Beautiful church to which I'll have to return. I was the only one there, paid for a tour, and 3 minutes in to it, an Italian guy came along, and the tour guide started speaking to him excluively, in Italian. I stayed for about 10 minutes, finally gave up and left. Worst, rudest tour guide I've ever experienced! I hope to get a good one next time.
That's the problem with Americans. We are not taught French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese as second languages, but speak only English. In the 1950's and early 1960's especially, Americans got a reputation as rude, ignorant, and obnoxious in much of Europe for their demands for the French, Italians, Germans, Spanish and others to speak English! We thought...and many Americans still do think unfortunatly...that we are the best and most powerful country on earth, AND LOOK DOWN AT THOSE WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN, OR SHARE USA VALUES. Why? It makes no sense, especially when it is not true. In Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and even Japan etc.,as a tourist you try to learn at least alittle of the language and customes so as not to appear as an ignorant and obnoxious tourist with no respect. Why should the Italian tour guide speak English to accomodate you? He's not being rude. It's his country and city. Quite the opposite. It's rude for Americans to go abroad, and expect everyone to speak English!
Is there anything more boorish than a self-righteous traveler? I DID learn basic Italian for my trip. I was the only one queued for the tour, which in your fit of superiority you must have missed. She started the tour with me, but when the Italian guy came along, she ceased any eye contact or awareness of me, and began answering his questions exclusively for the next 10 minutes. A quick nod or hand gesture to indicate she'd get back to an inclusive tour would've sufficed. She was the one lacking in manners; instinct tells me that that you'd be more the type to engender an "ugly American" stereotype, with the faulty assumptions and boisterous manner. I do fine in my travels and am seldom pegged as American, whether by manner or attire. Anyone as savvy, suave and urbane as you purport to be, would write with a bit more panache and certainly have less spelling errors! Or perhaps your bluster is youthful exuberance? Spending the sophomore year abroad? I'll be back to revisit San Nicola and am confident I'll have a good guide. Peut-être je parlerai le français au lieu de l'anglais, être sûr! Or better, maybe my Italian will be up to snuff:)
Beautiful church to which I'll have to return. I was the only one there, paid for a tour, and 3 minutes in to it, an Italian guy came along, and the tour guide started speaking to him excluively, in Italian. I stayed for about 10 minutes, finally gave up and left. Worst, rudest tour guide I've ever experienced! I hope to get a good one next time.
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem with Americans. We are not taught French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese as second languages, but speak only English.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1950's and early 1960's especially, Americans got a reputation as rude, ignorant, and obnoxious in much of Europe for their demands for the French, Italians, Germans, Spanish and others to speak English! We thought...and many Americans still do think unfortunatly...that we are the best and most powerful country on earth, AND LOOK DOWN AT THOSE WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN, OR SHARE USA VALUES. Why? It makes no sense, especially when it is not true.
In Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and even Japan etc.,as a tourist you try to learn at least alittle of the language and customes so as not to appear as an ignorant and obnoxious tourist with no respect.
Why should the Italian tour guide speak English to accomodate you? He's not being rude. It's his country and city.
Quite the opposite. It's rude for Americans to go abroad, and expect everyone to speak English!
Why did the tour guide take the tourist's money if he was going to ignore him the whole time. You can't have it both ways.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything more boorish than a self-righteous traveler? I DID learn basic Italian for my trip. I was the only one queued for the tour, which in your fit of superiority you must have missed. She started the tour with me, but when the Italian guy came along, she ceased any eye contact or awareness of me, and began answering his questions exclusively for the next 10 minutes. A quick nod or hand gesture to indicate she'd get back to an inclusive tour would've sufficed. She was the one lacking in manners; instinct tells me that that you'd be more the type to engender an "ugly American" stereotype, with the faulty assumptions and boisterous manner. I do fine in my travels and am seldom pegged as American, whether by manner or attire. Anyone as savvy, suave and urbane as you purport to be, would write with a bit more panache and certainly have less spelling errors! Or perhaps your bluster is youthful exuberance? Spending the sophomore year abroad? I'll be back to revisit San Nicola and am confident I'll have a good guide. Peut-être je parlerai le français au lieu de l'anglais, être sûr! Or better, maybe my Italian will be up to snuff:)
ReplyDelete