Americans In Australia
Or Stuff I Hate About Tourists.
1. They always complain about how the food doesn’t taste like it does back home.
2. They’re rude to anyone who looks as though they have less money then the American Tourist (AT) particularly if that person is a waitress or a shopkeeper.
3. Should they visit a world-renowned landmark of which the entire nation is proud, they’ll gaze at it for about 3.2 seconds before declaring that its not as good as the stuff back home.
4. They can be heard loudly announcing that Australia should be more like America, or worse, noting how much Australia already is like America and perhaps joking about how the two countries should merge, ignoring a) that Australian and American culture is quite different, and b) that there is a substantial percentage of Australians that loathe Americans with all their hearts and see them as loud obnoxious jerks who don’t know anything about anywhere outside America*.
5. Should you attempt to converse with your friends when a pair of ATs are nearby, you will be drowned out by the ATs who apparently consider it necessary to holler their entire conversation.**
6. Should there be only one AT nearby when your conversation is going on, they will feel free to lean over and object to every second thing you say, and sometimes end up on a rant where they try to convince you that They Are Right on whatever subject is being discussed. (ATs appear to do fanaticism rather well.)
7. Any ATs at Australia Zoo will repeatedly declare how disappointing it is that more Australians aren’t like Steve Irwin.
8. ATs will feel quite happy to observe, overloudly, how strange the locals are. Apparently it never occurs to them that to the locals an AT is something of an oddity themself.
*Please note, that I am not one of these people. I just wish America would stop flying all the obnoxious people here. I know that not all Americans are obnoxious. But when we hear about ATs in New Zealand asking about where the ‘bridge to Australia’ is - apparently ignorant of the thousands of kilometres between the two countries - or souvenir shops in Austria selling toy kangaroos because of the number of ATs there asking for them, well, it doesn’t really give Australians a good impression of Americans, nevermind the actual ATs we get here.
**This is a flexible scenario; ATs are willing to do this when in hotels at one o’clock in the morning when others are sleeping, in restaurants, in libraries…
Radioactive Jam said,
September 21, 2006 @ 1:55 am
Kangaroos in Austria? Seriously? That’s… I don’t know. Funny yet depressing.
anaglyph said,
September 22, 2006 @ 4:36 am
a) that Australian and American culture is quite different
anaglyph said,
September 22, 2006 @ 4:37 am
Hey! The second part of that got chopped!
a) that Australian and American culture is quite different
Except when it comes to politics.
(I’m sure the government did that…)
jedimacfan said,
September 22, 2006 @ 4:53 am
I’d trade countries in a heartbeat.
sithsnoopy said,
September 22, 2006 @ 7:03 am
I’m sorry you’ve mostly just seen bad AT’s over there. :P
I’d come visit, and thus *try* to lower the percentage of bad AT’s, but,
1) No $$$ for travel. :(
2) I don’t know… no bridge between Australia and New Zealand? What’s the point? *evil grin*
If it’s any consolation, I live in a city that sees alot of tourists. And yes, they can get a little annoying. But mostly just for the extra people to wade through to get from point A to point B.
If they are saying rude things, it’s often hard to tell, as many are typically speaking a language other than English.
So far, the rudest people who come to visit tend to be the college students who “come to visit” for 4 years at our local university, then go home! [They also seem to be the heaviest drinkers. ;) ]
However, if/when I do go to Australia, you probably won’t see too much of me. My husband and I will probably be staying on a live-aboard dive boat diving the Great Barrier Reef the entire time. :)
Purple Dragon said,
September 23, 2006 @ 2:38 am
I know that there are good ATs out there. :) I was just feeling annoyed about the number of horrible ones. Sithsnoopy, I’m sure that just your very existence helps even out the nice ATS-obnoxious ATs ratio. :)
RaJ, I feel the same way. We laugh because otherwise we’d cry.
