Be careful with your manners when traveling abroad Part 1: You must be American
It was a hot day, so when the couple finished their morning shift at the beach, they opted to do some shopping, in bathing suits. Wrapping a thin, sheer scarf around his bikini bottom, and him in his flip-flops and his slogan T-shirt, they entered a small sheikh’s shop on the main street. The spectators gasped and stared. The mothers covered the eyes of their gaping children. Mature men and women laughed or shook their heads. “They must be Americans,” one vendor knowingly whispered to another. Unfortunately, she was right.
When you travel, whether for business, pleasure or vacation, it pays to watch your manners. Americans, especially, are increasingly notorious for their disrespectful behavior abroad. Did I say convert? The image of the “ugly American” is already too widespread. Unfortunately, the stereotype of American foreigners who are loud-talking, joking, inappropriately dressed, and flaunting their wealth while traveling is all too real in some ways in far too many cases. With anti-American sentiments growing around the world, international corporations from Microsoft to McDonald’s and business publications like the Wall Street Journal have taken up the issue again and again. Here are some tips on how to foster a better, smarter, polite and respectful image when traveling abroad.
Know the local geography
Are you planning a trip abroad? First order of business: get a map and study it. Get an idea of how the city and its surroundings are distributed. Learn about important sites and landmarks. Many good travel guides provide essential information on how to get around. This can be especially important if the local language uses a non-Western alphabetic script. On a recent trip to Colombia, my wife and I listened with amusement as a foreigner incorrectly explained compass directions to his family. He had the north and south directions reversed despite having the Pacific Ocean sunset in view.
dress moderately
Enough cannot be said about paying attention to the dress code and local customs. In many countries it is disrespectful for women to dress casually, showing bare skin or body parts in public. Bare hairy chest or legs on display, even for men, can be considered offensive in many cultures. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask discreetly or check informative websites for information on local customs. A helpful rule of thumb is not to have bare legs, torso, back, or arms in public places. Emulate the clothing of the locals to ensure you respect their cultural norms. Embera indigenous women, typically topless in their culture, don a colorful cloak when visiting non-indigenous towns and villages along the Pacific coast of South America to respect the social norms of their neighbors. Embera men, in their normal thong loincloths, wear T-shirts and pants outside their villages for the same reasons.
Look what and how you talk
Your speech is a reflection of who and what you are. It can be a useful tool for melting cultures or a battering ram of discontent. Don’t create resentment by continually babbling about your “wealth,” power, business, or social status. People don’t mind hearing how “inferior” their lifestyle may seem to you.
In Part 2 of this three-part series, we’ll take a look at what to say and how to say it when traveling abroad in: “Mind Your Manners When Traveling: Religion Is Taboo, Politics Is Out.”
Feel free to email me with comments or questions at: [email protected]