[widgeon13]

Don't behave like the typical ugly American. Look at world travel as a learning experience not an opportunity to teach the rest of the world how much Americans are truly idiots. Be quiet, pleasant and as hard as it can be speak their language when possible, even if you butcher it at least you have shown some interest in their culture.

It's not as difficult as some people make it out to be.

Forty years ago I was stationed in Germany and lived, shopped and moved in the local economy as much as possible. Made many German friends during our two year stay. The Americans that had a miserable assignment were the ones that insisted on acting like they never left home. It was painful to observe. Many people still behave like this today.

A few years ago I traveled with the president of my company, an MIT grad. He just had no clue and had extensive world travel experience. He was just a complete idiot, spoke loudly in english everywhere we went. I just wanted to crawl into a hole. I finally had to tell him to (shut up) kick back, relax and I'd take care of everything. He only lasted two years with the company. I was there 30 years. He was just the typical ugly American. I laugh about it today but it was painful back then. Like a Rodney Dangerfield movie.