Zip it - American tourists told how to behave abroad

[Jaylen Brit 0]

ZIP IT

Thought you guys would find this amusing / informative..I must admit I grinned when i got to the part about 'the Super bowl'

ZIP IT

A rough guide for Americans visiting Britain

By Victoria Ward

LOUD Americans are being given tips on how to behave when they are abroad.

They include speaking quietly, avoiding all forms of boasting and "thinking a little locally".

The US government wants to stamp out the image of a brash tourist in a garish shirt, as portrayed by actor John Goodman in the film King Ralph.

So they have published a list of 16 tips to get rid of the idea of the "ugly American".

Tourists are advised to "think as big as you like but talk and act smaller". Bragging about wealth or power is considered rude and causes resentment. Avoid arguments about religion and politics. And most people abroad have no interest in the Super Bowl. The guide says: "Justified or not, the US is seen as imposing its will on the 1 world."

It adds: "What we call soccer is football everywhere else. It's the most popular sport on the planet." About 200,000 guides have been sent to students heading abroad. There are plans to distribute it with every new US passport.

[Kajikit 65]

There are plenty of ugly Americans out there... but plenty of other 'uglies' to go with them from other countries... I'll never forget our trip to Canada - all was quiet and peaceful and then I heard a LOUD Australian accent talking about how much she'd had to drink the night before and how much she was looking forward to doing it again... please! It made me ashamed to be an Aussie, especially since the word 'barf' was featured in hideous detail!

Edited April 17, 2006 by Kajikit

[mikeize 0]

Great.

-mike

[Jasman0717 9]

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Football (soccer) is the most popular and the most boring sport in the world. "ouch, he kicked my shin"

[anya-D 8]

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Football (soccer) is the most popular and the most boring sport in the world. "ouch, he kicked my shin"

OK I've heard this from DH as well. And speaking from experience, that really DOES hurt. And how is it boring? Just because they don't take a break every 10 minutes but keep going for 45 mins each half? o.O Maybe you've been watching the wrong teams play

[Mirorgate 0]

I hate tourists....

[Sinergy 3]

Can we apply this to the Bristish as well????

When I was at Seaworld a week or so ago, the loudest and rudest there were the brits! So maybe they should read their new rules as well before touring in the US.

[Sister Fracas 5]

[peejay 327]

The US government wants to stamp out the image of a brash tourist in a garish shirt, as portrayed by actor John Goodman in the film King Ralph.

Better yet. I can see it in my mind...a Randy Quaid look-a-like wearing a big cowboy hat, western outfit, and pointy toed goat-roper boots spitting chewing tobacco into a paper cup and b*tching loudly about the warm beer in the neighborhood pubs in a loud obnoxious Texas accent. I'm sure it would make a lasting and memorable impression.

[Euro 3]

ZIP IT

Thought you guys would find this amusing / informative..I must admit I grinned when i got to the part about 'the Super bowl'

ZIP IT

A rough guide for Americans visiting Britain

By Victoria Ward

LOUD Americans are being given tips on how to behave when they are abroad.

They include speaking quietly, avoiding all forms of boasting and "thinking a little locally".

The US government wants to stamp out the image of a brash tourist in a garish shirt, as portrayed by actor John Goodman in the film King Ralph.

So they have published a list of 16 tips to get rid of the idea of the "ugly American".

Tourists are advised to "think as big as you like but talk and act smaller". Bragging about wealth or power is considered rude and causes resentment. Avoid arguments about religion and politics. And most people abroad have no interest in the Super Bowl. The guide says: "Justified or not, the US is seen as imposing its will on the 1 world."

It adds: "What we call soccer is football everywhere else. It's the most popular sport on the planet." About 200,000 guides have been sent to students heading abroad. There are plans to distribute it with every new US passport.

[Fandango 1,439]

Football (soccer) is the most popular and the most boring sport in the world. "ouch, he kicked my shin"

You're officially on my sh!t list now

[cbd2cai 0]

OK, I am the worst at trying to avoid American tourists abroad, BUT I have finally added the rest of the world to the "UGLY . . . . . " category after travelling in different countries. You name the nationality, I have probably seen them mis-behaving somewhere.

When I went to Turkey, I saw dreadful french tourists . . . they were the loud and obnoxious! LOL, our little group stayed at a hotel that obviously catered to French tourists and "guess what??" . . . it was the only hotel we stayed at where they had NO Turkish food and it was the WORST food I had during my whole trip in Turkey. Pommes frites, anyone?? Go figure.

Last week I was reading a blog from a UK tourist in Egypt (mainly Cairo), she mentioned how she ran into bus loads of dreadful American tourists while at the Egyptian Museum! Funny thing, when I was there 2 weeks before, it was mostly the dreadful Germans!! LOL, and then she went on to boast about how she got drunk every night in a "Western" style hotel that catered to lots of "world travellers". Not a culturally sensitive bunch of ppl were they since they were in a predominantly Islamic country where most of the "natives" don't drink. Then while down in Luxor (Upper Egypt), I got to hear other Brits moan about how awful the Brits are who have been coming over on cheap holiday packages!

So, I am not sure that we have the monopoly on "Ugly Tourists Abroad syndrome" . I do believe in speaking quietly and complaining out of the hearing of the "host" country. . . . and being a little bit sensitive to the customs of that country. Tube tops and short shorts don't cut it in most parts of the ME . . . and that is something that we see walking down the streets here in the U.S. on a regular basis.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Can they supply lessons for british men travelling to the capitols of Europe for their stag weekends? Because in my experience that really is the most obnoxious brand of tourist I have ever encountered.