I had an experience that I still ruminate about after all of these years. The first time I went to a summer language school in Germany, my Italian roommate commented that she thought I was British until I spoke. I asked why she had made that assumption? She told me that I looked so "proper" (I still chuckle about that-can't even imagine anyone thinking that of me!!) She then said that she was sure I'd made assumptions about her when I learned that she was Italian. I said that nothing came to mind. . . She then asked if I hadn't assumed right away that she ate spaghetti every day-no, hadn't occured to me. Or maybe that she was part of the mafia-again, no-never made that assumption. . .The funny thing was that after 2 months of spaghetti every evening, I thought I'd never eat it again! And she brought it all with her when she came! (but I still don't think she was part of the mafia!!!)