Something both SamFisher and bigtexxx can cue from ... 'Speak softly, don't argue and slow down' By Philip Sherwell (Filed: 16/04/2006) Loud and brash, in gawdy garb and baseball caps, more than three million of them flock to our shores every year. Shuffling between tourist sites or preparing to negotiate a business deal, they bemoan the failings of the world outside the United States. The reputation of the "Ugly American" abroad is not, however, just some cruel stereotype, but - according to the American government itself - worryingly accurate. Now, the State Department in Washington has joined forces with American industry to plan an image make-over by issuing guides for Americans travelling overseas on how to behave. Under a programme starting next month, several leading US companies will give employees heading abroad a "World Citizens Guide" featuring 16 etiquette tips on how they can help improve America's battered international image. Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA), a non-profit group funded by big American companies, has also met Karen Hughes, the head of public diplomacy at the State Department, to discuss issuing the guide with every new US passport. The goal is to create an army of civilian ambassadors. The guide offers a series of "simple suggestions" under the slogan, "Help your country while you travel for your company". The advice targets a series of common American traits and includes: • Think as big as you like but talk and act smaller. (In many countries, any form of boasting is considered very rude. Talking about wealth, power or status - corporate or personal - can create resentment.) • Listen at least as much as you talk. (By all means, talk about America and your life in our country. But also ask people you're visiting about themselves and their way of life.) • Save the lectures for your kids. (Whatever your subject of discussion, let it be a discussion not a lecture. Justified or not, the US is seen as imposing its will on the world.) • Think a little locally. (Try to find a few topics that are important in the local popular culture. Remember, most people in the world have little or no interest in the World Series or the Super Bowl. What we call "soccer" is football everywhere else. And it's the most popular sport on the planet.) • Slow down. (We talk fast, eat fast, move fast, live fast. Many cultures do not.) • Speak lower and slower. (A loud voice is often perceived as bragging. A fast talker can be seen as aggressive and threatening.) • Your religion is your religion and not necessarily theirs. (Religion is usually considered deeply personal, not a subject for public discussions.) • If you talk politics, talk - don't argue. (Steer clear of arguments about American politics, even if someone is attacking US politicians or policies. Agree to disagree.) Keith Reinhard, one of New York's top advertising executives, who heads BDA, said: "Surveys consistently show that Americans are viewed as arrogant, insensitive, over-materialistic and ignorant about local values. That, in short, is the image of the Ugly American abroad and we want to change it." The guide also offers tips on the dangers of dressing too casually, the pluses of learning a few words of the local language, use of hand gestures and even map-reading. Of course, US foreign policy - and perceptions of it - currently has the biggest impact on the image of Americans abroad. President George W Bush recognised this when he appointed Ms Hughes, a close confidante, to head the country's public diplomacy push. But Mr Reinhard and his colleagues are convinced that individual Americans can also make a difference. They also want to highlight the positives in foreigners' impression of the US as a land of opportunity, freedom, diversity and "can-do spirit" by boosting business and domestic travel to America. "In many parts of the world, America is not getting the benefit of the doubt right now. People prefer to dump on us instead. But for many people, corporate America is their main point of contact, and that's where we come in." Business for Diplomatic Action, which was formed in 2004, has already distributed 200,000 -passport-sized guides tailored to college students going abroad. The group's next target is to raise funding for a colourful pictorial World Citizen's Guide For Kids for children on school or youth group trips. However, a spokesman for the National Tourism Agency for Britain said last night: "Americans have a certain reputation which, for the majority, is undeserved. These guidelines sound like good common sense but they're not something the majority of our American visitors need. As tourists, they're out to enjoy themselves and have a good time. We continue to welcome them." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ur16.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/16/ixworld.html
I work part time as a hotel porter (bell man), so I see a lot of american (US) tourists. Sure, the reputation might be a deserved one, but they're not all bad. Good things about americans include their "unshyness" and that they personal way of talking to people (they most often don't act as if they're superior to you). They're also generous tippers which is always appreciated in my line of work. When there's a lot of young americans together the sound volume can become unbearable though. Overall I guess they seem a little exaggerated compared to "normal" people, quick to praise and quick to complain, and everything is the best or the worst. That guide-thingie seems to take for granted that you as a US citizen agrees with US foreign policy, and everything else US.
