I am trying to find more information on how other world citizens (epec. Europeans) view Americans. Do you know of any web sites or books that would be helpful? <BR> <BR>I frequently read postings on this site and know all about our sometimes 'boorish' traveling behavior (and I am a Texan - a double whammy!), but would love to know some positive things, things others find funny or strange about our culture, if others generally like the USA, etc. <BR> <BR>I am travelling to Europe again in a few weeks and would humbly love to hear opinions on the US, but wouldn't even know how to begin a conversation like that. <BR> <BR>This must seem like a strange posting, but any help would be appreciated. I figured this is the best site to reach world travelers and ask for their opinions. Thanks so very much! (Merci, Gracias, Danke, etc..!)

The opinions were written a long time ago- but they are still accurate. Read "Daisy Miller" a short story by Henry James about an American family touring Europe.

This is an interesting question, because Americans are so quick to make generalizations (like the one I just made) but don't realize that people make the same generalizations about us. I do know that I have been told several times by Italians that Americans are so competitive, and they don't necessarily mean this in a positive sense. I think, and I may be wrong, that they see the competitive spirit and individualism as being detrimental to the overall good in the long run. I think also that Italians, at least, see us as kind of slow on the uptake. Italians think very fast on their feet and manuever adroitly, both physically and mentally. Americans come across as slow and clumsy, the latter in large part because of our size both in heighth and width. As mentioned before, Americans are deemed to be loud, and I find this true. I can always spot a group of Americans a mile away (and I am American) by three traits: we talk in loud voices; in any given group, a large percentage are overweight; and we tend to wear more casual clothes in bright or pastel colors than those around us. This is not a judgmental statement but an observation.

OK, I am European, so let me make some huge generalizations <BR> <BR>Positive: <BR>Americans are: optimistic, entrepreneurial, friendly and talkative, active, knowledge-hungry. <BR> <BR>Negative: <BR>Americans are: loud, materialistic, badly dressed, and expect everything to be just like in the USA. <BR> <BR>Just some generalizations! <BR> <BR>Sjoerd

speaking as a Canadian who has encountered americans both in my country and elsewhere - europe and mexico - 2 things stand out <BR>Positive: americans are very friendly and not at all shy about talking to and meeting new people - Being a little too reserved myself - this is a trait I rather admire. <BR>Negative: I do find americans rather loud and sometimes not very tactful about expressing negative opinions about other people's countries.

Not to start an interborder North American cultural war or anything, but...I lived in Canada for 20 years, and I have never ever heard so much anti-American propaganda to my face as in Canada. I tried to be polite for the first 12 years, and then after that, I couldn't take it anymore. I think it's rude to find out someone is from another country and then say, hey, your country is bad, awful, and let me tell you what else. So after the first 12 years, I began rather politely to defend the US. To my pleasure, then sometimes some other people in the group, timid Canadians (generalization) would also chime in and say, yeah, me too, I went to the US once and it was nice, pleasant, friendly...whatever. <BR>Thank you for letting me vent. Canada is not full of saints. No place is, but many Canadians think so. So, jmm, polite Canuck that you are, your people do the same thing. I am sure you yourself are a perfectly charming person almost all the time, and I mean that.

Okay, this is starting to sound like a Lonely Planet website. And that is NOT a good thing, as there tends to be a lot of "us vs them" bashing on LP. Let's stick to sharing helpful travel tips, shall we?

Just to try and steer this thread back to its original direction. I think the way people in other countries view Americans is usually dependant on the way a particular American acts while abroad. I have seen American's do truly embarassing things while overseas. I have seen Americans act shamefully in other countries. Several examples include complaining loudly, and frequently that such-and-such is not a good as in the US (why didn't you stay in the US then? I often wonder), yelling at hotel,restaurant, transportation staff, (always in ENGLISH mind you) that they want special treatment, and one that took the cake was a young guy, obviously drunk yelling at the top of his lungs to a pub in London "We saved your A-- in World War Two!" <BR>Funny how people such as this come home with horror stories about the "snotty French" the "Rude Italians" and the "impolite English". The reverse side of that is, I have seen wonderful American's abroad who adhere to the golden rule of travel," you are a guest in someone else's country". Learning to speak a few words in another language, (hello, please, thank you), being polite, (yes Europeans tend to speak more softly then your average American) and being a good traveler will dictate how YOU are viewed when you visit another country. And just to set the record strait, the rude tourist thing can be people from any country going to any country, not exclusively American's and the bottom line seems to be, traveler's tend to reap what they sow in equal ammounts. <BR>

