Its mostly because all of the older apartment 20th ce try or older have wood floors that reverberate lime a drumhead. Newer buildings with concrete construction elminate noise. I dont hear my neighbors ever. Will never go back to an old building.

Omg how much plastic do you go through?

This is honestly a pretty ignorant take on america and its culture. A lot of our culture comes directly from the places people immigrated from, mixed with the culture that already existed. After a few generations it amalgamates into the broader culture. Its constantly evolving (whether people want it to or not). Its quite the opposite of only knowing culture fron our own country. In fact, a statement like that makes no sense when you factor in how peoole got here in the first place

If it helps any, this is a very common question in the states. Its rarely ever a malace thing, but a curiosity thing. Everyone has interest in people’s lineage (regardless of color). Even if it goes back 300 years. Maybe it has a different implication in France though.