionary regionalists.

Also, steer clear of anything that is being "managed" by our Federal Emergency Management Agency, such as hurricane, flood and tornado aftermaths.

Exclusionary regionalists! Perfect.

I rarely eat them, but I do like them.

we are a nation of bubbas. we may not admit it, but the bubbas have taken over.

dinner.

Don't bother with a bunch of appetizers either, unless that is all you are eating.

have to head back to Germany in 3 days (and your flight is from Atlanta!) tour the caves and get back in time to head home.

This occurred at an International Speleological Conference some years ago that was held in Kentucky. I can't tell you how many European visitors actually thought they could rent a car in Bowling Green, drive to New Mexico, tour the caves and get back to Atlanta by Wednesday. We had to explain to them that our maps were not just bigger because we wanted more detail.

Finally we took an outline of Spain and plopped it down over Texas on a same scale map of the US and they got it. They KNEW how large Spain was and it is smaller than Texas.

This year the conference is in Kerrville, so at least it is more centrally located than Kentucky!

I love those German tourists. Six weeks to bounce all over the planet goofily.