Travels... Who among us does not like them? It is said that travels broadens the mind so for some people they are way of life but for most of us they are the ideal way to spend vacation. We especially love arranging abroad trips, Italy or Greece for example are the the directions where people from all over the world gather together so we make contacts with numerous foreigners and observe their behaviour. Generally speaking, each representant of particular country has a scheme of attitudes pigeonholed in our minds. Against this background, there arises something that we people like the most - stereotypes - Of course some of us do not accept this odd social phenomenon, but it must has it's source. Surely most of them is more or less exaggerated but it doesn't affect the fact that stereotypes were, are and will be the thrilling topic of discussion among people from all over the world.
Well, what is the behaviour of particular foreigners on holidays? The most intresting probably are neigbours from our western border. Germans are known as blue-eyed blonds with oversized national ego who everywhere drink hectolitres of golden beer, while German representatives of the fair sex always parade along the beach with bare breasts. Generally, I have no problem with it but I find it doubtful if German women actually belong to the "fairer" sex. Moreover, they do it regardless of age...
French tourists are whimsical and always complain about something. They also have very sensitive palates, so usually they do not eat anything that isn't from French cuisine because for them it is just inedible. However, must annoying in French is their reluctance to foreign languages. French use only their completely incomprehensible language. And even they know English, they don't use it due to their sense of superiority over the rest of the world.
According to the research made by "Skyscanner", British are the most annoying tourists. They make so much noise, don't try local cuisine, don't learn foreign languages and don't leave tips. It is worth noting that German "Bild" published some years ago the article in which authors warned German tourist before British and advise places when they can avoid them. Thus, you must keep away from places offering "sand, sex and unconscious drunkenness". Those things work on British tourists like flypaper.
We can pull this counting game forever - Russians walk everywhere in big groups and abuse vodka, Russian women walks half-naked or dreesed like lady of easy virtue. Japanese are very polite and kind but they carry everywhere their cameras and must take a photo of everything. Americans exalt themselves, leave crazy tips, are extremely noisy and they are drunk after two beers. And so on and so forth...
Finally, let's see how we, Poles, present in this issue. On international forum it isn't said a lot about us, apart from that we don't know languages and drink to much alkohol. But on our native region we laugh at ourselves. One of the most interesting phenomenon is famous connection of sandals (or slippers) and white socks - the essential outfit of "typical Janusz" - when we see a men wearing that, we can be sure that he is a Pole. And the second phenomenon is something quite new, created in this year's holiday - "parawaning". I hope everyone know what's going on :) But apart from this we are rather too little conspcious nationality to foreigners made up about us various anecdotes connected with holidays.
1. Do you believe in stereotypes about foreign tourists' behaviour?
2. Have you ever come accross a tourist from abroad who match closely to his national stereotype?
Sources:
French tourists are whimsical and always complain about something. They also have very sensitive palates, so usually they do not eat anything that isn't from French cuisine because for them it is just inedible. However, must annoying in French is their reluctance to foreign languages. French use only their completely incomprehensible language. And even they know English, they don't use it due to their sense of superiority over the rest of the world.
According to the research made by "Skyscanner", British are the most annoying tourists. They make so much noise, don't try local cuisine, don't learn foreign languages and don't leave tips. It is worth noting that German "Bild" published some years ago the article in which authors warned German tourist before British and advise places when they can avoid them. Thus, you must keep away from places offering "sand, sex and unconscious drunkenness". Those things work on British tourists like flypaper.
We can pull this counting game forever - Russians walk everywhere in big groups and abuse vodka, Russian women walks half-naked or dreesed like lady of easy virtue. Japanese are very polite and kind but they carry everywhere their cameras and must take a photo of everything. Americans exalt themselves, leave crazy tips, are extremely noisy and they are drunk after two beers. And so on and so forth...
Finally, let's see how we, Poles, present in this issue. On international forum it isn't said a lot about us, apart from that we don't know languages and drink to much alkohol. But on our native region we laugh at ourselves. One of the most interesting phenomenon is famous connection of sandals (or slippers) and white socks - the essential outfit of "typical Janusz" - when we see a men wearing that, we can be sure that he is a Pole. And the second phenomenon is something quite new, created in this year's holiday - "parawaning". I hope everyone know what's going on :) But apart from this we are rather too little conspcious nationality to foreigners made up about us various anecdotes connected with holidays.2. Have you ever come accross a tourist from abroad who match closely to his national stereotype?
Sources:
When I worked as a waitress this summer I had an opportunity to come across many tourist especially from Germany, Russia, China and France. Russian and Chinese... well i agree with you up to a point. However considering German and French you are not even close to the truth. That's why I don't believe in stereotypes. Everyone is different so we cannot let people define us by our nationality. For me it's very old-fashioned approach.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes may be hurtful. Although sometimes they may be true, but still they aren't rules. The most annoying term is: "typical Janusz". I don't know why Janusz, but my father's name is Janusz and my middle name is Janusz, and we don't wear socks with sandals.
