BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?

Subject: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 02:03 PM

My niece just left yesterday for her first ever trip to Europe. She will be visiting Ireland and Scotland for the next fortnight. She was very nervous about how she would be received, considering the current state of affairs over Iraq. I do recall getting harrassed as an American by some members of the military while in a Dublin once (one Scottish, three Irish, all drunk, rude, and belligerent), but that was for being (in their words) a nigger lover.

However, I never experienced much in the way of anti-American harrassment. You do tend to pick up people's prejudices when you speak to them in tourist situations. I quickly learned that in many major Irish tourist spots (as opposed to British ones, for example) the German tourists were often more resented than American or British tourists. However, because I've opposed the majority of US foreign policy my entire adult life, I never got involved in arguments with people in Ireland, Britain, or on the continent when Americans and the subject of American behavior came up in conversation.

However, it has been a number of years now since I've been in Europe, so I'm curious to how Europeans think it is going in this regard, or if any Americans who have recently been over the pond, would care to comment on how Americans are being treated in Europe just now.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 02:27 PM

When i met my (then)American girl friend at Heathrow on her first visit to UK I asked her to please NOT act like an American tourist.
She asked me what I meant and I simply said 'Remember what I asked'
One of the first places I took her was Windsor Castle.and as we walked
up towards the Castle proper a group of Americans were walking down.
She nudged me with her elbow and said'I see what you mean'
Americans are lovely people for the most part but sometimes are TOO touristy.If your neice acts like a civilised person she will have no problems. If she tries to come the 'We won two wars for you'and are
superior in all things she wont have such a good time.If she is a singer or a musician she will be very welcome in any Folk Club she might find.She will be equally welcome as a visiting audience.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 02:30 PM

Don't worry, she will be as welcomed as ever.
Maybe moreso as many Americans are afraid to travel just now.
Best wishes,
Keith.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 02:46 PM

She isn't the "gung ho" American sort at all, though I don't know how "American touristy" one can acceptably be--is the issue being a tourist, an American, or a combination of the two, Leadfingers? :)

She has a (former) Irish boyfriend here in the States who connected her up with his sister and a friend of theirs to meet her & her travel companion at the Dublin airport & take them around, which is wonderful. I also told her I couldn't really imagine them having any problems in Ireland, as so many Irish go back and forth to America nowadays themselves, or have family who do, or who live here. I can only think of a couple of instances in all my years of travel in Ireland that I encountered any problems as an American, and they were from people who ran B & Bs, who have pretty stereotyped views of people of certain nationalities, because they so often see the bad side of tourists (ie when they are tired, cranky, having difficulty with culture shock, etc) regardless of what the nationality of the person might be

I wasn't so sure about Scotland, though...they will only be in Edinburgh for two days. But it's like she said to me on Thursday before she left--hey! This is my first trip to Europe and I want to get AWAY FROM THE WAR!!!

Glad to hear you think things will go fine for them. I don't know how much music they will get to hear, but I'm quite certain they will be in proximity of many a pint!

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: leprechaun
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 03:28 PM

Well, don't you folks have any COLD beer?

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 03:30 PM

She will be as welcome as any other likeable person is. I work with several Americans, all of whom have settled down to a productive and secure lifestyle over here - and all of them are welcome. So most of us do despise the current prat in the White House - but so do many Americans - and we know that. I would not be welcome in some parts - indeed any - of Europe if I travelled as part of a crowd of loud mouthed, boorish Brits. I don't. I am sure your daughter does not either. Good luck to her. She will probably have a great time. Alan.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: harvey andrews
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 03:40 PM

I would say Americans are welcome anywhere and everywhere. It's American (and British)Government policy that is not so welcome at the moment. I hope she has a great time.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 03:53 PM

There is a folk tale that is releveant to this.

A wise man sat at a cross roads was approached by a traveller. "What are the people like in the next town?" he asked

"What were they like in the last town you visited?" he said.

"Well" said the traveller "they were mean minded, cheating, and miserable.......not hospitable at all...."

"They are the same in the next village" said the wise man.

Another traveller comes along and asks the wise man at the cross roads the same question........

He gets the same question in reply.........."What were they like at the last village?"

MArvellous people" said the traveller", "Generous to a fault, honest and very hospitable........."

" You will find them the same in the next village" said the wise man.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk
www.holmfirthfestival.com

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: Ed.
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 03:55 PM

A wise tale, Dave

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 04:32 PM

How true.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 04:55 PM

Wheever you go people don't much like strangers who breeze in with a superior or sneering attitude, no matter where they come from. They might be from a city a few miles away, or a visitor from the other side of the world, it makes no difference. Except that people are a bit more tolerant of that stuff from someone from the other side of the world.

