7 Deadly Sins of an American Tourist Abroad
My fellow citizens, please: in the name of all that is good and holy, stop being foolish when visiting foreign countries. I know that all American tourists don’t act like jerks abroad, but that’s enough to make the “ugly American” stereotype pervasive and enduring.
You might think; “I paid a lot of money for this vacation! I will act the way I want! Why should I care what a bunch of foreigners think of me?”
A fair point, my bellicose friend, but avoiding these seven mistakes is necessary not only so that I will not be ashamed of you when you visit other people’s houses; they will also help you have a better vacation, make it more meaningful.
Expecting everything to be like in America
Unfortunately, many parts of foreign countries (particularly the tourist parts) are becoming more Americanized, but this is not to be expected . Too many people travel to other countries and get frustrated or annoyed that they are not like America. Not everyone puts ice in their drinks. Not everyone tells strangers their life story. Football is a different game here. It is because of these differences that you travel from the very beginning, so get used to thinking: “Maybe they do it differently here” and not “Why don’t they do it the way we do?”
Don’t try to speak the local language (little)
Don’t assume that everyone speaks English, even if English is widely spoken in popular American tourist destinations. Learn a little the language of the host country. No one expects you to be fluent, but if you learn a few basic phrases like “thank you” and “where’s the toilet?” reasonable, respectful and not very difficult. There are plenty of free or cheap resources for learning other languages online or in the app store .
dress stupid
You don’t have to buy a new wardrobe for every country on your Eurorail pass, but you do have to put in some effort not to stand out too much. Don’t walk around Paris in sneakers and a neon t-shirt; wear all black and smoke instead. Do not dress immodestly in religious countries. Don’t show up at the Renaissance Fair unless you’re dressed as a wizard. This is not only polite to other people, but it can also make your vacation more fun. One of my favorite things about visiting Rome was the two Italians who asked me for directions. I completely passed!
Be confrontational
I sympathize with people who get defensive and angry while traveling in other countries. When you’re surrounded by people who don’t think and act the way you do, and you don’t get enough sleep, and you just want some ice in your drink, it’s easy to feel attacked and lash out. There is something fundamentally difficult about navigating another culture, but you should enjoy the challenge, not fight it. This is what you are doing here, after all.
Don’t be flexible
You may have very specific ideas about what you would like to do on your dream vacation, but sometimes it doesn’t work out. Just go with it. Rigidity is the enemy of new experience. A few years ago, my wife and I were in Paris for Thanksgiving. On our way to our chosen trendy French establishment, we passed a dive cafe with a handwritten sign advertising “American-style Thanksgiving Dinner.” Plans immediately changed, and we ended up with this weird family French-American fusion dinner with a group of local students and American expatriates. Much better than our arrogant first choice.
Not learning the basic customs
No one expects an American visiting Japan to have memorized the formalities of the tea ceremony, but you should know that talking too loudly is frowned upon and you should take off your shoes when you enter someone’s home. Learning about local customs is common courtesy, but you don’t have to sweat too much. If you mess up, most people in most places will forgive you for being an ignorant tourist, as long as you don’t act like a jerk.
Belief in stereotypes about other people
Just as most Americans aren’t stereotyped as the “ugly American,” people of other nations aren’t stereotyped either — for example, many Canadians are outright rude, and most people in France are very nice, even when they recognize you. again American. To be a worthy ambassador to the United States and have a fun and meaningful vacation, it’s important to be open to the unexpected. If yes, then people will surprise you with how cool they are. Usually.