Post by robspace on Sept 26, 2012 1:17:03 GMT 9.5
I think all Americans can do alot to help to calm things down around the world by simply acting better when abroad. I have been to Europe, and on 4 different cruises, and I have seen some things, by some people, that are not the way we should be representing this country. I have watched my fellow Americans act like fools, and be demanding of waiters or hotel staff. I have seen them treat locals in places like Mexico like their servants and peons.
On every cruise I've been on, there has been some passengers, usually Americans, that are the most demanding, and because they saved up for years to take the "vacation of a lifetime" they think they should be treated like royalty. Well, this made me sick when I saw it. When some big overfed American woman yells at the housekeeper because her pillow is not just right or the food, that was delivered to her room, was a little too cold, it made me want to go tell her off. Some people think that these workers should be their servants for the week. Just because these workers are from other countries, some 3rd world, they deserve the same respect as anyone that bought a ticket.
Part of the blame has to lie with the cruiselines for pampering these people too much. They should make people sign a form that says they will be kicked off the cruise if they show bad behavior or bother the workers. When I was on these ships, I was with a buddy, and we were meetings alot of single ladies, some from the ship. I took one of the head housekeepers to the beach on one of the Caribbean Islands one day, and we had a blast diving and sunning on beautiful beaches. But, she told me how they are treated bad alot, and they work hard to please everyone, and they work for tips. But, you know when they go back home, they tell their friends all about the rude Americans that they had to cater to.
If we want the world to like us, and if we expect the other nations to be our friends, then we need to treat the people of these other nations alot better. We have this tendency to blame the president and others in the government, for all the anti-American feelings in the world. We think because we send them money they should love us. Well, when an American tourist visits a 3rd world country and flashes $100.00 bills around to make themselves feel good, and try to impress the poor locals, is it any wonder some people don't like us? Folks, when you go to another country, be nice to people and don't act stupid, and don't try to act rich, when you know your not. Treat the locals with alot of respect and you will make some new friends.
When I was in Mexico, I took a taxi, and paid the driver to show me around. We had alot of fun, and I paid him good, which is not too much here. But, because I showed him respect, he was more then happy to show me some great sites, which the normal tours don't. I won't go into detail on what I saw, but it was good, ok? And we drank alot of local tequila and had a great time. He ended up giving me his number in case I ever came back. I've done the same thing in Jamaica and other places. The locals will be more then happy to treat you nice if you do the same. Doing this can make the people of the world like Americans more, and right now, it's super important to bring some peace to some bad situations. It dosen't always take a gun to create change.
On every cruise I've been on, there has been some passengers, usually Americans, that are the most demanding, and because they saved up for years to take the "vacation of a lifetime" they think they should be treated like royalty. Well, this made me sick when I saw it. When some big overfed American woman yells at the housekeeper because her pillow is not just right or the food, that was delivered to her room, was a little too cold, it made me want to go tell her off. Some people think that these workers should be their servants for the week. Just because these workers are from other countries, some 3rd world, they deserve the same respect as anyone that bought a ticket.
Part of the blame has to lie with the cruiselines for pampering these people too much. They should make people sign a form that says they will be kicked off the cruise if they show bad behavior or bother the workers. When I was on these ships, I was with a buddy, and we were meetings alot of single ladies, some from the ship. I took one of the head housekeepers to the beach on one of the Caribbean Islands one day, and we had a blast diving and sunning on beautiful beaches. But, she told me how they are treated bad alot, and they work hard to please everyone, and they work for tips. But, you know when they go back home, they tell their friends all about the rude Americans that they had to cater to.
If we want the world to like us, and if we expect the other nations to be our friends, then we need to treat the people of these other nations alot better. We have this tendency to blame the president and others in the government, for all the anti-American feelings in the world. We think because we send them money they should love us. Well, when an American tourist visits a 3rd world country and flashes $100.00 bills around to make themselves feel good, and try to impress the poor locals, is it any wonder some people don't like us? Folks, when you go to another country, be nice to people and don't act stupid, and don't try to act rich, when you know your not. Treat the locals with alot of respect and you will make some new friends.
When I was in Mexico, I took a taxi, and paid the driver to show me around. We had alot of fun, and I paid him good, which is not too much here. But, because I showed him respect, he was more then happy to show me some great sites, which the normal tours don't. I won't go into detail on what I saw, but it was good, ok? And we drank alot of local tequila and had a great time. He ended up giving me his number in case I ever came back. I've done the same thing in Jamaica and other places. The locals will be more then happy to treat you nice if you do the same. Doing this can make the people of the world like Americans more, and right now, it's super important to bring some peace to some bad situations. It dosen't always take a gun to create change.