Traveling abroad is one of the most rewarding and satisfying things you can do in your life. You see a completely different side of the world, bask in all the different cultures, and you start to realize who you are as a person much better because now you’ve got a broader context to compare yourself to. That’s not to mention all the new friends you make on the way and how you grow as an individual when dealing with new and unfamiliar situations. Alas, some people have a warped perspective of what travel is and they expect the rest of the world to be identical to their home.
For them, travel is less about going on an adventure and experiencing something new, and more about checking off some items from their bucket list, taking some cool photos near landmarks, and then coming back home to brag about how utterly amazing their trip has been. Stereotypically, it’s American tourists who are sometimes loud, rude, and expect to buy everything in dollars no matter where they are (though touristic rudeness actually has no flag, and anyone can be either awful or an angel).
Stand-up comedian and author Ginny Hogan, from the US, started up a massively viral Twitter thread about rude tourists after sharing a photo from the airport that stressed to Americans that, yes, they are considered foreigners abroad. Scroll down to see how Twitter reacted to the photo and the types of experiences that people had with rude tourists. When you’re done reading, Pandas, drop by the comment section and tell us what you think makes for a great tourist and what you personally love about travel the most.
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Comedian Ginny went viral when she pointed out that quite a few American tourists act entitled and think they’re at the center of the world
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Comedian and writer Ginny’s thread got nearly a third of a million likes and was incredibly popular with the crowd on Twitter. So much so that everyone started sharing their most memorable interactions with American tourists. Unfortunately, many of these experiences weren’t all that stellar.
Of course, there are rude tourists from absolutely every country on Earth. However, because the thread was about Americans, the focus was on them this time around. The thing that really gets us is that some folks simply assume that they’re the center of the world, that they’ll automatically speak English and accept US dollars.
A part of what makes travel so great is the sense of humility you (should) get: you realize just how small you really are… and how much you have to rely on the goodwill and kindness of strangers to survive. Especially if you have absolutely no knowledge of the local customs and culture. Humility is always best.
Twitter users shared their own weird and hilarious experiences having to deal with tourists from the United States
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Professor Christine Vogt, from Arizona State University, previously explained to Bored Panda that learning about the customs and culture before the trip can make it more enjoyable. “More than likely that is what draws a person to visit a certain place. The more local knowledge a traveler has, the more a traveler can feel like a local and fit in,” the professor, from ASU’s Center for Sustainable Tourism, explained to us.
These customs can include how to dress, what the etiquette is for using your cellphone, how to eat ‘properly,’ and other things.
“When a traveler is out in a community such as walking in a downtown area or eating in a restaurant, these local customs can come into play. For example, in Buddhist countries, a woman who has not covered her shoulders or legs may not be allowed into temples or even a restaurant. Learn as many local customs as you can and a few key words to enhance your experience,” she noted that putting the extra effort pays off and helps show the locals that you’re trying to learn about them and that you care.
It’s not just American travelers who need explicit instructions, though
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Here’s what some other people had to say about how US tourists behaved abroad
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The post Twitter Thread Has People Sharing Funny And Frustrating Examples Of American Tourists Not Being Aware They’re Foreigners Abroad first appeared on Bored Panda.
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