Americans (and people from other countries), what do you expect from foreigners during conversations?

I expect if I talk louder and slower you’ll understand me.~ And serious congrats on your project. I want to know everything about your history and culture. Your country has a fascinating history. But if I’m talking with you personally, my connection is all with you. Does that make sense?

I agree with @Adirondackwannabe. Both types of conversation are possible – the content will usually be dictated by the context of the meeting, and perhaps the status of the two people (for example, age and social/socioeconomic status). The more they have in common, and also the longer they’ve known each other, the more likely it is that the conversation will be personal. Otherwise, it might be mostly small talk (social news/customs).

Their fucking undivided attention. I’m talkin’ here.

As one who has been around, my expectations change based on where I am, just as my expectations of immigrants varies depending on where they are from. Germans are quite different from Ethiopians, Filipinos, or Aussies.

For purposes of this topic, I would consider the US to be no fewer than six different countries though, and I think that many outside the US seem to not get that our nation is large enough for it to be as diverse as it is. As a result, the one near-universal thing that I expect regardless is to be judged based on how Americans from Hollywood, Ohio, or Dixieland are rather than as the born-and-raised New Englander that I am. If not for the fact that it’s unintentional, I would be highly offended by the sheer inaccuracy alone.

Ummm, huh what?

@Adirondackwannabe . . . it’s like mistaking a japanese fella for a korean.

@Blondesjon There’s a difference?

I expect them to sit quietly and respectfully while I regale them with countless tales about how great America is. They must also understand that when we are in their country, they are still the foreigners…..

I’m not sure it changes much whether at home or abroad. If I’m visiting someplace, I’m there to see what it’s like. The customs, history, culture, etc. I don’t expect a close personal conversation with someone I just met. If your bunions hurt, keep it to yourself, I’ll try to do the same.

I would say that the Americans are largely seeking your personal take on the social news and culture of your country.

Personally, I’d be more interested in the local culture. Say, taking a meal. From most interested to least interested, I would prefer:
1.) Having a meal in someone’s home
2.) Having a meal in a local resident’s favorite restaurant
3.) Having a meal in a randomly chosen local spot.
4.) Having a meal in a popular tourist destination.
5.) Eating at McDonald’s, or some such dross.

5–4-3–1-2 for me lol @ibstubro
And American who visit my country are more interested in “social news” and “culture of the country” than “personal information”. For me it’s just the reverse order

The only thing I expect is that the hotel staff is knowledgeable on providing recommendations for site-seeing and restaurants.

What I’d like is a long list, starting with not to be abducted, attacked, robbed or end up with a malady that can’t be cured by a visit to a chemist shop. This is applicable for all countries, even here in the US.

When I travel, it’s to places where we are more likely to get a taste of the history and culture for that country in seven days. So if we were to visit Vietnam, it would most likely be in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. An uneducated guess is that both places are large enough that the locals are used to tourists there.

If I’m standing on a street corner intently studying a map and looking confused, it’s always nice to have a local stop and offer assistance.

As a traveler, it is my responsibility to be aware of the local customs before arriving at the destination. Even then, I have slipped up. It would be nice if a local were to point this out in a friendly manner and explain why.

It would be wonderful if non-Americans were forgiving for how loud we are, clueless on the local customs, and for getting frustrated when the locals don’t speak English. I don’t expect that though.

From everything that I’ve read about Vietnam, it sounds like a wonderful country to visit. Very hospitable.

You’d prefer eating at McDonalds, @wsxwh111, if you were visiting Viet Nam?

I’d do my research on-line before I went and know where it was safe and approved to go. Maybe find a local site and find out where the locals eat, and interesting things to see. My favorite thing in a new place is walking and exploring, so I’d pick some noteworthy locations or attractions that I could walk to from my hotel and take off on foot, early. Forage for food when I was hungry.

When I interacted with the natives, I’d be more interested in them – their lives and opinions. I can learn the rest of that crap on-line.

