This is a great topic; I've enjoyed hearing what members think about this.
But let's be careful not to make this a fight about who's country is more or less ingnorant. I only say this because national pride can be a touchy subject for many people. Personally, I think idiodicy has free reign all over the globe. People will gawk everywhere. That, and circumstances count alot. I mean, if a farmer in Kansas saw a guy running down the street in a kimono and waving a samurai sword, he'd obviously take notice. If it was just an Asian guy, he'd probably barely notice. Again, I think much of this is situational.

I can tell you, living in the countryside here in Japan, I draw ALOT of attention. Hell, when I go jogging people actually will slow down to look at me. Then again, I don't think this area gets many joggers. Certainly not joggers in sleeveless Metallica T-shirts and cut off sweats. So maybe it's not just that I'm a gaijin. On the other hand, there are just way too many odd things that I get asked. Yesterday, while I was eating kimchi nabe, I was asked if I was "surprised" when I first ate it. (Because it's a red broth, like the color of blood.) Uh..... What? We don't have red food in America? Jesus.

Very Very interesting subject. I've seen people more often glorify a country that I've grown to be very despicable of... I don't imagine the grass is greener some place else, yet still I think sometimes younger people I've met from Japan have an image of the United States just like I have an image of Japan... we're both probably half right and half wrong, and would be surprised at what we didn't know about the other.
Right on.