The people who travel

Griff · 07-23-2005, 06:54 AM

Pete and I intend to travel more now that the girls are getting more self-reliant. Its gotten me thinking a bit about who travels and who doesn't. What is the face of America over-seas? My brother describes cringing in a Bolivian airport when a big talking Texas oil type set about re-enforcing all the stereotypes South Americans apply to us. Myself, I was treated to a 3 1/2 hour van ride with a Republican bashing, union card holding, whiney California public educator. The driver said I showed great patience.

I got my shots in. We also met a family of four, Dad writes business pieces for different publications and Mom is a economics professor and the kids are nice and normal. When so much of the world only knows us from silly Hollywood scripts isn't it important that middle America gets some face time in the wider world? What kinds of people travel?

jaguar · 07-23-2005, 09:31 AM

assholes, if you're not one when you start travelling you will be soon enough

xoxoxoBruce · 07-23-2005, 11:05 AM

Why, Jag? Is it the Americans get frustrated with the things we take for granted here are not available?

I remember going to Spain on a few days notice knowing only a couple words of Spanish. Most of the time I was with an engineer from South America but when I struck out on my own I found the people very patient and very generous.
I probably entertained them to no end and gave them some funny stories to tell there friends, but I don't think I offended them. At least They didn't seem to be annoyed.

jaguar · 07-23-2005, 02:07 PM

no i was talking about everybody and I guess specifically on planes/airports. The more time you spend in airports, as a percentage, the bigger the asshole you become.

As for Americans abroad, they seem to come in 4 flavours:

The Package Tour Pleb: tries to pay with euros in switzerland and cannot comprehend the pound being worth more than the allmighty dollar, bitches when places don't accept diners card, expects everyone to speak english (if they don't understand, the standard response is to double volume and talk S-L-O-W-L-Y) and is surprised when other countries have running water. Fears resteraunt menus without fries. Always uses flash when shooting distant landmarks.
Tagline: 'look honey! real cheese!'

The Aigtated Businessman: Constantly in a rush, feels that whatever he is doing is by far and away, more important than anything including your continued existence because he's trying to confirm the deal with head office but patrick hasn't rung him back and THIS IS A 45 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL HERE AND HIS ASS IS ON THE LINE. Constantly ranting about Important Things into a mobile, likes to leave large tips to feel big and generous. When confronted with another of the species will immidietly circle before flopping out air-miles penis size, loser gets the aisle seat.
Tagline: 'NO, YES, NO, I MEAN NOW!, what?'

The Budding Leftie: Constantly feels the need to remind everyone they're not one of those americans, tendency to go on random tangents about how bush is evil or oil giants are like, ruining the world man. Constantly referring to London A to Z, which they will have ripped the cover off to look experienced, despite getting lost between leister square to covent garden. Tend to be carrying double their bodyweight in oversize rucksacks strapped back, front and side. Penis size measured by how litte can they paid for accomodation.
Tagline: 'that must be trafalgar square and so that must be buckingham palace'

The Retired Empty-Nest wanderers:
Mild mannered folk, tend to assume they can't afford anything, desperate to try out horrendous atempts at the local language they've been learning for months on innocent shopkeepers. Terminally afraid of getting lost and not getting back to the hotel in time which will make them late for dinner which means they'll miss the show and the show was pre-booked and the man said it was a very good price and they can't get the money back and...
Tagline: 'but admission is £8'

07-23-2005, 06:54 AM	#1
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	The people who travel Pete and I intend to travel more now that the girls are getting more self-reliant. Its gotten me thinking a bit about who travels and who doesn't. What is the face of America over-seas? My brother describes cringing in a Bolivian airport when a big talking Texas oil type set about re-enforcing all the stereotypes South Americans apply to us. Myself, I was treated to a 3 1/2 hour van ride with a Republican bashing, union card holding, whiney California public educator. The driver said I showed great patience. I got my shots in. We also met a family of four, Dad writes business pieces for different publications and Mom is a economics professor and the kids are nice and normal. When so much of the world only knows us from silly Hollywood scripts isn't it important that middle America gets some face time in the wider world? What kinds of people travel? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

07-23-2005, 09:31 AM	#2
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	assholes, if you're not one when you start travelling you will be soon enough __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

07-23-2005, 11:05 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Why, Jag? Is it the Americans get frustrated with the things we take for granted here are not available? I remember going to Spain on a few days notice knowing only a couple words of Spanish. Most of the time I was with an engineer from South America but when I struck out on my own I found the people very patient and very generous. I probably entertained them to no end and gave them some funny stories to tell there friends, but I don't think I offended them. At least They didn't seem to be annoyed. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-23-2005, 02:07 PM	#4
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	no i was talking about everybody and I guess specifically on planes/airports. The more time you spend in airports, as a percentage, the bigger the asshole you become. As for Americans abroad, they seem to come in 4 flavours: The Package Tour Pleb: tries to pay with euros in switzerland and cannot comprehend the pound being worth more than the allmighty dollar, bitches when places don't accept diners card, expects everyone to speak english (if they don't understand, the standard response is to double volume and talk S-L-O-W-L-Y) and is surprised when other countries have running water. Fears resteraunt menus without fries. Always uses flash when shooting distant landmarks. Tagline: 'look honey! real cheese!' The Aigtated Businessman: Constantly in a rush, feels that whatever he is doing is by far and away, more important than anything including your continued existence because he's trying to confirm the deal with head office but patrick hasn't rung him back and THIS IS A 45 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL HERE AND HIS ASS IS ON THE LINE. Constantly ranting about Important Things into a mobile, likes to leave large tips to feel big and generous. When confronted with another of the species will immidietly circle before flopping out air-miles penis size, loser gets the aisle seat. Tagline: 'NO, YES, NO, I MEAN NOW!, what?' The Budding Leftie: Constantly feels the need to remind everyone they're not one of those americans, tendency to go on random tangents about how bush is evil or oil giants are like, ruining the world man. Constantly referring to London A to Z, which they will have ripped the cover off to look experienced, despite getting lost between leister square to covent garden. Tend to be carrying double their bodyweight in oversize rucksacks strapped back, front and side. Penis size measured by how litte can they paid for accomodation. Tagline: 'that must be trafalgar square and so that must be buckingham palace' The Retired Empty-Nest wanderers: Mild mannered folk, tend to assume they can't afford anything, desperate to try out horrendous atempts at the local language they've been learning for months on innocent shopkeepers. Terminally afraid of getting lost and not getting back to the hotel in time which will make them late for dinner which means they'll miss the show and the show was pre-booked and the man said it was a very good price and they can't get the money back and... Tagline: 'but admission is £8' __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

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