Stereotypes of different countries. The most famous stereotypes of society and their role in people's lives. Actually

National flavor can be found not only in cuisine, habits or culture, but also on the roads. There are a lot of tales among the people about the manner of driving in different countries of the world. Some of them are true or partly true, others are actually converted by prejudices.

Germany

Counts: drivers are pedantic and law-abiding to the extreme.

Actually: the rules on the roads of Germany are violated not so rarely, only this is done masterfully - without interfering with others. And, contrary to popular belief, rarely anyone is in a hurry to report this to the police.

In general, motorists in Germany love speed. It is not surprising, since in this country there are autobahns with allowed unlimited traffic. The worst driver is the one who is inattentive, too relaxed and distracted.

Great Britain

Counts: motorists in England are prim and disciplined to the point of impossibility.

Actually: even if, being a guest of Albion, you did not rent a car, you could observe very broken guys on local roads who behave arrogantly, change lanes abruptly, and do not let anyone through. Adding to the confusion is the left-hand traffic, which unsettles visitors from the countries of continental Europe - and there are many of them here. But on the other hand, the attitude of the drivers here is extremely respectful.

Egypt

Counts: complete, final and irreversible chaos reigns on local roads.

Actually: and there is. It seems that they did not write for the Egyptians, since even the traffic police sometimes drive at night with their headlights off. The dipped beam is turned on to greet an oncoming car, turn signals and, of course, a sound signal are used for the same purpose.

Some foreigners joke that in Egypt it is better to drive with earplugs, otherwise you can go crazy out of habit. On a multi-lane road, all slow-moving vehicles will always trudge in the left lane, while both the right and left lanes will be crammed with three-wheeled tuk-tuks, carts and cyclists loaded with various belongings. Add to this a huge number of incredibly and objectively insufficient number of gas stations - and you get a true "pleasure" of driving. With regard to Cairo, all of the above should be multiplied by ten.

Saudi Arabia

Counts: in the country go almost without rules.

Actually: if you consider that training in local takes a record short time, so it is. In many cities, there are only two speed limiters - 80 and 100 kilometers per hour. If there is a roundabout ahead, and the driver needs a third or fourth (that is, the leftmost) exit, then he may well not go around the entire circle, but, desperately signaling, immediately turn in the opposite direction in the right direction.

Car maintenance in Arabia is also not treated very carefully. In general, the fact that European drivers consider Egypt and Saudi Arabia to be the most dangerous countries for driving is indicative.

France

Counts: The European Union is the European Union, everyone is polite and accurate.

Actually: it is in France, most often in Paris, that one can observe how drivers, while parking, calmly push cars that are in front and behind with their bumpers. It looks wild and no one cares price category of a nearby car: the bumper is considered a consumable item.

Sometimes you can observe another specific "entertainment" in traffic jams: the car standing behind slightly pushes the car in front, it pushes the next one - and so on in a chain. It looks, of course, funny, but if you have a rented car, then you will have to pay for the damage. But as a compensation for such lawlessness, extremely severe fines are set for speeding, even just a couple of kilometers per hour against the established limit.

Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries

Counts: locals have been driving two-wheeled vehicles since childhood and masterfully use them, it is quite safe on the roads.

Actually: car drivers are really calm, their maneuvers are easy to predict. With two-wheeled transport a little more difficult. Thai motorcyclists are really skilled with bikes and rarely get into dangerous situations (although, being a motorcycle taxi passenger, you will certainly experience a lot of thrills). But the problem is that in Thailand there are a huge number of tourists and expats, many of whom, having rented transport, go out on the roads without a day's training in a motorcycle school and without even trying to drive a scooter before. This is what increases the risk of accidents, including serious ones, at times.

USA

Counts: Americans prefer giant voracious machines and do not monitor their condition at all.

Actually: yes, huge SUVs and family pickups are very popular in the States, but the average American's craving for automotive megalomania is greatly exaggerated. Yes, there are a lot of large engines, but residents of large cities often choose compact cars.

