Advice for Americans traveling abroad

[Winnow]

I like how it starts out:

For years, many people in the world have had a great fondness for America. They have admired our culture, our products, and our cheerful fun loving nature.

and this:

It's easy to resent big, powerful people. Assume resentment as a default and play down your wealth, power and status.

and this:

People around the world are fascinated by the U.S. and the lives we Americans live. They admire our openness, our optimism, our creativity and our "can do" spirit.

Don't hate us because of our power, status, wealth, optimism, openness, creativity and "can do" spirit!

[miir]

How is this a current event?


The world has collectively disliked american tourists for decades.
The only reason they put up with them is because of the money they are spending. People pretend that they like americans so they will spend even more money.

[Kelshara]

That was humorous. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times.

[MooZilla]

http://www.cafepress.com/americanapology.6120915

You just need that.

[Kilmoll the Sexy]

The world has collectively disliked american tourists for decades.
The only reason they put up with them is because of the money they are spending.

People hate all tourists no matter what country you live in or what nationality they are from.

[kyoukan]

I've always been treated courteously abroad. Unless I am mistaken as an American. Even then once they find out I am Canadian, I am always treated respectfully.

[Winnow]

That's because Canadians don't even make it on the chart above. You're as meaningless as Luxemburg is to most countries of the world although both countries probably have killer curling teams.

It's a tough life being the world police but as long as Americans see that shit eating grin on the local's face while traveling abroad and they serve their traditional food without spitting in it, who cares if they're faking it for our money or not?

Do you really care if a waiter likes their job or you while serving? Who gives a fuck if their life is in ruins. If they do their job well, they get a good tip. And in the case of any tourist from another country, if they act like a jackass, they deserve what they get.

[Aruman]

I've always been treated courteously abroad. Unless I am mistaken as an American. Even then once they find out I am Canadian, I am always treated respectfully.

I can say the same thing kyoukan. I travelled extensively and I was always treated courteously, even when they found out I was an American. So much for your theory/belief/bias. Whatever you choose to call it.

I think you are a victim of the 'Someone else said it, I want to believe it, so I know it is true' syndrome.

[Zaelath]

I've always been treated courteously abroad. Unless I am mistaken as an American. Even then once they find out I am Canadian, I am always treated respectfully.

I can say the same thing kyoukan. I travelled extensively and I was always treated courteously, even when they found out I was an American. So much for your theory/belief/bias. Whatever you choose to call it.

I think you are a victim of the 'Someone else said it, I want to believe it, so I know it is true' syndrome.

Did you walk about complaining the whole time about how things are much better at home? DO YOU TALK LOUDLY FOR NO REASON? Or, better still, if you're having trouble being understood in a non-english speaking country, do you just talk louder and slower and act like people are stupid because they don't understand you? Did you do the other irritating things yanks are known for?

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

Hell, all of those suggestions in the article come down to one simple concept; expect to adjust your behaviour to the country you're in, not the other way around. Exactly the same thing as what most Americans say about people who visit their country.

I'm curious where "abroad" is too.

[Aabidano]

I've been all over and never had any problems myself. I've met and worked with lots of folks and everyone I dealt with was very nice whether they knew where I was from or not.

The garbage we export gives most of the world their view of us, think of the worst of the network tripe, 90210, Melrose Place and the movies and you get a picture.

Japan was... well Japan. Odd place.

[Cotto]

Don't hate us because of our power, status, wealth, optimism, openness, creativity and "can do" spirit!

Thats not why I hate you.

[Aruman]

Did you walk about complaining the whole time about how things are much better at home? DO YOU TALK LOUDLY FOR NO REASON? Or, better still, if you're having trouble being understood in a non-english speaking country, do you just talk louder and slower and act like people are stupid because they don't understand you? Did you do the other irritating things yanks are known for?

Not trying to knock you, but I have seen this behavior from people besides Americans Zaelath. Don't try to make this out to be a peculiarity to Americans.

By the way, no... I do not and never have done that. I actually tried to learn some of the language wherever I was at. I'm sure I sounded silly at times, but hey, it was interesting and the people appreciated the efforts.

