Comments on: The Origin of The Ugly American http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/ study abroad programs Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:56:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: My Cultural Noise Threshold is Being Violated http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-7302 My Cultural Noise Threshold is Being Violated Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:42:26 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-7302 [...] have a reputation of being loud and obnoxious abroad, but I think it really depends on what culture is being visited. We tend to be comfortable [...] [...] have a reputation of being loud and obnoxious abroad, but I think it really depends on what culture is being visited. We tend to be comfortable [...]

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]]> By: Amanda http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-6269 Amanda Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:55:14 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-6269 It did get fixed by the end of that day.. I've been feeling a lot of that lately: not wanting to give up ideals I'm used to and value just because I'm abroad. Part of me feels that arrogant, but part of me also feels that in this cultural exchange, I could also be teaching some of my culture's values too--like timeliness. But more often than not, Bangladeshi friends keep telling me when I'm frustrated, "Well, that's Bangladesh, get used to it." With that attitude, I can understand why so many expats hide within their small communities and avoid it all. But, then again, things will never change.. Clearly, I'm still debating it all!! It did get fixed by the end of that day.. I’ve been feeling a lot of that lately: not wanting to give up ideals I’m used to and value just because I’m abroad. Part of me feels that arrogant, but part of me also feels that in this cultural exchange, I could also be teaching some of my culture’s values too–like timeliness. But more often than not, Bangladeshi friends keep telling me when I’m frustrated, “Well, that’s Bangladesh, get used to it.” With that attitude, I can understand why so many expats hide within their small communities and avoid it all. But, then again, things will never change.. Clearly, I’m still debating it all!!

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]]> By: Garrett http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-6066 Garrett Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:18:48 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-6066 The real question is how long did it take to get your water fixed? I've traveled to 41 countries and have the ability to culturally sensitive, without question, but to knowingly act against your will when you know that you could achieve a goal by willing it so, doesn't quite make sense to me. Should any one from a well-developed, organized country give up all those things that they have come to appreciate about their country - time responsibility, operating efficiency, productivity - just because they're away from home? I lean towards getting things done. It is visible in my travel style, for sure (I love to see as much as possible rather than lounge around). So, how did that water fix go down? The real question is how long did it take to get your water fixed?

I’ve traveled to 41 countries and have the ability to culturally sensitive, without question, but to knowingly act against your will when you know that you could achieve a goal by willing it so, doesn’t quite make sense to me.

Should any one from a well-developed, organized country give up all those things that they have come to appreciate about their country – time responsibility, operating efficiency, productivity – just because they’re away from home?

I lean towards getting things done. It is visible in my travel style, for sure (I love to see as much as possible rather than lounge around).

So, how did that water fix go down?

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]]> By: meagantx http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-6004 meagantx Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:56:40 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-6004 Great article! I was in Dhaka, Srimongol, and Sylhet a few months ago and I found myself having to take deep breaths to calm down from Bangladeshi stubborness a few times! Very smart people with a keen eye for trying to get a deal out of an "ugly" American. "Dono bat" for the encouragment, Amanda! Great article! I was in Dhaka, Srimongol, and Sylhet a few months ago and I found myself having to take deep breaths to calm down from Bangladeshi stubborness a few times! Very smart people with a keen eye for trying to get a deal out of an “ugly” American. “Dono bat” for the encouragment, Amanda!

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]]> By: Amanda http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-5950 Amanda Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:18:16 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-5950 Exactly what my friend meant about "being ugly to get things done." In the US, we are used to the saying "the customer is always right".. but that doesn't fly in other parts of the world. When we know we are right, like your traveler cheques, aggression could get things done, or it could turn people off. Trying to learn the rules is the challenge as a foreigner/ex-pat. Exactly what my friend meant about “being ugly to get things done.” In the US, we are used to the saying “the customer is always right”.. but that doesn’t fly in other parts of the world. When we know we are right, like your traveler cheques, aggression could get things done, or it could turn people off. Trying to learn the rules is the challenge as a foreigner/ex-pat.

