Have you experienced the "Ugly American"?

Question

Having traveled extensively during my service in the Navy, I slowly came to understand that the "American way" is not the only way.

This was a painful process for me at times and for the people in other countries where I was "insisting" that they should be doing things the "american" way. I now try to "do as the Romans do" so to speak when around other cultures.

The "ugly american" is the one like I used to be. Trying to "make you understand" that you have it all wrong. Have you experienced this from either side? How has it affected you?

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Answer 1

I have been travelling to Asia and Europe a few times per year for the last 13 years and I do honestly think I see LESS ugly American stereotypes than I used to. I do see a lot more what you could consider ugly Russian tourists. Loud, big, rude, obnoxious 10x worse than Americans.
I don't think the ugliest of Americans would ever travel abroad, thank God.

Answer 2

The irony here is that the character in the book was ugly in face only.

He genuinely cared about the people of the country he was in, as well as trying to promote America's genuine long-term interest (which isn't achieve by shoving our ideas down other people's throats).

I know it's irrelevant to your point; just thought I"d mention it. People forgot the book and have taken the phrase to mean the opposite.

-- never traveled myself -- lived briefly in Canada, but that's not much culture-shock

Answer 3

Nope, but I have heard people act this way.