I'll go first! Obviously I shared the video of the super rude comment by a tourist on Koh Phangan in last Friday's post. Here are 3 more examples from my years living abroad:
- Tourists walking hand-in-hand down the road as if cars don't exist.
- People sunbathing naked on the beach despite it being illegal and disrespectful to do so in a Buddhist country
- A tourist demanding a discount on his room because he didn't use the TV.
In a similar vein, my first job out of university was with Enterprise Rent a Car. You'd never believe the number of people who bought insurance and then asked for a refund when they didn't need it 😮💨
I love you so diplomatically asked if we've witnessed anything instead of being direct and saying 'have any of YOU ever done something like this?' 😂 I'm sure you must have some readers who have done some naughty stuff!
I didn't witness this, thank goodness, but while I was living in Latvia, one night a Brit got arrested for urinating on a statue and Eastern Europeans don't take too kindly to disrespecting their statues like that. Needles to say, it doesn't paint the UK in a flattering light, and that's the side effect of the low-cost airlines.
Nothing else specific and shocking to share, but I've experienced plenty of entitled obnoxious expats treating locals derisively, being rude and abrasive with their haughty airs. I've seen this just about everywhere I've lived, and in Nigeria it was particularly unpleasant.
I don't know how relevant this is, but someone who targets expats insisting on me being an expat and genuinely arguing with me about it, WHILE wanting to pitch my "expat" friends 🙄 was probably my most frustrating experience ever.
No mexican has ever debated with me whether I'm a migrant or not, only this person. I wrote about it on here just to process it 😆 it was mad!
Some people have serious issues 🤦♂️ (I’ll just say that to stay polite lol).
I can’t recall any moments like that to be honest, which I guess is a good thing. I also don’t want to use any mental space to remember dumb stuff people say lol.
I don’t have any egregious examples exactly, instead it seems to me to come down to mindless “knowing” and mindful “curiosity.”
When I go somewhere new, I’m expecting things to be different rather than demanding they be the same. I’m excited to see what I’m not used to seeing, not searching for ways the new place could change to suit my ideals.
It makes me think of this delightful little Noël Coward song, “Why Do The Wrong People Travel?”
I was helping a friend who rented houses....she was out of town so I had the keys. Last minute, the power was cut, the water pump didnt work. Ok....All hands on deck....we will make this work. Never mind it is National holiday weekend...I will help a friend....but I will also buy a six-pack for the guys giving up their holiday. Hmmmmm....the 6 pack was for the guys working....not the rich white guy sitting on his butt....could he buy anyone lunch? No....he was only capable of drinking the beer....Pretty much the same story the next day.....day after...I met him and his wife at the cell phone store to try to help get a local number....he went ballistic on the owner when the poor man could not and did not know what was the expiration date and passport number....Ok...but screaming.....slamming your fist on the counter and genuinely going ballistic was not the answer.....I was soo ashamed at trying to help them I told them...forget you ever knew me...I am deleting you from my life....literally!!!
It's possible to make mistakes even when you try as hard as you can. I grew up as an expat in Spain. We plan to retire in the village where I grew up and we've been visiting regularly as we set up for our retirement. There's a lovely little taberna right across from our apartment. The first thing we do when we arrive is go there and order our favorite dishes. However, at our age jetlag hits us pretty hard; it takes a few days to get where we can think straight. It was 6 pm our first day and I ordered one of my favorite dishes, boquerones, little sardines dipped in flour and fried. The young woman on duty made me some, but when the dish arrived it wasn't quite as good as good as they usually were. I didn't complain — I was so happy just to be there. It took a while to understand (even though I speak fluent Spanish!) that though the cafe was open for dinner, the chef didn't arrive until 8 pm. In the hours leading up to the Spanish dinner time they serve cold tapas and drinks. The waitress recognized us from previous visits and decided to do what she could to make us feel welcome. Once we figured this out I apologized profusely. Because of our jetlag we are never awake during regular Spanish dinner hour, so I didn't realize they didn't start really serving dinner until later. It's not the sort of thing they post on the menu or anything, it's just part of the flow. Can't wait to be there full-time and be able to eat dinner when they eat it!
I cringe with my whole body when foreigners (especially Americans) talk about how “cheap” something is in Mexico. It may be cheap for you but that does not make it objectively cheap or even affordable for local people. Thanks for starting this discussion, Kaila.
A tourist who doesn't recycle trash in Germany...I think sometimes these happen because of cultural difference. That's why it's important to learn about the culture/ customs when going to a new place
I'll go first! Obviously I shared the video of the super rude comment by a tourist on Koh Phangan in last Friday's post. Here are 3 more examples from my years living abroad:
- Tourists walking hand-in-hand down the road as if cars don't exist.
- People sunbathing naked on the beach despite it being illegal and disrespectful to do so in a Buddhist country
- A tourist demanding a discount on his room because he didn't use the TV.
In a similar vein, my first job out of university was with Enterprise Rent a Car. You'd never believe the number of people who bought insurance and then asked for a refund when they didn't need it 😮💨
🤣🤣🤣 you've got to be joking.