There are a lot of tales among Russian motorists about the monstrous attitude of American motorists to their vehicles: they don’t change the oil, and they don’t go to the service. In fact, the vast majority of cars in the US are bought on credit, and the cost of maintenance is already included in the payment - like it or not, you will keep an eye on the car. In addition, it is in the USA that services for a comprehensive check of the history of a car are developed like nowhere else in the world - both paid and public. With their help, when buying a used car, you can find out not only about previous owners and accidents, but also about the terms of service.

We will talk about stereotypes - norms, canons, laws, customs, traditions, prejudices of society. Most people consider them correct and follow them. Here it is important to distinguish between the concept of the correctness of a stereotype and conventionality (contrived). But fictitious stereotypes sometimes control collective consciousness(including us). Stereotypes of people are primarily divided into global ones - characteristic of the scale of the planet, and narrow ones - those that we follow in schools, at work, at home, etc. However, both of them become an illusion that has a lot of followers.

Male models are traditionally classified as gay

What is a stereotype?

The concept of "stereotype" appeared in the 20s of the last century. It was introduced into scientific literature by the American scientist W. Lippman. He characterized a stereotype as a small "picture of the world" that a person stores in the brain in order to save the effort required to perceive more complex situations. According to an American scientist, there is two reasons for stereotyping:

1. Saving effort;
2. Protection of the values ​​of the group of people in which it exists.

The stereotype has the following properties:

• Immutability in time;
• Selectivity;
• emotional fullness.

Since then, many scientists have added to and innovated this concept, but the basic idea has not changed.

What are stereotypes based on? In order not to bother themselves with unnecessary reflections, people use well-known stereotypes. Sometimes they find their confirmation by observing people and then they are even more convinced that they are right. Stereotypes are a kind of replacement for the human thought process. Why "reinvent the wheel" when you can use someone else's mind. V to varying degrees each of us is subject to stereotypes, the difference lies in how much of us believe in these "postulates".

Stereotypes live in us, influence the worldview, behavior and contribute to a misperception of reality: the role of modern stereotypes in human life and society is undeniable. Stereotypes can be imposed by public opinion, and formed on the basis of one's own observations. Social stereotypes are the most destructive for people's worldview. They impose the wrong train of thought on a person, and prevent him from thinking independently. However, without stereotypes society could not exist. Thanks to them, we know about the following patterns:

• The water is wet;
• The snow is cold;
• The fire is hot;
• From a stone thrown into the water, circles will disperse.

Once we know about it, then we do not need to be convinced of this every time. But the stereotypes that operate at the level of consciousness and subconsciousness of people, as a rule, prevent them from living. We must learn to distinguish stereotypes from the actual idea of ​​the subject, to understand the pros and cons of people's stereotypes.

Famous bloggers are perceived as "narrow-minded" girls

Take, for example, the stereotype of debt. There is nothing wrong or wrong with this feeling. The only question is whether this concept is dictated by a person's inner convictions, or is imposed on him by public opinion. In the second case, a person feels a disagreement between his own concepts and what society requires of him.

The desire of people to follow stereotypes distorts their ideas about reality and poisons existence. Very often a person judges people not by their actions, but by what others think of them. Sometimes a person who goes to church from time to time ascribes to himself all the virtues of Christianity. Although this is far from true.

It often happens that people do not bother to think about the problem, they just use the prevailing stereotype and adopt it.

For example, these are groups of people who are divided according to the following criteria:

• sexual;
• age;
• Level of education;
• professional;
• Belief, etc.

For example, blondes, in order not to bother themselves, proving the infidelity of the prevailing stereotype, try to conform to the generally accepted opinion. It's easier to live that way. Or women, trying, find a rich groom, with whom they become deeply unhappy, because when choosing, they did not take into account his human qualities.

You can not project the prevailing stereotype on all people to the same extent. It is necessary to proceed in your judgments from the personality of a person, his merits and demerits, life position, etc.

What are the stereotypes?

