Most people would probably say I'm a pretty even-tempered person. It takes a lot to really get under my skin and push my buttons, especially to the point of getting angry. If you talk to many of my close friends, they would say the same thing. However, get me started on the notorious American traveler, and that's a hot topic for me. I first encountered this travelers' stereotype on my first trip to Costa Rica. As a country so easily accessible to the U.S., with its vast amount of activities ranging from beaches to zip lining, volcanoes, and jungle, this is a travelers paradise for someone coming from the U.S. I know not every traveler is created equal, and I'm being a little judgmental right now, but I've witnessed first hand what outsiders consider the "typical American traveler", which includes being a bit loud (and obnoxious), complaining a lot, demanding a certain level of customer service, and the locals catering to every request (and not being satisfied if the task hasn't been completed to a certain level of standard). Yes, I'm being a little over dramatic, but this is what a lot of people think about us. Maybe there's been a few bad apples to taint our image, but let's change that.
I used to be so repulsed by people I'd come into contact who behaved this way. I would go out of my way to avoid these travelers at hostels so I wouldn't be associated with them. A lot of locals I met couldn't believe I was from the U.S. because I didn't fit this idea they had about us. I was happy to change their minds a bit.
Now I'm a bit more sympathetic towards those travelers. We are lucky to come from a country with boundless opportunity, like deciding what career we want to take, the limitless food choices we have, the clothes we want to wear, pretty much any other facet of our daily lives. Most people aren't so fortunate. I met a tour guide in Ban Lung, Cambodia and he wanted to be a scientist, but there is no opportunity for him there. So, he had to chose another path that he's not so passionate about and cope with it. A lot of travelers in South East Asia complain about the excess meals of rice and noodles because we are so used to having options. We don't want to eat the same thing day after day, week after week because we don't have to back at home. Not everyone is so fortunate. Walking through the remote villages in Vietnam, most people eat rice 3 times a day because it's so abundant and they can't afford anything else.
I think the key is to be a little bit more open minded when traveling to other countries. You left your comfort zone to see other places, experience the culture, see how people live on the other side of the world. Try to forget your normal standards and life you are accustomed to at home and experience what you are living now without any expectations. Hopefully we can continue to change the stereotype through these simple actions and become the tourists that people want in their country.
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