Anyone who knows me also knows that I really have a desire to travel around the world and see all the sites. What I worry about however is the treatment I will get for being an American.
I was wondering if anyone here knows what I’m talking about. I certainly don’t blame people for despising the imperialistic foreign policy of the United States, but I see numerous comments all over places like YouTube that state that somehow, the citizens of the United States are responsible for the mess that the USA has caused, like, “because my President is a dickhead, that means I must be a dickhead too!”
I was wondering if people on here could relate to this. I’m pretty sure that the USA is the most hated country in the world right now, but I hate to have to get the blame for that when I go to a place like, say, South America or Europe.
I can’t speak as to how it is in South America, but I’ve travelled to Europe 3 times, and never has anyone given me crap for being an American. The countries I have travelled to are: Ireland, Italy, Austria, and the Czech Rebuplic. I don’t count Heathrow Airport as counting for England, but my sister has travelled to England to visit cousins, and she had no problem there either.
That’s great. I guess it’s more of an online thing, and it makes you think that there’s this big collective contempt for people who happen to be of a particular nationality.
You don’t have anything to worry about. As an American, I’ve been traveling Europe and the Middle East for the last couple of years. Never been treated any differently than any other tourist. I’ve made many friends in both those regions. Most people I’ve met are upset about American foreign policy, but they don’t confuse the politicians for their citizens.
Another thing I’ve observed. I’ve found the vast majority of Americans I’ve met overseas open minded and highly disagreeing with the US foreign policy as well.
I’m not an American, so here’s my perspective: American tourists are known for being loud, annoying, bossy, and wearing typical tourist clothes (shorts etc.). If there is any anti-American sentiment, it has very little if anything to do with politics.
Everytime I went overseas I got the distinct impression that some foreigners were in favor of imperialism and the rest strongly opposed. But none of the opposers would say anything. That might be because me and all of my friends were there with our guns and armor, but I’m not a mind reader.
Well, just try to not be any of those things (not that you necessarily are those things). Be quiet and polite, and wear clothes appropriate to the country you’re in. That would go for all tourists though.
Actually a lot more like John Rambo. I spent four years with a radio in my hand waiting for someone to say “who are you” so I could hoarsely utter “your worst nightmare” and it basically never happened. One time they were like “unidentified station, identify yourself” and I said it and they said “Malachi quit screwing around on the radio”