That reminds me... I need to stock up on "Don't Mess with Texas" t-shirts before I head to Europe over the summer. Prepare for bigtexxx, my European friends!!! I will be binge drinking, puking in public, urinating in back alleys and most importantly, sharing my political ideology with everybody I come in contact with!! I've never met you bbs-ers, but let me assure you that I have a BOOMING voice!!! Bwwwwwaaaaahahahahahahaha
Actually the English are the worst tourists and Americans are some of the best. Interestingly, Canadians were some of the worst as well. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2137729.stm
How presumptuous of the State Department and Karen Hughes. Looking at the polls, if someone from another country starts attacking US politicians or policies (Bush Administration), most Americans would agree to agree. This is a small point, but it further shows that administration has an inability to think outside its own brand of Republican groupthink.
When I was in St.Thomas a bus load of American tourists came to the beach. They sounded like they were from New York. They were unbearable. We left the beach becuase of them. I actually think a lot Texans would be more mellow and make better tourists than other Americans.
St Thomas IS American. When I lived in Europe I found (a) many Europeans were positive about the US, (b) those that weren't were much more likely to start in on the US than an American was to go into how great we are, (c) European tourists are some of the most rude people I've ever met - they'll literally run over you (Italians for example don't know what a line/cue is), and (d) Bigtexx, you'll be very well received with Don't Mess With Texas shirts - for some reason I was always heartily greeted when Euros found out I was from Texas. They seem to know about the Alamo and watch a lot of Dallas reruns.
Duh. But the Americans there even bugged me, a fellow American, so I can see where the complaints come from.
OK, so by the same token I could say 'I was in NYC and those New Yorkers bothered me.' That's not really an example of Americans being rude abroad.
No, but it's an example of Americans being rude by nature, even to their fellow Americans Seriously though, I found the French to be some of the rudest people I've come across (could be just my experience, though), especially when they know that you're an American. Generally speaking, I've found 'Easterners' (i.e. non-Westerners) to be friendlier when traveling abroad. Obviously, experiences do differ...
I found the urban French to be just so. Those in the country I found to be awesome - very friendly and welcoming.
American tourists are leagues better than the Brits or the French. I've found that Dutch and German tourists are very courteous and friendly, as are the Japanese. But man, the damn Brits. They are loud, overbearing, rude, and they act like the whole damn place wherever they go. And they go in swarms.
Having traveled a sh-tload, the ugly american stereotype is way overblown and seems only to exist in Europe. In Asia it's the other way around, as other tourists are just as bad if not worse. French are especially loud and obnoxious because they usually roam in large packs. Aussies can also be a disaster. Chinese (though you don't see them outside mainland china) also tend to travel in massive tourgroups with custom hats.
I found that to be my exact experience too. Parisians were very rude. But even in a city like Lyon or down in Marseilles, people were very nice.
Anyone can be nice or just an a-hole on their own. In groups though US tourists are the worst (LOUDEST!). Also US tourists need four times as much luggage as all other tourists.
I keep hearing about rude Pariseans. But in my travels they have been extremely nice and helpful. I do encounter an average of one rude Parisean per week without fail. But it is far outweighed by the number of friendly, or nuetral encounters I have. I think sometimes what Americans are judging as rude, or people from other countries are considering rude might just be cultural differences. In places in Spain crowding together, or brushing up against people in places doesn't warrant an excuse me. To them it just happens, it is obviously an accident, so there is no need to say anything. If an American gets their shoulder bumped by someone who walks by, they expect somebody to say excuse me. So when it doesn't happen the American might think the person was being rude, when the person who did the bumping has no clue that anything out of the ordinary happened. In Paris it is customary for patrons entering an establishment to say good day to the person working in the store. Americans walk in and immdediately start looking for the items they want. So when an American walks in and doesn't say 'bon jour' then the people in the store might think how rude that ugly American is, while the American had no idea that anything was wrong at all. Then when the people act rude back to the American he thinks that they surely are the rudest people, and hate him because he is an American. In China where the concept of an organized line isn't really the norm, people might tihnk everyone is cutting in front of them, and how rude people are etc. Again it is just a difference in cultural norms. I think it is important to stay away from attitude of "They do (fill in the blank) that way? In America it is so much easier just to do it the 'usual' way." Afterall you are travelling to experience something different and new right?
Great post! I think I do this misjudging sometimes. I remember being in a large tourist area and it seemed like whenever I turned around an Oriental person was right up my back -- pushing me to move forward. I will try to be more tolerant in the future.
