Guten tag mein freund to the travel guide that will assist in your endeavors to shirk the “ugly American tourist” stereotype. Now we’ve all heard mixed reviews of what the worst traveler habits are. However, I have narrowed it down to the top five key issues that face Americans while traveling abroad. So here, from me to you, are the Do’s and Don’ts of globe trotting.
DO read up on the culture!
While this should go without saying, too often are Americans shocked by the vast cultural differences they observe while abroad. This is especially so when traveling to destinations like India, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. If you are visiting Mumbai, expect to see women in traditional sari instead of jeans and a tank top and for traffic to come to a grinding halt for a cow crossing the road. Just like you would expect tourists to learn American culture before visiting, the same is expected of you. Moreover, it makes you less conspicuous and will aide you in earning trust from the locals which comes in handy more often than not.
DO NOT compliment the locale’s “accent.”
I remember a trip I took to Germany with a friend in 2014. On our first day, we visited a small trinket shop down the street from the hotel we were staying at. As my companion shuffled through her wallet to pay for the porcelain doll she selected, she told the woman at the register that she loved her accent and continued to ask what part of Germany the woman was from. While this may seem innocent, it is rude and the mark of an ugly tourist. Remember, you are the one with the accent because you are foreign.
DO NOT impersonate the locale accent!
If there is one thing that will earn you the scorn of region natives faster than a Manhattan minute, it would be faking the native tone. Remember that moment in Forgetting Sarah Marshall when Russell Brand’s character was in need of help as he bled out on the beach and Paul Rudd’s character responded with, “You sound like you’re from London” in a faux Londoner accent? Don’t do that. You can admire and appreciate the native tone. But by no means should you attempt to replicate or copy it.
DO keep an open-mind to the local cuisine.
Americans have a fairly cut and dry standard as to what is and is not considered food. However, this is a first-world nation and the home of the Big Mac. In my travels I have eaten things that are not readily available in the US but are considered a delicacy in their country of origin. One such example is balut. This is a staple in South East Asia and is sold as street food in many cities. Balut is a developing bird embryo—usually chicken or duck—that is boiled in the shell and then eaten; often it’s served with a pint of beer. The more you travel, the more you’ll find that each country or city has its own “balut.” For Scotland, it’s haggis. England has black pudding. In Iceland, there is Svid or sheep’s head. It may not be what you are accustomed to, but that does not mean it doesn’t make for an interesting meal.
DO observe social practices and etiquette!
This is similar to learning about the culture before visiting but it focuses more on the immediate differences you will be facing. First and foremost is what I call the “volume divide.” Americans are very loud and it is most apparent when they are traveling abroad. In England, trips on the tube are quiet with conversations kept to a low murmur. The same can be seen while visiting Japan and Germany. People have their private voice and then their public voice which is usually quieter than the latter.
Secondly, mind your eating habits. Every country has its own unique quirks when it comes to food and each is to be observed and respected. Do NOT lick your chopsticks or request a fork in Japan and never stick your chopsticks in a bowl of rice; it's considered bad luck. DO keep your hands on the table in France; never below or on your lap. Do NOT ask for extra cheese while dining out in parts of Italy as it is considered to be an insult to the chef. However, DO remember to burp at the end of a meal in China since it is considered a compliment to the chef for creating a delicious and filling meal. If you are in England, Do NOT complain about room temperature water, the lack of condiments, or if your pint of beer is at cellar temperature instead of being chilled.
And thirdly, keep in mind that depending on where you are traveling, there will be a difference in the interactions between men and women. Whether it be an instituted norm adopted from the nation’s religion or a modern practice observed in developing regions, many countries have a code of conduct for both men and women. Many Americans take offense to certain practices involving the way men conduct themselves or how women are treated, but you must understand that this is the culture of the region and has been for a long time. Pointing out its differences and comparing it to western culture is a big "No." If you are uncomfortable with it, leave the region. Just do not expect it to change for the sake of the tourists.