Rick said,
September 27, 2006 @ 5:01 pm
You are right. I am an American (with a British mother) and whenever I travel it amazes me how stupid many Americans can act. Loud, obnoxious, ignorant of geography, demanding,crass etc. Sadly, I think this is in part because many Americans don’t travel until they are old and set in their ways, or are naive about world geography as it is not really highly regarded in school. Additionaly, many Americans have Irish or German heritage…Irish are loud and often crass, and Germans can be stubborn and set in their ways…this could also be a factor. Americans are also taught to speak their mind (perhaps the Italian or Jewish influence) and demand customer service…as most waiters and batenders expect a large gratuity and will kiss your ass even if you act like a jerk. However, I agree, that this is not an excuse to be rude as I am a bartender. I should point out however, that when I was in NZ, I heard snide comments from NZers being annoyed with Aussies… I understand how you feel, but maybe you should pretend you are Candadian and ask someone from Thailand, Bali, or even the UK how they feel about Australians…I have pretended to be Canadian in Australia, and had a NZ guy talk bad about Americans to my face…I then told him I was an American and he became shocked and very apologetic. I told him not to worry because I know that that his experiences were probably true. Aussies do travel much more, but I wouldn’t say they are much more quiet than Americans when they travel abroad…Anyway, I love to travel abroad as an American because I always prove people wrong. I enjoy speaking Portuguese in Brazil in front of Europeans that assume I am a dumb American. Anyway, I do agree with you. However, I think these low expectations regarding Americans work to my advantage while travelling!!! Please, however, don’t hate all Americans, especially Californians, we want to separate from the Union. Please help us!!! :)
eden said,
October 3, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Rick
I find your comments so racist and insensitive, your lack of knowledge speaks volumes in your facist quote “many Americans have Irish or German heritage…Irish are loud and often crass, and Germans can be stubborn and set in their ways…this could also be a factor. Americans are also taught to speak their mind (perhaps the Italian or Jewish influence”. Its people like you that give Americans a bad name. Education and tolerence would be very benefical regarding, your
frame of thinking - should I say lack of thinking.
Rick said,
October 6, 2006 @ 6:03 pm
Eden,
You obviously don’t understand the point of my argument. The generalizations I made about Irish, Germans, etc is parallel to the generalizations the author of the article made about most Americans being stupid travellers. It’s ok for me as an American to tolerate some Australian making “intolerant” generalizations about Americans, but it’s not ok for me to point out that different cultures have different values and manners, both good and bad? So,you expect me to just sit here and let someone talk rudly about my nationality, and apologize for being American? Why don’t you criticize the author for bringing up such “fascist and intolerant” remarks about Americans. I suppose it’s ok to bash Americans and tolerate intolerant people, like the person who wrote the article, is it? The bottom line here is yes, the author is correct in that many Americans are stupid travellers, as are many other people. Lighten up, there will always be generalizations about people, and if someone is going to categorize me, they shouldn’t have a problem with me doing the same. I know the author may not have been Irish or German, but I was only making a statement based on my observations, just as the author has. I would never say that all Irish or Germans are like this, just many. There is no need for people to be sensitive about all of this. It’s quite funny to watch my fellow fat Americans in belt packs and sneakers ask stupid questions while travelling in foreign places! :)
Sharyn said,
June 10, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
Well I have to answer this…. my husband is American. I am Australian. The things said to him over the past four 1/2 years by Australians make me feel ashamed of my homeland. The obnoxious ones are the ignorant Australians who blame every American for every perceived wrongdoing by America. My husband has turned from a happy, social, friendly person to someone who doesn’t like to leave the house or open his mouth in public. Our customer service is deplorable in comparison to the US. And just who do you think would come to our help if we are ever attacked? Certainly wont be the UK. And yes… he is going ‘home’ before Australia kills him.