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

I've never been to Australia. That is one place I have never visited, but I have encountered Australians. I'd expect someone visiting the US to apply those same 'rules' when they visit the US. But nooooo....., some people that post here wouldn't think of it since Americans are so 'inferior'. Why should they stoop to trying to learn what Americans as a whole are like while they are in the United States.

I'm curious where "abroad" is too.

Abroad for me (so far) consisted of:

West and what used to be East Germany, Italy, England, France, Panama, Egypt, Israel, Ireland, Japan, Korea, and lots of places in between.

Funny thing is I live in Michigan, and for some reason have yet to go to Canada.

[Aabidano]

What I said before was partially correct (from my view) I guess. The few actual Arabs I met in the middle east were an aloof, arrogant bunch. Nice enough guys but they were absolutely in charge and knew it, and assumed you were a lower life form destined to go to hell eventually. You can talk about American holy rollers all you want, these guys are in a whole different league. Just not as well vilified by the press.

Something like 75% of UAE's population is non-Arab guest workers, who do 99% of the work.

[Kelshara]

Not trying to knock you, but I have seen this behavior from people besides Americans Zaelath. Don't try to make this out to be a peculiarity to Americans.

Although these people exist among all tourists the percentage of them among American tourists is a LOT higher. I worked with tourists in Norway quite a bit in years past and even though quite a few are very nice the bad ones are worse than anyone else. What I never understood was why you would complain about everything being different from what you are used to back home? If that is what you want, why travel?

It honestly seems to come down to this: The Americans who are used to travelling are great to deal with. Those who are not are a major pain.

[Nick]

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either.

[laneela]

I've traveled quite a bit and have never encountered any rudeness at all. Of course, when I travel, I'm usually very interested in the culture of the country I'm visiting and try not to disrespect anyone's customs (except for this one time I was tricked into eating liver pate and there wasn't a power in the world that could stop me from gagging). I also work in the tourist industry, managing a small hotel in Miami Beach and have found that tourists who come to us are a LOT more flexible than we are when we are abroad (myself included as I tend to hope to find someone who speaks one of the languages I speak since I'm embarassed that I'll sound like a buffoon in another tongue and find myself cursing the world itself when I feel like buying something at 7:00 p.m. and am reminded that in most other places in the world, the stores don't stay open all hours of the night).

The garbage we export gives most of the world their view of us, think of the worst of the network tripe, 90210, Melrose Place and the movies and you get a picture.

In my experience, it's not the American pop-culture that offends most people - in fact, it tends to help in sparking up conversations with people you might have trouble finding other things in common with due to a language or culture barrier. It is my personal opinion that it's American politics that most other countries have a problem with.

[Aabidano]

In my experience, it's not the American pop-culture that offends most people - in fact, it tends to help in sparking up conversations with people you might have trouble finding other things in common with due to a language or culture barrier.

I don't think it offends too many people, a lot of what we see on TV is changed when it gets exported\translated to tone it down.

But it does set the expectation that we're actually like that as a culture. I've worked with Pakistanis, Iranians, Indians, Philipinos, Thais, etc.. who were all very surprised that I'd only had one wife, hadn't cheated on her, my kids were just like thiers, I wasn't an alchoholic, drug addict and on and on. The Japansese were the only ones I couldn't really identify with.

Lots of people don't like American politics, I've never had that held against me though.

[Bubba Grizz]

I loved my time in Japan. For me it was almost like America but without out all the preconceptions derived from soap operas. You know, the "it's all about the job, the wallet, and the car", mentality that most American's have. They were genuinly nice people. I only met a few who held ill will towards Americans and they tended to be really old and still remembered the war.

In the other countries I visited in that region, Korea, PI, Guam, Thailand and others, they were pretty much nice over all but then again I had an M16 that tends to make anyone friendly towards you, at least to your face.

I think the reason folks think that Americans are obnoxious when abroad is because majority of travelers are mainly rich assholes. Granted there are those that travel for business. The normal working person doesn't often get to travel to Europe or Asia and all points inbetween. Mainly we are content to go to a cottage on the lake and do some fishing. (This is just my perspective on this and may be totally off in reality.)