I’m never afraid to admit ignorance, and people find that disarming. I ate an Indian restaurant recently and they brought a lovely appetizer. I waited until the waitress arrived and just plain asked, “What is this, and what do I do with it?”
The staff got a kick out of it and started giving me tips and suggestions. I even found a new global market.
The staff at the local Mexican restaurants get a kick out of the 2 -3 dozen Spanish words I know. One of the last visits my waiter was asked something by the guy checking me out. My waiter replied “Dias.” I looked him in the eye and said, “Nueve.” He did a double-take, looked at the menu, and said loudly to me and my waiter, “Nueve!” I’m not paying $10 for a $9 dish. lol We all laughed over it.

@Adirondackwannabe Thanks :) The success was something none of us expected, but at least it encouraged us to do another project next semester. And yeah, we know each other for so long so the topics don’t matter. That group only gave a general solution to everyone. It’s like you visit Vietnam and bump into me, and that’s the first time we’ve known each other.

@Blondesjon So you prefer them to be quiet huh? According to the results quietness appnd shyness are something Americans least expect from foreigners, but about ⅔ of Vietnamese students have. Well, I guess you’ll find speaking to them awesome :P No one is going to interrupt you, ever ~

@RadioFlyer you and @Blondesjon are in the same league :)

@ibstubro I would say that the Americans are largely seeking your personal take on the social news and culture of your country.

Ha! That’s sum it up nicely! But the group only said “social news” in a very general term, so it might led people into thinking that they just have to report the news from everywhere. And still according to the group, students don’t really take their time to collect information about social news or the culture. If you ever ask me my opinion about these things, I’ll try my best to include all my knowledge and opinion, and expect me to be ignorant because there can be things I don’t know :P and if you are to visit my place, I’ll offer you a free meal at my home :)

And I don’t think @wsxwh111 really knows which country I live in.

@Pied_Pfeffer the study only focuses on solution for normal people, especially students, so it won’t be applicable for hotel staffs and the like. And you said Americans are loud? That’s new to me. And frustration for people who don’t know English is understandable. I think everyone is frustrated when they can’t communicate. You’re right that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city have many cultural and historical values, but I would recommend visiting Hanoi, since all the cultural and historical values are there (it’s the oldest city in Vietnam anyway), and the weather is cooler for Americans.

@wsxwh111 thanks for opinion from a non-American. “Personal information” here means “how old are you, what do you do, how many people in your family…”. I can understand your reserve order. We have similar culture. Most people in my country are interested in the same thing.

I like to hear about the culture of the country I’m visiting. I’m usually interested in how the people in that country view Americans.

I always like hearing great stories, especially funny ones, if we have time for that. Seeing how we might connect is also something that typically happens in a conversation I have. Maybe we have something in common. Along with that would be a little personal info. I always like to find out about a person, what their interested in, especially young people.

It somewhat matters how we met, and how much time we have.

I think most Americans have no trouble asking questions, so they will ask what they are curious about, you won’t have to guess. My experience is people from some countries find our questions rude or prying. It happens even here in America. A lot of us are accustomed to asking people their national background, what their home country is like, ask people their opinions, and talk openly about what we don’t like about other countries and our own. Some of our newer immigrants are very put off by it, or feel people ask for prejudiced reasons. It’s really just curiousity. We’ll share where our families are from too.

@ibstubro Just because that’s something I’m familiar with.
@Mimishu1995You are welcome, and of course I know your nationality. Give people more credit ~

Bleh, spit, *familiar”, @wsxwh111.
I want to try the tasty local [non-meat] dishes!
I’m bored with my available food.
Ask your gramma to cook when I get there, then invite me over.

@Mimishu1995 Thank you for the recommendation of Hanoi. I’ll add it to our list of places to visit.

It might be helpful to take a look at the Trip Advisor website in order to find expectations from people who have visited Vietnam. For example, in this list of Top 30 things to do in Vietnam, the one ranked in first place is for a cooking class. In reading through the comments, many mention that the instructor(s) speak English.

The site may give your group guidance on what is currently being done well and any possible areas of improvement. From all that I’ve read so far, the country is a shining example of hospitality.

lol forgive me @ibstubro When it comes to food I seem to have this conservative habit of eating food I’ve already known

@Mimishu1995 I remember @Blondesjon from an earlier incarnation on this site, and a better “league”, I could not hope to be in….