ReplyDeleteWell, in some of them I believe. Even now, you can find men who wear sandals with socks, but luckily each year more and more adults pay close attention on fashion. I've seen many tourists from Asia who took pictures on camera. It was really unnatural to spend all day by taking pictures of everything. Furthermore, two years ago my friend on summer visit Paris. According to her words, citizens are a little bit impolite for those who speak English. When she was trying to get advice on the street, most of them ignored her. It sad, but it seems that stereotype about superior French over the rest nations still exist
ReplyDeleteI know some people from all around the world and stereotypes don't concern most of them. Everything depends on people's personality features and their personal culture. Because of "parawaning" I couldn't see beautiful sea last summer. There were just a lot of colorful, shoddy paravans. Amazing landscape was hidden behind them. I understand that people like to feel safe and independently but that trend is just stupid, because paravans were made for different purpose.
ReplyDeletePartly yes, i believe in them because they didn't come from nowhere but im aware that they are just stereotypes and i don't judge every single person trough them. They sometimes may become true in some examples and they can not.
ReplyDeleteYes i acrossed some Asian tourist who looked exactly how often they are described - glasses, big smile and camera which he takes photos of everything.
I don't believe stereotypes , also stereotypes about tourists. Of course, there are exceptions. When I was in Spain I saw a polish man with sandals, socks and shopping bag from "Biedronka". But also I saw a polish people with elegant clothes or casual clothes. People who looked good. People from abroad think that we like drink alcohol too much. In my opinion this is not true. I hate bad opinions about us.
ReplyDeleteI think that stereotypes aren't divorced from reality, but in particular cases we should use them very carefully. It is one of the easiest way to hurt somebody. Knowing about that types of tourists could cause funny situations when we are abroad. I think that one of the most accurate is the picture of Janpanese with camera. Their habit is unsusual for us but... we, I mean european people are becoming similar in documenting our trips.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe in stereotypes about foreign tourists’ behaviour. For me is ridiculous and it doesn’t make any sense. Well, it is said that some people from Poland are alcohol lover, mainly when it comes to vodka or beer. When it comes to us, there’s no denying that we are thought to be a thief, drunks in socks and sandals. Americans are known by complaining about all things which surround them – for the sake of explanation, it is said about not too sophisticated food, average hotel conditions, ordinary views from hotel terrace. On the other hand, Germans are claimed that they are the most broadminded people in the world.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is hard to believe that I don’t believe in that insinuation but if it weren’t for stereotypes, we would have a bigger distance to some situation and obviously to people from foreign countries.
Unfortunately, I have come across a tourist from Germany during my visit in Hannover. He matched closely to his national stereotype. I took part on an exchange and I could come to know German’s temperament and unhampered approach to life. I read and heard some interesting information about the English. They are supposedly revellers and love spending time in clubs. I had an opportunity to become convinced. This situation doesn’t matter because one occurrence doesn’t mean typical behaviour.
I didn't hear about part of this, particularly about tourists from France and Japan. I have to admit that some stereotypes are entertaining. Generally I don't belive in this type of image about people from another country or various other such beliefs. I think that everything is depends on personality and we can't generalize. In our country is said "POLAKI CEBULAKI" - it is strange ascertainment for me.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are very popular. It's hard to believe. When we see a man in socks and sandals once we think about Poles. The same thing happens when we see people drinking beer and spending a lot of money for example in our sea. Personally I do not pay attention on it, but when if I'm with friends it is hard when they say somethig funny about that person.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at Wladyslawowo this summer there where a lot of tipical 'Poles' and 'Germans'.
Basically, I don't believe in stereotypes. I just don't want to generalise, because I know I would feel a little bit offended when someone will judge me just because of my nationality. Moreover, I have visited other European countries and I didn't notice anything strange about the foreigners. They have acted completely normally. However, I live near the border with Germany and I have to admit that Germans speak only German. They like to visit my region, but they usually use only their own language.
ReplyDeleteBasically, I don't believe in stereotypes. I just don't want to generalise, because I know I would feel a little bit offended when someone will judge me just because of my nationality. Moreover, I have visited other European countries and I didn't notice anything strange about the foreigners. They have acted completely normally. However, I live near the border with Germany and I have to admit that Germans speak only German. They like to visit my region, but they usually use only their own language.
ReplyDeleteI think that in the era of globalisation it is really hard to speak thorugh stereotypes. Tourist are usually from rich, western countries. That's why they look like the same. They use the same clothes from worldwide brand. They are drinking the same Coca Cola. It its impossible to differentiate before hearing their language. View of typic, for example, German tourist is really rare. Also important thing is that judging someone by nationality is really unfair.