[Sueven]

I think that one of the reasons for the misbehavior of some U.S. travellers is largely due to the isolation of our country. Canada is to the north, and while people do go there sometimes, it's really not much different than the United States. Mexico is to the south, and people usually only go there for border-town debauchery or touristy beaches. It would take me 18 solid hours of driving to make it to another country. In other parts of the U.S, it would be even longer. Additionally, America is one of the largest societies with a decent income distribution in the world. Countries in which the people enjoy a higher standard of living tend to be much, much smaller, population-wise, than the United States. Thus, there are many Americans who can afford to travel but have never known anything but America, and don't know how to react to a different culture.

I would like to point out that it makes me a little sad to see so many people bashing the poor etiquette and inability to adjust to different social or cultural customs of American tourists, when I know that I've had multiple arguments on this message board with non-Americans who don't feel that they're obligated to tip at restaurants when in America.

[Xzion]

oh yeah, people LOVE americans abroad
lol i never say directly that im american when i travel, if i do i usually have to explain myself
that list was a good source of humor though

[Kelshara]

I would like to point out that it makes me a little sad to see so many people bashing the poor etiquette and inability to adjust to different social or cultural customs of American tourists, when I know that I've had multiple arguments on this message board with non-Americans who don't feel that they're obligated to tip at restaurants when in America.

Well in Norway at least you do not tip like you do in the US. The servers get paid a lot more and the tip is basically only if it is exceptionally good service. I had to be reminded about this difference several times when I first moved over.

[Zaelath]

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

I've never been to Australia. That is one place I have never visited, but I have encountered Australians. I'd expect someone visiting the US to apply those same 'rules' when they visit the US. But nooooo....., some people that post here wouldn't think of it since Americans are so 'inferior'. Why should they stoop to trying to learn what Americans as a whole are like while they are in the United States.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.. and you really don't want to know what I "learnt" about Americans in my 18 months in the US

Aabidano: Your pop culture represents you better than reality really, apart from Wife Swap; that's show is brutal. So... unless you mean to say everybody is jealous of your wealth like Winnow?

Some people do have a skewed view of America and Americans (which really is two seperate things in my mind) but on the other hand, it's human nature when someone doesn't like you to see it as their personality flaw rather than your own.

[miir]

Canada is to the north, and while people do go there sometimes, it's really not much different than the United States.

You'd be surprised.

[Winnow]

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

I spent six months in Australia and, while Aussies are a squirrely bunch, they were ok in general although I stayed away from the Crocodile Dundee looking ones. It was a little surreal with all the third world barefoot Aboriginals running around in the Cairns area while the caucasian Aussies enjoyed a little better lifestyle. (most had shoes)

On the way back from Australia, a New Zealander gave me a raw fish wrapped in tinfoil when I checked into a hotel...Thanks! The Hotel was right on the edge of the Rotorua mud pits so I chucked the fish into one of the boiling mud pits from my hotel room window. True Story! Now, I accepted the fish with all the courtesy that is expected of a foreign tourist and didn't chuck the fish until I was out of sight!

[Aruman]

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

I've never been to Australia. That is one place I have never visited, but I have encountered Australians. I'd expect someone visiting the US to apply those same 'rules' when they visit the US. But nooooo....., some people that post here wouldn't think of it since Americans are so 'inferior'. Why should they stoop to trying to learn what Americans as a whole are like while they are in the United States.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.. and you really don't want to know what I "learnt" about Americans in my 18 months in the US

I'm saying that some people who post here, if they ever travelled to the United States, simply wouldn't make any effort to try to learn what the majority of America and it's culture is like, because they already have a negative impression of the United States based on what others have said/seen. It comes down to that comment about 'why travel to a country when all you want is what you left behind'.

Why bother coming here if you have no intention of doing what you expect people visiting your country to do.

[Zaelath]

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

I spent six months in Australia and, while Aussies are a squirrely bunch, they were ok in general although I stayed away from the Crocodile Dundee looking ones. It was a little surreal with all the third world barefoot Aboriginals running around in the Cairns area while the caucasian Aussies enjoyed a little better lifestyle. (most had shoes)

a) wearing shoes in Cairns is hardly necessary
b) people who refuse to work in the US live in fabulous luxury I expect!
c) really, Winnow, look into the issue, talk to someone that actually has lived near some aboriginals and can give you a real picture of what they are really like, then STFU because you don't know what you're talking about.

