BBC recently ran an article (click here) about one woman's encounters with anti-Americanism in the UK. In the story, the woman tells of being called "terrorist" and "scum." She even suffered a black eye in a pub brawl. Her friends have suggested that she pretend to be Canadian, and she now tries to avoid talking on the tube.
Thankfully my experiences here in London have been far different from hers. Over the last two months I have yet to suffer any abuse for being an American, and my American classmates have not mentioned any abuse either. My personal experience leads me to believe that this woman may just be exceptionally obnoxious, and perhaps spends too much of her time in pubs.
On a slightly different topic, I have seen surprisingly numerous Canadian flag patches sewed on the backpacks of young travelers in the UK. I certainly don't know of any other group that likes to advertise their nationality to the degree that they feel compelled to stitch their own country's flag on their backpack. "Hey, I'm Canadian! Love me!" (What is so great about Canadians anyway? Ok, before I go on a Canada rant, let me return to the point.) It may very well be that some of these 'Canadian' backpackers are actually Americans masquerading as Canadians. (Shocking assertion, I know.) To me this ruse seems likely to inefficacious. Instead of slapping a Canadian patch on their backpacks, Americans need to educate themselves about local culture and perhaps refrain from speaking 20 decibels louder than anyone around them. Being sensitive and self-conscious will go a lot farther than displaying the maple leaf.
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2 comments:
That woman sounds dumb. I don't know where she is going or what she is saying to get that response. I have never had a problem in London.
I do know that when I travel around Americans, I notice them and they often stand out in a less than positive way. I am not sure if it is because I am one of them that I am more sensitive to their ignorant behavior or if they really are that bad. I guess the stereotype must originate somewhere.
It is not our fault that they do not educate themselves about other cultures prior to traveling or thinking that other cultures are of no consequence. Personally I was going to stitch an Australian patch on my pack when I travel ;)
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