The scene: a little coffe shop in the Connemara countryside. The time: last August.

Here we are enjoying a pot of tea and nice break from the long drive when a couple of tourists enter. Do you have any real coffee here? I mean coffee from real beans. ... Do you have a hard time understanding me? he goes on to order a coffee for his friend in the bathroom. Do you have any decaiffenated coffee. I mean decaf. coffee from real beans! the conversation continues for about 5min. and I have to say the girl working in the coffeshop handles it very well. The two Italians beside us are killing themselves laughing at the ugly american who is totally oblivious. My companion, (american as well, although currently residing in Canada) instantly places him in California which is confirmed later by his conversation. Not that we were eavesdropping but it was so LOUD we couldnt help but overhear. Once again he gets up and says to the girl, Ok I know that was difficult but heres another one for you. (pulls out a map) Where the hell are we? (I was hoping shed tell him some place else).

THe scene: a session in Miltown Malbay, after an enjoyable session I chat with a local fiddle player and find out he was originally from Tennesse. A really nice guy. Came over years ago because he was really into the music. A beautiful obsession he calls it and I know exactly what he means.

You get all kinds.

He who likes to generalize, generally lies.

BUT then again, when I lived in a gaijin house in TOkyo I could immediately spot the americans they all talked so loud, all the canadians were quiet and polite. the aussies and kiwis hated each other and drank like fish. in short we all lived up to our stereotypes. Although the assholes and decent people were evenly distributed through all the nationalities.

Oh and that business about America saving everyones ass in wwII. From the point of view of casualties suffered the war was primarily between Russia and Germany. the USSR suffered about 100 times the losses of the US and the germans were in full retreat on the eastern front when the US entered. Not to belittle any lives lost but lets put history in perspective.

I think there is a certain global resentment of MCculture at the expense of everyone else. here in Canada we are inundated with American TV and Magazines but we have our own identity and when people asked me in SCotland which part of the states I was from. I replied from canada actually and I really do like this part of England by the way. Peace Petr.