ReplyDeleteI always see stereotypes as both hurtful and funny, especially in jokes. I believe that everyone knows deep down that stereotypes are not always true, since all of us must have met someone who broke them. And yes, it's embarrassing, but it's also funny.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I personally know some people who enforce such stereotypes (such as the sandal+socks one) and yet are absolutely cultured people who would probably surprise foreigners. It's strange, because at the same time, I would like to say that stereotypes aren't truthful, and yet they exist because of a reason.
I have met many a tourist who not only enforces a stereotype, but also embraces it. Japanese tourists with cameras, drunk Russians, thrifty middle-aged Chinese women, etc. I just laugh it off if it's nothing harmful, and especially love if it's in good humour. I believe that the best way to deal with stereotypes is to take them in stride and prove them wrong.
I don't believe in stereotypes about foreign tourists. Especially mentioned in this text, but some facts about foreigners are true. Germans are rich. This is an obvious. I could see it many times on the seaside. They buy expensive souvenirs (especially jewellery made by amber), they drink good alcohols (whisky, rum, tokay), they eat a lot. They buy 2- 3 dinners every day in good restaurants. Poles don't earn enough money to live like "Germans". Of course everything depends on single person. Some of Poles are rich and they can buy everything in every part of the world. It is always a kind of generalization.
ReplyDeleteAs for me all of these stereotypes are wrong. I don't belive any stereotypes, I make them by myself after living with a lot of people of one nationality. And I noticed that Germans are really dismal. And as for me Russians are too noise, but frank, sometimes about alcohol. And what about other tourists: I don't have any stereotypes, and think that even my stereotypes are stupid, cause people from each country are different and they have a right to not to fal under any stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteNormally I don't believe in stereotypes, even if they are connected to tourists' behaviour. But well... Im from Cracow and for a couple years we had a plague of British alco-tourists organising bachelor parties in my city. Each weekend, at about 8 PM, you could see them running (sometimes naked), screaming, shouting and devastating Cracow.
ReplyDeleteI'm a person who travels a lot. I've visited many countries and I met many incredible people. I'm a hitchhiker and a low-budget tourist so I never had a chance to see how people behave during a typical 'all inclusive holidays'. As far as I think low-budget tourists probably behave in a bit different way.
This year while visiting Norway I was walking through a harbour in Bergen when I saw a group of Polish tourists matching our national stereotype: shouting, swearing, wearing the Polska Walcząca jumpers, shorts, sandals and white socks. After this situation I had to pretend I'm from Iceland because I was ashamed...
I'm trying not to look on people by stereotypes. Each of us have got his own extremely and sometimes annoying habits and it don't depends on nationality - for me.
ReplyDeleteOkey, maybe we can agree with stereotype about Russian people who drink too much, but it has been scientifically confirmed that people in climate like this in Russia or even ours, can drink more... But without departing from the subject - I think that sometimes tourists are doing what people around them expects. Something like - attempt to acclimatization.
I have met only once French family, they were acting like typical stereotype which the author described. Their son had threw a fork on floor after tasting Greek moussaka and had started screaming. Next their father hadn't left a tip... But i still don't agree with stereotypes. Maybe the exception doesn't always prove the rule?
I don't believe in stereotypes, but unfortunately there will always be people who aprove the stereotypes. Every summer I go at the seaside and there's a lot of German tourists. Personally I don't like them because they talk loudly and behave bad like they would like to show how rich they are at any cost. And they drink beer a lot, what sometimes makes them cranky. If it goes on French tourists thst's that they don't speak any language instead of mother tongue. Russian are similar to German tourists but they behave more provocative (women wear really expensive clothes and not fully dressesd/men are almost all the time drunk). I don't feel comfortable at the vacations when near me are foreign people who comport weird. I wish one day every tourist will be 'normal' tourist - good behavior will be enough.
ReplyDeleteArticle very clearly shows the typical stereotypes of every nationality. Do I agree with them? Not necessarily. I think that they are created on the basis of individual circumstances or situations that once took place. It seems to me that the current stereotypes are slowly starting to fade, however, referring to the Japanese example, recently I saw a group of Japanese tourists in Warsaw, who actually acted in accordance with the description. Finally, I believe that stereotypes are only partially true.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in stereotypes about foreign tourists' behaviour. Very often they are unfounded. Each person is different. People from around the world think that we drink too much alcohol. Certainly there are such people, but this can't be said for all people. Not once I saw the Japanese with cameras in their hands. It is a common sight but stereotypes are there to refute them.
ReplyDeleteI always try not base my opinion about stereotypes. But sometimes it's difficult, especially when I see foreign tourists. Japanese tourists are one of the most specific type of sightseers. They are literally everywhere and they take a photo for everything. It could be annoying when you want to walk around old city but there are a lot of Japanese. But after all I like them because they are smiling all the time.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I really don't like any stereotypes because I think that everything depends on the people. That's why I'm so sceptical about the stereotypes from these presentation. On the one hand, I would say that it can't be truth because people are very different and maybe sometimes they behave like that and then other people create such stereotypes. On the other hand, I'm a little bit shocked because I have met with the behaviour of some tourists from Russia and Germany and it was the same as the authour have described it in this article. Maybe they are only stereotypes that were created accidentally but if such experiences recur, will the stereotypes become the reality?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was working on Chopin Airport as a waitress I had an opportunity to watch people behave from all over the world.
ReplyDeleteFor example:
Asia: screaming/waving hands to the waitress,
leaving table in huge mess (like sausage on the floor)
Russia: to every meal goes bread (even spaghetti)
Italian: very long talking
French: Only speaks French.
America: They get drunk very easily, and they always give you a big tip!
Poland: mostly mean and disrespectful.
Do I believe in stereotypes ? In this case, yes. Unfortunately, most of them are actually true, but there are always exceptions from rule.
I agree with Angelika Chomka. I've never come across a tourist from abroad who match closely to his national stereotype, so I don't believe in stereotypes about foreign tourists behaviour. I'm a polish girl - it doesn't mean that I drink too much alcohol. I try to be a cultural person and... I wear socks just with sneakers. :) Another example - I had heard a lot unpleasant things about Turkish people: they can be dangerous because of Islam or they're perverted and do obscened things... And it isn't true! I met Serra and her friends - really kind students, who were delighted with Poland. I have good memories of this meeting. Stereotypes can be harmful, especially if we think bad things about somebody before we know his/her. Everything depends on character and behavior of people - not only Americans can leave crazy tips, and not only French tourists can complain and don't want use English.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are not always true. When I was on World Youth Day I met people representing all countries in the world and none of them behaved as described on the blog. This may depend on the fact that it was a religious event. But in my opinion, people are more and more interested in public opinion and care about their image. In front of the main building of the University of Warsaw I've encountered all of Chanees people with cameras, taking photos of everything they found interesting. In my opinion, we can not generalize and treat stereotypically all tourists.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatelly, stereotypes are inherent part of most people's thinking. I personally think, that there may be some behaviour characteristic for specific nationality, but we can't put label on someone just beacuse he is from Germany for example. I guess that nowadays globalisation is proceeding and every tourists' behaviour is similar, especially when they are from Europe and have alike culture. The most discriminative tourist are Chinese, because they are taking lots of photos of almost everything they see (maybe that's because they have different civilization).
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that presentation a lot. I believe that there are stereotypes everywhere and even if people want to blur them they are still present in people's subconscious. Of course, not all British people are noisy and not every Russian is drunk but all nations somehow deserved the opinions they own. We should look at all stereotypes distantly and before judging anyone we should get to know their real countenance. I personally experienced superior French people and drunk Russians but I do not cross them out. I know that it comes from their upbringing and mentality. And so they may think the same about us - Poles. Eventually, nobody's perfect
ReplyDeleteIn general, I have never considered it in this way or believe in stereotypes, but if I think about it now then probably the answer is affirmative.Sterotypes from my point of view are not bad thing, for example Poles know perfectly well that they are consider as people who drink a lot, but we do know that and we even laugh at it.In my opinion everything lies in the approach to life, you have to have distance sometimes.Every time you go abroad you can experience stereotypes, I often have a chance to meet Japanese with cameras that take pictures of everything but I also met a few Germans that fit stereotypes.Of course very much depends on the kind of man.
ReplyDeleteI think there is always some true in stereotypes, something had to create them.. But they are not showing us a true about everyone. For example, you can meet a lot of Asian people with cameras in Warsaw’s Old Town or Germans who are drinking beers in restaurants and bars. I remember when I was in Italy and my friend told me to look at a man who was standing in the opposite side of the road, he was wearing socks and sandals. We were joking that he is one hundred present from Poland. The we passed him on the road and we heard polish language so the stereotype was real. But still not every Polish man or woman wears socks and sandals. Not every German drink beer, and not every Asian walks with camera everywhere.
ReplyDeletePersonally, i try not to believe in stereotypes but i have to admit that sometimes i can judge book by its cover and I'm not proud of it. There is some true in these sentences but not always. I've never met British people who make so much noise. But the other hand, stereotype like "Japanese are very polite but they carry everywhere their cameras" is very common in our thinking and they almost always behave in this way. I want to add that polish "typical Janusz" is very funny but you have to keep a healthy distance and laught at it. The stereotypes will always be in our thinking but they should be funny but not in accusatory way.
ReplyDeleteI must say I like this article.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I think about stereotypes? Well, in my opinion almost every stereotype came from somewhere and some of them are more or less real (for example about French - when I've been in France I had some issues with talking with French because lots of them didn't know English). But it also depends on circumstances - when Poles go to another country, they sometimes (unfortunatelly not rarely) act very rudely (spiting, cursing etc.) but when travelists come to Poland they usually have a great opinion about us (they say we are hospitable and hearty).
As you can see, everything depends on your point of view. I am not a big fan of stereotypes, cause lots of them are really wrong and unjust.
I try not to base my views on stereotypes. But when I was on holidays I saw that British and Russian were noisy and drunk too much alcohol. In addition, Japanese were always smiling and they took photos all the time. I think that connection between tourist’s behaviour and stereotypes resulted from our habits. Today, there are plenty of people for example Poles who are well-dressed and polite in spite of the stereotypes. I guess that people’s behaviour depends on globalisation and our behaviours are similar regardless of nationality.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't believe in stereotypes and I try not to generalize. But I think that some of stereotypes have somothing in common. I have seen a lot of tourists from Japaneese and they always were in a huge groups of people and always have their cameras. I meet some French tourists too and they mostly do not want to or can not speak english. But tourists from Germany or Russia and British who I met were nice and do not behave stereotypical.
ReplyDeleteThere are many stereotypes about foreigners and it is said that people has a scheme how a person from a particulary country behave or look like. Some of them I find actually true. I've experienced a situation in which british people were making so much noise around. What I've observed so far Japanese always carry their cameras when they appear somewhere as tourists. Because of that I partly believe in stereotypes about behaviours of foreigners, but for me not all of them are true. I don't think that the stereotypes should define people from a particular country only because they are part of a notion that is believed to behave typically as most of people from the notion do. When it comes to Poland it is claimed that Poles don't know languages, are sociable, religious, lazy and drink much alcohol. Many people don't identify with this description, but they are still believed to be like that as stereotypes are alive and very common nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI bother to don't believe in stereotypes about foreign tourist's "behaviour", but I am aware that I usually think cut-and-dried on autopilot. In my mind is still picture of "typical Janusz" and I am sure that it won't be easy to throw it out. Neverthless I think that steretypical thinking is good for medievalism and now we should dumping it.
ReplyDeleteHowever anecdotage about tourist's behaviour are a good material to jokes, so in my opinion it is important to use it prudentially.
I think stereotypes have something from statistic. There is always a group of people who act like stereotype shows. Where does it come from? If you look at a nation as a social group who has a common system of education, a shared history, a joint right and in effect shared values, as an another social group member, you are able to see some similarities between behaviour of people from the same nation and some dissimilarities between acting people from different countries. No wonder that American give great tips, if their prices don’t include services. It’s rude not to leave at least 10% of an amount from a bill to waiter or taxi driver. French don’t like speaking English and vice versa, because they were often enemy through their history. I believe the same way Pole don’t like learning German language. When ‘typical Janusz’ want to take his whole family to Italy or Croatia for holiday, he usually drives a car for 20 -24 hours. During the night and early morning it can be really cold in the car wearing only sandals without socks. In my opinion drinking problems both Polish and Russian have the same background. We have got Slav genes, we can drink a lot alcohol and don’t get drunk too fast, that’s why we are susceptible on an addiction. Also in our customs there have been a lot of alcohol drinking during centuries, especially Communism got these phenomenon stronger. Although it’s changing and younger generations don’t drink as much alcohol as the previous one, we still have drinking problem as a society and other nations can see it. Of course those stereotypes come to my mind when I’m observing a group of foreign tourist and I find them fascinating but when I’m starting to get know that people, the stereotypes don’t matter any longer.
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ReplyDeleteI don't believe in stereotypes about foreign tourist's behavior. I think it can be harmful to some people. Stereotypes often cause prejudice and I don't want to be prejudiced against anyone. People are different and it's not dependent on nationality. I like meeting new people, so I want to have a fresh head and fresh look and I try to be objective. But, of course, sometimes in stereotypes there is a grain of truth. When I see Japanese people visiting Warsaw, they often have several cameras and take pictures everywhere. And when I was in France I have problems with communication. It's a fact, they (French) don't want to speak English.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of stereotypes, connected to almost every nationality. I think that we should’n believe in all of them. Obviosly we can meet noisy British people, Germans who drink to much beer or Poles in white socks, but these opinions aren’t rules. I’m sure that there are a lot of Polish people who speak fluently in foreign language and polite French as well. I think that nowadays, thanks to global social medias culture became more homogenic, so tourists from countries which are far away e.g. Japan could look for informations about rules of behaving in Europe etc. We cant’t judge travelers because of their nationality. We need to remember that Poles haven’t too good opinion as well and we don’t want to hear something unpleasant about us.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don’t believe in stereotypes about foreign tourist’s behavior. In think that behavior does not depend on nationality but derive form character. Nowadays, we have stereotype for everyone and everything. It’s very sad and irresponsible. I have never met a typical tourist form description. I think that my point of view is broad and justified for the reason that I was working in a hotel in Italy for three months and I had the opportunity to know various cases of holiday tourists.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of stereotypes regarding nationality but I think they are firstly inappropriate and secondly unnecessary. In the contemporary world the relationship between our features of character and our nationality is rather weak. Our behavior is formed by the same factors in all countries. The nationality is one of the less important information about a man or a woman. I rather rarely meet somebody who matches to his national stereotype as it hasn't got any real sense.
ReplyDeleteI want to not believe in stereotypes about foreign tourists' behaviour. I agree that sometimes they are consistent with reality, but not always. When I go abroad, I don't want to be identified as man, who abuses alkohol and uses a lot of curses, or man, who doesn't know foregin languages. I try to give everyone a chance. I met a lot of people from abroad, because my friend work in hostel and sometimes I went with them to pub crawl. I have never met an American, who is drunk after two beers. Okey they are sometimes noisy, but we were in the pub, in this kind of place always is noisy. When I was in Wroclaw I met several Germans and none of them was be blue-eyed blond. In Ukraine, I saw Russians, who matched closely to his national stereotype. They drank vodka and were arrogant , but this was one time when I met typical Russian. So to be honest I think we shouldn't think stereotypically.
ReplyDeleteI think that most of the time stereotypes aren’t real. Of course there are exceptions and sometimes we can meet someone who is a perfect example of stereotype. But I believe that people’s behaviour depends on their characters, not on their nationality. We can say that British are very loud but they’re not the only one. There are tourist from other countries who are as loud as them, or even more. So basically the type of tourist you are depends on your personality.
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DeleteIt is difficult to say if I believe or not to believe in stereotipes. I do not like travelling and this mean I do not meet a lot of people from abroad. Therefore on the one side I have no reason to deny that stereotype can match to many people, but on other side it is obvious for me that it cannot fit to every pearson which it is about. As I wrote I do not travel a lot, so I had no pleasure or displeasure (it depends on type of stereotype) to meet tourist from abroad that would match to his stereotype.
ReplyDeleteAs always, stereotypes are just the stereotypes - mostly harmful, mostly false but when we see someone matching his/her sterotype it's ringing in our head with triumphal: "Haven't I told you?". Still people must have a topic to babble about. Evolution trained us to see what's dangerous (even if it's not so bad), and more - to remember it to possibly avoid in future. That's the reason why stereotypes are so popular - (even if we don't know or do it deliberately) we look at people with possibly-risk lenses stoked up exactly by stereotypes. And that's how typical Janusz or typical tourist from other country was created in our heads. Some of them could be explained like always living in hurry makes Japanese people to take lots of photos to remember visited places, some are rooted deep in our personality and history. So it's only up to us if we will match stereotypes or fight with them, showing the world, that we can be better so nobody in hotels or travel agencies would complain about us.
ReplyDeleteI traveled abroad a few times, and in my opinion evething is about your attitude. For example "parawaning" is well known in Greece, where there is no sand and people fight for sunbeds. Some of them wake up really early just to leave reserve a place on a beach using their towels. It was interesting to see that they were not only Poles, but from all of the world.
ReplyDeleteI know that stereotypes didn't come from nowhere, but we shouldn't judge whole nation based of that. Moreover, we should be careful with our assumptions about other turists, as we might think that somebody is from different country than they actually are. For example, when we want to express our opinion about other tourists we should be careful about which langauge we use not to offend anyone.
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ReplyDeleteThere are a lof of omnipresent stereotypes. We can easy find them in our lifes but we should’n belive in all of them because we can show some examples where not only Franch people are complaining about everything and not only Americans who are drunk after two beers. I’m sure that we can also find Polish people who speak fluently in foreign language. We can’t judge travelers bacuse of stereotypes linked with their nationality. We ought to remember about that we don’t want to hear bad opinions about Poles so we should not do it for another travelers.
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ReplyDeleteTo put it briefly, I do not believe in stereotypes. I find it ancient and false. It is the first time I have ever heard about some of them. However, it is still prevailing without doubts. As for foreigner tourists I am inclined to believe that all of nation is characteristic, it has specific habits and the like, therefore everybody distinguish abroad. As a result, I can admit that British don not try local cuisine or do not learn foreign language, French tourists always complain about something and Russians walk everywhere in big groups. At the same time I reject some of them such as abusing vodka by Russian or Polish connection with sandals. To summarise, from my point of view stereotypes are nice providing that phenomenon is true. Personally, I do not pay attention to stereotypes and I am not acknowledged with them.
ReplyDeleteI can confirm that people love to learn new languages, but they hate when someone say nothing in their own language while he is speding time in their country - example: Polish are mad that foreigners don't try to speak Polish on the train stations. Other example: Parisians avoid the most popular touristes sites because they hate touristes who don't speak French.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to stereotypes, Polish people are considered as always drunk, who drink a lot of alcohol. And in fact, we deepen this stereotype - we drink for every occasion.
THE SAME COMMENT BUT AS MY ACCOUNT: I can confirm that people love to learn new languages, but they hate when someone say nothing in their own language while he is speding time in their country - example: Polish are mad that foreigners don't try to speak Polish on the train stations. Other example: Parisians avoid the most popular touristes sites because they hate touristes who don't speak French.
DeleteWhen it comes to stereotypes, Polish people are considered as always drunk, who drink a lot of alcohol. And in fact, we deepen this stereotype - we drink for every occasion.
We all know that stereotypes are generalization in the purest form and of course it doesn't concern all citizens from country. I think that in stereotypes, like in gossip, there is always a grain of truth and we shouldn't be offended that they exist and poeople talk about them. It's important to keep blance of what we hear about foreign tourists and what we really believe in. Here in Warsaw we have a lot of turists, especially from Asia, and they often have professional photo cameras and take thousands of pictures just in front of us and I don't think that saying that is offended for anyone, it's just an observation- completely neutral and quite often funny.
ReplyDeleteThere are many stereotypes about the people from all around the world. Personally I hate that kind of rumours. I saw a lot of time when people didn't want to stay next to the muslin in the underground because the most of them thought that this person is a terrorist. It's a horrible how this person should feel. We (I mean a Polish nation) don't like when some of the people abroad says that when they see someone in a socks and sandals it's for one hundred percent a Polish person. That's not true. A lot of tourist from all around a world wear that kind of set. In my opinion the most important think is fact that should to start pay attention to someone's behaviour and don't look on the skin colour and stop to believes in a stereotypes. Marta Jedynak
ReplyDeleteI really believe in stereotypes. I think it's an common experience to see someone abroad and be sure where is he come from. The most interesting and funny fact is a polish figure as a traveller. Recently, this topic is popular and we can find a lot od memes about us, mainly on the beach. Sandals with socks, parawaning or so many vulgarism in a speech. Mabey it's not a good description and a little bit unpleasant, but we must take it easy and with distance. I work in shopping mall in Warsaw and I can observe people from all around the World. I must say that it makes me pleased to joke with workmates about them and their behaviour.
ReplyDeleteWe shouldn't take it so seriously and be resentful.
I try not to judge people, especially when it goes about their nationality. I think we should not always look at a whole community, but concentrate on the human individual. Of course, i agree that stereotypes were invented for some reason, there's a grain of truth in each. I've met the loud Italian, the silly Spanish and the drunk English, but they were much more than this one label.
ReplyDeleteI agree with every sugestion about nationaloty presented by stereotypes, i know how hurtful could be, but there is a lot of true. Unfortunately. I worked as a waitress, and i know what's going on. The biggest problem was language i mean many Spanish, Japanese (the most) and Frech don't speak in English. So, for me if you just want to try to talk in neutral language like English, you are good tourist.
ReplyDeleteI believe that while not always true, or accurate, the stereotypes exist for a reason, and there is a pinch of truth in each one of them. And I've seen plenty of foreign tourists that matched their according country's stereotype. Poles clapping after the landing of the plane, obnoxiously crowded and loud chinese tourists, taking picture of everything they come across, or germans and french acting like it's a priveledge to serve food at their table. However, to be fair if they didn't act that way, I probably wouldn't pay attention to them, and wouldn't even notice they're foreigners. Pretty sure that's how stereotypes are made.
ReplyDeletetereotypes are attempt to straighten our knowledge or image about world. It is easier to think that every people from some country behaviour at the same way than to look on every single person apart. I think that stereotypes are often false and harmful. Of course everyone has individual personality traits and preferences, which are independent of our origin. But there are some behaviour, which are more typical or popular in some country. It is cause by patterns of culture and it isn’t something bad. However it is important to not judge people, because of their nationality.
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ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe that stereotypes weren't invented without a reason. I know it is not good, because for example not every Muslim is a terrorist, but I agree with most od stereotypes mentioned in this article. Especially with these about French and Japanese tourists. Everytime I see an Asian tourists, they always hold their phones or cameras just to take some pictures of literally everything they can see. And what about French people? I totally agree with this sentence, that they don't like using any other language than French. And I can say, that it is not about only tourists. Generally people in France often pretends that they don't understand English. The question is why they keep doing this?