Sarah said,
August 11, 2007 @ 4:59 am
I have to thank you , Sharyn, for speaking up on this. As an American living in
Australia (my husband is Australian), I have been reduced to tears on a few occasions
by ignorant people who have some how felt entitled to say the rudest things to me (and
unprovoked!). I’ll first say that I love my husband’s heritage and the vast majority of
Australian people I’ve met. But I’ve also encountered some shocking a**holes over here. Many
of the stereotypes about Americans are untrue and just plain stupid. In fact, out of my huge
family and my many friends in the States, they are all well-informed, well-traveled, lovely
people. Since I’ve lived in Australia (for just over a year), I have heard comments ranging
from “America provoked & deserved 9/11,” “Americans just want to take over the world,”
“Americans force their culture on us,” etc, etc, etc. Each ignorant comment disgusts me,
and I do find it funny that these comments seem to be “okay”, so long as they are aimed
at a person born from the most powerful & rich nation. If I were from any other country,
I doubt people would feel so compelled to make their blatant racist comments. Sharyn, I
can relate to your husband’s experiences. I consider myself to be a very social & friendly
person, but it only takes a couple of bad experiences to drive you into a shell. I love
many things about Australia, but I have been made to feel less than welcome by too many
people. I’ve never been anything but polite and friendly, so I suppose my crime is simply
being an American. Well I’ll say this. There are good people and bad people from every
country. The America I grew up in is a nation of proud, smart, ambitious and kind people.
There are jerks, sure. But Australia isn’t excluded from having their own jerks. I can’t help
but to sense that SOME (not all) Australians feel threatened by our power and wealth.
Perhaps these people need to focus their energy on their own cultural identity before tearing
us down. Sorry about the long rant, it’s just I’m very upset about recent comments aimed
my way, and the blog above just perpetuates the hateful attitudes out there. I am proud
of the fact that I am not racist, and I’m certainly always respectful of those from other
nationalities. I just want the same respect. The fact that I’m from a thriving nation does
not make nasty anti-Amercian comments any less racist than if I were from Thailand or
Africa. Sadly, those of us who do branch out and move overseas to experience another
country are only going to regret it when we encounter intolerance and racism based on
unfair generalizations.
Dave said,
August 13, 2007 @ 5:30 am
I just returned to the US after backpacking in Europe this summer and met loads of Australians at the hostels I stayed in. In my experience, they are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. I’ve never been to Australia, so I can’t speak on opinions there, but from the people I met traveling, as well as when I lived in London, I didn’t find any Aussie anti-Americanism at all.
As far as the stereotypical “American Tourist,” you’ll always have that, but I think it’s more fitting for older, boomer travelers from the states with no real interest in cultural immersion. A surprising number of young Americans do travel, and according to a friend from Spain, they have a good reputation (at least there). The Americans to really worry about are the ones that don’t travel at all, which number far too many.
Brenda said,
September 10, 2007 @ 11:53 am
Sarah,
Thank you! I have been in Australia 14 years and am a CITIZEN and still encounter these
same issues on a daily basis. i even had to move my child to a different school as the
school refused to do anything about her teacher making derogatory remarks about
Americans- not George Bush but Americans as people! unreal. hang in there and be
strong- get past the stage of pretending your canadian and be you and stuff anyone
who is too ignorant to seperate you from US foreign policy ! have a NICE day :)
Linds said,
September 13, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
Wow. As an American thinking of moving to Australia, I must say that this has made me scared!! I haven’t been to Australia, but the Australians that I have met have been nothing but wonderful. I have travelled Europe pretty extensively and really haven’t gotten the anti-American sentiment that everyone complains about here. Is it worse in Australia than in Europe?? I guess in every country there are stupid people (America included!) but I didn’t realize that the Australians hated us so much…yikes!
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Laura said,
November 13, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
I am an American living in Sydney and have been here for 4 months for my husband’s job.
I want to thank Sharyn, Sarah, and Brenda because reading your comments made me feel so much better that it’s not just me.
I have felt like the American freak show since I got here.
