Does and Don’ts inIntercultural Encounters

Is loud, obnoxious, boorish, arrogant

Believes in America’s superiority

Is too casually dressed Is ignorant of, or oblivious

to, local customs Is constantly in a hurry or

on a schedule Lacks historical perspective

and is ignorant of geography

Example 1: An overweight American woman complained to the staff at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam that the stairs were too narrow and steep for her to see the upstairs rooms.

An American businessman, visiting a company in Japan, kept patting everyone on the back. In Japan, that gesture means you are doing a bad job

The U.S.A. has been the world’s dominant culture for the past 50 years• People in other

cultures respect Americans’ love of freedom, individualism, free speech, democracy

People in other countries also resent Americans’ obsession with materialism, nationalism, violence, drugs, and sex

Talk Loud Speak in a loud voice

in a restaurant, church, mosque, or museum.

Discuss sensitive issues at a high volume when using public transportation.

Use profanity too.

Eat only at American food franchises

Don’t try local dishes or foods

• If you do, ask for catsup, mustard, or mayonnaise

• Always ask for ice in your drink

If your pint of bitters isn’t cold enough send it back

Mention (loudly) that the food might be contaminated or “dirty”

Whip out Purell, sanitary wipes or bottled water at every opportunity

Wear clothing with American flags

Wear flip flops, tank tops, and shorts to a monastery or mosque.

If you must dress up, wear an oversized sport jersey (U.S.A. teams only) and sneakers.

Assume everyone speaks English

If people don’t understand you, talk louder and slower

Corollary: Assume no one speaks English while insulting people and their culture.

Remain ignorant of, or oblivious to, local customs• Don’t learn anything

about the local currency

• Talk about how “cheap” everything is.

• Wear shoes indoors, touch people on the head, show people the bottom of your shoe

Always be on Western time• Ignore the social rhythm

of the culture you are in.• Hurry through

everything you do.• Assume everyone else

is on your schedule.• For example, don’t

expect restaurants to be closed in the afternoon.

• Do expect restaurants to be open at 5 pm for dinner.

Mention how much better everything is in America• “You call that a burger?”• “That’s not a toilet, that’s

a hole in the ground.” Compare the other

countries government or infrastructure wit the U.S.• “You mean, people live

like that?”

Get drunk or high in public.

Then act out inappropriately

Constantly hit on and try and score with the locals• Assume women in

foreign countries are anxious to sleep with you because your American.

Complain about everything

Ask why the streets are so dirty

Tell people not to smoke in bars and restaurants

Criticize menus for not offering low-fat, vegetarian, gluten free, organic foods.

The stereotype of the bumbling, ethnocentric, hegemonic American is diminishing• More American travelers

understand they are on a journey, not visiting a “zoo.”

• Americans now are more open-minded, less opinionated that travelers from other cultures.

• American travelers are now more culturally diverse.

• American travelers no longer seek to replicate the comforts of home.

• Americans are more likely to be ethical travelers, e.g., eco-friendly, green travelers, volunteering

A survey of 4,500 hotel owners revealed that:• French were rated the worst

tourists (arrogant, tight-fisted) • Spaniards were 2nd from the

bottom (noisy messy)• Americans ranked 9th among

the top 10 best travelers