The original article is written in Italian and you can read it here. Americans. I love this wonderful people, regardless of their well known flaws. I had the chance to live and work with them throughout the years. Their character and attitude toward life has always gained my simpathy. And that is even more true when they travel abroad. What I love about them it's their enthusiasm and the eagerness to swallow any kind of experience in order to come home with a suitcase full of wonders. But, above all, I love their naivety as they cross multiple borders very little aware that the countries they're stepping into are much different then their own. As an Italian in London who works in the tourism industry I meet Americans on a daily basis. Chatting with them, sharing their experiences, listening to their expectations is always truly enjoyable. But, sometimes, I get to hear things beyond my comprehension. Their way of thinking is different. Their culture is different. Their world view is different. Then again, I can't help to be stunned and at the same time laugh in my mind when I cope with questions like the ones which follow. One day I had this American tourist who asked me where he could find a Walmart. For the record, Walmart is the largest supermarket in the world in terms of income, but it's only present with that brand in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In few other places of the world, such as in the UK, it controls other local supermarket brands. Anyway, this is the conversation how it followed: "We don't have Walmart here in UK" "You don't?" "Yes" "Really?" "Yes" (incredulous pause) "WHY?!" "I suppose they didn't want to expand in the European market" "It's the largest supermarket in the world!" "Not here in Europe" "I can't believe it. I already asked the concierge and he told me there is no Walmart here" "Are you telling me you asked the same question to someone else and you couldn't believe it, and now you're still asking this question to me and still can't believe it?" "Yes!!!" Now, unless this guy thought that repeated queries could make Walmart magically appear somewhere, there was no remedy to his frustration. This is only one of the many episodes which show how often Americans think their neighbour's garden is like their own. It must be told, however, that when abroad Americans refuse to step into places like McDonald's. They may expect to find the same commodities they have at home, but they actively seeking for new experiences, especially when we talk about food. Italian people could learn a lot from them. That's my favourite one. It's the most common question from the American tourists, who seems not to accept the fact that their currency is not valid abroad. It is actually understandable: the American dollar is accepted, if not welcome, in several Third World countries, as is value is higher than the local currency's. Just like euros (and that feeds the black market of currency).
Every year thousands of yankees come to visit the UK capital. But how do they cope with this new reality? Our London contributor shares with us his tales of wonders.