I apologize, Captain, for getting into that here. Out of respect for you and the rules of FT, you'll hear no more on the topic from me.

I've seen the World Citizens Guide(here) in the hard copy version for students studying abroad. The "lite" version that is linked on the BDA website that you've linked is a weak form of the hard copy version which is a nice little booklet -- nice enough that I wish everyone who ever leaves the US could read it. I also wish they'd make the full version available online. The BDA site has some interesting looking stuff on it, though. Thanks for posting the link.

Yeah, me too (sorry).

BTW, my favourite quote from the original article...

No. I do as I deem fit.

This has happened to me too, especially in downtown Rome in the summer when it's packed with American tourists. They speak in English and I'll keep responding in italian. Finally they can get kind of impatient and in a huff, and I'll say in English, "We are in Italy, where most people speak Italian, and I have studied Italian (still working on it) and am trying to honor your language and customs while I am here." or worse yet I'll say it in some broken italian, and I'll add in something about my favorite team, Roma and reading La Gazzetta dello Sport as much as possible. This usually brings a smile to their face (women), or at the very worst shuts them up. Guys on the other hand always have an opinion about soccer and sports, so this erases any tension.. However, I have yet to see Italians gruffly ask in the Parisian style "what do you want" in response to my poor Italian. They're usually very proud of their language and love the fact that you are trying it out, even taking the time to correct your pronounciation. An example, "Straciatella, per favore," I tell the gelato guy. "stracia-telllla," says the nice gelato man, smiling and giving me a little extra.

Ditto with the Chinese, except no one speaks English here. For a country in which people are running about and never queue (line) up, the Chinese, in most of my experiences, have an incredible amount of patience for foreigners trying to speak their language. They are convinced that Mandarin is one of the most difficult languages to learn and learn well (a huge source of pride, along with their history and culture). They'll stand there and say numerous things to help you understand what's going on, and if you begin to play charades to show them waht you mean (I really have no shame when it comes to this), they'll play along and try to help you out. It's very encouraging, and it's made me hate hearing the phrase, "We're in America, speak English!"

English is a tough tough language...

So yes, when in Rome, I try to do as Romans do...

Zai Beijing a! Tai haole. Wo xiang jile!!! Ni zuo shenme gongzuo? Hai yao yige ren? ;) Wo gang biyele -- yao wode gongsi gei wo qu Beijing... Zhu ni hen haowan (or should I say haowarrrrr :D )

I dont think its really such an issue not speaking the language, the english have a great reputation of speaking english louder and slower, like talking to an idiot in an attempt to make themselves understood.

However its things like sitting in an italian cafe ordering a salad, and saying something like, "make it with crisp fresh lettuce only, with no more then 2 salad onions and 3 tomatoes; and a fat free carb free low sodium ranch dressing on the side" Then refusing to understand that the don't have any of aforementioned dressing "but even Applebees has it honey!!!" -Not everything is like it is back home!!

Reminds me of the boba tea shop we go to near our office. One of my co-workers (not Chinese) had just come back from working in Taiwan and the shopkeeper lit up like a beacon when he addressed her with his limited vocabulary. Another friend and I went to the shop one day and she immediately asked, "Where's my Chinese friend?"

I feel somewhat intimidated talking to a native speaker, so I usually clam up other than greetings, thank you and please. When I can, I try to do as the locals would do, although in Tokyo last month, I had to wonder if my co-workers thought I was being rude in the noodle shop for slurping the noodles! :)

A visitor to this country should not be expected to speak English and should be given all the help and hospitality possible. However, the immigrants should learn English and speak English and quite trying to have their own little sub countries within a country. Many immigrants have learned and do speak English and should be respected, regardless of accent. The ones that don't try, don't care, or try to push their language should leave.

Speaking English no matter how broken is honorable.

Welcome to America, now speak Mohawk.

Do you honor them with your hairstyle? :D

We flew into PGA (Page Arizona) a couple of weeks ago on our way to a houseboat on Lake Powell and I was somewhat surprised to be surrounded by upwards of a 100 French tourists crowding the tiny municipal airport and talking loudly in, well, French. :)

We were curious where they'd come from and I asked a man in French if he spoke English. "Non," he replied and I was soon surrounded by a small crowd of people listening to my pathetic few words of their language.

We've spent a couple of months in France over the past five years and I chuckled when the topic turned quickly to nourriture (food) and the lack thereof in French eyes during their bus tour of the Southwest.

Anyway, to make a short story long, I try to stumble along in my high school French when in France and 99% of the population seem to appreciate the effort. In other countries we learn to say "thank-you" at least. So far we've found Turkish and Hungarian to be the toughest at five and six syllables but it's well worth the effort IMHO.

There are so many nuances in different cultures, e.g. a greeting ("bon jour monsieur") even before asking a short question in France, that it's hard for us foreigners to understand.

Likewise, I worked hard not be annoyed when an elderly German woman in the same airport (yes, it was a flock of Germans this time) as we were departing lined up very close behind me when I used the payphone, simply because "proximity" is one of those cultural differences that one may read about or experience through travel, while others are unaware.

There's no way that woman would have known I felt uncomfortable that she was invading my personal space - but for me it all adds up to another great reason to travel and learn a little bit about how other folks live their lives.

I guess it really should come as no surprise that most of the people posting on flyertalk would be more sensitive to local culture and customs than the average American tourist.

It just amazes me that so many Americans apparently (according to Mr. Reinhard's research) do not.

Agree. I wonder if there are any other developed countries in the world that accept immigrants who don't speak the "official" language? I doubt that any European countries would (unless said immigrant has mucho dinero or celebrity status).

No kidding! I learned yesterday (from Mr. Reinhard's guide) that in Belgium it's considered rude to talk with your hands in your pockets! Who knew?!

That's OK xj, at least you're aware of/have an opinion of the subject, and that's saying more than many people can. Besides, you know how to speak/write Mandarin!

For some reason that description of the "Parisian style" makes me laugh. Sure, sure, some consider it a stereotype, but it makes me think of David Sedaris' depicton of his life as an American living in Paris (from this "This American Life" NPR show a month or so ago). Also, you give a great example of the benefits of learning a little of the local language and trying to use it. PS - one of the "problems" that forced Walmart to shut down a few months ago in Germany, was that the VP of "Walmart Germany" (and I think some of the upper managers as well) didn't bother to learn German. No extra Straciatella for them!

More Americans of varying educational levels and interests were financially able to travel in foreign countries for many years than were citizens of many or most other nations. Mrs. Fredd and I have seen citizens of other nations behave while tourists in ways that don't reflect favorably on them. The more of them we see, the more we feel comfortable in making possibly unfair generalizations.

Since English is understood in many other places, it is easier for people to hear (and to be amused or offended by) loud comments made by English-speaking tourists than for us when hearing people talk in language x, y, or z.

And, for the umpteenth time, the "Ugly American" was the hero of the book of the same name. ;)

FWIW... :)

Cheers,
Fredd

I assume you're making an exception for English-speakers, since few of us speak the exisiting native languages, right?

How so? I thought it was just a language.