Taking the initial question in it's literal sense I have never found Americans insular or remote. I've made several trips to the U.S. and even in New York found people to be chatty and approachable with what seems to be a genuine interest in who you are,where you're from and wether you're experience of their particular corner of the world is a positive one. Some of that, I think, is borne out of their patriotism, which is always in evidence and something we in the U.K. seem to have lost, and some from the general outgoing nature of most Americans which can come across as over-confidence or arrogance. Once the British "reserve" is relaxed, I've enjoyed many conversations with total strangers all over the U.S. Geographically speaking, when your own "back yard" is the size of America it's hardly suprising that some of its population aren't as familiar with other places,locations and cultures. Now when it comes to being insular, the French...........