|
Post by sherri on Jan 7, 2017 21:54:41 GMT
We've all heard the term ugly Americans, but Australians have a bad reputation in some places too. And live up to it! My son was in Bali. They were in a resort last May for a short honeymoon (mini moon as they called it) but wandered to a certain section one day to check it out & my son said a lot of the young Australians were acting like complete idiots, no wonder the locals didn't think much of them.
As for Americans abroad, my son (same son)& his wife were touring Europe last October (for the honeymoon proper) and he did report that some of the Americans were loud and demanding and they annoyed him.
But my parents went over to USA twice and had nothing but praise for the locals. My dad used to walk a lot. They stayed for a week at the home of a friend of mine and dad walked the block several times, got to know all the neighbours and chat with them. I think it embarrassed my friend as she had not met half the people herself.
But the people they met were friendly. They loved their trips there. My sister is over there right now, It would be her third or fourth trip, she always enjoys herself. Mind you, this time they almost had a rather inhospitable greeting to the mainland. They landed at Fort Lauderdale airport yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jan 8, 2017 13:08:05 GMT
I spent a good week on an American cruise, with all Americans on board, except for about 30 Aussies that boarded after a bus trip in Canada. A week with Americans on board, I met many different types, at many different functions and venues, and excursions. And I absolutely loved them!! We got on so well. If there were any noisy lot at the clubs, it was us Aussies, so funny, the videos and photos I took are hilarious. I think the yanks think we are a tough lot eh? When we spent 5 days in California, Disneyland, meeting long lost rellies etc. I was more than impressed, hubby was dubious the whole time BEFORE doing any of this, but he is so convinced now it is easier than he realized, to find our way around with Uber, motels, etc.
Tell you a funny story, whilst on a tour bus going to Hollywood etc. we went past a sign that said "Hammer Museum"...I said to the driver, "Oh, there's a Hammer Museum" and he didn't know about it, I said "Well now you know, there is a Hammer Museum"...hehe
American has it all, really :-)
|
|
|
Post by granty on Jan 8, 2017 20:25:09 GMT
I think most people have this idea that Americans are loud mouthed and arrogant because they watch too much TV. (or they listen to Andysfootball) Well it's far from it, because they're the most polite respectful people I've come across.
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jan 8, 2017 21:52:22 GMT
I think it is like anything else. Some good, some bad. There are 300 million of them. Even if only 1% are loudmouths or arrogant, that is still a lot to get noticed. And let's face it, you can pass 100 quiet people in a street but it is mainly the loud or rude one you notice or remember.
Anyway, most people I know of who come back from America talk about the place more so than the people so the people must be okay.
|
|
|
Post by DADDY O on Jan 8, 2017 22:32:40 GMT
I think it is like anything else. Some good, some bad. There are 300 million of them. Even if only 1% are loudmouths or arrogant, that is still a lot to get noticed. And let's face it, you can pass 100 quiet people in a street but it is mainly the loud or rude one you notice or remember.
Anyway, most people I know of who come back from America talk about the place more so than the people so the people must be okay. OK, this is better........ I take it you have never been to the deep south.........bring your gun with you....they hate everybody.
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jan 9, 2017 1:38:37 GMT
My sister loved the south, preferred it to places like NY. I think it was mainly the scenery she was thinking of but she said it was nicer there. You must love the south, you're about as far south as you can get.
|
|
|
Post by DADDY O on Jan 9, 2017 13:36:23 GMT
Did she bring her sheet with two eyeholes cut into it? If she did, she would be welcomed, and if she had a " Trump" sticker on her car she would have received free Gumbo, Hog Jowls, Fried Cracklings and Pickled Pigs feet for life. Lets " Make America Great Again". That kind of goes along with the saying " The South Will Rise Again". But you are right...........the land is worth the visit......just bring your gun......you never know.
|
|
|
Post by DADDY O on Jan 9, 2017 17:18:20 GMT
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jan 9, 2017 21:28:58 GMT
I have some sympathy with the man, he was obviously frustrated. I bet that couple deliberately booked window & aisle seat, hoping for the middle to be left empty but on a full flight of course that won't happen.
