by Susan Hibberd

Created on: April 27, 2008

It's a shame that the loudest and worst behaved people get the most attention. These same people earn a bad reputation which then rubs off on others in their group. For example, in a football stadium of 10,000, forty badly-behaved supporters will give all football supporters a bad name.

A few American travelers have done this all over the world. Large, loud and disrespectful tourists have made a bad impression on various countries around the world, and this is going to be a hard thing to shift.

HISTORY

During the war, American soldiers came to live in the UK half-way through the war, when the country had already suffered years of deprivation. The slick young men were criticized for being 'Over-paid, over-sexed and over here' by the British young men, who felt they came a sorry second best to well-fed men with money in their pockets and gifts of luxury items that hadn't been seen in the UK for years.

Having been brought up in a Europe which is as proudly patriotic as America is, it makes me feel sad to read articles on Helium where American writers say "don't they know we won the war for them? they should be grateful". Have these people got no sensitivity? Would they go into Germany saying these same things, or do they only say them in England and France?

Once one has heard comments like this, it is very hard to turn the other cheek and not think of all Americans as the same. The head supports the logical argument, but the heart always leads.

NOISE

American also have a culture (and reputation) of being loud. Loud in their choice of clothing, which sets them apart from local people, and loud in their voices. Perhaps it is something to do with the size of America, but you can always hear when there's an American in the room or even in the hotel!Some people go to a restaurant for a private meal and don't want to hear all the jokes from the next table.

Americans don't seem to realize that shouting doesn't help the situation.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Americans also seem to expect a lot for their money. A little research before traveling would give an idea of how much local currency can buy. It's not a question of how many dollars are equivalent to the local pound/dollar, but of how much this dollar will buy for you. Depending on the local economy, a hotel room, meal or bus ticket will cost differing amounts. What is cheap in America is not necessarily cheap in other countries. Petrol (gas), for example is much cheaper in the USA than other countries, and this makes out taxi fares and bus fares higher -we're not trying to rip you off! - that's just how much things cost over here! A Starbucks coffee that costs $2.75 in America costs 2.75 in England, for example. This isn't our fault, it's a Starbucks decision.

SIZE MATTERS

Americans are also physically bigger than many other people in many other nations. A nation that has residents of smaller stature, eg in some Asian countries cannot be expected to have wide seats and large portions at the meal table such as many Americans seem to be used to. This is just a cultural difference, but the so-called Ugly Americans see it as a personal affront.

That's the end of my rant. As I said at the beginning, a few Americans have sullied the field for the rest. At least that's what I hope......

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