Behavior guide targets ‘the ugly American’

It really shouldn’t be so difficult. It’s a matter of good old-fashioned common courtesy (unfortunately, that’s all too uncommon these days, regardless of the country.)

People should be encouraged to think of themselves as visitors, not tourists. And, one doesn’t have to be a slob to be comfortable (to your point about being ill-dressed. Nobody looks good in a fanny pack!)

Here’s hoping the group makes some progress.

It’s heartening to hear that other Americans agree that we’re not all abrasive, disrespectful, and tacky when we travel.

When I meet other Americans abroad, the ones I relate to are the ones who blend in, not the ones who I can hear a mile away (that’s when I cringe).

I recently wrote tips for How To Blend In Abroad on my blog. Have a read…

http://advisor.triphub.com/2006/04/10_tips_how_to_.html

Mollie, you’re right on target - we are visitors when we travel, inside or outside our home country. To misquote Mark Twain: “Common courtesy? You might as well seek fur on a frog.”

Even when we do try to be courteous, though, we may goof up horribly when we don’t know the local practices, or worse the local taboos … e.g., the United States “OK” sign ISN’T “OK” elsewhere! And many other examples….

When I started teaching abroad, my department head gave me a copy of the book “Do’s and Taboos Around The World”. I have tried to keep its lessons to heart, and I think they have helped me avoid being an “ugly American”. But there are many other good sources - such as Jocelyn’s blog on triphub.

does this mean they will stop selling abercrombie and fitch?

American abroad embarrass me. On a recent train trip in France, the American family next to me relaxed by taking off their shoes and putting their bare feet on the seats in front of them. Yeeeuuuuccchhh. It seems that a little awareness of how people around you behave would prevent that sort of behavior. The loud talking is a little more problematic. I think we believe spontaneity and expressiveness are cool. We don’t realize that all those around us are not impressed but rather are suffering silently, wishing we would go away.