Advice for Americans who Travel Abroad

And you'd have to laugh at the unfunny jokes too

...Even the American ones....!

 

this is totally geared towards travel in europe.

People in Asia/Latin America speak LOUD and fast. MUch faster/louder than americans.

 

I've lived in Asia(hong kong) and traveled quite extensively throughout Asia. You've obviously never heard japanese people talk amongst themselves. They are loud. They may the quiet as hell when talking to foreigners, but get a bunch of them in a room and they get loud.

I've never been to spain or met a spanish person, so i dont know how fast/slow they speak to be honest. Mexicans, cubans, dominicans, puerto ricans, brazilians etc talk a mile a minute.


As for generalizations? this is all generalizations. Not everyone speaks loud or fast from either america or china or whereever. I think this is just a case that we've accepted a stereotype.

The list is helpful i guess, but it is kind of sad that they need to issue something like that. However, anti americanism isnt only caused by what americans do/say.

 

yeah. That's the ONLY reason

lets not justify hatred, ignorance, and bigotry.


Anyways, should we change who we because we go overseas? Should we expect Europeans to speak loud and confidently when they come to America? And if they dont, should we condemn them? Should we mock them because they speak like mice? No, i dont think so.


There is no sign when you enter England that says "Talking louder than a whisper is considered boasting and rude." Understanding goes both ways. I dont expect visitors to America to change who they are just because they're in America.

To be honest, a lot of the things on that list speak volumes about other countries and their acceptance, or well lack thereof

 

It's called courtesy,jackass.

 

to not argue back in a foreign land is courtesy? No..thats just smart...unfortunately.

Being ashamed of who you are is wrong. They make it sound like we're raving lunatics who run around like the tasmanian devil and talk incoherently. I've NEVER had ANY problem communicating with people who spoke english.

Anyways, i would find it TOTALLY rude if someone INTENTIONALLY slowed down their speech. That comes across as condescending or you just sound like a retard.

I totally agree with the "think locally" advice. Far too many americans go abroad and want a budweiser or hamburger. If you want that stuff, go to places that offer it. Don't go to a thai restaurant and wonder why you aren't getting a thick cheeseburger with fries.

The whole boasting/condescending shit should be common sense

 

I don't know man--with all due respect,every post I've ever seen of yours is always a fuckin' arguement against whatever the poster has said.I may be exagerating ,but I don't think so.WTF?Am I wrong?

 

i'll save skip the trouble..but thats off topic.

I voice my opinion about things i disagree with. I'm not a big "man, right on!", pat the poster on the back type guy.

The way people speak is an intimate part of who they are. Asking them to change that is rather insulting. Obviously vocabulary selection changes depending on who you are talking with...but are you really going to hate a person because they speak loud and fast!? or slow and quiet for that matter?

that's ludicrous. All i've asked for is MORE understanding. I dont see how that could be a bad thing.

 

Look--we americans travel around pretty much pre-judged because of those loud mouthes that went before us--especially now with all the shit the government is pulling around the world.I just can't see that they've given such bad advice here.Agreed asking someone to change who they are, IS insulting.But arent'you ,in effect ,asking Skip to do that.We,after all,represent ths US when we're in some other country,wether we like it or not.Our rep preceeds us.And yes,be sure to save Skip the trouble.

 

I like to be a good ambassador, and dispell stereotypes when necessary, just telling it like it is. Some people are tourists in their own towns, let alone abroad. I never seem to have trouble being low key and blending in. A walking stereotype of an American is always an invitation for robbery,

 

i think it *is* good advice to avoid any confrontations.

but it is sad to think that people will judge or attack you because you speak fast or loud.

 

i agree, i come off as about the exact opposite of the american stereotype. At least when it comes to being loud

 

ha! that's great,
yes, keep all of that mind when you -as an american- travel to europe!!!

 

lol, I like this one, I've met a few Americans that have proceeded to tell me that 'soccer' is boring and how American football is infinitely better.

In general I have to say though I've always found Americans I've met in Ireland or in other countries I've been to extremely nice and mannerly. Maybe some talk a bit loud and are overtly very proud of being American but it's better than being quiet and rude. Going on my experience of other countries and people travelling there (and this is a generalisation) if any country needs guidelines on how to behave in other countries it's Israelis.

 

I think the stereotypes are perpetuated by how you travel. The loud, obnoxious American stereotype is fed by large groups of Americans traveling to other countries. Spacer’s reference to Israelis is fed (at least in my experience) by large groups of young Israelis wandering around India and SE Asia. In both cases, these groups travel around in a “bubble” isolated from the local people and fellow travelers. I am a strong supporter of traveling on your own. This forces you to interact with different people and with unfamiliar cultures.
As an American traveler (not tourist) I am constantly reminded of this stereotype, yet in nearly every experience, other travelers have accepted me for who I am rather than where I am from. I have no doubt that if was traveling with a group of Americans, I never would have made that connection and I would have been seen as just another stereotypical American tourist.
Getting back to the Israeli stereotype; ALL of the cool Israeli’s that I met while traveling were either traveling solo or in a pair. They were all open and interesting people. I’m not saying that people in the groups weren’t cool, but rather I just never got a chance to really get to know them. They had there group and did not need any additional interaction from other travelers.

 

What does talking loud and fast have to do with hospitality?

The fact that we have to HAVE these 'tips' provided to us shows that others may indeed be lacking in their hospitality and/or acceptance of others.

Sure, i'll agree with that.

But you're telling me that no european talks fast or loud? I'm gonna call you a liar skippy

I'll have to remember to scold all those europeans and australians who run around american cities looking for sports bars to watch soccer/cricket. "Watch AMERICAN FOOTBALL DAMNIT!"

I've spent well over five years of my life abroad and i do not feel alienated by my own culture.

Perhaps i'm one of those people who feels fortunate to get to come back home.

Perhaps its semantics. I don't agree that you should go abroad wishing to change. I approach traveling like reading a book. I keep an open mind...i learn new things. Somethings i like and stay with me forever and many other things i reject and brush off me.

Not everyone travels for the same reason skip. Some people just travel and want to relax on the beach and be left alone. Sure they might watch some 'cultural event' while eating dinner or something, but i think it is silly to tell someone that they must do something when traveling. Who are you to judge them for that?

Please, lets keep the personal attacks out of this.

Talking about something you don't know is ignorance, Skip.

And of course, you are wrong.

This is rather off topic.