Shrub in an excellent example of "The Ugly American"

[driver8]

I am sure some of you have been witness to "the ugly American." You are traveling abroad, maybe hanging out in a cafe in Paris and you hear a loud, shrill voice complaining about something because it "isn't like they get it at home."

I have witnessed this many times. Traveling throughout Europe I had many people tell me that I wasn't like "most Americans" because I was quiet and soft spoken." I have witnessed Americans complaining about pizza in Italy and tortillas in Mexico. I witnessed an American in Mexico complaining because the restaurant he was at did not serve Budweiser.

I see shrubby as one of these people. Whenever I see pictures of this jerk abroad, he is displaying his "little Lord Pissy Pants" face. I can just imagine him throwing a fit because he can't find his favorite vodka.

[freethought]

1. I was in Europe about a year ago.

Travelling between Rome, Venice, Vienna, and Milan. If you are travelling abroad politeness, manners, and respect for the country you are in will go a long way.

[driver8]

2. You are exactly right!

People in Europe had a hard time believing I was American because I was quiet and didn't complain about anything.

Nice image abroad, huh?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. He's so bad. We may have to come up with a new category altogether. n/t

[Ladyhawk]

9. The doubleplusungood, bad and ugly American? n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. I like it. It has an Orwellian characteristic to it. n/t

[LibDemAlways]

4. I once endured 9 days on a

budget tour through England in which a bevy of ugly Americans bitched non-stop about the food, accommodations, weather, sightseeing, bus driver, and everything else they could think of. They literally made the bus driver/tour guide sick. It was torture for everyone who wanted to enjoy the experience. None of them should ever have left home.

[driver8]

7. My wife and I witnessed Americans complaining about "mexican

food" in the middle of the Yucatan Peninsula!!

I honestly heard this guy from NYC say, "This doesn't taste like Taco Bell!"

My wife and I were in heaven -- handmade corn tortillas with chicken! It doesn't get much better than that!!

[Dem Agog]

5. Famous Ugly Americanism the "My soda doesn't have ice in it" whine

Hubby and I are almost always mistaken for European or Canadian when we travel. He could pass for Greek. I look mostly Irish-ish. We're quiet, we learn enough of the language to get by, and we avoid speaking English whenever possible. In fact, on our recent trip to Rome when we answered each other's questions we'd use "si"...

It causes some problems, but the opposite of the problems Americans usually experience. I asked for directions in Italian and then accidentally slipped into French. The direction-giver, thinking I was a native french-speaker, answered me in french. I then had to decipher what he said (my french is very rusty).

We asked the price of something in Italian but did not understand the man's response. It wasn't until I let slip, "I don't understand" in English that he responded in perfect English... :)

People also assumed we were from Britain quite frequently which amused me. We don't have any heavy accents, and I guess those who know the English language in other countries find the accents between countries/regions in the language as confusing as we probably do.

[Ladyhawk]

12. I'm not sure I could handle the "no ice" thing.

;)

Do they get pissed if you ask if it wouldn't be too much trouble to have a bit of ice? :)

[NJCher]

6. Worst part about Italy

My friend just returned from 10 days in Italy. She said the worst thing about Italy is the American tourists.




Cher

[noahmijo]

8. Ever see The Sopranos when they visit Italy?

"Can I just get some macaroni and gravy?"

Italian soldier ::in Italian:: "And you thought the Germans were classless pieces of shit"

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

10. GRAVY? Yeah I loved that too. n/t

[noahmijo]

13. That was a GREAT episode I related to it in a way because

it's so true I'm of Mexican descent and when I travel to Mexico I understand it's all old school; proper etiquette and formal-speak and respect are the way to get around.

In other words Mexicans from Mexico do not act like most Mexicans who are American born and brought up in America.

Always makes me laugh when I see these guys usually my age with their whole Mexican Pride thing yet they just like Tony and his crew if they ever went to Mexico they'd completely be like fish out of water.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

14. To us it's the phenomenon known as the "Newyorican".

No matter how much our country has assimilated to US customs and way of life. They always find something to bitch about.

[noahmijo]

15. If I were to travel abroad I would gain an extra 40 lbs

wear a shirt that says "Proud To Be American" that is an XS so my belly really hangs out and of course one of those hats with the netting on the back with a big "Don'T Fuck With The USA" in big letters.

Also if I was in Italy I would ask for directions by goin "Hey Italian guy!! ah yo yo yo hehe yea I watch that one show with that mob guy I knows how Italians act! so where the fuck can I find this here coliseum? I wanna see them gladiators fight!!"

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. You may want to edit title if you still can, "Shrub IS" etc...

[driver8]

22. Whoops!! Too late...damn! n/t

[yy4me]

17. We were in Colmar, France 5 years ago, struck up a conversation

with a German gentleman as we sat at a cafe. Long story short, spent many wonderful hours with him and his young daughter, including a great dinner. At the end of the evening, as we said our goodbyes, he volunteered the following, "I cannot believe it, friendly Americans". We have never forgotten his words and have used his statement as a guide for our behavior ever since. He was a gentleman, we try to reply in kind. We saw many fellow countrymen who displayed rude, loud, inappropriate behavior. One would think that if we Americans were going to travel to another country, experience another way of life, that we would do research and follow the advice in ALL guide books about how to act, dress, speak. We are not "holier than thou" but often display that quality.

[annabanana]

18. There really are some Americans that

shouldn't be allowed outside our borders. Then again, I know some who shouldn't be allowed off their own block. Or out of their caves.

[Tace]

19. I Was In Bermuda, And This Lady Was Complaining Loudly About The "Natives"

She was leaving a beautiful beach, complaining in a loud voice about how there were "too many natives" on the beach.

It was a national holiday and many of the locals take the day off and go to the beach. I thought she was ugly.

[DemoTex]

20. I was on the Orient Express between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur ..

We had just been seated in the dining car for an elegant dinner. At the table across the aisle from us were two couples. They were loud. They were obnoxious. They were oh, so boring. They were Texans. The men were in the oil bidniz' (one couldn't miss that!). They were ugly Americans. They reeked of the GOP.

[abandoned]

21. Ugly Americans

The best example I saw of this was in the Middle East. In one of the shopping centers there were prayer rooms set up and you could hear the praying. There were 2 Americans that when they heard the praying they attempted to mimick it, loudly. I talked to them and the worst part is that they didn't think there was anything wrong with that.