U.S. Author to Give Library Talk on Funny & Embarrassing Questions about U.S. Society

San Diego, CA (PRWeb) January 8, 2007 -- San Diego author Diane Asitimbay will share some of the funny, embarrassing, and controversial questions that international visitors ask her about the U.S. in the author's presentation "Funny You Should Ask" at the San Diego Central Library on Wednesday, January 24.

Asitimbay recently wrote a book called "What's Up America? A Foreigner's Guide to Understanding Americans," based on the real questions that her international students and friends have asked her in the course of two decades. It has won a 2006 "Fresh Voices" travel finalist award.

In her book, Asitimbay takes her readers on a long road trip across the U.S., stopping along the way to discuss cultural aspects of the country's immense landscape. In twenty chapters, or what she calls "20 pit stops," Asitimbay tackles our food habits in a chapter called "Eat Now, Pay Later, the legalistic nature of our culture in "Crazy for Rules," and patriotism in "Flag Fever." The guide also gives a visual picture of the American people in illustrations, pie charts and informational graphics.

Asitimbay says she drew on her own 20 years of experience as an English teacher easing international students into American life to write her book, "What's Up America?," a guide that answers the questions many newcomers have and records their cultural clashes. She has talked about her book and has appeared on a national television FOX & Friends Show, Pace Cable TV, and KPBS, a local affiliate of National Public Radio.

Asitimbay, who was born in Detroit but has lived a good part of her life in New York City and San Diego, says that no matter what country her international students are from, they ask her the same questions ---prompting her to answer them in "What's Up America?"

"This is a very personal book. I wrote this book as if we were chatting about the U.S. over a cup of coffee. It's how I explain things about my country to my international students and friends," she says. When newcomers arrive, they notice things about our behavior that may be embarrassing to ask, such as: Why do Americans have such enormous cars? Why do we put pictures and notices with magnets on our refrigerators?"

Asitimbay knows what it's like to be a complete stranger in a foreign land. She lived in Mexico City for two and a half years and worked as a reporter on an English daily newspaper, The Mexico City News. She says her book is for Americans too, because it's time for us to recognize the need for cultural competency and geographic literacy if we are to compete in the global marketplace.

"The U.S. is one of the strongest countries in economic and military power, yet we are still so unaware of other countries in the world. That surprises many people who come here. They ask me, how can people from this country, a global leader, not know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland? Or why don't Americans know that Brazilians don't speak Spanish but Portuguese?" she said.

The book marks a literary debut for Asitimbay, but she plans to write more books. Asitimbay will be signing "What's Up America?" at her author talk on Wednesday.

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