Note that we are talking about stereotypes! The following are examples of the most popular social stereotypes that are quite common in society:

Gender stereotypes: women and men

Gender stereotypes are among the most striking in modern society

Below is a list of common gender stereotypes with examples - believe me, you see in it a lot of familiar and well-established in the public perception:

1. Woman is a stupid, weak and worthless creature. It is intended to give birth, wash, cook, clean and court her “master” (man) in every possible way. She was born to learn how to properly apply makeup, dress and giggle, only then she has the opportunity to "wrap" a good male who will provide her and her offspring with a decent life. As long as a woman lives at the expense of a man and obeys him in everything, she has the right to "eat from his table."
2. As soon as the lady from the first paragraph shows character, she becomes a lonely divorcee. You can give a couple of examples single woman stereotype: 1) a divorced single mother - unhappy, lonely, forgotten by everyone;
   2) a widow - a heartbroken and also unhappy woman.
3. A lady should not be strong and fight for her own well-being without the help of a man. Otherwise she is a careerist who does not have time for a family, children and husband. Again, unfortunate!
4. The man is the center of the universe. Strong, smart, handsome (even with a belly and a bald head). He is obliged to earn money in order to satisfy the desires of women.

In fact, men only want sex from women, but they adhere to the rules of the “love” game in order to achieve that same sex.

1. A man shouldn't:

• Talk about your feelings;
• Cry;
• Help the woman around the house.

Otherwise, he does not consider himself a man.

1. A man must:

• Work. And no matter that they pay little, and he is not able to support his family, he still gets tired at work! And hence the origins of the next position;
• Lying on the sofa. After all, he is tired, he is resting;
• Drive. A woman, according to men, has no right to this. Because she's stupid!

In other cases, it is believed that this is not a man, but a worthless creature that “shames” the male gender. The above examples of well-known stereotypes in the perception of communication partners confirm the fact that many of us do not see the essence behind a real person: stuffed from childhood with clichés and clichés, we are not ready to listen to the words of a loved one and understand his expectations.

Children

Children are obliged:

• To obey the parents;
• To embody the dreams and unfulfilled desires of moms and dads;
• To study "excellent" at school, college and university;
• When parents get old, "bring them a glass of water."

So, children are disobedient and unbearable, young people are insane and dissolute.

Old people always grumble and are unhappy with everything

But in old age, all people get sick and complain about life, otherwise they, at least, behave strangely.

Happiness

Happiness is:

• Money;
• High rank.

Everyone else is a miserable loser. Even if a person is absolutely happy, living in a state of trance (in nirvana), and he has nothing for his soul, he is a loser!

"Correct"...

Only in the most eminent institutions do they receive the “correct” education. The “right” people go to work and sit there from bell to bell. "That's right" if you live in your homeland, and do not leave to live in another country. "Correct" to follow fashion trends. It is “correct” to buy an expensive item in a boutique, and not the same in a regular store. It is “correct” to have an opinion that coincides with the opinion of the majority. It's "right" to be like everyone around you.

For people, following stereotypes is fatal. Parents instill in our brain the idea that you can’t stand out from society, you need to live like everyone else. Each of us in childhood was afraid to become a "black sheep" and be expelled from the team. To become different from everyone else means to live by your own rules and think with your own head - to live by straining your brain.

Frame from the film "Agents of A. N. K. L." ("The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", 2015), where actor Armie Hammer played the principled and impenetrable KGB agent, Ilya Kuryakin

What are professional stereotypes: examples

Professional stereotypes include generalized images of a professional in a particular profession. The most frequently mentioned categories in this regard are:

