nominated for best joke of the year

 This was nominated for best joke of the year - worth sharing.

A Russian arrives in New York City as a new immigrant to the United
States.
He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says,
"Thank
you Mr. American for letting me in this country , giving me housing,
food
stamps, free medical care, and free education!"
The passerby says, "You are mistaken, I am Mexican."
The man goes on and encounters another passerby. " Thank you for
having
such a be autiful country here in America !"
The person says, "I not American, I Vietnamese."
The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops,
shakes
his hand and says, "Thank you for the wonderful America!"
That person puts up his hand and says, "I am from Middle East , I am
not
American!"
He finally sees a nice lady and asks, "Are you an American?"
She says , "No, I am from Africa !"
Puzzled, he asks her, "Where are all the Americans?"
The African lady checks her watch and says..."Probably at work!"