valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Jul 13, 2015 14:44:58 GMT
I think this became a habit after 9/11. I had a son in London for a semester, and the university immediately removed all sign and flags from the building. They then met with students to explain how not to call attention to themselves. This was based on the idea that any American people and property would be targets. That was a very tense time. He flew home the day after the shoe bomber event. You child is not being asked to apologize for being an American, he's being asked not to be provocative. By the way, DS had a great experience in London and Northern Europe. He blended in because he was thin, respectful, and wore plain clothing. ( non-logo) He lives abroad now and when he flies home, he complains about the American tendency to talk too much on the plane. I have not been fortunate enough to ever travel internationally, so I have to ask..... Do Europeans really view Americans as FAT, DISRESPECTFUL, LOGO WEARING, and RUDE? ? Yes, sadly they do. The rest of the world is very aware of our obesity level. We're sort of immune(as are most people/cultures) to our own behavior and appearance. I've not seen too many flannel pjs in foreign grocery stores. When I visited my son, we were pointed at and gawked at because we were obviously foreign, but those who spoke to him later commented that we were thin.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 13, 2015 14:45:30 GMT
I live in suburbian Washington DC. Believe me, the stereotypes for other countries are alive and well. We have a lot of tourists here. A lot. I don't know if they are given hints on how not to act like their nationality, but when you are tired and confused by the local culture, I think it's natural for those mannerisms to come out.
We've traveled a lot and with our kids, even when they were very young. We are a military family and lived in Seoul. It was weeks after 9-11 and we were given a lot of advice on how to blend in. First because it was polite, but then after 9-11, to attempt to blend in for security reasons. Even after two years, we never did blend in. My DH is 6' tall, I have red hair and the kids had blonde hair. But we learned to put hats on the kids and were told to tell people we were Canadian when asked.
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Post by maryland on Jul 13, 2015 14:46:39 GMT
I think visitors of any nationality to any country should be courteous and thoughtful of others. Nobody gets a pass. Actually, I'll be more global than that. People should just be nicer period. I see plenty of Americans act as assholes in the US. And friction between tourists and locals happens everywhere. I see it when I go to NYC (as a visitor) and when NYC people come to where I live. I agree!
My husband has worked for three companies in other countries, so he travels there and they travel here. He will definitely say that he sees extremely nice people and not so nice people in every country he has visited. Each nation has their rude people and their wonderful people!
I also think it's a great idea for all exchange students to learn about the customs of the nation they are visiting and to be respectful, as they should in their home country too. My daughter has 2 friends that came here last year for high school. One was from Croatia and the other from Thailand. They both learned a lot about the US and our customs before coming (I guess if American students are taught how to not act "stereotypical American" maybe they are taught how to not act "stereotypical Thai or Croatian"). They had a great time here and were super nice!
The student from Thailand is back here visiting and she has invited my daughter and another girl to come to visit her in Thailand next year! She did tell them that she needs to be with them when they go shopping. Otherwise, they may be charged more! If they spoke Thai or had a Thai with them, they would be fine!
My high school daughters are always so excited when they get foreign exchange students (especially if they are boys!). They have programs for the exchange students in our area and do lots of fun weekend trips to visit other parts of the country. The students have so much fun that they are never ready to return home. I think they get a very warm welcome at our high school!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 2:56:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2015 14:49:40 GMT
I just mentioned this in another thread: my son just got written tips about how to not-act-American during his upcoming semester in Germany. My daughter got a similar letter before studying in Italy. I have absolutely no objection to advice about how to assimilate and - especially - be respectful of existing culture, but it makes me wonder if young people coming to the US get explicit advice about how NOT to act [Japanese, German, Italian, British, French, Brazilian] - or if the same cultural advice is framed differently. I think so many Americans are hyper-aware of the Ugly American reputation that we're extra vigilant about our behavior or appearance when traveling. But I'm starting to question the self-deprecating tone of a lot of the advice I read. (And believe me, I am far from jingoistic.) And I'm remembering that my daughter's blog (when in Europe) was littered with references to her and her friends as "just dumb Americans." When we discussed it, she feels like she "apologized her way through Europe." There's a difference, I think, between having the ability to poke fun at yourself or being TOO self-deprecating, and I wonder how much the language that frames advice for these kids (from any source) affects that. Thoughts? I think the self depreciation is a topic you need to discuss with your dd. Just because someone gives advice or instruction does not mean she has to take it to that level. It has nothing to do with how it is presented but everything to do with your dd's perception of herself. She should be able to separate how others view her from how she views herself and be able to be realistic about changes in her behavior without cutting herself down or apologizing for being herself. We got the same advice back in early/mid 1990s when we moved to Italy. Lots of form letters, a vhs tape, and even a 6 week class on how to not stand out in Italy and how to not act like a bad tourist. In our case it was military related so also lots of reminders to not make ourselves an international target for terrorism.
