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There are so many myths and stereotypes floating around out there about people from different parts of the world that it’s enough to make a person’s head spin.
And a lot of them aren’t even true!
But still, people believe what they want to believe…until now, that is!
What myth about your country is false but people still believe it?
Here’s how people responded on AskReddit.
1. Not worth it.
“That Welsh people f**k sheep.
Temptation is there but the static shock wouldn’t be worth it.”
2. Not accurate.
“Iceland was not named as part of some conspiracy to keep folks away from a good thing.
The name comes from the fact that early settlers arrived during summer and then suffered horrible losses of livestock and people once winter hit and icebergs were seen filling the fjords. It was more of a warning than anything, that this place sucked.
Greenland on the other hand was probably named as such to make it sound more hospitable.”
3. Kenya.
“Kenyans are all long-distance runners, live in huts, speak no English, and have pet wild animals. Ugh.
So here goes: The long-distance guys are mainly from one community/ tribe called the Kalenjin that’s about 15% of the population. Next, Kenya is still a developing nation with a lot of poverty, but there’s a lot of modern architecture.
Next, the country is rated 18 out of 100 on the English Proficiency Index. And lastly: you can apply for a special (and rarely-granted) permit for your bobcat named Babou, but keeping wildlife is not at all common.
And the Kenya Wildlife Service will conduct regular visits to ensure Babou isn’t being kept in Meowschwitz-like conditions.”
4. Italy.
“No, Italians aren’t all short, black-haired, fat mobsters who wear wine-stained tank tops.
We are loud though…”
5. Zing!
“Romania.
Many people believe we have vampires, but in my 700 years of living here, I haven’t even seen one.
I asked my mates back in the castle and they also haven’t seen any, and they’ve been around for longer than I.”
6. Not the way it is.
“People generally assume that when you’re from Belgium, you are French-speaking.
While a big part of the country is Francophone, the majority population is Flemish (Dutch-speaking).
I blame this on mostly 3 factors:
People mainly visiting Brussels (which is bilingual, but has a Francophone majority)
Americans mostly having been stationed in the French speaking part in WWII
Hercule Poirot.”
7. All kinds of stuff.
“Greece is not only beaches and Islands, we also have beautiful places for the winter.
Many mountains and mainland attractions.
Every corner have something interesting.”
8. The view from Russia.
“The myth is that everyone here is always d**nk on vodka and people all ride bears, play on balalaikas and dance the kazachok and that we’re either dr**k or mad.
While there IS a problem with al**holism, a lot of people don’t drink, especially not vodka.
Funnily enough, bears do appear, but VERY rarely. And the people that ride bears or have them as pets? They’re considered unusual by other Russians.
Balalaika is dead I know one person that plays it and thats it
We dance the kazachok only ironically at this point lol
We’re not always mad. We’re. Just people. With emotions 😐
But, ushankas ARE great and warm, so people do wear them – not ALL of them though Also we’re not all superpeople.”
9. Dutch life.
“All of our country is just weed and red districts.
Yes we have these things.. but the Netherlands has lots of culture!”
10. Aim high!
“That the Irish are the biggest d**nks in the world.
Completely false and mean as we’re only the second biggest drinker in the world but we hope to get first place next year.”
11. Oh, Canada!
“Everyone drinks maple syrup, there are moose everywhere and we’re saying “sorry” all the time.”
12. Don’t ruin it for me!
“That we say “shrimp on the barbie”.
It was an ad campaign to appeal to Americans.
It was the most successful tourism campaign still to this day, but literally no one in Australia says that.”
13. Get it straight!
“That Brazil is a huge tropical jungle in which people speak Spanish.
Brazil actually has several major cities and different environments.
São Paulo for instance is a huge sprawling metropolis with as many inhabitants as New York and Los Angeles combined.
In some southern areas of the country it actually snows.
And we were a Portuguese colony, so we speak Portuguese.”
Now we want to hear from you.
What myths about your country are not true?
Talk to us in the comments!
