Ok here we go I’m going to spill my guts here mate but firstly don’t shoot the messenger and don’t take this as the populace , done a little research today and contacted relatives and some old mates who are still living in Kiwi land I asked them the question ‘how do you perceive Americans in your country’.
From the information received I have concluded that from a group of 25 people living in New Zealand that Americans in another country have the perception of being loud, aggressive and demanding.
Now this is where it gets really weird, I asked them have you personally met Americans and most of them said no, ……ok next question was well how do you know they are like this, “oh from what I’ve heard on the media, movies and what I have read and that time uncle Bill met one down South ages ago”!!! aren’t people to easy to judge without firsthand knowledge, go figure.
From this I think attitude is important here, I would be doing everything to downplay this image the minute you open your mouth you are going to be judged as an American and that judgment stays with that listening and observing individual and is often passed around to their family and friends. If you’re going to be there for a while go out of your way to be polite as possible and as friendly as possible and smile, that will throw them back.
Now saying all this when I go back to visit my relatives and friends I absolutely cop a bagging, being a naturalized Australian they think gives them the right to put down our Country and national footy team (who gives a rats I don’t even follow footy) and my Aussie ascent, people can be very cruel but I’ve always got a good come back… ha.