Job Discussion Forums

[M.K.]

I'm joining this discussion late, but I have a few thoughts I just had to share:

I'm from the US, and in my travels abroad (admittedly not as extensive as some of you as I've only travelled in Europe and Canada) I have never felt even an inkling of ill will beacuse of the fact that I'm American. During the Iraq bombings in April, I was traveling in the UK and Italy with some friends, and we were all a little apprehensive about how people "abroad" would receive us. Well, we encountered nothing but friendliness and acceptance, and one could have even forgotten the war was going on if it weren't for the rainbow peace banners hanging out of windows and such.

I do find it's the taxi drivers who are the nosiest about where you come from. Taxi drivers in Dublin especially seem to love talking politics, well, sharing their opinion on politics anyway. As an American I do get sick of being expected to "answer" for the actions of George W. For the most part though, I find that people get excited that I'm an American, and they want to tell me about the places they've visited or tell me about relatives that are living here in the US. It seems like they want to show me how much they know about the US, as a way of identitfying with me rather than criticizing me. And I feel the same way. If I meet anyone from the UK, I'm probably going to yap at them about how my brother is living over there, and I just love visiting him and seeing all the sights in London...blah blah blah. Maybe that's annoying to them, but I mean no harm by it. In fact, it's part of the reason I like this forum so much.

I think the main thing is, no one likes to be stereotyped according to the country they appear to be from. The Canadians I know don't want to be grouped with the "loud, ugly" Americans, and Americans certainly don't want to be grouped with the "loud, ugly" Americans, and I can't really speak for anyone else. I assume though, that we'd all just be thrilled if we could travel in peace, make some interesting friends along the way, and not stand judgement based on the actions of of a few choice world leaders.

[arioch36]

I have liked almost all the countries I have been to, including the US, my home. But I wish people would understand the term "Ugly American" . Many people use the term so ignorantly. Who knows the true story of the ugly american??? It is a shame to misuse it so.

[Sigma]