When you're in a different country, how are you treated?

[terry78]

If you do traveling or have gone on trips, when the locals discover you're not from around there, do they treat you well, do they treat you like crap, do they poke fun at your goofy accent? The fam and I plan on going to Rome in the fall, so I'm ready to check out the sights, and also interested to see what the Italians think of us filthy Americans.

 

[Badger]

Tell'em you're from Canada. Atleast that's what I heard.

 

[bored]

Like a fountain of money.

 

[Karem-Knight]

Depends:
France: They hate me cause I'm English.

Brazil: Everyone's freindy there but theirs a high chance of getting mugged.

Germany: Freindly

Spain, Portugal and Italy: Freindly

US: When I went through airport security I felt like a suspect but when I got outside everything was fine.

 

[bored]

Don't feel bad about that last one. They do it to us all.

 

[D.Rex]

Not sure the only time Ive ever left the country I was 6 and I only went to Canada. However I've from several people that the average Italian holds no ill will to the average American and you'll probably be treated very hospitably so long as you don't bring unwanted attention to yourself by acting arrogant, foolish, or rude.

 

[terry78]

^That's impossible, buddy.

 

[Rezzo]

Here in Mexico City if you are a foreigner and don´t know your Spanish very well then they´ll try to rip you off everywhere

Gringos = MONEY

 

[Riven]

in my experience, generally people abroad treat you fairly, respectfully and act friendly and politely if you're prepared to show at least some of the same consideration.

 

[CyberFaust]

tell then your from canada!
seriously!
and they will think of you as a money bag
but just remember, canadian dollars value less than american ones.
And europe kinda hates you. But not Canada.
and don't act uptight and arrogant.

 

[jaguarr]

in my experience, generally people abroad treat you fairly, respectfully and act friendly and politely if you're prepared to show at least some of the same consideration.

That's pretty much my thought as well. I've never been treated badly on any of my adventures. In some places, I've been treated like a damn king, actually, because I'm friendly, nice to the locals, and show some respect. That was especially true in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico around Cancun, Tulum and the oulying areas. I'm also blonde, though, and they've still got a bit of a cultural thing about blonde people being descendants of the gods from their Mayan heritage. It also doesn't hurt that I'm the "alpha male" type and the people who work in the tourist industry down there are taught to target the lead male in the group and treat them impossibly well because they're usually the ones that have all the money.

jag

 

[ico]

US: When I went through airport security I felt like a suspect but when I got outside everything was fine.

Ditto. Not only was customs like the Spanish Inquisition, but all of the airport staff in general were insanely rude.

 

[jaguarr]

Ditto. Not only was customs like the Spanish Inquisition, but all of the airport staff in general were insanely rude.

Like terry said, that's how they are all the way around, including with U.S. citizens.

jag

 

[Motown Marvel]

like a tourist.

 

[Mee]

Never been out of the States.

 

[Bastila]

Depends:
France: They hate me cause I'm English.

Spain and Italy: Freindly

US: When I went through airport security I felt like a suspect but when I got outside everything was fine.

I agree US, Italy, Denmark and Spain are great places everyone is nice.

France on the other hand I really do think they hate us lol, I go to Paris a lot and everytime they are rude and mean to English people and oh sometimes they annoying me a lot, pushing in front of ques is something they do a lot, that annoys me a lot and other things.

I just think they don't like us.

Belgium is nice and the people are as well.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I just got back from Germany and Holland and was treated well. People sometimes rolled thier eyes when they heard my accent (one guy asked if I was American or British I assumed that an American accent in German would be pretty different from a British German accent.) but I was really treated nicely.

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Haven't been abroad recently.

 

[Darthphere]

When I go to Nicaragua, I'm treated like an ATM.

 

[jaguarr]

When I go to Nicaragua, I'm treated like an ATM.

That's because you tell your family you're going to be in the country.

jag

 

[bored]

Here in Mexico City if you are a foreigner and don´t know your Spanish very well then they´ll try to rip you off everywhere

Gringos = MONEY

Yeah, it's like that in Israel.

"Hey, you, you're part of a Birthright group? I sell you this beautiful hand-made mezuzah with 20 shekel discount!"*

"Ani omer Ivrite, chaver."



*every knick-knack shop in Jerusalem does this. coincidentally, every knick-knock shop in Jerusalem also sells the exact same things.

 

[Darthphere]

That's because you tell your family you're going to be in the country.

jag

Damn right I do. Why pay for a hotel when I can be there at their house waiting on me hand and foot?

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

Well, if I ever go abroad, I better be treated as I treat others; with respect and courtesy. If someone holds something against me just because I am an American, they are a worthless piece of **** that doesn't deserve any respect themselves. If they give me attitude because of my origin, I'll give them a swift kick to the head, as they deserve it. There may be hundreds of countries, but there is only one planet, and we all share it.

 

[Darthphere]

Well, if I ever go abroad, I better be treated as I treat others; with respect and courtesy. If someone holds something against me just because I am an American, they are a worthless piece of **** that doesn't deserve any respect themselves. If they give me attitude because of my origin, I'll give them a swift kick to the head, as they deserve it. There may be hundreds of countries, but there is only one planet, and we all share it.

Call me crazy, but kicking people in the head seems like something that would just make the situation worse.

 

[nosebleed.]

In Okinawa you were treated as a neutral customer. You go into stores and they don't treat you mean but aren't necessarily outwardly friendly to you. But they generally aren't too friendly with the Americans there, especially if they know you are Marine or Navy personnel. It really depends on the individual though because I've made some really good friends there. Trying to learn Japanese REALLY helps...and being respectful never hurts

Philippines...they love Americans and Europeans for the most part. Filipinos like it when you try and speak their language as well. They tend to find fairer skin more attractive but even my brother-in-law (who is black) was treated very well...he wants to live there now. You will feel like a celebrity walking around the malls from all the people staring at you and smiling. In the provinces you are treated like a king and everyone will want to come by and say hi. AND you'll be forced to drink lots of beer and rum and sing karaoke.

Mexico...I was accused of being a liar last time I spoke about my trips to Mexico so I'll let someone else describe that.

Southwestern Asia: I've been to Oman, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Had fun in Oman and United Arab Emirates (saw this while I was there). The locals in both of those locations were pretty westernized and were used to dealing with tourists. I saw a lot of Europeans and Australians in UAE so the locals catered to their money. I DID NOT have fun in Afghanistan or Saudi.

Those are where I've been. I'm not counting my stopovers in various countries