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pyccku
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,817
Jun 27, 2014 23:12:07 GMT
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Post by pyccku on Jul 13, 2015 14:52:15 GMT
I've been to France many, many times - and every time I go, I give my students (or whomever I'm traveling with) pointers on how not to stand out as American. It's not out of shame or anything - it's more out of trying to avoid the problems that can befall people who are obviously tourists. Tourists are targets for pickpockets and scammers sometimes, and in some places it can be more dangerous if you're identified as American (not in France so much, but in some other countries).
The stereotype of the ugly American that is stupid, loud and fat will unfortunately tend to be reinforced because loudness is always going to attract attention. You might have 20 Americans in a museum, 19 of them quiet and thin but one who is loud and fat. Nobody will ever know that the quiet, thin ones are American because how would you know that they were American unless they are wearing some sort of "I love America" button or big flag on their shirts? But the loud guy - everyone knows he's American because you can hear him. Then you see him and think - aha! loud + fat = American!
I've never met anyone who was anti-American in my travels. I've met people who were rude (mostly other tourists, not so much locals), but not anti-American. When I spoke with French people this summer they were always very kind, most of them were shocked that I could speak French well enough to do more than ask where the toilets were, and I had some really interesting conversations about all sorts of things.
While I think it's bad to be ashamed of your nationality, I see two reasons to try to learn the culture before you go - to avoid negative attention, and to be respectful of the local culture.
What bothered me most was the lack of common courtesy from so many tourists - not any one group, but so many groups. People just stopping in the middle of a doorway. People just stopping in the middle of a sidewalk/walking path. People ignoring polite requests and clearly marked signs that photography/flash photography were not allowed. People playing stupid about it - dude, you just took a picture in that room back there and the guy told you to knock it off. Now you're in the next room and you're trying to do the same thing, pretending you had no idea?
So while the tourist income is very welcome, I don't blame the locals for getting annoyed. We have the same issue here in AZ - everyone likes the snowbird dollars, but when you're trying to get to work on time and some guy in a Buick is going 15 under the speed limit on the freeway with plates from up north, it's going to make people angry.
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YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
Jun 26, 2014 3:11:50 GMT
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Post by YooHoot on Jul 13, 2015 15:05:47 GMT
There are assholes everywhere, we just seem to have more than our fair share and unfortunately these people represent our country as tourists. Believe me, people will know you are a tourist. You can't hide that. i think the point is don't let them think poorly of you. Say please and thank you in their language. Excuse me is another good one. The clothes aren't something I would worry about. Old style Germans wear dark or beige. Younger generations wear everything.
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Jul 13, 2015 15:18:59 GMT
We've found this to be so true in mexico and peru when DH and I were there! A cheaper price if you know the language, and really cheap if you're "one of them". That's how it works in many places around the world. I think our Chinese guests were surprised at that (and the added sales tax) when they were shopping here in the US.
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YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
Jun 26, 2014 3:11:50 GMT
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Post by YooHoot on Jul 13, 2015 15:22:58 GMT
Because those folks, who may be few and far between, stand out, unfortunately yes. Now I will tell a story of a time when my child confirmed a stereotype. She went to Brazil with a friend to visit his family there. She has bathroom issues - likes a clean bathroom, doesn't really like to poop in public etc... She and her friend went to a restaurant in Brazil (they were not in westernized big cities but rural areas) and the toilet was a hole in the ground. Her friend asked the owner of the restaurant where the nearest actual toilet was and the guy was like: "it's right there! What's the matter?" And her friend shrugged his shoulders and said: "she's American" and the owner said "ohhhhhh, I see" and pointed them to a more traditional toilet in a bathroom. Just with that one incident, that guy now thinks all Americans are spoiled, I'm sure. If being spoiled means we do not use holes in the ground, then I guess I am spoiled. My nephew spent 2 weeks in France. His host family operated a vineyard and he had a nice stay except for feeling awkward about showering. He was told before the trip he must ask to shower. Here in America he showered one or two times per day so that was an adjustment. We Americans do have fussy bathroom and showering habits. Water is very expensive in Europe. You pay more for the water leaving your home than coming in.
