Tina

ooops... sorry for all the typos in that last message folks! I just read over it and couldn't leave without correcting myself. Have a nice weekend now!

Jack

As a child, I had the good fortune of travelling extensively around the world with my parents. In many instances, I remember my mother in particular mentioning that we were going to be eating strange food, or that we were going to be around different kinds of people. Her best advice was that I should think twice before saying anything. The customs of other people were important to respect, she added, and reminded me that we were guests in another person's country. Whenever I was served goat's head in Norway, goat intestines in Indonesia (yes, there's something about me and goats for some reason) I knew that rather than give voice to my surprise and sometimes disgust, it was simply more interesting to observe those around me. I have learned so much just by 'shutting up' and observing. I don't believe in the 'ugly american', but I do believe in the 'ugly tourist' - a product of curiosity, high income and ease in transportation. It is easy now for some of the most narrow minded people in the world to travel - and naturally, those are the ones who create a terrible stigma not only for Americans, but for all other travellers. I think it should be a compulsory addition to an airline ticket to have a short brief on the local customs of the destination. It takes such little effort to learn about the destination and points of etiquette that I find it a shame that people go amiss of such a valuable insight into a nation and it's people. My hope is that as people begin to travel more frequently in the coming years, that a fascination for foreign cultures will create much more awareness of travel etiquette.

Rich

Tina: <BR> <BR>Sorry, but I find your "humor" just a little too obtuse.... <BR> <BR>First, I have never resorted to child-like name-calling, no matter how vehemently I disagree with what they might say. When you likened me to John Rocker (in other words, a racist), I didn't find it the least bit funny. I then found it unbelievably hypocritical that you would attack me, and then go on to (apparently) criticize people from the south. <BR> <BR>Tina, FYI, I'm actually a pretty fun-loving person, and I always enjoy reading most of the humorous posts on here. But just remember, I can't see your face when you are posting; I don't know you, so I don't know whether you're joking, or not. And sorry, but I don't think you're as funny as you think you are... <BR> <BR>I'd just encourage you to think about what you are writing before you hit the "post my reply" button. I'm NOT saying to be P.C. (I hate this whole P.C. thing as much as most people); just remember that not everyone knows your sense of humor, and may not appreciate being likened to a racist. <BR> <BR>And by the way, I didn't read your second message until today, as I was out "having a life." Hope you had fun, as well!

Julian

Well, as a Brit, I'd just like to say that, just like any other people, the overwhelming majority of Americans I come across are okay and very many of them are warm, considerate and generous. I think that you do have a bit of problem with an education and political system that is highly centred on America. Many of the problems described above arise because of a lack of comprehension that the rest of the world is different (and, because it is not usually as efficient as the States, that not unnaturally frustrates many Americans). This isolation is underlined by the fact that only some 10% of US citizens possess a passport.

sandi

Americans are the most guilty people on earth! It is my opinion that we are no worse, and a heck of a lot better than most as travelers. Openly friendly, curious, outgoing (alright! sometimes a bit loud) but good hearted, on the whole. We got to stop beating ourselves up. We are no uglier than anyone else, and believe me, I have seen ugliness in spades, from Japanese tourists, French groups, Arab nationals, etc. People in groups, any kind of groups, are not likely to be as sensitive. And people who expect everything to be like home, should STAY home.

debbie

First off, about the accent thing. i have a number of Japanese friends who certainly can understand English, but readily admit that they don't recognize accents at all. They can't really tell the difference between me and a British friend of mine. I would assume that most people who speak another language as a primary would be similar. And, unfortunately, there really are UA's. I really find, however, that the Germans probably deserve the term more than we do. I have seen more really jerky behavior from them than from Americans. I realize that sounds really prejudiced, but i can't help how I see things. I was recently in France in Normandy. As I am Eastern European descent, I have had people assume that I am German. while I was in Normandy, I lived in FEAR that someone would think I was German. Not a very pleasant way to feel...I think that every culture and every peoplehave their uglies. Because the US is such a powerful country we just take the brunt of it.

Kimerley

Enough already... let's talk about Australian's behaviour whilst overseas...

GoAus

Ok, a story of Aussie's. I was with a friend of mine in London and we met a couple of Aussie's who had already been drinking for hours. 3 hours of drinking later, we went to this restaurant and they sat us in an old bomb shelter due to the loudness of one of the Aussies. He kept calling us a bunch of "Zippos" and told us the reason WW2 was won was due to the hard fighting Aussies. I thought it was great although a little less volume on his voice would have been nice. What a night? I had so much fun, I paid for the entire meal and drinks---&gt; about $250. That didn't include the previous 2 hours of continious beers/drinks.