I’m sorry but am laughing out loud at the last one about the tv!! I mean what the??😂 That’s a first for me.
Incredible isn't it 🤣🤣
Are Americans the most obnoxious "tourists" or has that improved any since oh let's say 1984. Yeah, I know you weren't born yet. 😂
I love you so diplomatically asked if we've witnessed anything instead of being direct and saying 'have any of YOU ever done something like this?' 😂 I'm sure you must have some readers who have done some naughty stuff!
I didn't witness this, thank goodness, but while I was living in Latvia, one night a Brit got arrested for urinating on a statue and Eastern Europeans don't take too kindly to disrespecting their statues like that. Needles to say, it doesn't paint the UK in a flattering light, and that's the side effect of the low-cost airlines.
Nothing else specific and shocking to share, but I've experienced plenty of entitled obnoxious expats treating locals derisively, being rude and abrasive with their haughty airs. I've seen this just about everywhere I've lived, and in Nigeria it was particularly unpleasant.
Wow is there anywhere you haven't lived? Nigeria!?
Yeah Brits Abroad often live up to their namesake, unfortunately. Shame for the rest of 'em!
I don't know how relevant this is, but someone who targets expats insisting on me being an expat and genuinely arguing with me about it, WHILE wanting to pitch my "expat" friends 🙄 was probably my most frustrating experience ever.
No mexican has ever debated with me whether I'm a migrant or not, only this person. I wrote about it on here just to process it 😆 it was mad!
Oh do share the link, Nadine! Sounds like an interesting discussion.
With pleasure! It's ranty 😆 I hope that's ok:
https://open.substack.com/pub/migrantinmexico/p/troll-on-a-roll?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1rhhvc
Some people have serious issues 🤦♂️ (I’ll just say that to stay polite lol).
I can’t recall any moments like that to be honest, which I guess is a good thing. I also don’t want to use any mental space to remember dumb stuff people say lol.
Haha yeah good for you, Jeremie, that's a good philosophy!
I don’t have any egregious examples exactly, instead it seems to me to come down to mindless “knowing” and mindful “curiosity.”
When I go somewhere new, I’m expecting things to be different rather than demanding they be the same. I’m excited to see what I’m not used to seeing, not searching for ways the new place could change to suit my ideals.
It makes me think of this delightful little Noël Coward song, “Why Do The Wrong People Travel?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqBFMFjT5Dg
Right!?? I can't even imagine expecting or demanding things be the same as back home. Why leave home!?
That’s the whole point of expanding your horizons! If you want everything to be the way it is back home, rent a hotel room there!
I was helping a friend who rented houses....she was out of town so I had the keys. Last minute, the power was cut, the water pump didnt work. Ok....All hands on deck....we will make this work. Never mind it is National holiday weekend...I will help a friend....but I will also buy a six-pack for the guys giving up their holiday. Hmmmmm....the 6 pack was for the guys working....not the rich white guy sitting on his butt....could he buy anyone lunch? No....he was only capable of drinking the beer....Pretty much the same story the next day.....day after...I met him and his wife at the cell phone store to try to help get a local number....he went ballistic on the owner when the poor man could not and did not know what was the expiration date and passport number....Ok...but screaming.....slamming your fist on the counter and genuinely going ballistic was not the answer.....I was soo ashamed at trying to help them I told them...forget you ever knew me...I am deleting you from my life....literally!!!
Ughhh I hate it when the rich white guy perpetuates his stereotype! It's like, come on man, you're not doing yourself any favours!
They lasted less then 5 months in our community.....wonder why???
It's possible to make mistakes even when you try as hard as you can. I grew up as an expat in Spain. We plan to retire in the village where I grew up and we've been visiting regularly as we set up for our retirement. There's a lovely little taberna right across from our apartment. The first thing we do when we arrive is go there and order our favorite dishes. However, at our age jetlag hits us pretty hard; it takes a few days to get where we can think straight. It was 6 pm our first day and I ordered one of my favorite dishes, boquerones, little sardines dipped in flour and fried. The young woman on duty made me some, but when the dish arrived it wasn't quite as good as good as they usually were. I didn't complain — I was so happy just to be there. It took a while to understand (even though I speak fluent Spanish!) that though the cafe was open for dinner, the chef didn't arrive until 8 pm. In the hours leading up to the Spanish dinner time they serve cold tapas and drinks. The waitress recognized us from previous visits and decided to do what she could to make us feel welcome. Once we figured this out I apologized profusely. Because of our jetlag we are never awake during regular Spanish dinner hour, so I didn't realize they didn't start really serving dinner until later. It's not the sort of thing they post on the menu or anything, it's just part of the flow. Can't wait to be there full-time and be able to eat dinner when they eat it!
I cringe with my whole body when foreigners (especially Americans) talk about how “cheap” something is in Mexico. It may be cheap for you but that does not make it objectively cheap or even affordable for local people. Thanks for starting this discussion, Kaila.
A tourist who doesn't recycle trash in Germany...I think sometimes these happen because of cultural difference. That's why it's important to learn about the culture/ customs when going to a new place
Good god. The nerve! Simply outrageous and disgusting!