A few Germans like Freddy, went to the United States for the World Cup and have been travelling around the country. They ended up going viral because they were genuinely amazed by America and shared their enthusiasm online.
As someone who has been to the U.S. around twenty times and even lived there for a year, I can understand their reaction. In my experience, Americans are generally friendlier, more polite, and warmer than Germans, especially in smaller towns. And once you get away from the main tourist routes, there is an incredible amount of beautiful nature, unique experiences, and fascinating places to discover. If you know where to go, even the food can be outstanding.
I think the reason their videos went viral is that, for the past decade or so, most of the news coming to Europe about America has been negative. As a result, many people have developed a distorted image of the country. If you follow German news and media, you mostly see stories about school shootings, racism, police brutality, political conflicts, and similar issues. I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw a genuinely positive portrayal of America in the German media.
So when people actually visit the United States, they are often surprised by how different the reality feels from the image they had in their minds. In a way, I think America could use a rebranding. Growing up, I remember hearing stories about the "American Dream," and many of us in Germany dreamed of visiting or living in America. That sense of optimism and opportunity seems to have faded from the public conversation.
@Her_Nonymous_D Guys often see something in us that just makes them stop and have to talk to us. It means something and the fact that he respected your boundaries is a huge green flag.