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Jul 13, 2015 15:25:55 GMT
I recently traveled out of the Country and there were a few Americans on our tour who should have been given a letter about how to act. They were disgraceful and so full of themselves, making comparisons about how things were better in the US, blah, blah, blah. I just wanted to say, then go home!
That being said, not seeing the letter, did it include suggestions so that you don't appear as a tourist, more specifically an American tourist for safety reasons?
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whirledpeas
Junior Member
Oceanside, California
Posts: 52
Jun 25, 2014 20:51:30 GMT
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Post by whirledpeas on Jul 13, 2015 15:28:47 GMT
We used to host foreign exchange students often. We have hosted students from Germany, Slovakia, France, and Japan. All of these students were given primer sheets on how to assimilate into American culture. In addition, many took brief courses on how to act when visiting America-including some behaviors that were in direct opposition to their normal behaviors. This is why they were traveling to a new place...to experience new things in a new way. They were traveling to America to experience America, not to try to push their own culture on Americans.
To answer your original question, I do not think that we are the only country that is likely to suggest cultural traveling tips to travelers.
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Post by roundtwo on Jul 13, 2015 15:32:36 GMT
This drives me crazy when I am travelling. I assume the people that do this just travel to confirm to themselves that they are better than those in other places.
I have a story to share... I was living in London and was heading home from the tube station and I noticed a family who was obviously from the US and from his hat and boots, I was guessing they were from Texas. I smiled at them, as I do everyone that walks towards me, and the older male said hello and asked if I would take their picture. I agreed (I lived in Central London - it happened a lot) and they started to chat. They told me where they were from (my guess was correct), where they had visited so far and where they were heading at that point. They were just so excited and were having a ball - they weren't loud, just enthusiastic and I couldn't help thinking that everyone's ballyhooing about not looking like tourists is sometimes just off the mark. If you came across a visitor to your town that was excited to be there, wouldn't it make you happy to hear from them? Wouldn't it make you want to make sure they really enjoyed themselves and wouldn't you maybe send them somewhere very cool that they didn't know was worth a visit?
I get that you want to be safe from pickpockets and worse but I don't think being a tourist is a bad thing; being a loud, obnoxious ass who knows it all is always out of fashion, whether at home or away but being enthusiastic never is.
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Post by Kelpea on Jul 13, 2015 15:34:23 GMT
Ok that makes more sense. It's like when they tell you to not be offended when travelling in Japan when the locals are literally standing inches from you...personal space issues vary greatly.
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Jul 13, 2015 15:37:36 GMT
I think that we often fail to remember that we can always be that one person who leaves a good impression. Our TV shows are seen around the world. There are stereotypes about Americans that are out there. Many Europeans follow our news. Tourists should not enforce the negative stereotypes.
To answer about logo shirts, I was referring to those with American flags and colleges. At that specific time (2001), the university did not want the students to be targeted.
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Post by Zee on Jul 13, 2015 15:57:16 GMT
I have not been fortunate enough to ever travel internationally, so I have to ask..... Do Europeans really view Americans as FAT, DISRESPECTFUL, LOGO WEARING, and RUDE? ? Because those folks, who may be few and far between, stand out, unfortunately yes. Now I will tell a story of a time when my child confirmed a stereotype. She went to Brazil with a friend to visit his family there. She has bathroom issues - likes a clean bathroom, doesn't really like to poop in public etc... She and her friend went to a restaurant in Brazil (they were not in westernized big cities but rural areas) and the toilet was a hole in the ground. Her friend asked the owner of the restaurant where the nearest actual toilet was and the guy was like: "it's right there! What's the matter?" And her friend shrugged his shoulders and said: "she's American" and the owner said "ohhhhhh, I see" and pointed them to a more traditional toilet in a bathroom. Just with that one incident, that guy now thinks all Americans are spoiled, I'm sure. It's called hygiene and sanitation, not being spoiled. Jesus. If I have to apologize for preferring what should be a basic standard of living, so be it.
