"Do Americans know what a [FILL IN THE BLANK] is?"

[vail_kagami]

So, I am writing my story taking place in Germany. And I am beating a story taking place in Spain. And every now and then Sam and Dean get confronted with something typical for the country or region, be it food or a certain type of building, or whatever. And there's the question: is there a chance that they know what that is? Is this object/food/

Comments

[ray_olr]

I got one! Can you ask if Americans know what motels are used for in Brazil? As opposed to hotels and inns.

[reapertownusa]

I'm on the west coast of the US and use motel to mean accommodations where you park your car right outside the room and there's a door that leads directly from the parking lot to your room, whereas I'd call a hotel a place where you go inside to get to your room and there is no direct parking lot access from the room. I also think of hotels as generally being fancier.

Now I have to know, what are the different uses in Brazil?

[ray_olr]

That's what I thought. I want to add a funny scene in my story with the boys discovering what motels are like here. Do you mind if I don't answer your question now? It would kinda give the joke away.

[shadownashira]

I would like to know Americans' cultural impressions of Singapore. What ethnic groups the population is made up of, what languages they speak, any knowledge about the country's history, cuisine etc. Anything along those lines.

If you don't really have an impression at all, then feel free to say so, because that's helpful too.

Go ahead and respond even if you're not American, because I'm curious and want to know.

Thanks!

[vail_kagami]

I can't tell you what the American's impression is, though if this is still unanswered in a couple of days, I'll ask my friend.

In Germany, I think Singapore is mostly seen as something exotic and far away. A mix of tradition and moderism. Very crowded, strange food. It's a "fine" city. (As the very fun and outgoing girl from Singapore I met in Japan couldn't help pointing out.)

It's not in the media much unless through movies that emphase the exotic aspect, so the public image is pretty vague.

I hope this helps!

[shadownashira]

Hmmm. A mix of the old and the new; that's a good description. Crowded, yes, we're the third most densely populated country in the world, though of course having lived here all my life I don't really feel it. And ha, a "fine" city; the ever popular inside joke.

Thanks for the response!

[reapertownusa]

I'm American, though I'll add the caveat that I've always primarily eaten at Asian restaurants (including various south east Asian cuisines) and have always an interest in Asian languages/religion/culture so I may not be a fair representation. But that being said, I still don't really know much of anything about Singapore so these are just the (probably wrong) thoughts that come to mind when I think of the country

[shi_mo]

do i people know if Chernobyl is well known disaster or not? it kinda big deal in my country, but i was wandering if boys realisticly speaking would know about it? i guess Sam would, but do u think Dean 'd too? it's not the main point of the story just backgraund for folklore character, but still...

[skylar_matthews]

From my experience, it seems to be mentioned in most history classes through the junior high and high school stages (and I moved through a few different schools/states during that time period) so as long as they paid any attention in class they would have heard of it. Granted, there's a chance they missed it altogether with how frequently they changed schools so you could always fill them in properly if you choose. Also, the most any school I've attended taught was that it was a nuclear reactor melt-down that made a wide area entirely unlivable. Sam might have caught details like the first teams to try and clear the mess were only allowed to be in there about 5 minutes before the radiation would kill them but he is a nerd like that.

So, there's freedom there to assume they know about it or to explain it properly because 'Americans get everything wrong' if you want them to know anything in particular about the event.

I hope that gives you enough info (without overloading you) and good luck with your writing.^^