Steve Mueller

The responses to this thread seem to confirm my suspicion that the ugly American label is most often invoked by other Americans. More specifically, it appears to be applied to fellow Americans that are somehow different from oneself: from a different region of the US, in a different age bracket, make different choices about what to see or where to eat, etc. <BR> <BR>It is also clear that the stereotype is so powerful that a single example is enough to convince some people that UA's are ubiquitous. <BR> <BR>Well, I'm off to Germany in a couple of days. There's a report of an ugly American spotted in Rothenburg. Maybe I can get there before he leaves. <BR> <BR>Auf Wiedersehen

jbrooks

Okay, there are a lot of interesting perspectives here on this forum. I do believe that ugly americans exist because I had the experience of traveling with one...but I am sure that all countries have uglies, I more easily notice the americans. <BR> <BR>My ugly american was my college roommate at Oxford. The first night we met, she seemed very nice and I offered to take her out to dinner. On our way down Oxfords wonderful, quaint streets, she started belting out the lyrics to the star spangled banner...and I mean loud! She also brang up the fact that the "US kicked your ass in the war." I still don't know what war she was talking about, unless she was referring to the revolutionary war??? What a thing to bring up! In my embarrassment, I tried to walk a few feet behind her but it didn't work. Others on the street were staring at us, giving dirty looks, one yelled "go home." It was quite a spectacle, needless to say, it was the last night I spent with my new roommate. <BR> <BR>She had some other problems and did the "typical" ugly american things, make fun of currency, food, customs, the english, their language, etc. She pretty much made sure that every english person she encountered would know how superior we americans were to them. UGGHHH! She was the ugliest I have ever encountered! <BR> <BR>For those who care, she was from Washington DC and worked as an intern in the Capitol before coming to England. I would hate to think there are others like her being an ambassador for us in our Capitol! She sure wasn't a very good ambassador overseas! <BR> <BR>Generally, I meet a lot of very nice americans overseas. Those americans that travel often, seem to be the best behaved, either becaue they have learned how to act, or they are genuinely interested in learning about another culture and its people. Otherwise, I think that some of the best examples of "uglies" are those who are traveling for the first time abroad or in a new area and have unreal expectations of their trip. Hopefully, research and some quality forum time will help prepare those who want to learn before hand. For those that are not willing to take the time to learn about where they are going first, maybe they should stay home or visit disney world for the 11th time. <BR> <BR>Even though this is the Europe page, I see many ugly americans getting off of cruise ships in the caribbean...why is that? (I did not say all, just more than typical).

Amy

Fascinating post! I've seen a number of tourists from all nations behaving in ways that seemed to show that they were insecure <BR>in a particular situation. (yeah, I know, that's pop psychology, but it does have all the earmarks--insisting on superiority, demanding familiarity, being really really loud)... <BR>A good example was a trip to Morocco (right! I do know this is the Europe forum!) that had French, Spanish, Italians, British, and Brazilians all on the same tour!! Everybody got a bit rude in one way or another at times, except the Brazilians. They were so much fun, I went to Brazil the next year!! (That was great, too.) <BR>Also, I've got to agree with the Canadians--any that I've met while traveling have been just lovely.

Poster

I agree that there are "ugly tourists" from everywhere...but when I read Rich's post I have to agree with the Japanese tourist story...I was staying in a great hotel in Scotland when my friend and I came downstairs for the hearty breakfast they make every morning...until we ran into the lost Japanese tourists...we told them to follow us downstairs to the dining room......they literally pushed us aside and hit the tables hard! My friend went to the bathroom and I tried to get in there with them by the time my friend came back they drained...the hot cereal, all the eggs, bacon, sausages, etc. within minutes...my friend was stuck with having a continental breakfast of coffee and toast...she was p@###$$!!! Funny though!!!

xox

Re Heather's post re her travel partner. Sounds like the one I took with me...same ugly habits...only interested in sites. I work in the entertainment industry and so do my European friends and we had lots of invitations to parties and premieres...didn't want to go...invitation to drink beer at the oldest pub in London...wasn't interested. It was all about what she could by and how fast she could move onto the next site. I swear her total time at most sites were 5-10 minutes...she was a DRAG!!!