From: laurence@spider.co.uk (Laurence Dearling)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Tourists
Summary: Cultures, different
Keywords: xenophobia, ascendancy, superiority, lack of
Date: 1 Sep 92 10:30:26 GMT
Followup-To: rec.travel
Organization: Spider Systems Limited, Edinburgh, UK.

Tourists

I am one! (Happen to be British)

I just got back from Tuscany, Umbria, Rome & Sorrento tour.

During my driftings (with newly acquired spouse!) we mused on our fellow
tourists.  We are not xenophobic as I have lived and worked in California and
Nevada, Malawi (Central Africa) and most of Europe.  I don't speak Italian
very well but I understand it.

Two points:

Every culture is different: every nation has (or has had) its day:
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, were all top dog once! [I seem to distantly
recall a British Empire, but no matter.]

"Fast Food" is American culture, and is absolute anathema to the Latins
(French, Italian, Spanish, etc). Quite recently I was invited to dinner by a
French business acquaintance to meet his family.  We started at 7.00pm and
were still demolishing sorbets and desserts at 1.00am the next morning.

Most tourists on our trip were cosmopolitan, from such nice places as Peru,
Egypt, a nice lady American writer about to publish some diaries between her
husband and Mrs. Roosevelt (he was the President's doctor) as well as Brits
and our Euro-cousins.

Most of these people were quiet, unassuming and trying to adapt to the
culture they found themselves in, since, presumably, that is why they were
visiting in the first place.

It has nothing to do with judging the country by slow service, lack of
interest in you as a tourist, or trying to rationalise why Italian
tobbaconists and newsagents sell bus/tram tickets but you can't buy one on
the bus/tram.  It is to do with seeing how other people live, AND ACCEPTING
THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE.

Good manners are universal.  Bad news travels fast. We saw more Japanese
tourists than the Americans, but ANY loud tourist must remember he is
representing his country, and there were some poor behaviour from almost all
nationalities, as well as exceptional behaviour.

Perhaps a visit to the Sistine chapel is the most revealing.  The signs
requesting no photography and respectful silence were ignored by most, but
unlike North Europe or America, no-one was hustled out for breaking the
rules, just gently admonished.

The worst case of empty vessels making most noise was a group of typical
tourists, young men and all bronzed and fit, pushing in front of a disabled
lady trying to get a drink at a Vatican water fountain. The temperature was 
in excess of 38 degrees Celsius.  My wife stood back to let her get to the 
fountain after the group had finished.  A late arrival burst through, anxious 
to catch up with the herd.  "Let the old lady get a drink" admonished one of 
his colleagues... "She can wait!" he retorted.  And she had to.

I won't embarrass anyone by stating the nationality, but the language was
English.  I hope our Italian hosts were turning a blind eye at that point.  

My point is.. when in Rome, do as the Romans do.  Don't judge on your values,
try and understand theirs. Every culture is rich in traditions which you may
not understand.  Italian manners and respectful modes of conversation are
legendary, so at least appreciate and emulate.  Generally speaking, the
warmer it gets nearer to the equator, the slower the lifestyle.

If you find yourself arguing local national political issues during a 
lunchtime picnic in a charming park with Romanesque
fountains, and steeped in millenia of history.....WHY DID YOU COME?

Anyway, nationalism is an illusion.  I've seen major culture differences
between East and West Coast USA, let alone the myriad of races and ethnic
groups banded together and called nations in Europe.

As Goethe once wrote .. "Alle Menschen werden Brueder" 
(All men become brothers)
Xenophobia produces the horrors of the Holocaust, Maddas Hussein, and the
unbelievable atrocities going on in what was Yugoslavia.

It's major axiom derives from a complete failure to learn anything from other
peoples and cultures.  GOOD TOURISTS ARE NEVER GUILTY OF THIS. (I hope, for
the future of mankind...)

-- 
        |           |       |      _!_    Laurence Dearling, Market Dev. Mgr
        |         /\8/\    ^~^          Spider Systems Limited, Spider House
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