Funny stuff! Reminds me of a shop I know:
About a decade ago my bro-in-law got some new neighbors in the industrial building he's in down in Miami. A father and son team, fixing Alfas and an occasional Fiat. In a conversation with them he said his B.I.L. had an Alfa, and was Italian... The father asked immediately if I was born in this country and when B.I.L. answered in the affirmative, the father said in his thick Italian accent: "FALSE Italian!" Since then I've become accepted as true Alfisti by them, even if not a true Italian. After a couple of years and a visit by the son here to th' hovel, he said to my B.I.L. he once had doubts about whether I was telling tales or truth about my background and experience, but after that visit he declared me to be "the real deal." Now, when in Miami I will go hang out at their shop and get a bit of grease under my fingernails. :wink: