Embrace the American, Leave the Ugly at Home

[SarahS]

In Embrace the American, Leave the Ugly at Home, Traveler's Ed offers tips for being a culturally sensitive traveler and overcoming the Ugly American stereotype. Agree or disagree with his tips? Got a few of your own? Share your thoughts here!

[suzieinseattle]

In Embrace the American, Leave the Ugly at Home, Traveler's Ed offers tips for being a culturally sensitive traveler and overcoming the Ugly American stereotype. Agree or disagree with his tips? Got a few of your own? Share your thoughts here!

Great tips! Keep reminding us, and maybe someday the "Ugly" will go away.

[helledane]

I appreciate the article!

It would help tremendously if Americans would just lower their voices! It's embarrassing to be in a restaurant and be able to know precisely who the Americans are. In defense, some restaurants in Italy that tourists frequent open early to accommodate us so that they can get the noise out before the regulars come in.

Also, we need to control our children. As a whole, Europeans have much better behaved children while Americans of the current generation just let their kids RUN wild, literally, and don't even seem to notice.

[judyzoo]

I’m having some trouble accepting that I’m an ugly American because I take a lot of photos. Isn’t that why we have digital cameras?

[Grandbird]

I’m having some trouble accepting that I’m an ugly American because I take a lot of photos. Isn’t that why we have digital cameras?

We just returned from Italy, Greece and Turkey and I took a lot of pictures. I took them quickly and moved out of the way so the next person could take a picture. However, I was dismayed and really annoyed at the Asians in particular who were intent on taking a picture of each person in their enormous groups in front of each momument, fountain, etc. When tourist sites are as crowded as these were, it's important not to monopolize the area.

[Grandbird]

On a recent trip to Italy we found the Italians to be a beautiful people, both in looks and sophistication. They are proud but gracious. They take dignity in their appearance and dress very nicely, even when they're just walking their dog. As a result, I stood out negatively because of my desire to be comfortable while site seeing (I wore shorts - gasp!). Save yourself the embarrassment. Ladies, leave the white tennis shoes, jeans, shorts and t-shirts at home. Instead bring comfortable dark walking shoes, slacks, knit tops and light blazer-style jackets or sweaters. Also, they speak softly and gently. Return the favor. We noticed they liked it when we asked their names and used their names in conversation. It's their country and it's about them -- it's not about us.

[traceytraveler]

It always baffles me when I hear this term. I've traveled everywhere - the thing is... the Europeans are ugly, snotty, rude, overinvolved in US politics, want to argue, want to tell you what a pig you are, all the while i'm supposed to remain dignified and not "offend". When all these foreigners come to the US all they do is demand and offend. Don't dare if I ever travel abroad again. A wise man once said: You can tell the greatness of a country by the people trying to get in, not get out - I believe it may have been Tony Blair... Peace

[sebec]

'right On' Tracytraveler. I Can Give Numerous Exhamples Of Other Countries Tourists Being 'ugly'. One Of My Favorite Being That While Having Dinner In A Beautiful Candlelit Patio Haitian Resturant A Few Years Ago, A Group Of French Tourists, Maybe A Dozen, Entered And Obviously Having Had An Extended 'happy Hour', Destroyed Completely The Ambiance, Loud Talking, Loud Complaints That The Buffet Was Not Ready(it Being Delayed Due To A Thunderstorm),etc. And When It Was Ready, Complete Silence Except For The Silverware Striking Their Plates, The Buffet Tables Being Left In Complete Unappitizing Disarray. "the Ugly American" Label I Think Is Just An Easy Topic For Writers Unable To Come Up With An Interesting Perspective Relating To Their Travel. I Have Found That 'locals' Everywhere Dismiss Tourists In Their Town Yet Usually Are Making A Good Living From The Toursits. Notice, Not One Of The Hundreds Of Interesting Places I've Visited Was 'created' By The Current Locals, They Just Taking Advantage Of Nature Or The Exploitation Of Poor Workers Hundreds Of Years Ago. My Wife Is Belgian And Has A Better Insight Into Attitudes Of Europeans Than Me And Points Out That The Belgians Do Not Like The Germans, The Italians Do Not Like The French, The Spanish Do Not Like The English, The List Go On. And Yes, In Florida Where We Live In The Winter, The Locals Do Not Like The Canadians. My Experience In The Past Two Months In Europe Came With Not One Single Unfriendly Contact With A 'local'. I Have No Foreign Languages But Have Found That I Could Communicate With Someone Everywhere I've Traveled, At Least Some Words And Phrases By Both Speakers. So, Do Not Worry About Your Tennis Shoes. And Rudeness Is Bad Everywhere All The Time. By Tourist Or Local.