I am always amazed at Americans who claim some kind of superiority because of World War II. I wonder if that same person could say very much about Viet Nam? We did not save very much there, not even our own skins. Our exit was less than triumphant despite many examples of individual heroism. <BR>Or, I wonder if that same person had ever stopped to ask what might have happened to the American Revolution had the French not supplied a little bit of help. That wasn't the American Navy that sailed around Yorktown, despite the exploits of Old Ironsides and the like. And had the British not had a major distraction in Europe in 1812 - 1815, who knows what might have happened when the Red Coats re-invaded. (Move Waterloo to 1811 and all kinds of wild spectulation can break loose.) <BR>As for generalizations, let me make a few about Europeans. People from Austria tend to take it for granted that Americans don't know anything about Vienna or any other place in Austria. <BR>This admittedly generalized posture was epitomized, and well illustrated, by a conversation that was forced on me while I was riding back from Houston to Atlanta. The man seated across the aisle saw that I was reading a book on Vienna. (It was The Rough Guide, by the way, which is very detailed if somewhat difficult to read and highly opinionated.) A native of Vienna, he started asking me questions, but never listened to a single answer. He took my book and, without my consent, began writing and marking in it. One thing he marked as a place to visit was the Spanishche Reitschule where the Lipizzanner horses parade and perform. He did this despite the fact that I had already told him that I had a confirmed order for tickets to a performance. He then explained to me that there was the Volksoper and the Staatsoper, despite the fact that I had already told him that I had found the appropriate web sites and had studied the schedules. (I might add that a few Fodors posters make these same assumptions: That the questioner is stupid, ignorant, or a combination of both.) Finally in disgust I asked him if he thought I had not read my own book!! He also told me that a famous composer named Mozart had lived in Vienna! He said that despite the fact that I had already told him that we had tickets to a performance by the Atlanta Symphony that evening. <BR>(And like I don't have the complete boxed set of Mozart symphonies recorded by Telarc!) <BR>So the usual stereotypical mold that all Americans are pressed into is that we know nothing of symphonic music, art, literature, or drama. <BR>And to stop him from scribbling all over my new book, I took the pen out of his hand and then grabbed my book! <BR>So boorish behavior, inattentive conversation, lack of respect for another's property, and limited comprehension of another's attributes is not limited to Americans.

I recently read that when shopping at an outdoor market do no pick up the merchandise and same in a clothing store. The shopkeepers are there to assist you. I am going to Europe in a few weeks and I appreciate the question!

It truly depends upon where you're going. And, it depends upon who you happen to encounter. Many Europeans couldn't care less about America (or pretend not to), Americans or their curiosities, but others are enthralled with "all things American". You engage in converstion just as you would anywhere else. You'll find that many folks generalize about us just as we generalize about them.

I am often told that "the Americans you meet in Europe are different from those you meet in America.The ones in America are much nicer.". <BR>This is very commonly said, has been for years, so you'll have to define which Americans you mean. <BR>I think this is partly due to travel trauma, which Americans seem to suffer from more than most.The British, literally insular, also have this problem, but Americans have it in spades. <BR>Low culture-shock thresholds,the stress of not being able to run on auto-pilot and that absolute disbelief that English really isn't understood all combine to give give an impression of dumb arrogance which is not a fair picture. <BR>These are very nice people in their own back yard, I find. <BR>Habituation to foreign lands seems to cure it, except in cases of severe initial exposure after which the system becomes sensitised & can't bear the slightest foreignness. <BR>Remember, most Europeans never meet Americans at all.Their views are largely from the local media. <BR>I'm afraid the high handed behaviour of the US gov makes these people think that the people are pushy. <BR>Lets face it, "replacing" Allende was a bad idea if you want the world to think you are nice people, in much the same way that the US media thinks all middle eastern people are murderous religeous fanatics.(except the Israelis???) <BR> Your attitude to gun ownership is another thing that we find very hard to take.We know that the world is full of unstable nutters & psychopaths, arming them up & calling it freedom seems weird to us. <BR>Here if someone, not a farmer, tells you they own a gun you grin & edge away from <BR> him,(always him, never her) as he's probably a nutcase - who else would want <BR>a crazy thing like that in the house?Supposing the kids get it?Brrr <BR>

I think that opinions vary from town to town, depending on the type of tourists one sees. I live in london and as such see thousands of americans, and to be honest they don't really stick out, apart from the amazing dress sense (lycra on the grossly overweight, baseball caps on pensioners, training shoes with suits etc) <BR> <BR>Once you get off the tourist trail (in britain this is london, york, bath stratford and canterbury) people are less likely to have much contact with americans and as such have less preconceived opinions. <BR> <BR>but in genral: <BR> <BR>Positive; generous, friendly, usually polite and intersted in the country. <BR> <BR>Negative: LOUD!, the aforementioned dress sense; complaining that things are diffrent from USA; the assumption that we all know what you are talking about when you talk about your popular culture; a bit thick. <BR> <BR>but all in all most brits quite like americans

Talking about generalization, I do not know whether every European agrees with me. Just be yourself, American or not. I think everyone has met Americans who behaved badly, but the same goes for other nationalities. <BR>As long as you are interested in the people you meet in Europe, I'm sure they will be interested in you (or not, that's their loss then). <BR>I like the Americans (at least the ones I met) because they are very enthousiastic on things. <BR>Enjoy your stay and do not forget to visit the NL!

