12/01/09:

When I’m in a foreign country, I make a concerted effort not to come across as The Ugly American.

In the past, Americans abroad have had the reputation of being arrogant and condescending to the natives of the country that they are visiting. You know the type: People who are put out because folks in the town don’t speak English. They are the people who show SUCH ANNOYANCE when they can’t find a particular brand name in a supermarket. They are the people, when offered a piece of an island delicacy like roasted iguana turn a disgusted nose up at the native who is offering it, or who look at the meat, crinkle their noses and utter something highly intelligent like, “EWWWWWWW!!!!!”

My friend Richard, who owns Richard’s Restaurant – Seafront Dining here in Bonaire, classifies people who travel to foreign countries in two different categories; travelers and tourists.

Tourists are those who parade around expecting preferential treatment by the locals because they have money to spend. They’re loud, disrespectful, act as if the locals are somehow “beneath” them or “quaint.” They show no respect for the local customs or traditions except for split-second “Kodak Moments”, and they are incredulous when the locals don’t speak their language.

And, contrary to popular belief, Americans do not have a monopoly on these outrageous attitudes. I’ve seen the same attitudes in the French, the Dutch, the English and the Canadians.

Unfortunately, many of the locals in “touristy” areas depend heavily on the tourist money, so they cater to these folks, no matter how rude and obnoxious they might be. However, these tourists leave a national reputation behind, which can end up being detrimental in the long run. try to understand that I come from a highly consumer-oriented society where we think NEED the finer things in life just for bare survival. Other peoples don’t feel that way.  That is, to me, much of the allure of such places.

The “Traveller” on the other hand, is a person from any country who, when in a foreign country, knows that he or she is just a guest and treats the hosts with respect. They are unassuming, and are delighted when the locals speak their language, but they do not expect it.

Travellers are interested in local traditions and customs, and see the value in ways of life that may be different that their ways. They attempt to assimilate the local culture rather than try to bend it to their likings.

Most of the people I meet when travelling abroad fall into this category. They simply treat all people as human beings, and not as servants or subservients.

Personally, I find the American prevailing “American” lifestyle too stressful.

I prefer the simpler life. The less complicated life. The life where what you do to earn money isn’t who you are or what you are because money, although important, is not AS important.

The apartment in which we are staying for these two weeks offers Wi-Fi for a fee of five dollars a day. I’m not interested. I don’t care what the rest of the world is doing right now. Seriously. (And if a family emergency crops up, our kids all have the email address and phone number of the agency who manages our apartment.)

I grew up in a upper middle class family where I had much more materially than most of my friends, and I was embarrassed by that. I remember hiding my Christmas presents when my friends came over because didn’t want them to become jealous of me. I also remember being jealous of them because their families seemed so happy and stable, while in my family, my mother made sure that everybody was fairly miserable and walking on eggs.

Poor little rich boy.

I identified strongly with Richard Corey.

Here on the islands, I feel much the same way. These folks here don’t want much, but they want SOMETHING. On Bonaire, most folks are employed and they have good cars and homes. Their children are educated, and there is little that they want for.

However, drugs are here like they are everywhere else in the world, and, being so close to Colombia, they are plentiful. Violent crime such as rape and assault are practically non-existent, but theft is fairly prevalent and everybody locks their doors at night and during the day.

Although there is HDTV and high speed internet here, most natives seem to spend the greater part of their days and nights out of doors interacting with friends. The streets are filled with children riding bikes and playing games.

Is it arrogant to think that folks like these don’t NEED something else until we TELL them that they do via our marketing schemes? Is that the mentality of the old time southern slave owners who lived in the Big House and convinced themselves that their slaves were happy living in huts because they smiled and sang songs?

I’m not sure. All I know is that I envy these folks.