As a conscientious world traveler with an American passport, I take exception to the arrogant belief that Americans are rude travelers while enlightened Europeans are models of politeness and civility. My Finnair flight from Helsinki to New York demonstrates exactly why. The truth is a bit more complicated.
My Rude Seatmate On Finnair
You can read my full business class review here, but there was one element of the flight I left out of the review: my seatmate.
Shortly after settling in–before we even took off–I noticed my seatmate behind me had wedged into my personal space beside my seat.
I suppose I could have thanked him for not putting his socks or bare feet up, but instead wrapping his foot in a blanket.
How do I know he was European? He spoke Finnish to the flight attendants and had a red passport (EU passports are primarily burgundy due to a decision by member states to adopt a common passport design, including the color, as a symbol of European identity and unity).
Picture the seat like this:
Candidly, wedging your foot like that seems contorted and uncomfortable. It was a tall guy, but it made no sense to me why he put his feet up instead of in the fairly large footwell under the monitor.
I solved the issues by leaning my elbow on his foot. He quickly got the message and did not try that again during the flight…
On “Ugly Americans” Abroad…
I’m reminded of the cliche that Americans are horrible when overseas…a bunch of fat people in cheap sneakers who order hamburgers and French Fries and are loud and obnoxious.
Of course, some travelers fit that description…but I’m so sick of the idea that most American tourists are like this. Take your bigotry and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
It’s sort like the trend of movies and TV shows over the last three decades where the father is the butt of every joke; the dunce who has to rely on his wife or kids to get anything done. I find that destructive and counterproductive.
In the same vein, I also loathe the “ugly American” cliche. I teach my kids to 1.) treat people the way you want to be treated, 2.) be respectful to others and 3.) that kindness goes a long way. Most importantly, I try to model this behavior for then when we travel together. Many Americans do the same…and many Europeans are just as rude and nasty as Americans are accused of being.
There’s no need to hurl blanket accusations against people…
CONCLUSION
My rude Finnish seatmate is a perfect example of how foolish it is to say that Americans are rude and Europeans are not. The truth is far more complicated and there are polite and rude people from every nation and every walk of life…even Japan.
While I do not deny that cliches exist for a reason, sometimes they take on a life of their own that does not reflect reality. I wish the “ugly American” cliche would be put out to pasture…
Another solution would be a slow drip-drip from a honey container .
We may be “ugly Americans”, but most of us have good personal hygiene habits. Can’t say that for many Europeans.
Ever hook up with a French woman? Looks like a porn from the 70’s! Even Ron Jeremy wouldn’t go down on that Brillo pad.
I bet Matt has absolutely superb manscaping habits. Tbh, he strikes me as the kind of guy who shaves his groin, armpits, etc. completely. He probably won’t respond, but I am kind of curious if my guess is valid.
Not sure where you got that “Americans are rude and Europeans are not.” Some Europeans are horrible and behave really bad specifically drunk Brits. To be honest, I think that when Europeans get to be rude they are worse than Americans because they most likely do it intentionally. I think the reason Americans are seen as rude is more due to ignorance than wanting to be rude. The fact Americans live in a country that is almost the size of Western Europe make most of them not having to leave the US and when they do, they try to behave like their are in the US. Europeans on the contrary are more exposed to so many different cultures around them which is a huge plus when compared to Americans. What I see from many Americans is that they think that the US is the “standard” so when they are exposed to an European culture they think everyone around them should adapt to their like vs the opposite. Also, the fact that English is the international language makes Americans feel entitled that the world has to adapt tot them vs the opposite. That ignorance translated into behaviors, food orders, being loud and many times obnoxious, etc…. Europeans on the other hand, can be rude because they want to be rude and that I think it is worst than being ignorant.
Here is an example of my American neighbor which at 45yo for the first time visited Europe last summer. He chose UK and France and when he came back I asked about his experience. He said he loved London but hated Paris. I asked why. “Because the UK is much more similar to the US.” Well, that’s ignorance. I then asked what he did in France. “Oh, we spent 2 days in Paris but didn’t like it much. The food was not to our taste and we didn’t feel people wanted to speak English. But then we spent 3 days at EuroDisney and that was much better.” So, you have never been to Europe in your life and when you go you liked the EuroDisney experience? Talk about ignorance.
@Santastico … suggest he try the food in India .
