Government offer Guide on Manners for Americans Abroad

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

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.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...6/ixworld.html

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.)

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.


I wonder if those at the peak of US Government have had a copy yet!

[westcoastdog]

Having traveled all over the planet, I can assure you folks that Americans are not considered the worst tourists. I won't name the countries with the worst reputations. Foreigners separate Americans from their government, and I have received warm receptions is supposedly hostile countries. Americans are popular because we spend money generously, over tip, and are generally tolerant of other cultures. The most unpopular Americans are the missionary types who want to impose their beliefs on others.

[Jack]

Those sound like reasonable guidelines for behavior here in the U.S. as well. Why only be on your best behavior when traveling?

[Nono]

Quote by: Westie I won't name the countries with the worst reputations.

Well I will then. The French. And the Brits and Scandinavians (epsecialy for their drinking). The people who own the tourist industry may like the Germans as spenders, but most other people somehow don't (my observation).

These days the Russians are earning a negative reputation in a lot of places.

In some parts of Asia there's a sensitivity about invasive Japanese and Chinese as well.

Foreigners separate Americans from their government.

I wish this were always true. However, Americans in Europe (not to mention the Muslim world) should beware.

[Nono]

Quote by: Ish Reasonable guidelines for behavior here in the U.S.

As a visitor to the US I always conduct myself with utmost discretion and circumspection.
Inevitably my tongue hurts for days afterward.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Quote by: Nono Well I will then. The French. And the Brits and Scandinavians (epsecialy for their drinking). The people who own the tourist industry may like the Germans as spenders, but most other people somehow don't (my observation). These days the Russians are earning a negative reputation in a lot of places. In some parts of Asia there's a sensitivity about invasive Japanese and Chinese as well.

Nono the English abroad are often the worst, though like the Americans are often treated badly for their lack of willingness to attempt the language or learn a few of the customs.
Scandinavians are social and liberated drinkers.
The French well now, always polite, then in hushed tones of French decrying their hosts

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Quote by: Nono As a visitor to the US I always conduct myself with utmost discretion and circumspection. Inevitably my tongue hurts for days afterward.

Nono on the wonderful occasions I'm allowed passed customs, I find the citizens of the US homely friendly and very curious as to how they are perceived.

[westcoastdog]

Nono missed the country with the most complaints. I agree with him about Americans being careful in certain countries, i.e. the Middle East. 30 years ago I traveled overland from Amsterdam to India, which was the hippie trail back then, and Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan were safe when one stayed on the main routes. The world is a much more dangerous place now compared to the seventies, and not just the Middle East. 30 years ago people weren't being kidnapped in Latin America.

Taking a positive slant on this question of rude tourists. My favorite fellow travelers are the Aussies: they're tough, don't complain (whinge in their vernacular), have a good sense of humor, are reasonably polite, can hold their liquor (better than just about anyone), and don't have that superior attitude that is ingrained in many Europeans.

When I was in East Africa I would ask natives that I met which foreigners were their favorites and almost all of them said Americans, who treated them as equals. The natives said the Europeans were polite but always maintained a social barrier, while Americans would socialize with them and invite them into their homes.

[Nono]

Quote by: Westie Nono missed the country with the most complaints.

Well let us in on the secret.
Unless you mean the Brits LOL. Arawn is right, of course, but I figured it's so obvious that the Brits don't even rate mentioning. It's especially bad when they congregate in large herds.
It's hard to think what's worse: the upper-class-twit types or the skinhead-vomiting-gin-on-Union-Jack crowd.

Canadians can be a pain in the ass too by the way.

It's true that to a European, Americans can easily seem over-familiar. Good old culture class, eh?

[tivodan1116]

The only reason I don't like Canadians is their holier-than-thou "We're not Americans" attitude. It's like they took the worst parts of American culture and combined them with the worst parts of European culture.

Anyway, this is why I love traveling in the Caribbean - They know where their bread is buttered. That is to say, the vast majority of residents (at least in the Lesser Antilles, where I have spent my time) understand that whatever prosperity they have is due to the continued monetary investment of American tourists and businesspeople.

One of the nicest service industry employees I ever met was in Grenada. A taxi driver named "Pete the Treat" showed us around his island, making sure to mention several times how their entire nation was so grateful for the intervention of the Americans 20 years ago during their civil war and the continued spending by Americans in their country that has granted them two decades of peace and relative prosperity. All of the people I met in that country and others pretty much fit that description.

[Nono]

Quote by: tivo They know where their bread is buttered. That is to say, (they) understand that whatever prosperity they have is due to the continued monetary investment of American tourists and businesspeople.

Whereas them uppity zamboni-drivers fail to realize the wonderful blessings raining down upon them and for which they should be pathetically grateful to The Benefactor south of the border.
Bullshit.

Also, tivo, this thread isn't about how tourists feel about the people they're visiting. Its subject is the opposite.

And by the way, you forgot the source of some prosperity in the Caribbean: US drug-hunger.

[westcoastdog]

There is an important generation factor in the behavior of tourists. Most young tourists, no matter their origin, are pretty mellow and friendly. It's the middle-aged tourists who have some affluence who are often demanding, inflexible and rude. That's my observation.

When I was in Africa, some of the English were so bigotted, I had to ask these young English women, who were middle class, to curb their language while we were in cafes. Historically the English (I'm omitting the Scotch, Welsh and Irish) were the most bigotted in Europe. There was an 18th century English quip, "The n....gers begin at Calais."

I just remembered about the French women. In the hot humidity of the Congo, they were gorgeous. They would change their outfits three or four times a day and parade around and then disappear into their hotels, staying close to the restaurant and bar and never venturing out to see the open markets or wander the streets where the native shops were located. Is that rude?

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Nono As a visitor to the US I always conduct myself with utmost discretion and circumspection. Inevitably my tongue hurts for days afterward.

When I was in the American Navy and we pulled in to various ports, we were always briefed on certain local customs and things we should avoid saying or doing.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Nono Canadians can be a pain in the ass too by the way.

I live in an American city on the Canadian border and I agree Canadians are a pain. But, as long as they keep spending their money at the malls and keep our local economy afloat, I can put up with them (we've missed out on every economic recovery the U. S. has experienced since the 1960s; so, any time someone wants to come here and spend money, I'm not going to complain).

[tivodan1116]

Quote by: Nono Whereas them uppity zamboni-drivers fail to realize the wonderful blessings raining down upon them and for which they should be pathetically grateful to The Benefactor south of the border. Bullshit.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...elds/2050.html
85.1% of Canadian exports are to the United States. End of discussion. Bullshit, yourself.

Also, tivo, this thread isn't about how tourists feel about the people they're visiting. Its subject is the opposite.

The two are mutually codependant. Golden rule and all.

And by the way, you forgot the source of some prosperity in the Caribbean: US drug-hunger.

And this reduces my argument that Caribbeans are nice to Americans because we support them how?

[Nono]

Quote by: tivo 85.1% of Canadian exports are to the United States. End of discussion. Bullshit, yourself.

Big deal. The two countries are each other's main trading partners. What would anyone expect?

The only reason I don't like Canadians is their holier-than-thou "We're not Americans" attitude. It's like they took the worst parts of American culture and combined them with the worst parts of European culture.

It's understandable that Canadians wouldn't want to be taken for Americans, very understandable.

If they took the worst parts of Americans culture, they'd be drilling each other full of bullet holes. But they ain't.