There You Are!
One (me) can go through almost a whole year of international travel and not meet the stereo-typical American. But just when you think you’ve made it off Yank-free, there he is…sitting right beside you on the tour company bus.
Before I even met him, I had an inkling of what I might be in store for. The night before he boarded the bus the guide and I had played “guess their nationality” for the three new clients joining the tour. As soon as I saw the name “Larry” I claimed him for my country. Seriously…have you met any Larrys from China? I think not. But Larry from the US? Yep. (but no, the other two clients weren’t his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl)
Sure enough, the next day, two super-sized middle-aged Americans — Larry and his wife — huffed and puffed their way onto the bus. Barely seated, they began excitedly talking about their hunting safari they’d been on the last few days. When our guide asked where they were from, Larry happily answered “California” and then with a newly placed disgusted look quickly began adding, “but they might as well call it Mexi-fornia the way all the…”
“What part of California?” I cut in, trying to avoid 1) my getting into an angry argument with him and 2) his embarrassment when he realizes that two seats behind him is an American named Ricardo.
Later someone on the tour said they made them think of the people in Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I totally played the “Guess their Nationality” game during my travels, too! I always felt a bit guilty resorting to stereotypes to guess where people were from just by seeing what they wore or carried with them, or how they walked around the touristy areas. But I guess there are some truths in stereotypes.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Is there some irony in that I am bagging this guy for being the stereotypical American and pegged him by using stereotypes? Hmmm…
But, yeah…the “Guess their Nationality” game is pretty fun either way!