Ugly American
As an avid world traveler, this idea has become quite important to me over the past seven years. I fear – though I have not been proved right – that anti-American sentiment has increased worldwide and this will decrease my safety as I travel around. I frequently travel alone, and so already feel vulnerable. The fear of this stereotype makes it worse.
What is an Ugly American anyway? Are there Ugly Germans and Ugly Canadians and Ugly (Fill in the blank). I’ve had discussions with other people overseas who say there is. What do you think, dear reader?
I think definitions differ, but for me, its an obnoxious person who expects things like food and customs to be what they are in the U.S., “at home,” and are quite critical when they are not.
There was an interaction I had with a delightful English gentleman outside a church in England that comes to mind. As he and I were discussing southwest London and World War One history, he surprised me by asking what I thought of London prices. They were not as bad as I’d feared, and I told him as much. He looked quite relieved, and told me about another couple he had met the month before. They were commenting on the prices of jeans and tennis shoes, and they said, “Even the Starbucks is so expensive here!” He was worried about what I thought of London Starbucks!
[Sidebar time – Not that I don’t love Starbucks, (see my earlier entry on coffee, The Bottomless Cup), but when I travel, I have two rules. (Stayed tuned for a subsequent entry, but suffice it to say that Starbucks is eliminated from the list of possible eateries when I’m out of town.]
I said as much to this gentleman, that I don’t want to get what I can get at home; I want to get stuff they make there! I actually felt quite bad, as though he or they were scrambling to indulge the tourist.
There was a time, in my younger days; I know I was the Ugly American. I blush now to think about it and I just want to chalk it up to being green and blithe. As I’ve gotten older, however, I like to think that I’ve gotten better. I think the moral of the story and the way to avoid the “Uglies” is to respect each other, appreciate the new things.
It's a sad phenomenon that is all too often true. I think the ugly American is born of our isolation and isolationism. I am always amazed by the travels of Europeans I meet. They've been everywhere. Meanwhile, I have only left the U.S. once, and I only know a few people who have traveled to more than one country. But I have to remember that travel in Europe is like going from Minnesota to Illinois or Indiana. The cultural differences in that short distance are huge in Europe, non-existent here.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
"But I have to remember that travel in Europe is like going from Minnesota to Illinois or Indiana. The cultural differences in that short distance are huge in Europe, non-existent here."
I beg to differ. Just people they don't speak a different language in Illinois than in Minnesota doesn't mean that they are not different. I'm from Iowa, and traveling six hours to Chicago is like going to a different country. Same from northern to southern California. Same going from the north to the south. Same from going from Oregon to Utah. There are different ways of doing things and different ways of acting in all parts of the country.
I don't think Americans are isolated; we're pretty involved globally. When we suffer, everyone in the world suffers...that's not isolated. Our snobbery comes from the fact that when we suffer, the world suffers. You know how those really super popular in rich girls in high school didn't care about anyone else because they didn't have to? America is kind of like that. But don't forget that other countries don't know everything about us, or everything about Africa, or everything about Mexico either. My Korean students thought that white people didn't hang out with black people in America; so the idiocy isn't just an American thing. We're on top, and that's why we get criticized so heavily.
k
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reality amidst bullshit
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/49917
Think about the differences between Iowa and Illinois and compare that to the differences between England and the Czech Republic. Almost the same distance apart.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
You're missing the point; you said "non-existent," and you're wrong. It is existent.
As for comparing, I'd be happy to compare them for you because I'm Czech, and within the last year I've been to Iowa, Illinois, and England. The UK and the Czech Republic have a population of roughly 90% white. Illinois has a population of 79.8% white and Iowa has a population of 94% white.
UK and CZ both have efficient subway systems. There are places you don't want to go in the CZ if you want to keep your life; there are also some places in the UK you don't wanna go. London is rated number 2 highest cost of living in Europe, Prague is rated 49. Out of 60 million people living in the UK, about 81,000 are in prison; out of 10 million people living the the Czech Republic, 17,000 are in prison.
Illinois has an efficient "subway" system (it's called the El); there is no such thing in Iowa. There are places that are controlled by gangs in Illinois; there are places that white folk shouldn't go in Iowa, but they won't get killed if they are there and have the wrong color on. Prison population of Illinois is upwards of 44,000 (population 12 million); in Iowa, it's under 9,000 (population 3 million). Cost of living in Chicago is 166 (with 100 being the national average), and Des Moines is 95.6.
These statistics are here to give you an idea of how different these places are based on ways of living. I can give you a stereotypical overview if you'd like: people in Illinois are snobs, whereas Iowa people are pretty down to earth. The Czechs really hate the Germans; so did the Brits! More people speak English in their household in Iowa than in Illinois. Chicago: foreigner friendly, Des Moines: lots of foreigners; Prague: foreigner friendly; London: foreigner friendly. I've never had door held for me in London, Prague, or Chicago, but it's very common in Iowa. Lots of people go to Chicago for a weekend getaway, but you couldn't force someone to come to Iowa! I'd say that the Czech Republic and England are more alike than Illinois and Iowa.
What differences between England and the Czech Republic do you know about that I didn't address? Oh, I guess they mostly speak Czech in the Czech Republic....so that's different.
k
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reality amidst bullshit
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/49917
We are isolated. We are a diverse nation and we still come across as clueless in other parts of the world. Many Americans don't even know much about our neighboring countries, and don't care to.
