Some mistakes had disastrous consequences
Part of international travel is the beauty and uniqueness of cultural exchange. Speaking to people from different backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and norms, makes the outcome of traveling so much more than just crossing a destination off your bucket list. But the exchange itself can sometimes leave people with a bad taste in their mouths. Although your travel intentions may not include insulting the nation you’re visiting, sometimes, certain comments can come out wrong due to some insensitivities that you might not be aware of. This gallery includes a list of some unfortunate, yet quite common statements that Americans say abroad that are considered rude in other countries.
Just as preventative care is key to our health, awareness of this list can prevent an unfortunate slip of the tongue that can leave your hosts less than enthusiastic about your return. Curious to know what they are? Click through to find out.
Even in our own countries, we can sometimes make a mistake in how we communicate something. The tone, delivery, or message that you want to convey can sometimes be poorly received.
The best thing we can do at home and abroad is be open to feedback, consider how we might be perceived, and offer our very best etiquette when communicating with others.
This gallery offers some insights into things that may be common to say (or believe) in America, but are considered rude in other places.
The first comment on the list that Americans say that can be considered quite rude in other places is: “The customer is always right.” Have you said this while visiting another country?
In the United States, this phrase is considered a rule in the playbook of sales and hospitality. Whatever the customer requests or complains about is often considered more important than whether the customer is objectively correct or not.
By placing emphasis on the customer experience, particularly in the US where many service people depend on tips as a key contribution to their income, this sometimes leads Americans to assume that this attidue extends to other cultures.
Customer service in other countries is often about seeking to facilitate the best experience possible for a customer, but service people may not overextend themselves just to please the customer in every way.
Nick Leighton, etiquette expert, says that the American approach to customer service, in which the customer is always right, often receives a great deal of push back. In fact, Leighton argues, “very often, the customer is not right.”
Leighton uses an example of tourists in Italy that may, for example, ask for Parmesan cheese to be grated on a dish with fish. Restaurants will often deny the request as, in Italy, fish is not meant to be eaten with Parmesan cheese on top.
This kind of customer service may be shocking to American tourists, who often engage with service people as if every wish should be fulfilled. Arguing with staff in an Italian restaurant when they refuse your request is unlikely to change the decision, but it may create discomfort for both parties.
Next on the list is referring to a country as "Third World." If you’re visiting a developing nation, referring to it as a ‘third-world country,’ can be considered quite rude.
Not only is the term itself quite contentious, it’s often considered a criticism, or a negative portrayal of a particular location. The term "developing nation" or just using the country’s actual name may be a more suitable option.
Third world is considered outdated and, according to Ngozi Erondu of Georgetown University, the term gives a hierarchical label between countries considered superior and those considered inferior.
The term is often used to distinguish between life in the so-called "First World," the small group of nations that are the wealthiest in the world, and life in the "Third World," where things are supposedly worse.
This is particularly important when considering the history of colonization and the violence that was often inflicted by Western countries to non-Western countries for centuries.
Next on the list is referring to US currency as "real money." When purchasing items in a country that uses a different currency and attempting to convert costs, Americans can sometimes ask what the cost of the item is in "real money."
Every currency is real money. While US currency is accepted in many countries, referring to the US dollar as "real" can come off as pretentious and accusatory, as if other currencies are not as valuable or as "real."
On this note, going on about the difference of costs in other countries, particularly commenting on how "cheap" some items are in comparison to their cost in the US can also come across as quite rude.
Likewise, if you’re commenting on how expensive something is in another country in comparison to the US. These kinds of comments are best kept to yourself or exchanged with fellow travelers in a private setting.
Many popular tourist destinations can have elements that are deemed "tourist traps." This often refers to places or experiences that cater to tourists, which locals do not engage with in the same way, if at all.
The search for an authentic travel experience or labeling something as authentic may be considered rude, as it may seem that you think you are slumming with the locals.
Again, even if you consider an experience more authentic to local living, it is better not to make that kind of comment in public or to a local, as it may not be well received.
Same goes for the use of the word "exotic" when referring to a location or a people from a particular location. The word exotic is often considered condescending, according to Leighton.
One of the biggest red flags that Americans can give off when traveling to another country, is demanding that people speak English when it's not the local language.
Demanding that people from another country speak your language as a visitor is considered rude and insensitive. Try to pick up a few words of a country’s native language before traveling so that you have the basics down to navigate basic greetings.
The slightest effort in another language often helps to break down barriers and makes locals more comfortable in attempting to communicate in a language that is not their own.
Finally, it may be rude to express surprise that a certain custom that is seen as outdated in the US is still practiced in that particular place. Whether matters of tradition and customs are concerned, it’s important to be mindful of cultural differences.
If you’re surprised to observe particular behaviors or the practice of cultural traditions that you find odd, have an open mind. Don’t assume that the way things are done in your context is the way they’re done everywhere.
Have you said any of the things on this list without the intention of offending someone? If you came across as rude and the reception of your words wasn’t positive, consider apologizing, and reflect on how you can convey your message differently (or not at all).
Sources: (NPR) (HuffPost)
See also: Common money mistakes you’re making when traveling
Rude things Americans say abroad
Watch out for these common slips that could be taken badly
TRAVEL Culture shock
Part of international travel is the beauty and uniqueness of cultural exchange. Speaking to people from different backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and norms makes the outcome of traveling so much more than just crossing a destination off your bucket list. But the exchange itself can sometimes leave people with a bad taste in their mouths.
Although your travel intentions may not include insulting the nation you’re visiting, sometimes, certain comments may be taken badly due to sensitivities you're not aware of. This gallery includes a list of some unfortunate, yet common statements Americans make abroad that are considered rude in other countries.
Curious to know what they are? Click through to find out.