• 1. police officers. These stereotypes are especially zealously fueled by American films and Russian TV series. Rare, to admit, the interaction of ordinary citizens with police officers in real life gives rise to a bunch of conjectures that are successfully directed in the right direction from television screens. Most fans of such films are convinced that even the most ordinary policeman is brave, selfless, able to single-handedly defeat a whole gang of thugs.
  2. Doctors. And in reality, there are professionals capable of bringing back to life literally from the next world, but in case of health problems, you should not expect a spectacular appearance in the hospital on a gurney, shouting “Road, road! We are losing him” accompanied by the entire ambulance team - in life, believe me, everything is much more banal, and a smart and insightful doctor, able to make an instant decision in a critical situation for the patient’s life, is, alas, rather a professional stereotype.
  3. The stereotype of someone who knows how to solve from small domestic to global government problems lawyer- another image that came from the American TV series. Litigation in this performance is more like a theater with convulsive wringing of hands, tears in the eyes, and the voice of lawyers breaking from the excitement and tragedy of what is happening.
  4. A vivid example of a professional stereotype has been known to us since Soviet times: worker and farmer. Yes, yes, rural workers and simple hard workers, bursting with health, with eyes burning with enthusiasm and thirst for work, are ready for any sacrifice for the sake of the prosperity of industry, agricultural technologies, Soviet society and the state as a whole.
  5. Modern students: not very knowledgeable, but proficient in drinking and sex, drug use and organizing violent parties. Perhaps the imposed image is still closer to American society, but Russian students also glance in that direction with admiration - oh, we would like that ...

How to deal with stereotypes?

As it turns out, stereotypes are designed to unload the human brain from unnecessary stress. At the same time, stereotypes limit the mental activity of a person, preventing it from going beyond the boundaries of the standard worldview. If you use the stereotype “it is good where we are not”, then a person is sure that nothing good can happen where he lives. And in that mythical distance, where he never was and never will be, everyone lives under communism and. As a result, you don’t even need to strive to become happy, you still won’t succeed.

But You can't blindly believe everything people say.. And then, the stereotype always has a hidden meaning. In this case, the true meaning of this stereotype is that a person will always think that someone somewhere makes less effort and lives much better.

This causes envy and disappointment in their "unsuccessful" life. It turns out that this opinion is erroneous.

The main way to fight stereotypes is not to believe them. Do not believe what people say, check the information, and based on the conclusions drawn, build your own opinion. Thus, you can refute outdated stereotypes and prevent the emergence of new ones.

Think about how many stereotypes you use all the time. Try to find those that are not supported by facts. The mentioned stereotype that "blonds are all stupid" is a highly controversial statement. Start by listing girls and women with blond hair that you know well. How many of them would you call stupid? Are they all as stupid as the stereotype claims? Look for a rebuttal to statements that are not based on facts.

If you're using the "more expensive is better" stereotype, look for examples of affordable products that are high quality and trendy. At the same time, expensive items do not always meet quality standards.

Beautiful and well-groomed women are often considered stupid and prudent.

Conclusion

So what are stereotypes? This is an ambiguous manifestation of social thinking. They live and will always live, whether we like it or not. They carry information that people have collected and systematized for centuries. Some of them are based on real facts, others are like fictional fairy tales, but they were, are and will be. Decide for yourself which of the stereotypes is harmful to your thinking, and which is useful. Use what you need and get rid of the bad ones.

And, finally, we offer to digress from a serious topic and watch a funny video about street football stereotypes. Yes, and there are!

When it comes to the customs and customs of a particular country, then, as a rule, certain stereotypes arise. Japan - sushi, Holland - smoking drugs, England - oatmeal, Russia - bears walking the streets. In fact, all of the many beliefs no longer correspond to reality. This material contains 13 common stereotypes in which it is high time to stop believing.

1. Russia

2. Canada

3. Estonia

4. Australia

5. Netherlands

6. UK

7. Spain

8. Sweden

9. Japan

10. Mexico

11. France

12. Mongolia

13. USA

Video bonus:

Continuing the theme of established beliefs

Prevailing stereotypes about different nationalities in the UAE January 11th, 2012

At a local forum, an article about national stereotypes of different citizens was emotionally discussed. I collected excerpts from the article and the statements of various people from the forum into one burning post on national soil.

The United Arab Emirates is known around the world for its multicultural community and mix of cultures. At the beginning of 2012, the foreign population of the country amounted to 85%. Despite the fact that the mixing of people in the UAE from all over the world functions smoothly and does not cause problems, there are still some stereotypes that have developed in the country.

Stereotypes are also created and appear in relation to residents of the UAE of Filipino origin. Often, Filipinas are mistaken for housekeepers here.