[donder]

In Embrace the American, Leave the Ugly at Home, Traveler's Ed offers tips for being a culturally sensitive traveler and overcoming the Ugly American stereotype. Agree or disagree with his tips? Got a few of your own? Share your thoughts here!

"Perhaps I am out of line in sharing my thoughts here because I've never travelled abroad, nor have I ever actually had the desire to because of all the horror stories about how Americans are treated overseas (this in spite of all the $$$$ they are dispensing there) but I have observed how "foreigners" behave while they are in MY country. They are rude and obnoxious, their children behave atrociously, they demand service in a loud and boisterous manner, they expect to be served immediately and leave puny tips (if they leave ANY tip), they cut in front of you in lines ("I just want to get up there with my brother, sister, family etc.) they are dirty and many, many of them do not use any deodorant, they dress horribly, and they think we (Americans) OWE them a good time. How does that sound? Thanks for the sounding board."

[CarolineC]

Hi,
Thanks for posting everyone! Your comments are interesting.

I don't like the stereotype of the "ugly American" (as I, of course, am an American!) and so I do unto others as I would want them to do to me and try to judge them on an individual basis.

Sure, some foreigners are rude or obnoxious, but so are some home-grown Americans, whether traveling or not. Plus, many foreign tourists' "rudeness" may just the manifestation of cultural differences. So why not give people the benefit of the doubt?

I try to be as understanding as possible towards people from faraway places, as when I am overseas and dealing with language barriers and culture shock, there's nothing nicer than helpful locals who don't peg me as a rude tourist or an "ugly American".

[jaimelemer]

I can't agree enough about the points in this article. Except for the camera thing. I do take lots of pictures but when I get home I always know what's what. I guess I just pay attention.

I've travelled extensively on business and pleasure throughout Europe and I can always, always, always pick out the Americans. And it's always to my mortification. When I went on a business trip to Belgium, we arrived quite late at our hotel. My travel companion insisted that the staff make her a sandwich because she was so hungry from the trip. I was absolutely mortified as I watched the manager of the hotel go into the closed kitchen to make a sandwich for my associate, who had just had a tantrum in the lobby. I, too, was starving, but turned down the offer of a sandwich because I was absolutely mortified and wanted no part of the 'image'.

One of the biggest European stereotypes is that the French are rude. I've been to Paris and the people there were lovely to me. I spoke horrific French but they were amused and appreciated the effort. And they gladly switched to English (probably to stop me from butchering their beautiful language). Again, you could pick out the Americans in a heartbeat. The loud ones yelling, "DOOO YOOOU SPPPEEEAAAKK EEEENNNGLISSHHH?" followed with, "I KNOW you speak English. EVERYONE in the world does!" I wish I were exaggerating. They were loud, colorful and rude. I could live with the clothing (though seriously...) but people, stop expecting that everyone should speak English to you. Get a book and learn three or four words. It won't kill you, and the locals will appreciate the effort. And seriously, don't get angry when local menus aren't in English. Criminy if I had a dollar for every person I overheard whining and yelling because they couldn't read the menus... get a pocket translator book.

So yes, while of course you're going to encounter rude people in other countries, I guarantee that you will find that Americans are bigger jerks overseas than the locals. You won't have any trouble picking them out. There's a reason for the phrase "Ugly American" and boy you see it all over. It's absolutely mortifying.