They could have offered to move up & change places with him, maybe given him the window seat. That would have been the polite thing to do.
I realise the man let his temper get the better of him, but some of those flight attendants can be like mini gestapo too.
|
|
|
Post by DADDY O on Jan 9, 2017 23:37:51 GMT
I have no sympathy for him Sherri, and here's why. I was on a return flight for a business trip to San Francisco about 20 years ago. I left at the last minute and got a flight on Southwest Airlines, which I think is the best managed and best airline to take in the US.
My first leg was from San Francisco to Las Vegas. In Vegas I had to change aircraft for the last leg to Austin America. The first leg was great....no problems at all. The second leg....not so much.
My flight into Vegas was late and when I got on the Vegas to Austin Flight it was pretty much full. On Southwest there is no seating numbers assigned. It is a "First come First seat taken arrangement". I know that may sound bad, but if you plan your fights and check in on-line, you go to the front of the line and choose any seat you want. Unfortunately for me, I had to take what no one else wanted. So I board the fight and sit in the middle seat about half way down the aircraft. It's a 2 hour flight and I thought "No Problem" I'll sleep most of the way (this was at 10 PM at night).
The guy in the Window Seat was holding a plastic bucket half filled with quarters. Obviously he had played the slots at the airport. He was drunk and happy and was ordering drinks. He apparently struck up a "special conversation" with our stewardess............and she was feeding more and more booze to him. I was just trying to sleep.
About every 10 to 15 minutes he had to go piss, and to do so, he had to climb over me and the aisle seat. After the third time of doing this in about 1/2 hour I told the stewardess to stop serving him drinks. She seemed to be appalled by my request and asked "What business is it of yours"? I tried to politely tell her that he was intoxicated, and serving him more drinks was a violation of not only FAA regulations, but most likely Southwest regulations as well.
She not-so-politely told me to mind my own business, she did not think the drunk was drunk. So, in my most polite way (BWAHAHAHA) I asked her "Well then, why are half of his quarters lying on the floor"? I think that went over her head......her name was something like Candi, or Mandy, or some other strippers name like Montana, Colorado, Dakota....... (strippers like to use the names of states in the USA.......so I've been told).
Well, not to be outdone by this Bimbo, I told her I was going to talk to the Captain......this was before 911 and the doors to the cockpit were usually open. I got up and the gentleman in the aisle seat did also. He had a big smile and said "Go get 'em". I went to the front of the airplane and was intercepted by the chief stew. She asked me what the trouble was. I told her, she went back and talked to "Dakota" and then talked to the drunk. She came back and told me I would have to change my seat. She took me to very last seats in the airplane and lo and behold there was a middle seat available......lucky me. I sat down and went to sleep....for about 15 minutes as we were landing in Austin America.
I was literally the last person off of that airplane. When I hit the concourse I was greeted by four federal agents....oh lucky me. One agent started to question me and asked me "What Happened". I told him in great detail and he said, that's what three other passengers reported. He then asked me if the guy in handcuffs was the guy sitting next to me. I said, yes he is. He thanked me and left with the drunk holding his left arm very tightly.
About 10 seconds later another guy approached me and apologized for the inconvenience I had.....he was from Southwest Airlines. He gave me a card to call in to morning, which I did, and Southwest gave me two free round trip tickets to anywhere they flew.
I gladly accepted.
|
|
|
Post by freon on Jan 10, 2017 14:41:00 GMT
My Daughter and her husband were in a restaurant in Boston recently and were quietly chatting away the table next to them picked up the accent and started chatting to them. In the end there was four tables all joining in the conversation, when they were out in the street they pulled out a map to work out where they were and where they were going locals were coming up and showing them where to go
Must admit if I see someone standing in Darwin with a map I offer assistance
cheers
|
|