Wow - thanks for all of the insight. I am glad it hasn't turned into an "us vs. them" thread. Just very curious about other cultures and such. Each time I go to Europe I am indeed amazed at how SOME Americans act (and there are rude people from all countries, yes I know!) and how most of us dress (me included. One trip to Paris in college I didn't want to appear like a tourist so I didn't wear tennis shoes-WITH MY blue jean SHORTS!) Perhaps Americans just have a much more casual culture. And please don't get me started on guns! Believe me, there are plenty of us that don't think we should all have the right to pack heat. (Even Texans!) <BR> <BR>If you have visited America- what did you think? Did you like it? I work at a museum and wonder what Europeans would think of it - it's a bit run down. Since our taxes are so low, we get little help from the government and I think most people from another country would be dissapointed. <BR> <BR>In europe I am constantly amazed at the beautiful architecture and history. Here I look out the window and see a McDonalds and grocery store. <BR>Thanks for the comments and keep them coming!!

Robyn <BR> <BR>I have visited the US once and enjoyed the trip much more than I expected. <BR> <BR>I expected shallow, and materialistic, and whilst I found some of that, I found most was much better than my anticipation. I almost ended myself over breakfast my first morning as the waitress in the diner went through the 840 options; and it took me days to stop answering when people said "How are you?" <BR> <BR>On the other hand the television was appalling in terms of quality; and we listened to one show on the radio with a couple of talikg heads hosts discussing a scandal about a telly evangelist (I can't remember who; it was over 10 years ago) and my husband and I just gasped at what was said about the chap and his wife with apparent impunity. <BR> <BR>My experiences with Americans in this very American city have been mixed. The lady who wanted Aberdeen classed as an anti-social posting entitling her family to extra R&R particularly endeared herself to me. And far to many of the oil service companies are run for the benefit of the US expats rather than the indigineous population. <BR> <BR>But hey, who's perfect?

For a hilarious historical travelogue account of how Americans act while abroad, read Mark Twain's "The Innocents Abroad", published in the 1860s. Signet Classics describes it best as the "'New Barbarbians' [i.e., Americans] encounter the 'Old World'".

Here's another take on the topic. I have notice that when someone else (as a travel agent or travel group) makes your plans for you, you are more likely to be critical of parts of the trip than you would be if you made your arrangements yourself. For instance, if your travel agent picked a lousy hotel or arrange dinner at a not too restaurant, you are more likely to complain, than if you were wandering around on your and ate at a not so good restaurant, you would chalk it up to experience.

I've been several times in the USA and I rather liked it. For me, the most amazing thing about the country was the sheer size of it and the beauty of the landscape. Cities like San Francisco have a really distinctive character and are places where I wouldn't mind living for a few years. The people are normally very friendly and I haven't made a single negative experience with an individual American. I also liked the public camping grounds and rest facilities, for example in the national parks. They make travelling very easy and comfortable. Some of the cultural institutions of the USA, whether museums or opera, are simply great. <BR> <BR>On the negative side (outweighted by the positive experiences): <BR> <BR>The lack of distinctive differences of the smaller towns. <BR> <BR>The feeling that the USA exists very much on its own without a real interest in other countries. It starts with the news which seldomn mention any international matters. (Even CNN, which considers itself to be international, doesn't care about events outside the USA as long as it isn't a plane crash, a war or the election of a new head of government, i.e. something spectacular. The presentation of background information concentrates upon the USA.) The country is so big that it somehow doesn't seem to need the rest of the world but is content with itself. <BR> <BR>And last but not least, too many regulations. I know that it sounds absurd to hear this from a German about the USA, but that is my impression. I guess that a lot of it comes from not being used to the specifical american regulations while I don't notice the german ones, but especially as a teenager I felt restricted. For example, when I was nine, my parents worked for a few months in Berkeley and wanted to send me to school. There was a school in walking distance but it was a few hundred metres outside of the school district of the house we lived in. Therefore I would have been forced to visit a school quite far away. The result was three months without school for me since my parents weren't going to send a nine-year old who couldn't speak english busing around a strange town. I'm still amazed by the lack of flexibility of the school system. Or the speed limit on these perfectly straight and empty roads in Nevada. Or the strict ban of smoking in public buildings. I accept this for places also frequented by non-smokers but in the airport of L.A., this means that no place for smokers in the international transit area exists. Why such a principally sensible rule can't include a single room away from non-smokers where smoking is allowed, is beyond my understanding. And as a teenager, when I was more or less treated as an adult in Europe, I encountered all these restrictions about alcohol or even visiting places selling alcohol. In comparison to Germany and other european countries, the USA felt narrow for a teenager.

This reminds me of a story I heard once. There was a couple travelling from one town to another complaining about the previous town. They came upon an old lady who asked what the problem was. They told her about the previous town and how rude the people were, how poor the service was, etc. The couple asked if the next town was like this and she told them there were bound to be some. <BR>A little while later another couple went by the old lady saying how wonderful the previous town was, the people were so kind, etc. They asked her if the next town was like this as well. <BR>She told them there were bound to be people like that as well. <BR> <BR> <BR>I apologize to anyone who is more familiar with the story if I did not get it quite right but I think there is a good point to the story about stereotypes. <BR>