"I'm married to a French man and we live in a family villa in The Springs," said one Filipina who declined to be named. - “Every time strangers come to our house and I open the door, they ask me to call the hostess or the owner of the house. It takes me a long time to explain that I am the hostess.

“Russian people are associated by many as heavy drinkers, and Russian women are considered some of the most beautiful in the world,” says Elena Loy, a Russian woman who works in one of the stores in the Mall of the Emirates. “I think this is nonsense. In my life I have met many beautiful women other nationalities, as well as drunkards who were not Russian.”

“We are not terrorists,” says Amjad Iqbal from Pakistan, and asks everyone to pay attention to his words, as he is very outraged by the insinuations that he often hears in his address.

Similarly, Ali Reza Muhammadi, an Iranian, claims to know nothing about a nuclear bomb allegedly being built in his country. “These allegations are believed by everyone because they are being hyped up in the press every day, but they are not true,” says Muhammadi.

Sometimes stereotypes, on the contrary, play a positive role in people's lives. “We have a reputation for diligent and hardworking employees who are punctual and never late,” says Christian Henn from Germany. - “To be honest, such a stereotype helps me a lot in my work, people very easily trust me with important work when they find out that I am German. I want to believe that this stereotype is true. Plus, I'm really never late."

A lot of people in the UAE believe that Western expats have a greater presumption of innocence and credibility than people from other countries. It is easier for them to find a job, they are less likely to be fined, it is much easier to get a visa for them to any country than for citizens of developing countries. For this, they are often criticized by those people who are deprived of such privileges.

“When it comes to driving in the UAE, it’s best to be an Emirati,” confirms a local citizen living in Abu Dhabi, who declined to give his name. “I am a very bad driver, and the reputation of bad drivers is already firmly entrenched in us. When people see the license plate of my car, they prefer to keep a respectful distance from me and do not risk getting close. (Below is a 50 second video about driving in the UAE).

The conversation turned to "why are Russian specialists here so poorly with employment?"
I thought that this situation comes from the fact that the recruiting business (and here it is akin to show business) is run by specific nationalities. They created a monopoly and firmly hold the market, not allowing anyone to penetrate. It is known for certain that Manpower (formerly Clarendon Parker) patronizes only its British to key positions, to bread places (moreover, people who are completely incompetent, do not have the necessary education and / or work experience) so that they, in turn, they were not forgotten and signed contracts "for supplies" or notified of vacancies.

The same is true in job scan, job line, abc, who protect their Indians. Those. "Minor" nationalities can, of course, fall into something, but it is precisely to "fall" if others are already satiated, or "Russian peaking" is required, as a rule, not to the "executive level". On the "executive level" they will still stick their Indian, even if "Russian peaking" is required. Convince the employer.

Those. Russians are rotten here, they are not allowed to feed, because they do not have strong positions in the recruiting business (or rather, they do not exist at all. What the Russian-speaking recruiting agencies in this country offer is Kindergarten and amateurism, they have no position here).

However, my opponent noted that it is not at all necessary that this is due to the lack of strong positions in recruiting. Russians (Russian-speaking) still have a reputation that they love to steal at work (selling gasoline, diesel, other fuel, snatching everything that is bad. Maritime teams and airport workers were noticed). There are other sins for the Russians. For example, they do not like to work. All the time they are looking for any opportunity to work less or not work at all. And it's not that other nationalities do not sin with this, but they do it "in a smart way", when it seems that "everyone knows or guesses", but "there is nothing to complain about." Russians (Russian-speakers), on the other hand, do it clumsily, stupidly, and cannot stop in time.

Last night at the Giante. In the fruit section. A Hindu or Sri Lankan woman stands and chooses cucumbers. She moved away and then a cucumber rolled down, and onto the floor. She steps on him, sees this and steps aside.
I told her: came - lift. She picked it up and put it in a pile there. Again I make a comment. Hmm, I put it next to the boxes. No, are you stupid? And like decently dressed and clearly not a housekeeper.
A stereotype, not a stereotype, but I knew that she would not raise it.
A European will always pick it up if he drops it - he has noticed more than once. I drop it myself and also put it back.
And this ... .. is still far from culture.
Housewife once wrote that she was once visiting a fairly wealthy Hindu family, so they dumped crumbs on the floor after dinner.
A European or American will definitely say hello in the elevator and ask which floor.
These are extremely rare. And the Russians too.