I've befriended locals in each city I've gone to - because I've encountered such friendly people. They love hearing about America. Occasionally a political question will come up, but for the most part they just want to know what I do in my everyday life, and have I been to this city or that landmark, etc. It's fun to talk to the people in each city, and I do embrace my "American-ness" in a fun way.

Bottom line is, don't be a jerk when you leave our borders. Don't expect people to speak English. Learn a couple of words of the local language. Study a map so you don't get lost. Don't complain when things aren't like home. If you want to be home so much, stick to travel within the US.

[sebec]

Donder- Any 'big' Tourist Attraction Has A Little Of The Obnoxious Among Its Visitors, Here And Abroad I've Found. Ignore It. I Always Try To Get To 'out Of The Main' Places While On Any Trip And Enjoy That Aspect Of Travel, Seeing How The Locals Live,etc. Rarely Will You Find Unfriendly People When You Ask Friendly Questions. Get Up Early And You Will Find Opportunities To See And Meet Workmen, Many Who Will Be Facinated To Meet An American, Especially One Interested In What They Are Doing. On A More Positive Note, A Great Vacation Experience I've Found Is To Travel To Europe And Back On The Queen Mary 2, Taking A Week And Having Many Interesting People And 'things' To Do While Aboard. And You Get To Smooth Out The 'jet Lag'. It Beats By A Mile The Airport Hassels Found Today. And You Pay In "dollars"!!

[traceytraveler]

And I would also like to add, I've seen many, many "ugly" Brits; "ugly" irish; "ugly" frenchmen; "ugly" italians; really "ugly" middle eastern people - the list goes on and on.... the point is, why do the Americans have to show respect everywhere they go but not anyone else? Just curious? P.S. Don't care if I ever see Ireland again, a lot of hype - very disappointing... (America is blamed for EVERYTHING over there)... Wonder how much Bono gets from them for his African causes?

[soliteyah]

Interesting points from everyone. I do agree with the article for the most part because ugly Americans are out there and I have seen them!

I remember a time in France when I saw an American guy go up to a local person and immediately start speaking (loudly) in English, which to me was just the height of rudeness. I think at the bare minimum you should always learn how to say "hello" and "do you speak English?" in the local language. I mean, how would we feel if someone came up to us and immediately started speaking in German or French or Spanish, assuming that we would know it? (Note: I have seen British people doing this as well. Sure, English is the most common "second" language for folks to speak in many places, but assuming that someone will speak it, without asking, is very arrogant.)

All that said, I have certainly seen ugly Brits, ugly French, etc. Unfortunately, there are rude people in every culture! And I think folks who have enough money to travel (no matter where they're from) often have certain expectations about how they'll be treated, and an inflated sense of their own importance. (Americans in particular seem to have this latter quality because the U.S. is the "leader of the free world," we're a culture that really values the individual, etc etc.) I think ALL travelers should try to be humble and respectful of the local culture, and maybe all those "ugly" stereotypes will start to go away.

[donder]

Alas for all of us, the "Ugly American" moniker may soon be put to rest, since there will no doubt be a lot less of us 'Ugly Folk" travelling anywhere due to the present state of our economy. Who can afford to travel domestically let alone abroad nowadays? Gas prices, airfare hikes, PAYING EXTRA FOR YOUR LUGGAGE......!?! Soon enough, somebody, somewhere is going to miss us, ugly or no. Hang on all of you "Uglies", we're in for a Bumpy Ride!!

[SadricAmber]

I think this article is ridiculous. The writer warns us not fall into American "sterotypes" as he does exactly the same darn thing.

"I have noticed Southerners (Alabama anyone?) usually are the ones to break into song about their homes"

This is just stupid. The tool who wrote this can put the article where the sun doesn't shine.

I note when I travel abroad, they always greedily take my money no matter how I'm dressed. The American Dollar is still the most universally accepted form of payment on the planet. There is a reason for that. Many of these countries want to be like us and I, for one, will embrace that not run from it. I will use my camera where I damn well please. I will wear shorts when it is hot (but appropriate) and I just might burst into song about my native Tennessee, the best damn State in America.

Let me blast a stereotype or two of my own out here since that's what this writer likes:

1. I wish rude yankee New Jersey born travel "journalists" would actually visit a sate (Alabama anyone?) before they blast into it.