“a bunch of fat people in cheap sneakers who order hamburgers and French Fries and are loud and obnoxious.”
The stereotype has nothing to do with body shape, it applies to all Americans regardless of size.
We may all wear cheap sneakers and love Burgers & Fries, but most of us don’t stick other men’s junk in their mouths like you. Even in 3rd world countries you people are considered freaks.
Free Chi!
Aw, from the Queen of Freaks herself, the usual bigoted nonsense.
Is the truth “bigoted”?
You aren’t normal, that’s a clear fact understood by almost everyone. The only question is if it is caused by a mental deficiency or do you people know exactly what you are choosing to do because you can’t control your love of c#ck?
It’s still a damn shame the left got their way and made it harder to discriminate against you freaks. And worse you are allowed to adopt kids. Truly one of the worst decisions ever made.
Maybe send you all to a big island alone and let you all die off the natural way over time since you aren’t breeders and self fulfill your own destiny. Have a c#cl buffet and knock yourselves out.
The truth isn’t bigoted but your sh*tty hateful opinions that you are trying to pass off as facta certainly are.
And Matthew thinks we should sit down with trash like you and talk…
Matthew – can we ban this Dave? No one comes here or has the time and desire to read his drivel. This is beyond out of line.
You know Aaron, Dave makes some very valid points about your sexual habits, but what I don’t understand is where is all this anger coming from? Sure lots of companies have pulled their funding for pride this year, sure we’re laughing at your impotent rage at Trump coming back, but get a sense of humor. I would think you would need one in your line of “work”.
Oh look it’s the other vile loathsome piece of hateful trash. Scum does travel in pairs, it seems. How convenient.
I tried to be civil but you asked for it!!
STFU Aaron
Lol you have never been civil on here and never will be. Just a piece of crap who spews hateful bigoted nonsense.
Also speaking of impotent rage, make me.
Someone needs to do a study on what psychological impulse drives people like Dave Edwards to be addicted to making a complete fool of himself to a bunch of strangers online at every possible opportunity.
Americans are ugly in the same way bicyclists on roads are jerks. Most bicyclists are rule-abiding, courteous folk. But, I never remember those. I remember the occasional jerk who thinks they get all the advantages of the laws and have the right to ignore those laws when convenient for them.
I owned and operated a helicopter charter and tour business in a major U.S. city from 1960 to 2021 (retiring in 2021) flying an average of around 40 tourists per day on tours of the city and surrounding areas. While there are certainly many obnoxious American tourists I will say that the European tourists were second in being demanding and obnoxious to only the Chinese, Our American ustomers would be significantly lower on any list I might create. I have found that those that continue these stereotypical anecdotes are usually the worst of all.
I travelled in Europe years ago with my twin sister for 2 months.
The only people that bothered us were Italian men, relentlessly following us. Scary.
Almost everyone spoke English and didn’t seems to mind. A few times I drew a picture of what I wanted and the Europeans seemed to enjoy that.
We were not heavy, did not wear tennis shoes and ate no burgers.
Interestingly even back then once we told people we were from California they acted like it was very different from the rest of the US and asked us lots of questions about it.
In Berlin I went on a day long river cruise and this elderly couple kept buying me little trinkets. I found a German woman about my age who spoke a little English and she agreed to ask them why. They told her it was because I was an American and Americans had saved them in WWII. So touching.
We met many American travelers and Europeans and loved our trip. I think if you travel in a respectful friendly way, for the most part you get the same back.
Here in the US while on public transit, I chatted for about 20 minutes with a young Italian woman who was traveling the US. That was 14 years ago and we still stay in touch.
I think lots of Americans travel outside the US because they want to see and hear the sounds and enjoy the foods of other cultures and meet people with very different cultures and life experiences.
Free Chi!
Oh hey, looks like I’ve been allowed to return.
Dave, I got your back!
Happy days are here again!
This has more to do with social class than country of origin.
I’ve said it before, but the reality is, iceholes exist in every country and culture. Don’t be one, and you won’t have any trouble.
I don’t know why the hateful insults are allowed on this blog, but they are sure turning me off visiting.
You love it! But yes, Aaron can be very hateful, but you have to understand he hates himself because of his life choices.
My, you seem to be projecting everything you feel about yourself onto me…it’s super creepy.
STFU Aaron
Make me, you human version of hummingbird excrement.
It’s not hateful. It’s all in good fun! I’m just trying to make people laugh here!