There was a case in the office: a Hindu, a middle manager, a very educated, Europeanized lady, dropped half a hamburger bun on the floor. I nod to her, Dimple, you dropped something. She says let the cleaners pick it up, I pay them for it.
I told her: “It’s not you who pays the cleaners, but the general. The cleaners will come in the evening, why now it will be lying on the floor until the evening? bucket She didn't talk to me afterwards.

The Russians are doing very well. Especially here. Nobody wants to lose their bread place. However, the problem is that the Russians are aggressive and too assertive, conflicted - they have such a reputation, which is partly true. It is also believed that Russians do not know English well, and Russian women are whores. The Russians fail to build normal relations with the Indians, because the Russian will run into the Indians and resent why they do not work well. And the Indians will not allow it. So are the Arabs. Yes, and from the Russians.

If a Russian person works well in the office, it will still be difficult to grow, because they treat him suspiciously, and they simply envy his talent and are afraid to put him in high positions. I know one Russian who was put in a very good position. Everyone immediately hated him - because he is too smart and says what he thinks, that is, the truth. Let's see how long he lasts.

Based on materials

In our life there are many stereotypes that we are accustomed to trust.

We have collected the most popular stereotypes that immediately come to mind when mentioning a particular country. But it turned out that they were very outdated, if not they were never true at all.

Spain. Bullfighting is the main and favorite sport of the Spaniards
The Spaniards would not like this opinion, because, firstly, their favorite sport is football, and bullfighting is not a sport at all. It really is of great importance for the country, but as a historical legacy of the past.

Annual surveys show that more than 60% of Spaniards have a negative attitude towards bullfighting and consider it a senseless cruelty. But less than 40% decide to speak openly for the ban. In many parts of the country, bullfighting is prohibited, in particular, in Catalonia, it has not been held since 2011. And in areas where bullfighting is still allowed, Spaniards are "voting with their feet" - attendance has plummeted and governments have cut funding.

Great Britain. "Oatmeal, sir!" and five o'clock

A traditional English breakfast is not porridge at all. In fact, it includes scrambled eggs, sausages, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and for those who have endured, salted butter toast. The oatmeal myth dates back to the 20th century, when Scottish oatmeal was exported in attractive packaging.

As for tea, the notorious five o'clock has long been abandoned. It can be covered for tourists in a cafe or become part of a high-profile reception. In ordinary life, the British have not stopped loving tea, but they love coffee no less. And if tea is more of a homemade drink, then an Englishman would rather order coffee in a cafe.

Japan. The most popular dish is sushi

The fact that the Japanese practically do not eat sushi in the form of rolls familiar to us, the rest of the world has already learned. A lump of rice with fish is a traditional type of sushi for the Japanese, and the California roll beloved by many, if found throughout the vast country, is only in establishments for tourists. Although it was invented by a Japanese. In 1973, Ichiro Mashita, the chef at the Tokyo Kaikan restaurant in Los Angeles, decided to popularize sushi in America, and he succeeded!

But the fact that sushi is generally a rare guest on the table of the average Japanese is hard to accept. The most popular dish in Japan is ramen noodles. Most Japanese would prefer to eat this soup even for breakfast. After all, the morning should start with a hearty meal!

All the Dutch love intoxicating substances, drugs are officially allowed in the country

The Dutch think exactly the opposite, especially in Amsterdam - all tourists come here for weed and affordable pleasures. But only about 5.4% of the country's residents regularly intoxicate themselves, which is below the European average of 6.8%. And many Dutch people generally consider it below their dignity to smoke weed. The Dutch are fanatically concerned about their health, and the presence of bicycles and jogging help keep themselves in shape.

