This week I want to talk about tourism. Preparing to travel across borders can be a very scary thing, especially if you've never done it before. You want to make sure you have everything you need but also have to keep your luggage at a reasonable weight now that airlines charge you at least the price of dinner to transport your bags. And on top of all that, many tourists feel unwelcome in some countries.
"You've got to make sure you don't become the ugly American," said Stephen Grant Sergot, who traveled to Ecuador several years ago to conduct business. During his 65 day trip his patience was tried but Sergot didn't allow it to bother him. As a result the local people he interacted with in Ecuador welcomed him.
Even if Sergot's experience isn't typical of every American tourist, those travelers who do feel out of place in a new country shouldn't take it to heart. According to an article in the New York Times, becoming an "ugly" tourist is no longer just an American problem. A more recent article from the International Herald Tribune discusses anti-American sentiments and where they come from.
Whatever the case may be, it is true that tourists can offend locals no matter what country you're in. As a result, there are numerous guides published by different companies that attempt to instruct tourists.
Here are two videos I found on You Tube. The first is from the 1963 video "The Ugly American." This movie was based on the 1958 novel by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer of the same name and is the first source of the term "ugly American." The second is a funny animated short about cultural differences that won an award in 2008.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Mexican vs. American Expatriates
During a recent internet search I stumbled upon some interesting articles discussing expatriates in Latin America and Mexico. This got me wondering about how American expatriates are treated in Mexico, especially when they refuse to give up their U.S. citizenship. Do they get flown out by the masses like Mexicans who are found living illegally in the U.S.? Or are they valued as contributors to the economy?
I found little documentation on Americans being deported, unless they were part of a crime ring, but I did find some things that indicates American expatriates are staking their territory in many areas South of the Border. San Miguel De Allende, Mexico, for example, is a small town in the heart of Mexico. So many Americans have come to call this city home they even have an English paper! Similarly, there are several papers that publish in Spanish and English in Tucson, Ariz. as well. La Estrella de Tucson is one example (I guess Mexican and American Expatriates have more in common than I thought!).
Heading further south into Latin America reveals that there are many Americans living outside of the U.S. The internet proves to be a valuable resource for people who are living out of the country and want to know where to go. Check out this housing guide for Brazil. There are hundreds of sites like this one dedicated to helping people assimilate into another culture.
The guides for Mexicans traveling to the U.S. lack the appeal of sites like Gringoes, creating a stark contrast between the two. In Guia del Migrante Mexicano (English: "Guide for the Mexican Immigrant"), a publication from the Mexican government, people crossing the border illegally are warned of the health risks involved. The book also advises readers of their legal rights in the U.S. The writing is aimed to discourage illegal border crossing and displays cartoon drawings of people struggling across rivers, rationing water, and walking in the desert.
In sum, there are some similarities between American and Mexican world travelers but the comforts of home don't seem to follow each individual. While some Americans have managed to create their own communities in Mexico and vise versa, the journey of getting there is very different depending on your country of origin. Mexican guides to getting to the U.S. almost scare their readers out of the journey while American guides to living South of the Border offer welcoming messages and list contacts to help ease the transition.
I found little documentation on Americans being deported, unless they were part of a crime ring, but I did find some things that indicates American expatriates are staking their territory in many areas South of the Border. San Miguel De Allende, Mexico, for example, is a small town in the heart of Mexico. So many Americans have come to call this city home they even have an English paper! Similarly, there are several papers that publish in Spanish and English in Tucson, Ariz. as well. La Estrella de Tucson is one example (I guess Mexican and American Expatriates have more in common than I thought!).
Heading further south into Latin America reveals that there are many Americans living outside of the U.S. The internet proves to be a valuable resource for people who are living out of the country and want to know where to go. Check out this housing guide for Brazil. There are hundreds of sites like this one dedicated to helping people assimilate into another culture.
The guides for Mexicans traveling to the U.S. lack the appeal of sites like Gringoes, creating a stark contrast between the two. In Guia del Migrante Mexicano (English: "Guide for the Mexican Immigrant"), a publication from the Mexican government, people crossing the border illegally are warned of the health risks involved. The book also advises readers of their legal rights in the U.S. The writing is aimed to discourage illegal border crossing and displays cartoon drawings of people struggling across rivers, rationing water, and walking in the desert.
In sum, there are some similarities between American and Mexican world travelers but the comforts of home don't seem to follow each individual. While some Americans have managed to create their own communities in Mexico and vise versa, the journey of getting there is very different depending on your country of origin. Mexican guides to getting to the U.S. almost scare their readers out of the journey while American guides to living South of the Border offer welcoming messages and list contacts to help ease the transition.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Language Barriers
Today I wanted to share a short video I found on You Tube. It's only about a minute long but summarizes a common problem with communication between cultures. Sometimes the small variations between two words can be very confusing when you're learning a new language. Here is an example:
Furthermore, sometimes you think you're using the right word but the locals use something other than what you learned out of a book. This proves that there are a lot of things you just have to experience to understand. In the video below a man from Monterrey, Mexico explains a few things about his town.
Furthermore, sometimes you think you're using the right word but the locals use something other than what you learned out of a book. This proves that there are a lot of things you just have to experience to understand. In the video below a man from Monterrey, Mexico explains a few things about his town.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