Speak French or Spanish? Why? English is everywhere, so who cares? We think we drive on the correct side of the road and everyone else drives on the wrong side. We actually have McDonalds all over the world so we don't have to bother with trying native cuisine, which we are sure will be super-yucky anyway.
We constantly hear negative, stereotypical things about other nations. I think the common sentiment is, the less simliar the nation is to America, the worse it and its citizens are. Hence, Different = Bad.
And then people wonder why foreigners think Americans are snobby and clueless.
Try not to be so stereotypical! You're saying not to have stereotypes about other nations, yet, here you are stereotyping your OWN country. Despite what you think, many Americans are pretty accepting of other cultures, it's only the bad apples that stick out in your mind as "snobby and clueless."
How much do you know about Korea? How much do you know about Africa? Do YOU know everything? No, probably not. But as long as you're trying, it's OK to not know everything and ask questions to foreigners in America. Yes, people say stupid things...everyone in every country does; it's not just isolated to America.
k
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reality amidst bullshit
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/49917
I've never heard the Ugly American thing...I've always heard Stupid American and Fat American, nar nar nar...
I was in England last summer, and things were very expensive! However, it was only because exchanging dollars to pounds was brutal!! Not all people have your belief of only eating at places they can't eat at back home, so if they go to Starbucks, then, no big deal. If I were to go to New York, and pay $7 for a latte, I'd have the same reaction those people had in London: "This is expensive!" I don't think this couple saying this is really a big deal; they coulda just been cheap asses who would complain if milk went up a penny.
All places want to increase tourism, it's only natural. Maybe the man you spoke to wasn't so concerned with tourism, but was more wondering if other people felt the same way as the Starbucks couple, or maybe he was just concerned about the image of London. People in Korea ask me all the time what I think of Korea; they want to get into an intelligent conversation about world issues. That doesn't mean that they are trying to accommodate me, and if they were, it might just be out of the need to be hospitable. In America, I ask foreigners what they think...it's an easy way to get into a conversation and find out more about the foreigner, where they come from, and how things are different.
I agree that there are a lot of ignorant Americans that travel, but keep in mind there are a lot of people from foreign countries in America who criticize America and Americans. The anti-American sentiment is a result of our government; the politicians give us a bad name. At the same rate though, a lot of people LOVE America and Americans. You will find friendly people all over the world, but If you're worried about your safety, just tell people you're from Canada. ^^
k
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reality amidst bullshit
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/49917
LOL, I was thinking while reading this blog about a friend of mine who is in Scotland.
She got such a bad reaction when she told people she was from America, so she started saying she was from Canada.
I think that the bigger problem is the fact that America is actually very "egocentric." I wanted to say ethnocentric, but we are a multi-cultured nation, within our own borders.
What I mean is that our own media is the only media most Americans pay attention to. This gives us a disadvantage, and keeps us in an ignorant bubble.
The rest of the world doesn't watch American news, they watch their own news. They see us through a completely different lens, and sometimes, frankly, through a clearer one.
Currently I get the feeling that our government thinks that we are the center of the world. I think other countries resent that. We go poking around where we don't belong, trying to make other governments just like ours. Its the residuals of Manifest Destiny.
I really like to watch Link TV. It gives me a broader perspective on the world outside of America.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Believe me...I've thought about it! But, I'm not ashamed to say I'm an American because I'm not like the people who run this country and I'm not a complete dunce. ^^
k
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reality amidst bullshit
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/49917
"Not all people have your belief of only eating at places they can't eat at back home, so if they go to Starbucks, then, no big deal."
You're absolutely right about that - not everyone believes that, nor am I saying they should. I wasn't criticizing the people for going to Starbucks, I was reflecting on the interaction because in that minute, I felt bad, guilty almost. I thought, 'Does this man think that all Americans want what we want when we want it and to h*ll with the host culture? Do I come off that way?'
I don't know if that's really what he thought, it was just another perspective. And it was actually quite useful, as it turned my thoughts inward to see if there were things that I was doing to perpetuate the Ugly American stereotype, if there is one.
It sort of renewed my commitment to NOT perpetuate it.
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau
As long you don’t wonder around in fanatic Muslim countries, US citizens have very little to fear about.
I believe an Ugly American (first time I hear of this) might be a US individual who is walking around overseas with a carrot up its ass!
Meaning: A fanatic paranoid Bush supporting worshipper.
The anti American sentiment is self-inflicted after electing that same clown to do another 4 year term!
The world was going like...Uuuuuhhhhh?!?!
London can be considered to be one of the more expensive countries upon European soil.
Which can be very annoying in regard to US citizens traveling overseas is that some reflect a "I know it all attitude"!
Those individuals mostly get their illusionary balloon popped within the first encounter they experience with a no nonsense European.
Because of my work, I hang around a lot of Americans, depending on how long they stay around, most start to feel better after a while! They even start to show genuine emotion which is always a nice thing to see arise, it’s always a clear sign they are becoming more relaxed by slowly losing their inner anxiety.
On multiple occasions I have witnessed Americans to somehow wake up, having gained a new way to see at things while losing the conditioning they brought along from their continent.
Anyhow, I also learned to understand, regardless were one is to venture around the world, people are all the same, maybe not by their looks, religious or cultural back grounds, but in a deeper sense people are all the same.
To travel is a wonderful way in order to gain the comprehension needed to bring change for the better of all.
http://www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm