Tacky Tourists

[koan]

I'm allergic to coconut

[RedGlitter]

Originally Posted by koan

What do you think the 'natives' say about tourists when we're not around? Do they laugh at us thinking they really wear grass skirts when we're not around? Have you ever sat, drinking out of a coconut shell, and felt like a total jerk?

No grass skirt but yes, I've felt like a jerk! It happens to me often. Once in Oklahoma we were watching a dance performed by the Indians and it was swelteringly hot and these poor dancers were in full leather and feather regalia doing what should have been a sacred dance for us but it felt embarrassing to sit and watch because we could tell they probably hated that we were there. I felt like they resented us for being there and I felt very, very White. And there's a knowitall in every crowd I'm in! On the same trip, an Indian was explaining tribal customs to us and there was a doofus in our group who kept correcting him- mind you he was a White guy correcting a tribal member about Indian ways. I was embarrassed to be there. Finally at one point, the Indian guy explained how they take care of their dead and the doofus piped up and said "You burn 'em on a funeral pyre!!" The Indian guy said no, they buried their dead, they did not use pyres and the knowitall guy said "Yeah you do! I seen it in the movies!" God. I felt so bad for the tribal guy who probably felt he was wasting his time telling us stuff and I was embarrassed to be in the same crowd as this bigmouth.

I have traveled all over the States and never left the country except for day trips to Mexico so I'm no world traveler like some of you, but I think basic manners go a long way wherever you are. I always try to be extra nice when I'm in a new place and except for the occasional few foreign tourists, most of the ones I encounter here are courteous and friendly.

[G-man]

Oops... *adds coconut to the list*

OMG! I'm embarassed just reading that, Red!