[Boogahz]

I don't know anyone here that would be rude to yanks just for being yanks, but I also don't know too many people that would put up with your bullshit either. Plus, many Americans think Australians are rude just because we don't suck up to them every five minutes like you get back home.

I spent six months in Australia and, while Aussies are a squirrely bunch, they were ok in general although I stayed away from the Crocodile Dundee looking ones. It was a little surreal with all the third world barefoot Aboriginals running around in the Cairns area while the caucasian Aussies enjoyed a little better lifestyle. (most had shoes)

a) wearing shoes in Cairns is hardly necessary
b) people who refuse to work in the US live in fabulous luxury I expect!
c) really, Winnow, look into the issue, talk to someone that actually has lived near some aboriginals and can give you a real picture of what they are really like, then STFU because you don't know what you're talking about.

Goes both ways, that one does. It is the same as some people's opinions of different areas in the US that you only see in the news, on TV, or on teh entarweb.

[Zaelath]

I'm saying that some people who post here, if they ever travelled to the United States, simply wouldn't make any effort to try to learn what the majority of America and it's culture is like, because they already have a negative impression of the United States based on what others have said/seen. It comes down to that comment about 'why travel to a country when all you want is what you left behind'.

Why bother coming here if you have no intention of doing what you expect people visiting your country to do.

Ummm ok. I still don't get it though. It's hard not to be forcably introduced to American culture when you visit the US, it's in your face the whole time... and tourists in America just have to tip well to get their egos stroked and looked after; that's where I think the confusion lies, you can't just buy "good service" outside the US, if you're a pleasure to serve, the service is pleasant.

Are you saying tourists should take a week in each state of the union to see the difference between Minnesotans and Cheeseheads? Between Los Angelinos and New Yorkers? Or are you under the misguided notion that if you just gave the US enough time everyone would love it as much as you do and that is some how relevant to US citizens travelling abroad? I guess I don't follow the relevance of your thinking.

[kyoukan]

That's because Canadians don't even make it on the chart above. You're as meaningless as Luxemburg is to most countries of the world although both countries probably have killer curling teams.

It's a tough life being the world police but as long as Americans see that shit eating grin on the local's face while traveling abroad and they serve their traditional food without spitting in it, who cares if they're faking it for our money or not?

Do you really care if a waiter likes their job or you while serving? Who gives a fuck if their life is in ruins. If they do their job well, they get a good tip. And in the case of any tourist from another country, if they act like a jackass, they deserve what they get.

Because it is about being respected. I could not be less surprised that you don't understand that.

Note: Germans are worse tourists than Americans.

[Niffoni]

I don't think the problem is that there are more jackoffs-per-capita in the US than other places (though I'd sure love to see a study on that), I think it's more to do with the vacation-culture america seems to have developed over the last few decades which stresses travel as being an accessable standard, even among first-timers who know nothing about the rest of the world, and (until the moment they encounter it) couldn't care less. Disposable income has allowed people who don't know how to act abroad to get out there and annoy people.

To put it more simply, not all americans who travel are n00bs, but there are a lot of n00b american travelers.

[Sueven]

Well in Norway at least you do not tip like you do in the US. The servers get paid a lot more and the tip is basically only if it is exceptionally good service. I had to be reminded about this difference several times when I first moved over.

Exactly. It's a cultural adjustment that has to be made, just like adjustments have to be made going in the other direction. I, and everyone else who has worked in food service for virtually no salary, sincerely appreciate you for having adjusted. I just wanted to point out that non-Americans who refuse to tip in restaurants are being rude in just the same way that obnoxious American tourists frequently are.

You'd be surprised.

I've been to Canada. Certainly not for all that long, and certainly not everywhere, but I have been to non-touristy spots of the country, talked to the people who lived there and all that. I also know lots of other people who have been there, people who have lived there, people who have gone to school there, and so on. The two countries are certainly not identical, but they're about as similar as two such large countries can be. Certainly, there are only a handful of countries that might be more America-like than Canada, and only a handful of countries might be more Canada-like than America. A fair number of folks assumed I was Canadian. The only trouble I had was translating liters and kilometers into gallons and miles. However, I can't really speak for French Canada.

