I have a love-hate relationship with American tourists.
Hate: the fatness, the loudness (why does being in a foreign country give you permission to use your outside voice everywhere?), the traveling in herds with matching backpacks (EF Tours, I’m talking to you!), the horrible clothes (ill-fitting, sloppy, and showing too much or the wrong kind of skin), the loudness, the complaining about the obvious (no ice cubes, no air conditioning, no elevators), the ignorance (“I know they can all speak English; they are just mocking me.” Or: “How come I missed Michelangelo’s David in the Louvre?”) – It makes me want to “pass” as other than American, so that I won’t be identified with this lot.
Love: the hard-earned cash being spent here (I admit to worrying about the French economy!), the lifelong memories some will store on this first-and-only opportunity (“Oh, that Notre Dame is so beautiful! And the Eiffel Tower, did you know that it twinkles?”), some opening up to other cultures (“How can the French be so thin and eat so well?” “Really, even the waiters get 5 weeks of paid vacation?”), attitudes (Wow, there aren’t nearly so many box stores in France!), and even cuisine (“Now that was the best peach I’ve ever eaten.” “Even the Pepsi tastes better!”) and language (“Gee, there are a lot of these words that look just like English!” Or: “I really should learn a bit of French…”).
I also am of two minds about their coming at all. Obviously, it is good for me and my career to get people here and for them to like it and want to communicate with the locals. But I also have a jealous streak that wants to guard Paris for those Americans who “deserve” it. Like my friends, old and new, who will be featured in other blog entries about Americans in Paris.
2 comments:
C, I feel the same way. It's my job to help the young'uns discover the wonders of the francophone world, but part of me wants to "protect" France from those who don't deserve to know her. I'm glad to know I'm not alone. :)
You have aptly summarised the conundrum of the US expat. In China, the herd mentality of the US tourist is even more developed, since the fear of losing the guide is keenly felt. And when you can understand the locals' comments about the obesity of the visitors as "typically American" you want to point to yourself and say "I'm American, too! Look, I'm not fat" as much as you want to join in and agree with them.
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