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Post by Zee on Jul 13, 2015 16:00:13 GMT
I just mentioned this in another thread: my son just got written tips about how to not-act-American during his upcoming semester in Germany. My daughter got a similar letter before studying in Italy. I have absolutely no objection to advice about how to assimilate and - especially - be respectful of existing culture, but it makes me wonder if young people coming to the US get explicit advice about how NOT to act [Japanese, German, Italian, British, French, Brazilian] - or if the same cultural advice is framed differently. I think so many Americans are hyper-aware of the Ugly American reputation that we're extra vigilant about our behavior or appearance when traveling. But I'm starting to question the self-deprecating tone of a lot of the advice I read. (And believe me, I am far from jingoistic.) And I'm remembering that my daughter's blog (when in Europe) was littered with references to her and her friends as "just dumb Americans." When we discussed it, she feels like she "apologized her way through Europe." There's a difference, I think, between having the ability to poke fun at yourself or being TOO self-deprecating, and I wonder how much the language that frames advice for these kids (from any source) affects that. Thoughts? I think the self depreciation is a topic you need to discuss with your dd. Just because someone gives advice or instruction does not mean she has to take it to that level. It has nothing to do with how it is presented but everything to do with your dd's perception of herself. She should be able to separate how others view her from how she views herself and be able to be realistic about changes in her behavior without cutting herself down or apologizing for being herself. We got the same advice back in early/mid 1990s when we moved to Italy. Lots of form letters, a vhs tape, and even a 6 week class on how to not stand out in Italy and how to not act like a bad tourist. In our case it was military related so also lots of reminders to not make ourselves an international target for terrorism. That's hilarious because the loudest, brashest tourists I ever saw were Italian. This was at Edinburgh Castle and there were people from all over Europe and America and Asia there.
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Post by MissBianca on Jul 13, 2015 16:15:41 GMT
DH travels extensively through Europe and the Middle East and he's been told by his European co-workers that he's a bad American. Not in a bad way mind you, it's just that he doesn't act American. He's not loud or vulgar, he eats the local food and doesn't demand hamburgers and fries, he doesn't wolf his food down in 30 seconds flat, and he drinks the local beer and doesn't pitch a fit if he can't get a Budweiser or Coors. He has witnessed this behavior first hand from other US co-workers and his BFF is from Portugal but lives in England so he also comments about it. He dresses to impress, not to stand out or get attention. We have specific attire for him when he travels to the Middle East so he doesn't stick out.
Now on the flip side of that, when my kids go out in large groups without me I remind them not to act like the Brazilian tour groups at Disney. In my 15 trips to WDW in the last 10 years we have encountered 2 nice teenage Brazilian tour groups, the rest that we saw were loud and pushy and would purposefully block the entire walkways with linked arms singing and chanting at the top of their lungs. Screaming songs while we are trapped in lines for rides. 2-4 people line up for a ride, then 50 more come pushing through to find their group, etc.
Now obviously I know not all Americans or Brazilians act like the stereotypical tourist but as my son's coach says when you are out in public wearing your school logo and they do something bad it's not "hey look at that DS19 messing around, it's hey look at that kid from XYZ high school messing around. You represent where you come from and all of the people that live there. If less people had such terrible behavior, the rest of us wouldn't have to apologize our way through Europe.
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Post by deputydog on Jul 13, 2015 16:19:21 GMT
I think this became a habit after 9/11. I had a son in London for a semester, and the university immediately removed all sign and flags from the building. They then met with students to explain how not to call attention to themselves. This was based on the idea that any American people and property would be targets. about the American tendency to talk too much on the plane. I have not been fortunate enough to ever travel internationally, so I have to ask..... Do Europeans really view Americans as FAT, DISRESPECTFUL, LOGO WEARING, and RUDE? ? When flying back to the US from Sweden I sat next to a young man from Denmark (he was 19). He said Danes in general had the idea that Americans were uneducated, fat, and loved guns. When at a small restaurant in Vik, Iceland last year we ran into a 'stereotypical' American couple. They were super loud and comparing Icelandic scenery to various parts of the US, complaining about Icelandic beer vs American brands, laughing like donkeys, and just making idiots of themselves. The man had on a Hawaiian shirt (!! In Iceland in October!!), and sweat pants, and the woman was wearing pajama bottoms (again, !!!!!) and a football jersey with ripped sleeves to make them shorter. They couldn't have been more caricatured if they had tried. I am generally one who doesn't care what people wear; I'm not a sharp dresser at all, but put it all together and they made me cringe.