ReplyDeleteI believe in stereotypes, but it is not always true. I mean, when I read your blog post I agree with you and your point of view. This summer I have worked in a shop in shopping mall. I have met a lot of tourists.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe into stereotypes. I think it is old-fashioned to judge somebody by nationality. On the other hand, sometimes I come across people who fit into stereotypes very well. I saw Russians who was drinking vodka all day long, I saw typical Poles like that “Janusz” from presentation and I saw American person who got drunk after 1 beer. So my conclusion is the fact that stereotypes doesn’t come from nowhere.
ReplyDeleteI believe in stereotypes because I think that is in majority true. However, we should know that stereotypes refer to "average citizen" and we can meet someone who does not feet to any stereotypes. And this fact does not discredit the phenomenon of stereotypes. I personally know that one of the examples in the presentation is true because I had a lot of contacts with French people and they indeed do not accept any foreign language. Of course they speak English (nowadays it is very necessary) but witch French accent and it makes that their English is incomprehensible. Then I prefer speak to them my weak French and evertything is quite well. However, I have a feeling that in case of examples of Polish stereotypes term "typowy Janusz" is created in our country - is it still stereotype? It is true that we - Poles - love complain about our country and our society not noticing how many disadvantages have other nations at the same time. But of course - white socks and sandals looks... interesting.
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ReplyDeleteGenerally, it's true that stereotypes (esspecialy realted to turists' behaviour) could be unfair and they frecuently suggest us some false features of specific nations. However, there is also an advantage of knowledge of stereotypes. Thanks to this we would avoid same troubles and disappointments during contacts with foreign turists.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Poles as the turists are not so unknnow. We travel more and more each year and we are more recognized than before. I also consider Poles as the people who speak foreign languages quite well comparing with other nations.
I really do not like stereotypes about different nationalities. Of course, it happens that abroad we meet "typowy Janusz" with white socks and sandals, but it happens quite rarely. What's more, it turns out that not only Poles wear this way, because you can also see Germans or Russians in a similar outfit. It follows that this can not be applied only to Poles, so this stereotype does not apply. We should not look at other nationalities through the prism of the stereotypes, because it is harmful and impoverishing.
ReplyDeleteI partly believe in stereotypes. Some of them are real, some may be not. But we all come in contact with people described in this post. As I travel a lot I saw typical Russian girls looking like ladies os easy virtue, I saw Japanese taking a hundred photos of everything and of course typical Poles wearing sandals with socks. But all of those things are just really funny for me and I think we cannot do anything about it. Everyone should decide for himself how to behave.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm somehow lucky, because I've never met any "typical" tourists. It's really unfair to put the labels on the entire nation, just because some of it's representatives act in inappropriate way. Stereotypes are called stereotypes, not facts, because there is absolutely no fair study confirming it's truthfulness. But when it comes to culture, we can be a little bit different. Some of us will find it upsetting, that some churches don't allow the tourists to visit it with "inappropriate" clothes. But here in Poland, t's also not allowed to walk naked on the beaches. I find it important to realise how many of this behaviours are caused because of the culture differences, and how many of them is just a symptom of rudeness.
ReplyDeleteI believe in all stereotypes which were presented in this article. It is visible but only in the most touristic places. If you are in the most populare and crowded place abroad it is obvious that you come accross a tourist who match to his national stereotype. But if you go further and go to unusual places then you can meet very interestin people who probalby wanted the same thing as you... run away from all stereotypes- even of the way of travel.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are everywhere also in travelling. I try forget about them during my trips. According to my experience there are some behaviors which are tipical for nations for example everytime I meet Russian people they "want to drink alcohol because this is the best way to feel comfortable among new people", they said.
ReplyDeleteFortunately many stereotypes are not a rule for example when I was in France. Everytime we asked for transport, order food or asking people on the street about the city they did not have problem to speak English and sometimes they were so helpful and offer hitchhiking. So I have a good impression.
I think it always depends on who do you meet. Fortunately we are not the same people only because our nationality. We have unique character, values and rules. This is the main reason why travelling broaden our minds. We meet always something new in place or in local people.
I don't think we should generalize all tourists from specific countries and I don't believe in the stereotypes. They are unimportant and useless. However, I came across stereotypical Chinese tourists with cameras and sandals many times. Although I think we can find tourists from other parts of the world, who behave the same way. We just don't pay attention to it and assign these specific behaviours only to Asian people.
ReplyDeleteI believe in stereotypes because they present a mostly popular aspects of behaviour of society from certain country. To show an example you don't have to go far away from home. Even here, in Poland, we can meet foreign tourists, e.x. in Warsaw, especially tourists from eastern Asia that spend most of their time doing photos to everything around them.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in stereotypes unconditionally but I kinda feel like every stereotype comes out of somewhere - e. g. those about white socks with sandals when it comes to us, Poles. Eventhough I don't like such generalizations, I must say that "stereotypical tourists" that I meet the most are those from Asia, always carrying their cameras and taking photos of everything!
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