Since this has gone to a conversation about tourists, I'd like to mention an interesting magazine article I read the other day. They polled members of the hospitality industry in a bunch of different countries and asked them questions about tourists. I was surprised to find that Americans ranked the second best tourists in the world based on criteria like willingness to use the language and how well they dressed, as well as politeness. Going by sterotypes I would never have expected that.

Most of the tourists here in the State's I've met have been fairly nice, although my wife has had bad experiences with Japanese tourists when she worked at a tailor's in California. The me used to snap their fingers at her when they wanted her attention.

I remember an old story I heard/read. Sadly I don't remember it well, so won't be able to tell it well, but I'll try.

A man was traveling and came to a city. He asked one of the locals what the people there were like and was asked in return how he found them in most of the places he'd been. The man said everywhere he'd been people were rude and untelligent. The local said they were the same in the city and he'd probably best move on.

Another man traveled to the city with the same question. When asked about his experiences elsewhere he said the people were always friendly and hospitable. The local said they were the same in the city and welcomed him in.

In my experience traveling in and out of my own country, people generally treat you the way you treat them, and you get as much out of traveling abroad as you expect to.