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Post by manomo on Jul 13, 2015 16:27:01 GMT
I would have loved to have had copies of that letter to hand out to the "ugly American" tourists we encountered during our recent vacation and we were traveling in the good ole USA. I would have given a copy to the loud, obnoxious family in the 9/11 museum in NYC, a copy to the family who allowed their child to go under the bar and touch the Liberty Bell, a copy to the jerks at the Philadelphia mint who were telling visitors that the guard was coming to confiscate and smash their cameras, a copy to each of the adults who laid down on Benjamin Franklin's grave, copies to the numerous people who climbed over barriers at Acadia National Park, another copy to the family who put their kids up on a Paul Revere statue in Boston, more copies to the foul-mouthed group inside Hershey's World of Chocolate...
It didn't seem to matter where we traveled, people blatantly disobeyed signs, were inconsiderate of others around them, were disrespectful of the environment and 100% of the people we observed doing these things were Americans. Unfortunately, Americans tourists don't just have a bad reputation abroad.
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Post by ilikepink on Jul 13, 2015 16:43:00 GMT
In reading this thread, it seems to me there is a difference between downplaying your Americanism for safety reasons and out-and-out rude behavior. Wherever we are in public, we should all be acting like ladies and gentlemen--or is that just me? And as someone else said, if you are going to another country, don't you want to see/learn/taste what they have to offer? Isn't that the point of travel?? Its fun to read about foreign travel- I'm not likely to ever know what it's like to be an American in Paris at all.
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Post by Anna*Banana on Jul 13, 2015 16:59:28 GMT
... You child is not being asked to apologize for being an American, he's being asked not to be provocative... By the way, DS had a great experience in London and Northern Europe. He blended in because he was thin, respectful, and wore plain clothing. ( non-logo) This. I'm going to assume that your son is going abroad to experience other cultures, not to experience what an American feels like looking at a culture from the outside. I think it is unfortunate that letters like this need to be written at all, but given what I see of many young adults abroad, they do. Not to yours necessarily, but the group. I will admit though that I always wonder why people do travel if they are convinced that the USA does everything better. A feeling of superiority never works well with experiencing what things are really like in other places. The act of giving 'side-eye', pointing out one's Americaness, making snide remarks about Americans is exactly giving off a feeling of superiority. Precisely what traveling Americans are accused of. It's unfortunate but it does not create much of a welcoming attitude either. I think more than a few of the people in foreign countries perpetuate the stereotype because they're focused and looking for anything and everything to look down their noses at American tourists for.
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pyccku
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,817
Jun 27, 2014 23:12:07 GMT
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Post by pyccku on Jul 13, 2015 17:08:14 GMT
It's called hygiene and sanitation, not being spoiled. Jesus. If I have to apologize for preferring what should be a basic standard of living, so be it. It's still hygienic and they have sanitation - the hole isn't just like a hole you dig in the yard - it's an actual bathroom set-up, there just isn't a toilet. It's called "à la turque" and it's common in quite a few places around the world. They are more uncommon now in France, but they used to be fairly easy to find. In some ways they are MORE hygienic than our toilet - nobody leaving a mess on the seat. You can see them here.
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Post by gar on Jul 13, 2015 17:11:30 GMT
Because those folks, who may be few and far between, stand out, unfortunately yes. Now I will tell a story of a time when my child confirmed a stereotype. She went to Brazil with a friend to visit his family there. She has bathroom issues - likes a clean bathroom, doesn't really like to poop in public etc... She and her friend went to a restaurant in Brazil (they were not in westernized big cities but rural areas) and the toilet was a hole in the ground. Her friend asked the owner of the restaurant where the nearest actual toilet was and the guy was like: "it's right there! What's the matter?" And her friend shrugged his shoulders and said: "she's American" and the owner said "ohhhhhh, I see" and pointed them to a more traditional toilet in a bathroom. Just with that one incident, that guy now thinks all Americans are spoiled, I'm sure. It's called hygiene and sanitation, not being spoiled. Jesus. If I have to apologize for preferring what should be a basic standard of living, so be it. 'Should be a basic standard of living' according to who? Millions of people across the globe live perfectly well with this type of arrangement - it's just not what you're used to.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,973
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 13, 2015 17:23:29 GMT
We've been road tripping to the national parks in the west this month and have witnessed rude, clueless behavior by tourists of all nationalities but the truly appalling behavior (climbing where there are specific signs not to climb, hiking where there are specific signs not to hike, wading where there are warnings not to wade because of delicate ecosystems, etc,) has always been by Americans. I wish we could send those letters out before we travel in our own country it doesn't embarrass me or make me feel self-deprecating but it does make me feel sad about elements of our society and culture.
