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From: hayden@pyrite.DEC
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Americans in Paris
Message-ID: <1871@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Apr-85 14:21:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1871
Posted: Fri Apr 26 14:21:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Apr-85 07:27:53 EDT
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	After all of the recent discussion of Paris, I thought I would 
add my impressions. I was there in mid-August, and for those that do not 
know, August is the quietest time there because the French usually
go on holiday the entire month of August and head to the 
Mediterranean. I was alone and on bicycle, and stayed in a campsite
in the Bois de Bologne. Since I had no one to talk to or do things
with, and since I had been travelling for weeks and was sick of
being a tourist, I was mainly there as an observer. What I observed
made me quite ashamed. It was Americans that were rude to me and
to the Europeans around. It was not the French. In a few short
hours, I found myself trying to avoid Americans. They would come up
to me and ask directions and be exceptionally rude if I could not
help them. They were the ones standing in lines complaining about
the street noise that they heard from their luxury hotel rooms. 
	At the campsite, I was the only American. What I observed 
of the Europeans there was real closeness, warmth, joy, and patience.
They were so happy to just have the time to spend with their families
and visit Paris. The campground was packed like a sardine can, the lines 
for showers were up to an hour long, but I did not see one European 
complain or even act inconvenienced. It was a real lesson for me. 
	My general impression of the Europeans was that they were 
incredibly civil considering the abuse I saw Americans give them. My 
first experience was when I entered the city and went to
a train information booth to ask directions. An older American
couple was there asking for directions. They were so rude and
demanding that I wanted to eliminate them. I found myself checking
my clothes and bicycle and hoping that I had no telltale 
identification as being American. The information worker
was very patient and considerate, and then treated me with courtesy
that I would have found hard to muster up after that last encounter.
	So, I suggest that if you are in another area, wherever it be,
spend some time just as an observer. Sit and watch how Americans
are treating their foreign hosts, and then judge the hosts. As for
your experiences, I do not doubt that Parisians may have been rude
to you. But for myself, I could never criticize a Parisian who is rude 
to an American after what I experienced in Paris.
	I would also suggest that when you visit a foreign country,
try to live like the natives for awhile. Stay where they stay, watch
how they behave, observe their customs. From what I saw, Europeans
were sensitive to customs in other countries, and tried to treat
people with patience and courtesy. The Americans I met did not really
seem interested in 'experiencing' the country. They were just there
to tell everyone they had gone. They were loud, abrasive, arrogant,
and impatient. I asked Europeans about their impressions of Americans.
One French couple told me *We like them better than the Arabs* - I 
think that made us a *2* on a scale from 1 to 10. All of the others
I met said they felt that Americans were friendly, but loud. That they
were the ones you could hear across the restaurant when you were 
trying to have a quiet, cozy dinner. Consider that when you are in
Europe trying to be overheard so you will *impress* the Europeans.

I can say nothing good about the Americans I met in Europe.
I would tell you where my favorite spots in France were, but I
do not want to see any Americans there when I return. There is a lot
of truth in the stereotype of the 'Ugly American'.

Janice Hayden