UK Ferry Tickets

A little while ago, I wrote an article in one of the newsletters that poked fun at Americans over the way they behaved.

One customer, an American, wrote back saying he didn’t find my comments very amusing and suggested I change tack or risk alienating a large number of people.

We emailed each other a few times and finished on good terms. He agreed that he shouldn’t have taken the article so seriously and I admitted that it was wrong to stereotype nationalities. We’ve all met quiet, retiring Americans and loud, brash Englishmen, and vice versa.

However, the San Francisco-based company, Business for Diplomatic Action, believes the stereotype of Americans is a fair reflection of many people and adds, “we Americans just don’t listen to people.”

It recommends that American travellers should think big but talk and act smaller, as any form of boasting is considered rude.

Citizens of the United States are also warned to speak lower and slower and, in conversation, to match voice levels and tonality to the environment and other people.

Most controversially, BDA advises people to dress up, as casual dress is a sign of disrespect in some countries.

I can’t help thinking that some of these guidelines are a bit tongue-in-cheek and a (successful) attempt to get some publicity for BDA.

I have to say that if dressing down is a sign of disrespect, then I must have offended thousands of people around the globe. I don’t care, there’s no way I’m getting a jacket and tie on when I’m on holiday, or even relaxing during the down time of a business trip.

But on the subject of behaviour, what are your suggestions for the way us Brits should act when we are abroad? What do we do wrong and how could we improve?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Tuesday, May 30th, 2006