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]]> By: Amanda http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-5946 Amanda Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:16:54 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-5946 I'm struggling with that actually: finding the balance of fitting in to this place and not losing an integral part of myself, like you said. It's one of those impossible balancing acts! But I guess I can't lose parts of myself because I'm changing 1,000 ways every day, anyway. I’m struggling with that actually: finding the balance of fitting in to this place and not losing an integral part of myself, like you said. It’s one of those impossible balancing acts! But I guess I can’t lose parts of myself because I’m changing 1,000 ways every day, anyway.

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]]> By: David Harper http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-5936 David Harper Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:43:55 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-5936 Nicely written Amanda, you are quite right, but please do not think that Americans have the only bragging rights to being "ugly travellers", us Brits are just as bad! I have travelled extensively over the last 6 years, and have been witness to many "ugly" incidences, some quite appalling! My philosophy is to smile as much as possible, which works well for me, but sometimes even that is not enough! I was visiting a friend in Ukraine a couple of years ago, and I took travellers cheques for security, my friend took me to a bank where the exchange rate was good, signed my checks and got my cash, the following week we returned to cash some more, and the lady said (in Ukrainian), that they did not take them, my friend said we had been before with no problem, so off the teller went to find the manager, he came back and said the same thing! My friend saw red, and stood in the middle of the bank, and gave everyone who worked there such a mouthful (in Ukrainian) at the top of her voice, that they suddenly changed their attitude and couldn't help us enough, cashing my cheques with a smile! Not the sort of thing I could do, even at home, but it just goes to show that maybe sometimes, being "ugly", can get the job done! Nicely written Amanda, you are quite right, but please do not think that Americans have the only bragging rights to being “ugly travellers”, us Brits are just as bad!
I have travelled extensively over the last 6 years, and have been witness to many “ugly” incidences, some quite appalling!
My philosophy is to smile as much as possible, which works well for me, but sometimes even that is not enough!
I was visiting a friend in Ukraine a couple of years ago, and I took travellers cheques for security, my friend took me to a bank where the exchange rate was good, signed my checks and got my cash, the following week we returned to cash some more, and the lady said (in Ukrainian), that they did not take them, my friend said we had been before with no problem, so off the teller went to find the manager, he came back and said the same thing!
My friend saw red, and stood in the middle of the bank, and gave everyone who worked there such a mouthful (in Ukrainian) at the top of her voice, that they suddenly changed their attitude and couldn’t help us enough, cashing my cheques with a smile!
Not the sort of thing I could do, even at home, but it just goes to show that maybe sometimes, being “ugly”, can get the job done!

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]]> By: Sayaka http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-5935 Sayaka Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:28:05 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-5935 Love your article!! Love your article!!

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]]> By: Kathryn Kocarnik http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-5927 Kathryn Kocarnik Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:37:32 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-5927 Thank you for writing and sharing this article!! It fascinated me and made me think back to all those moments of travel when being both a tourist and an American I had to be conscious of stereotypes and my attitude. Its a crazy world and it is very important to be aware of why, where, and who you are. Thanks Amanda! Thank you for writing and sharing this article!! It fascinated me and made me think back to all those moments of travel when being both a tourist and an American I had to be conscious of stereotypes and my attitude. Its a crazy world and it is very important to be aware of why, where, and who you are. Thanks Amanda!

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]]> By: Patti http://matadorabroad.com/the-origin-of-the-ugly-american/comment-page-1/#comment-5918 Patti Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:25:37 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=3477#comment-5918 Not being a world traveler myself, but being the host to a few foreigners, I hope I was a good ambassador. I think we, as a human race, should never think we are better than anyone else, to treat others the way we would like to be treated. Great article, as usual you get us to think outside our boxes. Not being a world traveler myself, but being the host to a few foreigners, I hope I was a good ambassador. I think we, as a human race, should never think we are better than anyone else, to treat others the way we would like to be treated. Great article, as usual you get us to think outside our boxes.

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