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Post by Zee on Jul 13, 2015 17:39:53 GMT
It's called hygiene and sanitation, not being spoiled. Jesus. If I have to apologize for preferring what should be a basic standard of living, so be it. 'Should be a basic standard of living' according to who? Millions of people across the globe live perfectly well with this type of arrangement - it's just not what you're used to. Do you know how many people lacking basic sanitation suffer and die from totally preventable diseases such as cholera? There are many more, of course. You're used to sanitation and plumbing too. You like the idea of heading off to India drinking local water and shitting in a hole? Have at it. The best invention mankind ever made for civilization was modern water treatment and sanitation. That's really not debatable.
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Post by traceys on Jul 13, 2015 17:42:48 GMT
Others may get advice before traveling here, but I suspect it's more of the "here are some helpful tips" tone, and not so much the "please don't embarrass us by acting American" tone.
When DD and I went to Europe we got some advice as to customs, etc., that we might be unfamiliar with, but for the most part I find a smile and politeness to be pretty universal. I would no more expect DD to write her initials on the Colloseum than I would the Washington Monument, or our own City Hall. But I am American and I'm not ashamed of that. I don't really understand why it seems OK for people of other nationalities to hold stereotypical views of Americans, when we are pretty quick to take other Americans to task for stereotyping.
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Post by Zee on Jul 13, 2015 17:43:35 GMT
It's called hygiene and sanitation, not being spoiled. Jesus. If I have to apologize for preferring what should be a basic standard of living, so be it. It's still hygienic and they have sanitation - the hole isn't just like a hole you dig in the yard - it's an actual bathroom set-up, there just isn't a toilet. It's called "à la turque" and it's common in quite a few places around the world. They are more uncommon now in France, but they used to be fairly easy to find. In some ways they are MORE hygienic than our toilet - nobody leaving a mess on the seat. You can see them here. I've both seen and heard of them, thanks. You let me know how they're more hygienic when someone sprays a load of diarrhea all over the floor and some elderly comes in and loses her balance trying to squat over a hole and lands in someone else's filth, which you can't even put a layer of toilet paper over (like you can a toilet seat). Sorry ladies, not backing down on this one. No way, no how.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,696
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jul 13, 2015 17:43:36 GMT
I live in suburbian Washington DC. Believe me, the stereotypes for other countries are alive and well. We have a lot of tourists here. A lot. I don't know if they are given hints on how not to act like their nationality, but when you are tired and confused by the local culture, I think it's natural for those mannerisms to come out. We've traveled a lot and with our kids, even when they were very young. We are a military family and lived in Seoul. It was weeks after 9-11 and we were given a lot of advice on how to blend in. First because it was polite, but then after 9-11, to attempt to blend in for security reasons. Even after two years, we never did blend in. My DH is 6' tall, I have red hair and the kids had blonde hair. But we learned to put hats on the kids and were told to tell people we were Canadian when asked. As a Canadian, I find it very disrespectful towards Canada when people from other countries claim Canada as their home & native land.
What is wrong with being identified as being an American? I understand the culture "of the after 9/11" but you simply cannot change the country from where you are from.
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Post by mrst on Jul 13, 2015 17:53:09 GMT
I'm British living in Spain and we travel a great deal to quite a lot of places. Many Americans appear to be very nice people, friendly and willing to chat. It's the odd loud one that stands out. I also notice that they tend to use their cutlery with just one hand and can be very demanding of staff. They also seem to always be in a hurry.....noticeable here Spain. But wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?
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Post by gar on Jul 13, 2015 18:11:09 GMT
'Should be a basic standard of living' according to who? Millions of people across the globe live perfectly well with this type of arrangement - it's just not what you're used to. Do you know how many people lacking basic sanitation suffer and die from totally preventable diseases such as cholera? There are many more, of course. You're used to sanitation and plumbing too. You like the idea of heading off to India drinking local water and shitting in a hole? Have at it. The best invention mankind ever made for civilization was modern water treatment and sanitation. That's really not debatable. Well ok then!
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 13, 2015 18:17:24 GMT
I'm curious as to whether or not travelers from other countries are told what to wear/not to wear when here like Americans are told not to wear clothing such as sweatpants, flip flops, logos, etc. Is that to keep from being a target of crime, or because Europeans treat people differently if they are tourists or wearing different clothes than they usually wear?
Maybe the letter that the OP's son got could have been something more in line with giving info about the culture, dress, language, and other customs of the country rather than "How not to be American" which gives the impression that being himself is not ok.
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