Barring that, no probs. Nobody blames visiting Americans for Bush.
On today's Stop the War march in London there were plenty of Americans with American Flags and very welcome too.

And most pubs can let you have chilly beer in bottles, and noone will look strange at you for asking for it, because lots of natives drink it that way. No accounting for tastes.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: GUEST,alinact
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 05:51 PM

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: GUEST,alinact
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 06:18 PM

(Geez, I hate doing that!)

I'm currently reading a book "The Eagles Shadow - Why America Fascinates And Infuriates The World" by Mark Hertsgaard (Allen and Unwin).

The back cover reads:

"Americans rarely used to think about the outside world. As the mightiest nation in history, the United States could do as it pleased. Now Americans have learned the hard way that what outsiders think matters.

When terror struck on September 11, author Mark Hertsgaard was completing a trip around the world, gathering perceptions about America from people in fifteen countries. Whether sophisticated business leaders, starry-eyed teenagers or Islamic fundamentalists,his subjects felt both admiring and uneasy about the United States, enchanted yet bewildered, appalled yet envious. On September 10, the rest of the world harboured plenty of opinions about America - opinions that have only increased in focus and urgency
in light of recent events.

This complex catalogue of impressions - good, bad, but never indifferent - is the departure point for an honest self-examination. How can the world's most open society be so proud of its founding ideals yet so inconsistent in applying them? Exploring such paradoxes, Hertsgaard exposes uplifting and uncomfortable truths that force natives and outsiders alike to see America with fresh eyes.

'Like it or not, America is the future', a European tells Hertsgaard. In a world growing more American by the day, if ever there was a time when Americans and non-Americans alike need such perspectives, it is now"

A fascinating read.

Allan

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: jimmyt
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 08:24 PM

I plan on being in Italy for holiday in April, and I don't anticipate any problems I have travelled many times to various locations in Europe with no problems. I do not speak another language, but I learn to say hello, thank you and please in every language, and I find the people of Europe to be very accomodating of us. I do, however, cringe when I hear or see an Ugly American carrying on about something that is different than it is back home. They can be brash and loud and frequently don't realize that other people can understand what they are saying quite well. Sometimes I actually privately apologise to waiters or clerks on their behalf. Interestingly, however, I have also noticed English people acting in a similar way. Maybe it is the language?

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 09:36 PM

Can't beleive I'm reading this!

My limited experience of travel and being 'something' is that anything you do in the USA that would cause offence will do the same in Europe including putting folks down, being rude etc.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: leprechaun
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 09:51 PM

I was teasing about the beer.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: lady penelope
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 09:49 AM

Yes I've wondered about the english speaking nations on tour. On the couple of times I've left the British Isles, I've cringed to hear people of my own nationality whine that "such & such is not how it is at home". I've had to sit on my hands when one of my compatriots has decided shouting will make them better understood by people of a different nationality. And finally, I had to stuff my hand in my mouth when one family decided they would be miraculously understood if they put 'O' on the end of each word!!!!!

The British ( as a nation ) have a strange attitude towards learning other nations' languages. In school, learning foreign languages is almost an afterthought and usually not a subject until pupils are well over 11 years old. I wonder if this affects attitudes when people are abroad?

Back to the thread subject, no I don't think people who are American are resented over here at the moment. As previoulsy said in this thread it's the American government that's the problem. But even then, they'll have to get in line after Tony and his cronies.

I Hope your daughter has a great time!

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 04:49 PM

Remember many (most?) people probably watch more American programmes on the box than English programmes.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 05:34 PM

I was in Scotland a couple of weeks ago and had no problem at all. I think most people are intelligent enough to realize that individuals aren't responsible for their government's policies. If you act courteously you will usually be treated courteously. Regarding tourists behavior, I have sometimes been embarrassed by crass American tourists but in my travels I've witnessed obnoxious behavior by tourists of all nationalities. When it's your countrymen you tend to notice it more. Once I was traveling in the Caribbean with a British colleague and he was mortified at the behavior of a group of Brits in the airport returning from an island holiday. I hadn't paid much attention to them but if they'd been Americans I'd have been embarrassed too. I don't think it has to do with language - I've seen plenty of rude French and German tourists. Let's face it, there are rude obnoxious people of all nationalities but there are polite, delightful people too.

Subject: RE: BS: How are Americans being received in Eur?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 07:29 PM

When you're out of your normal environment, the normal social restraints tend to be absent. If they are the only things stopping you behaving in certain ways, you are likely to behave that way.

Maybe that's what is meant when people talk about going away "to find themselves." The corollary to that is if you do that you might not much like what you find.