On Mar 12, 2:01*am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
Dan wrote :





On Mar 10, 10:47 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
If Joe tries first to speak spanish (or german, or french, or...
etc) even if he fails
misserably, that will be seen as an ice breaker and he'll be able
to continue
in english if needed. Most europeans speak decent english in turist
cities, and
a lot even in more remote places.

When I travel abroad and my size and demeanor label me as an American
(that's tall, not wide).

As soon as I begin speaking French, the barriers dissolve and the
welcomes begin.

It's sad, in a way, but understandable. I've silently witnessed the
"Tourists" coming in and acting like asses.

I think if we stop all tourism departing from NY we'll solve 75% of
the problem.

Nah, americans are as amateurs compared to the Brits. They are, hands
donw, far and away, the worst tourists who ever lived. Americans ma be a
bit clueless, but they're actually ( and I'm generalising here) abit
more in awe of local culture even if they don;t like it. The brits will
throw a union jack over whatever it is they find, rename it and start
serving fish and chips. They're currently on a "**** over france" binge.
Their med resorts are simply appaling. I wandered into one in Corfu a
few years ago and it had to be seen to be believed. The Greeks wisely
tiled every public place in the town (Kavos) so they could hose them
down after they were finished.

Nah Aussies are far worse than Brits. We, I mean they, have little
respect for culture full stop.
We, I mean they , go to peaceful places like Bali and behave like
absolute *******, getting ****ed out of their
brains at every opportunity. We, I mean they, like going to Britain
just to hang **** on "the poms" and rub it in
their faces that they cant play cricket or rugby ( substitute any
activity that takes brawn over brain). We, I mean they
make lame jokes to mock every culture that ever lived on the planet.
We , I mean they , have created or populiarised, a derogatory term for
just about every country , except the ones we, I mean they, havent
heard of. Theres the Septic Tanks ( yanks ) Wogs, Nips ,Towell heads,
frogs, lesbos, boongs. Yep , we, I mean they , are shockers. Our , I
mean their, saving grace was that at least they didnt go around
bombing the crap out of other countries we, I mean they, have no
business being in ..... until our, I mean their , jerk of a prime
minister followed the village idiot into Iraq. ( our, I mean their,
lack of respect is particularly profound when it comes to
politicians ...of all persuasions )
Terry
PPL , Fisherman Downunder