2. I wish foreigners would actually bathe before they visit the United States.

3. How about the same Russians who demand we "clear our plates" when visiting their country don't steal from us when they come over on J1 Visas to work for the summer in tourist markets?

4. Warm Beer sucks, McDonalds kick ass, and American Big Macs are sent by the Divine. I guess I will just have to live with the pox you curse me with.

5. Many foreigners that come abroad complain about the quantity of food Americans put on plates. Who are they to do so? I don't drink Cobra blood either nor do I cut the fins off Sharks to make a soup. My eating habits are no different from theirs. If they don't like, there are planes leaving every hour. Mr. Hewitt, how about you get on one of those? Your dream countries await you. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I, for one, am heading down to my All you can eat buffter with Bermuda shorts, a camera, and crazily enough, I am freshly bathed.

[Cathy Cruises]

I have to say I enjoyed this article. The most important thing when traveling any where is keeping your eyes and ears open. The most important word I always look up before traveling is "bathroom", in England it is the water closet. My mom always said "Treat others as you would like to be treated" and that advise has worked for me.

[B13Err]

This is why people go to Jamaica all the time, No need to leave the real "me" at home. You are on vacation it is the time to let your hair down ...or pin it up which ever u want...enjoy

[Kayling05]

Speaking as an Alabamian, you know... the loud singing people?, I would like to say that most people I know who probably would act like that abroad (ie most of my super-conservative family) have never or very rarely been abroad anyway. And the people I know who do travel would never do that!
In fact, whenever I go places and tell people I'm from Alabama, often it's THEIR first reaction to start singing the song Sweet Home Alabama at ME, rather than the other way around (this happened on two separate occasions with Australians and British people I met in California last year).

I think there can be a happy medium between the extreme stereotypes of the Ugly America, and what I consider to be some extreme suggestions in the article. Who's gonna go to Europe and not take any pictures of the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben??? I mean come on!
-I take pictures when I go places, but I also just like to sit back enjoying it as well, and I don't take random pictures of every little nook and cranny and waiter and street sign. (my mom does it and it drives me bonkers)
-I try to dress pretty conservatively and usually wore basic black, white, or navy tops and a scarf with either dark pants/jeans or khakis, along with some nice sandals or sleek sneakers (euro-style, not big clunky white ones) although I did sport a school t-shirt or shorts every now and then to be comfy while traveling, esp on hot days... But I know you're not supposed to wear shorts in churches!!

Some things I agree with totally:
-Everyone should take public transport in Europe. It's so easy, why wouldn't you? I wish there was as efficient and easy and reliable public transportation where I live!
-If you bothered to learn that French people think it's incredibly rude of a waiter to bring the bill before he was asked for it, as that is basically seen as him trying to shove them out the door, you wouldn't think your waiter was such a "typical rude Frenchie". Understanding cultural differences gives you a heads-up.
-Not everyone speaks English, or speaks it well. Even if they do, they have their own language which they are just as or more proud of as you are proud of English. Even if you butcher your German or Italian, at least trying will earn you brownie points. You don't have to form paragraphs, just words like, "Tour Eiffel? Oú? sur le plan?" (Eiffel tower? where? on the map? ...most people will understand you're asking for directions on your map to the eiffel tower)
If you really just can't pronounce it, have it written on easily accessible paper and pull it out to show, or if possible, draw a picture. This is where a phrasebook would come in handy too. (On the other hand, Dutch people-- esp. in Amsterdam-- seem to speak better English than I do! Possibly an exception to this rule)

In short, relax and don't get your panties in a wad if things are different. If 60 million French people can deal with it every day, so can you.

[tennal]

I went to Mexico, and shuddered at what a waiter told me.

When i was there a group of people had chartered a plane and had come down to among other things visit.

While at a resturant we asked for orange juice. The waiter said ok but its not like the orange juice your used to (it reminded me more of a tangerine taste) at home.

All i can think of was this guy has had to deal with some ugly americans all week complaining of the orange juice. We had been there a week already and were quite used to the taste.