Ok, I started off with something easy. Ya'll got to tell me about what a great guy I am and how I will succeed at being a father. I really appreciate it. I do not think that this next topic will be very controversial to the majority of this group, but it something I have had recent experience with and wanted to vent my spleen a little.
Emilee and I have been fortunate enough to do some traveling this year. We went to Alaska in May and then to Vegas in July. Now I know that aside from temperature extremes there does not seem to be much in common between the two. But if you turn to the demographics of these tourist havens you will notice one thing. Both are overloaded with very rude, very obnoxious, and very unhygienic people. Unfortunately I am not talking about the locals. Locals tend to fade into the background anywhere you go and they think we are the awful ones. We are but not as bad as....
The oriental women. I have traveled to many places and have never been put off more than by the 79 year old Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese woman that HAS to be in the seat you are in, be playing the slot you are playing, or get 6" closer to the sunset than you are. Then after they have hip-checked you out of the way turn and look at you like you should be grateful to have been touched by someone who is obviously a vastly superior human being. Emilee actually had a lady push her off of her chair on the cruise ship just so she could play a slot machine. There were only 60 other machines. Must have been the B-29's on the slot reels that attracted her. And they travel in wolf packs.
The Latin American men. They would actually be entertaining to watch if you just had to pay attention to the way some of these guys dress. I have always appreciated silk shorts and green suede Adidas sneakers after all. But it is the family that is attached to them that will make your trip that much more fun. These men obviously love to procreate. Each family has 6 kids, i know this because I have heard their names at least 10 times on EVERY excursion/attraction I have been on. And I am pretty sure the same guy was behind me in the ticket line and just said "8 of whatever the guy in front of me is doing." The biggest problem here is that the man is too important to do anything with the kids or wife. She is a very sympathetic figure, she has all of the work. I do think it amazing that she can actually push a stroller, spank a kid, yell at the two hanging off the dock, and breast feed all at the same time.
Anyone of Indian/Pakistani origin. It's called a bath, enough said.
I understand that Americans have the reputation of being rude, crude, and morally unacceptable in the rest of the world. My observation is that we are not the only ones. other cultures are very quick to point out that the US traveler needs to bend its will to match wherever they are. How about those people practicing what they preach.
Stay Safe,
Rob
Amen, Preach it brother Rob!!!
ReplyDeleteJoe already put my two cents in. The Germans - especially those from Northern Germany - are something to behold.
ReplyDeleteP. Ara Noid (Bud)
I too lived in Germany and traveled to many countries while there. I lived in and around people from many cultures. A few observations. I lived in a student dormatory with at least 25 people on the floor. There were two showers for the entire floor. I never once waited to take a shower. There were Russians I befriended, a Syrian, an Iranian, and many Germans obviously. The cleanest by far were those from the middle east. Many of the Germans were pretty smelly, and the Russians even worse. All the younger people shaved that I noticed, but many of the older ones do not. Being trapped on a bus in the heat of summer is not fun.
ReplyDeleteSure, there were some issues living and traveling among various cultures. But, I have to tell you, the Germans were some of the most polite travelers I saw. The worst? The Americans or the Asians - it's a tie between who is the most rude. Those of you who know me know that I am very proud to be an American and have the highest regard for our country and its citizens. I still get choked up hearing the National Anthem. That being said, there were many times I was embarrased to be from the same country as these loud, rude, demanding, "why don't they speak English," irritating travelers called Americans. I experienced this same phenomenon in France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and the Chech Republic. We stick out in the world no matter where we go and couldn't blend in and assimilate if we had to. We don't understand why things aren't the way they were back home, we get irritated that we can't find food like we have back home, and most of all make no efforts to speak the local language. Do you realize that most other foreign countries require their children to learn English or another language all through school, not just 8th grade French. Most visitors and immigrants, generally speaking, do more to fit in than Americans do abroad.
I have a tremendous sense of pride as an American, and I can appreciate the frustration when you travel and have to deal with different cultures, but try not to be so arrogant to think that we aren't part of the problem too. MG
Well written Matt. I do not have the international travel experience that some of you have. I hope to correct that fact, but it is going to take a lot longer now that we have a baby coming. My point was this...the same peoples that complain about US attitudes are the one's that pull out all stops to be rude and obnoxious when traveling here.
ReplyDeleteMatt, great point. I hope to see more of this in the future.
You can't confuse politics with personal responsibility and habits. In many cases, the criticism of the US are just, in many cases they are not. None of that has anything to do with who we or they are as people. We cannot dictate our foreign policy here as individuals, but we can be good ambassadors when we travel abroad and help alleviate the stereotypes of Americans, and others can do the same for their country. It's about realizing that no, you aren't the most important person on the planet. MG
ReplyDeletePersonal responsibility. No wonder most in the US don't get it right!
ReplyDeleteBut Rob....they DO take a bath, the Indians and Pakistanis!! The rub themselves down in incense and call it good.....
ReplyDeleteI'm never sure if I want to break out into "Don't Stand So Close to Me," or light a match.....