[kyoukan]

you were not dazzled by the brilliant hues of our currency?

[Sueven]

I actually still keep a Canadian five-spot in my wallet. I never bothered getting it translated to dollars, and I never clean my wallet, so it's there. It's blue.

I forgot: Someone also told me that Americans who get speeding tickets get booted back to America. I figured that was bullshit, but I drove the speed limit anyway.

[Gonzoie - Luclin]

Funny this topic is up when i just got back from London..

While i was there i decided that starting early-mid august.. i will be backpacking through europe until december...

[laneela]

Exactly. It's a cultural adjustment that has to be made, just like adjustments have to be made going in the other direction. I, and everyone else who has worked in food service for virtually no salary, sincerely appreciate you for having adjusted. I just wanted to point out that non-Americans who refuse to tip in restaurants are being rude in just the same way that obnoxious American tourists frequently are.

I've worked in the service industry too. I was a waitress for a couple of years when I was younger and can honestly say that the stereotype of Europeans being the shittiest tippers (closely followed by the elderly) is pretty spot on. But I don't believe for a moment that it's because they "refuse" to tip. You have to understand that in most countries, there isn't a different minimun wage for food servers than there is for the rest of country. They get paid extremely well and tips are not expected income. We (as trained) tip according to service because we all know that the poor schmuck delivering our Cioppino with Crostini is getting paid $2.13 an hour to do so. It's been my experience that when you explain as much to a European who doesn't know any better, you'll find that they're extremely likely to adapt to tipping for service.

[laneela]

Note: Germans are worse tourists than Americans.

I actually like them. I find their efforts at adapting hilarious. ><

I just had a gay german couple stay at my hotel and I found out when they checked out that they had completely redecorated and painted the place. Luckily, they had quite good taste.

[Sueven]

It's been my experience that when you explain as much to a European who doesn't know any better, you'll find that they're extremely likely to adapt to tipping for service.

You're certainly right that this is often the case. Most people make that adjustment without a problem. However, I have had arguments with people on this board (although I forget who at the moment) who understood the way the U.S. system works and still felt absolutely no obligation to tip whatever.

[Boogahz]

It's been my experience that when you explain as much to a European who doesn't know any better, you'll find that they're extremely likely to adapt to tipping for service.

You're certainly right that this is often the case. Most people make that adjustment without a problem. However, I have had arguments with people on this board (although I forget who at the moment) who understood the way the U.S. system works and still felt absolutely no obligation to tip whatever.

It's come up several times I can remember. Here's one:

http://www.veeshanvault.org/forums/view ... ht=tipping

[Zaelath]

It's been my experience that when you explain as much to a European who doesn't know any better, you'll find that they're extremely likely to adapt to tipping for service.

You're certainly right that this is often the case. Most people make that adjustment without a problem. However, I have had arguments with people on this board (although I forget who at the moment) who understood the way the U.S. system works and still felt absolutely no obligation to tip whatever.

I was probably one of them, and I definitely feel an obligation to tip in US restraunts; what I don't feel is an obligation to tip big because some bimbo with the attention span of a goldfish bothers me every 5 mins to try to inflate her tip. Quite the opposite.

[Kelshara]

Funny this topic is up when i just got back from London..

While i was there i decided that starting early-mid august.. i will be backpacking through europe until december...

You'll have a blast! Best way to travel and enjoy different countries imo hands down! Might want to start in the northern regions though and stay south towards the end, will be warmer that way

It's been my experience that when you explain as much to a European who doesn't know any better, you'll find that they're extremely likely to adapt to tipping for service.

You're certainly right that this is often the case. Most people make that adjustment without a problem. However, I have had arguments with people on this board (although I forget who at the moment) who understood the way the U.S. system works and still felt absolutely no obligation to tip whatever.

I pity those who do not adapt to the U.S. system of paying your restaurant bill. They are truly no better than the American tourists they complain about. I always start around 20% tip and adjust it from there depending on how good the service was. For excellent service (and no that does not include stopping by every 2 minutes) I'll give 30%, for bellow average I will give 15%. I gave 1 cent once at a certain breakfast chain restaurant in Houston where we ended up not even eating the food heh.