The "Ugly American": Combatting the image

[Bala]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/04/17...test_travelfri

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Bala

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/04/17...test_travelfri

Nice article Gary, I never new "the ugly american" was a book written 50 years ago..

It comes down to how you were raised, my folks were steller travelers and to this day I still dress respectfully for any flight, even if just a pop to LA and or to the beach. Let alone how to be respecrtful in public..

You see it all over the place unruly kids running a muck, parents without a the balls to teach their kids some manners... Its sad state of affairs. The real problem is that there are a few bad amercians, and in general they stick out like sore thumbs...

[sws]

When I went to grad school (MBA), over half the students were foreign. The admissions board worked hard to have real diversity in the student body so the there was a fair representation from around the world. This was a top ranked program in the US so everyone there was well qualified. What I discovered in my years there was exactly the opposite of the ugly American. Most foreign students were condescending, anti-american, culturally intolerant, and abrasive. I found this a strange attitude for people who were pursuing a career in business and wanted to stay here in the US. These people were dificult to work with with neither love nor respect for the place they wanted to call thier new home. Imagine their surpirse when the top 5-10% of the graduating class were red blooded, homegrown boys like myself (most foreign educational systems focus on standardized tests scores rather than critical thinking).

I don't doubt that there are boneheads that travel and make a bad impression. I work hard at not being one by learning something about the culture before I go and acting accordingly. However, it has been my experience that there are more ugly foreigners than Americans. It may seem like there are more Americans becasue we have a fairly large population and more people who can afford to travel, but I seriously doubt we have the market cornered on 'ugliness' and 'ignorance'.

[John Wayne]

Dam good post sws, I too have been a "Goodwill" Ambassador in my travels......

And the poor, and poor of mind will always be......

But now Micky 10 and me?

We have the market cornered on "Insanity"......

[sws]

Fun loving insanity is always appreciated. I am trying to figure out a way to join you, but expat assignments are hard to come by these days and/or pay in local market wages. The labor market has also eliminated telecommuting options and I am without sufficient capital to retire yet. I' keep working on it though (the world needs more good will ambassodors!).

[Jim]

I studied in France in 1968 and the concept of "The Ugly American" was a topic of discussion. Naturally as exchange students, stdying at a French university, we were studying French, required to speak only French, living with families and immersed in the culture.

This concept referred to rich, older Americans who traveled, expected everything to be like at ome and had no interest in the culture. There was also a movie that came out entitled, "If this is Friday, it must be Belgium" [I may have gotten the country and the day of the week wrong]. It was a parody on travel packages that promotes "five countries in seven days". Obviously no way to appreciate a culture or it's people.

I would say that the people on this board are almost 100% goodwill ambassadors for our country. Most of us speak or are studying Spanish and appreciate the differences between our cultures.

My parents had a constant stream of foreign exchange students staying at our house during high school and college and I will say that I found all of them gracious, fun and positive people. I am really surprised that sws found the exact opposite. I will say I agree that most foreign systems emphasize rote learning more and in the US we emphasize critical thinking.

[Airto]

Interesting Article Gary,

I didn't know there was a book on the Ugly American. I first learn of this in the early 80's when I was in the military, my first assignment was in England. Normally when you arrive at a new duty station they send you through several inprocessing briefings about the area (even stateside). I learned of this by a British citizen who actually gave the briefing. He began by telling a story about a guy who is loud, rude, flashing money, always looking for a fight, trying to take someones woman, and consumes large amounts of alcohol. I figured they must have observed some guys since the WW2 era that fit that description but I am sure they must have observed many who do not. I didn't like being looked at as someone who would walk into a bar and basically take the joint over.
I got a slightly different briefing in Saudi Arabia, some of them looked at us as thieves but some of the things that happened while I was there I can understand how they would get that impression with some of us.

Sometimes it seems that what a few people do causes an impression on all of us. Not exactly fair but there are those how think this way.

I have also found some of the same behavior that SWS described in the classroom. We are not perfect but neither are many of our criticizers..

[Cap'n Jib]

SWS,

Great observation! Egocentrism is alive and well in EVERY culture and country.

The difficulty I have with my fellow country men, is we normally don’t know when to shut up. We roam the world spewing our opinions with out ever being asked for them.

I find this objectionable behavior to be more prevalent with US citizens than others….however this could just be I am more sensitive and alert to this group.

[Airto]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Jib

SWS,

Great observation! Egocentrism is alive and well in EVERY culture and country.

The difficulty I have with my fellow country men, is we normally don’t know when to shut up. We roam the world spewing our opinions with out ever being asked for them.

I find this objectionable behavior to be more prevalent with US citizens than others….however this could just be I am more sensitive and alert to this group.

Cap'n Jib

LOL, I have seen this up front and personal, even told a few to shut up and it did work. English is spoken in many places and when you talk, chances are someone will understand what you are saying

[sws]

Everyone here has had different experiences and there are many here who have traveled more extensively than I. I just have an issue with the 'we're Americans we should be ashamed of ourselves' attitude. I don't buy it and think many are not better (not an excuse to behave badly, just an my experience). We should behave appropriately and respectfully. Our government makes it easy for foreigners to take advantage of us in many ways and they are more than happy to do so. These people would do this regardless of how we acted which, in my mind, makes them just as bad or worse than the worst of us. The issue now is that the well is running dry and when it does you can bet these people are not going to do a thing for us.

Disclaimer-despite my experiences I still judge people as individuals. There are people of all stripes in every race, color etc.