I have 2 toddlers and been to many weekly classes for the kids… where other moms have been everything from superficially friendly to just ignoring me. Not to say the same thing wouldn’t happen if we were new in town somewhere in the U.S., BUT that has not been my experience in the past. We have moved a lot, and in the U.S. people were very inviting to newcomers and I easily made friends and playdates for my kids.
Everyone from waiters and sales people at David Jones (a nice dept. store) to the director of our new preschool has something negative to say about Americans… and it seems they think nothing of saying it right to me.
It is amazing, because I cannot imagine a foreigner in the U.S. being treated this way (at least not by me or people I know).
It has been so difficult moving across the world with 2 & 3 year old toddlers, and you would think someone would reach out and try to be friends or at least try to be nice. But this has been a horrible experience. Diffiicult enough to try and adapt to driving on the other side of the road, and different foods, and everything else… but having everyone I meet have this idea that we are George Bush war loving Americans or just plain old obnoxious Americans has made this so much harder. Btw– we can’t stand Bush and the whole thing.
And furthermore (if this wasn’t long enough)– it just is insane how anti-American things seem to be here, yet so many people in Australia have said to me they “would love to live in America”… and whether by choice (or more likely big marketing) Australians seem to love everything American…
so I guess I am just confused.
What I do know is that, I think Sydney is the most beautiful city I have been in (and we have traveled a lot), but that being said, I will be very excited when the time comes for us to return home.
Tors said,
December 1, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Gosh… I am both appalled and so sorry for those of you who have had such negative experiences in Australia. I am also an American who has lived in Australia for over 3 years now. You all are more than welcome to visit my website if you’d like to meet people in a similar situation. Good luck to you all.
james said,
February 5, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
I’m an Australian in the USA and I have to say that we Aussies have a bad rep … … well maybe young male Australians in particular. We are good at drinking being loud and starting fights.
I know that in South East Asia the rep that Australians have is getting worse and worse especially when alcohol is involved. One guy told me that as soon as he hears the Australian ascent in a bar in Asia its time to get out.
Chris arnold said,
March 18, 2008 @ 10:40 am
yeh im sorta in the same boat with that, im a young typicle australian male that has gone back and forth from the states to australia. i have talked to many of the american military and civilian alike as i am in the military and the opinion vary’s. some people say we are an undeveloped country with no sense of direction, which is true what james said, we are a bunch of idiots when it comes to drinking, fights get started and problems arise, and a major fact from that is on what your nationality is, ive been to sydney thats where i did all my training and im not been rude or racist in anyways i hope no one get offended by this but it is a problem need to be discused and that is, gang and teenage violence which does get spoken alot overseas (america). lebonese is a problem same with asian becuase of there different nationality they all cant be one group but what the hell they have been born in australia they are australians so we get the credit. but yeh as for the fact on mine and your opinions so far ive been to 8 different locations in a america and they have all love a good chat. same with americans visiting australia. when i take them out for a good night on the drink(no fights) they are the club’s main attraction as everyone wants to talk to them. i am one of them. anyways sry to hear about the problems with you husband sharyn and sarah that is a discrace. if i ever see anyone talking like that to a tourist and even a perminent resident who has come over sees they will no about it, sorry bout that i blabbed on abit but im one of those people who are actually proud of the anzacs and what image and name they gave us, im not going to say nothing while those pathetic lowers spit on it.
Erik in Sydney said,
July 6, 2008 @ 9:27 am
I’ve been shocked reading all your comments on here regarding Aussie attitudes towards Americans. As an American living and working here for the last two months on a work and holiday visa, I have not encountered any of the attitudes or comments that you have encountered. Australians have been generally very warm and welcoming. Work culture is quite different, and sometimes I sense a little bit of standoffish-ness, but I don’t know if that’s attributed to my nationality or is a cultural thing. I’ve been assuming it is most likely the latter. For the most part, Aussies have been very interested and like to ask questions about America, and many of them have been there on extended holidays. Of course, I haven’t really been here long enough to really make a very valid assessment but so far the experience has been generally very positive.