Do not believe in the myth of "permissiveness" - for the possession and distribution of drugs here they carry the same serious punishment as in other countries. The authorities clearly separated the concepts of "hard" and "soft" drugs. Light drugs are sold in specialized outlets, but sales are strictly limited. The unlicensed sale of marijuana and hashish or the possession of large amounts of drugs are also punishable by law.

Sweden. Carlson - the most famous fairy tale character

Carlson is the most popular fairy tale character outside of Sweden, and many tourists come to the country hoping to find souvenirs with him at every turn. But it was not there. The Swedes do not like Carlson for his bad temper and believe that he sets a bad example for children. But in Sweden they love Pippi Longstocking - a cheerful and kind girl. All the characters of Astrid Lindgren can be seen at the Junibacken Museum.

In Runet, you can still find false information that tourists come across - that Carlson's house is located on the roof of the writer's former house. It is not there and never was, and the photo of the house was taken in one of the courtyards of St. Petersburg.

Australia. The capital of the country is Sydney

The major cities of Australia confuse everyone, and not everyone can name the capital of the country right off the bat. Sydney and Melbourne have eclipsed Canberra, but this city is the capital.

Another common judgment about Australia is that there is an eternal summer and a lot of dangerous poisonous creatures. But the climate here is for every taste - in Australia there are 6 climatic zones, and in certain parts of the country it can be noticeably cold - about 0 ° C.

Poisonous creatures, of course, live in Australia, but their danger to humans is exaggerated. No one has died from a spider bite since 1979, and the most dangerous mollusk - the geographic cone - still needs to be looked for.

Mexico is a poor and dangerous country

Thanks to American films, we imagine Mexico as a rather suspicious and poor country, where drug traffickers operate. Relatively dangerous regions do exist in Mexico, mainly on the border with the United States.

Most of Mexico and its resorts are very hospitable, and the inhabitants are good-natured. As for the welfare of the country, many Americans envy him. In some areas of Mexico, the standard of living and social security has long surpassed the United States. Therefore, a new trend has emerged - some retired Americans are trying to move to Mexico: pensions are much higher here, and taxes are lower.

Estonians are slow and talk slowly

The rhythm of life in small Estonia is indeed quite measured, but this does not mean that Estonians are slow. They just do not rush headlong into everyday life. As for the pace of speech, by linguistic standards they are still chatterboxes. Estonians speak faster than Finns and at about the same pace as Americans, and the feeling of speech slowness comes from the frequent double vowels in Estonian. They seem to divide the word into two parts, and the ear fixes a pause in speech.

french fans fine dining and don't eat fast food

Many French people are so lean because they pay a lot of attention to the meal and what they eat. V modern world this applies equally to all people who care about health, regardless of the country. But the “fast food virus” has already penetrated France. If earlier the state did not welcome and did not finance the opening of fast food restaurants, now the laws have been relaxed. Recent statistics show that the revenue of such restaurants is several times higher than the profit of traditional establishments.

Mongolia - Solid steppe and dangerous to travel

For many people, Mongolia is some kind of white spot on the map: so little is known about it. And of course, trips across the remote steppe are fraught with unpleasant adventures. Most of the country is really occupied by the steppe expanses, and many Mongols are still nomads. However, big cities, especially the capital Ulaanbaatar, live a modern life that is not too different from the rest of the world. The Mongols are not yet spoiled by tourists, so they treat them as kindly as possible. Excursions in the steppes are often accompanied by guides, but even without them, nomads are happy to show their way of life, treat and accommodate guests.

Canada - It's Always Cold

Like Russia in the view of foreigners, distant Canada is often associated with earflaps and bears.

The northern territory of Canada is really constantly covered with snow, but 90% of the inhabitants live in the south of the country, on the border with the United States. And in this part of Canada, all four seasons are pronounced. Warm spring and hot summer - Canadians can enjoy the beautiful weather to the fullest: in Toronto and Montreal, for example, summer temperatures reach +30 °C.

As for the harsh winters, for example, residents of Vancouver rarely see snow - the winter here is more rainy. For snow, welcome to Toronto and other cities where the winter is more severe.