Americans are not #1

[Tao-san]

I'm not surprise at all with the article of The Time, I'm often shocked when I see or hear my compatriots communicate with travellers.
I'm leaving in the center of France in Loire Valley, one of the most touristic french region and I sometime wanted to become transparent for these tourist not see me near some of my compatriot.
Even simple civism is difficult from french to french, so can you imagine dealing with "tourists" (I've put brackets because this word is pejorative in certain frenchies mouths).
I did not traveled much but each time, before leaving I was told by people that I wasn't asking anything : "You will see british or canadians are like that, bla bla, ..." all the "advises" were bullshits, preconceived ideas.
But as told me Stephany before she leaves France, a US woman from Dayton which helped my daughter to increased her english level, they didn't experiment french administration ! Ah, ah, ah better manage with the tourists, believe me.
Joke apart, hope all of you will meet nice french people one day, I know some.
Personally I enjoyed so much northern Europe : Sweden and Danmark.
Salutations from a french citizen.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I have met many nice French people. I even dated a French girl when I was in High School. Many a great night spent learning each others cultures....

[Arsenal VG-33]

Having traveled extensively in both the US and France, and between the two, I have to say that the last article in the linked column is spot on. It really does come down to money afterall.

It's been my observation that, while all tourists no matter where they are, wish to gain the most value for their money, the French are particularly Euro-pinchers when it comes to costs. Bargain hunting is a full-time job there, wether you're on vacation or not. They simply like to get the most bang out of their Euro, and if they don't - they're aren't afraid to voice their displeasure. Americans, even when they might feel let down, are more the kind to say nothing and accept their loss. The tipping aspect is a great example. In France, tips (le pour-boire) are included in the overall total costs of things, whereas in the US we are used to tipping a certain percentage on top on the total. Switch the two peoples around, and you get one group that doesn't tip at all, and another group that tips on top of a tip.

In general, I think the article is fair, though I think it should be emphasized that the French tend to be rude to their fellow citizens rather than to foreigners - France didn't become the #1 tourist destination in the world for having rude hosts. But I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they're simply not afraid to speak their minds, whereas I find Americans to be much more reserved and timid - or "out of respect" so I often hear .

My personal and most memorable encounters:

A French family of tourists in Washington D.C. pointing out really fat people and wanting (going so far as to ASK!! )to have their photos of them to prove it.

An American couple in Paris, complaining loudly to their hotel concierge that the door to their room had a turning handle, as opposed to the round door knob like in the good-ole USA. Maybe it was the jet-lag?

As for most racist, I look toward the Pacific Rim for that, in particular the Chinese and Koreans.

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Ha that is funny!

Get ready for someone to come in here and get all mad though! No names are needed I am sure.

I know you weren't speaking of me...... Sorry if I dissapoint!

[Soren]

I remember hearing all kinds of sh*t about the French before I ever visited France, but first time there I found them only to be nice people (The soldiers & police are atleast ). Paris is where the snobs are.

[Matt308]

Koreans. Most rude SOBs on the planet. They don't like the way you look or act, you would think someone hung a dog turd under their nose. And once you get to know them, they are nice people, but the same rude [by western standards] continue. Just their culture I guess.

[CharlesBronson]

I have a cousin that work receiving in the Airport foreign dove hunters here in Cordoba and he always tell me that the most nice people are the US hunters. They always try to comunicate even with the most simple local people who does not understand a word of english.

Even more, the europeans are not very favoured between the "Birdboys" ( people wich help the hunters carring, loading and cleaning shotguns, beside picking up dead doves) because the low or non-existent tips.

[trackend]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

My post was not to imply that all Brits were bad tourists. .

Didnt think you were implying that Chris, sorry if my post came over wrong.

[eddie_brunette]

Here, you probably would be murdered/raped/hijack/robbed before I can say "welcome"

edd

[The Basket]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

I agree with you completely. My post was not to imply that all Brits were bad tourists. I myself have never met a Brit I did not like.

You haven't met me yet!

I wouldn't say general stuff. But their are plenty of Americans in St Andrews both as tourists and students.

A good example is when a friend told me in a pet shop that an American student asked if he could toilet train his hamster.

Or the American tourist on a driving holiday who was lost because he came to Fife without a map and had only euros because that is what they use in Scotland.

You get idiots in evry country!

[trackend]

Originally Posted by eddie_brunette

Here, you probably would be murdered/raped/hijack/robbed before I can say "welcome"

edd

A work mate of mine went to SA a couple of years ago to trace the foots steps of his relitive who was at Roukes Drift and he said it was great.
No necklaces or anything not even an Assegai in the ear he sounded quite dissapointed, then he is quite weird.

[Tao-san]

Originally Posted by Soren

I remember hearing all kinds of sh*t about the French before I ever visited France, but first time there I found them only to be nice people (The soldiers & police are atleast ). Paris is where the snobs are.

Speaking about parisians, take a look at those commercials links in YouTube, le Parisien is a daily Paris area newspaper and they made a terrible campaign few time ago.
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
The shorts stories are absolutly authentical, they were told to the producer of the clips. Each one ends with : The parisian, better meet him in the newspaper.
You may recognize somebody
Bon appetit with the one called "sanisette" !

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Soren

I remember hearing all kinds of sh*t about the French before I ever visited France, but first time there I found them only to be nice people (The soldiers & police are atleast ). Paris is where the snobs are.

I found the opposite. All the time I have been to Paris, I had a blast and everyone was very friendly to me (except in the Airport, the workers there are assholes!)

It was outside of Paris where I found the assholes.

[Soren]

It's funny how people have so different experiences with the same places, makes one think that perhaps you caught someone on a bad day ??

[Soren]

Originally Posted by Tao-san

Speaking about parisians, take a look at those commercials links in YouTube, le Parisien is a daily Paris area newspaper and they made a terrible campaign few time ago.
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
The shorts stories are absolutly authentical, they were told to the producer of the clips. Each one ends with : The parisian, better meet him in the newspaper.
You may recognize somebody
Bon appetit with the one called "sanisette" !

Ha ha!

I also had the feeling a couple of times that they were laughing or swearing at you behind your back as you walked away after having asked for something whilst in Paris.

But this only happened in Paris for me, all other places the people were very polite and nice. We even got invited in by a an old french guy for drinks on the Bastille day, which was quite an experience.

[Henk]

We get a sh*t load of Germans, Belgium people, Dutch, Austrian people and people from other parts of the EU, but I have seen more German people. Oh and I got people from the middle east, very nice people to.

Not a lot of people from the US though, only those that came here for the Tacoma George sister city thing, most of them were @ssholes. Were not what they showed us.