[Noms]

While I didn't find it hilarious, it was amusing in some spots. I didn't get the impression that she felt entitled or that she "looked" down her nose at the people she dealt with. Some of the angry responses from posters here make me think you are the ones looking down your noses.

HAHAHA , the angry responses from the "looking down their noses" crowd are just the typical posts over here on the "ole lady dressage, i dont ride a horse anymore but i want to act like i do, i only brush and feed my horse treats, and i have an opinion on how everyone should act and think" dressage forum.

[Bogey2]

"ole lady dressage, i dont ride a horse anymore but i want to act like i do, i only brush and feed my horse treats, and i have an opinion on how everyone should act and think" dressage forum.

geeze, don't tell my horse there are people here who do this...he will insist I stop showing immediately.

[My2cents]

Sigh. Another reason the term 'ugly American' has survived. Having recently travelled to Europe, I find that if one can adapt to the local customs or at least be tolerant, the time spent in a 'foreign' country becomes a learning experience. I found how mealtimes are spent ,to be something to emulate. The American habit of bolting down a meal is less appealing to actually sitting and enjoying a meal. Hopefully she spent her money on a horse and won't need to go back and feel so put upon.

[hntrjmprpro45]

I went to Europe last year (for competition not for horse shopping). I found many of those same things in the article to be true. However, it was those cultural differences that I really enjoyed on my trip.

Some people just need to get out more and realize that other cultures are different and that is okay!

[xeroxchick]

Now you are stalking her?

She acted like a snob? Really? Were you there?

Read your PS. Who's the snob?

Agreed. The pretentious venom in this is only equaled by her shame in being "American." Pitiful. If she thinks people in "Europe" hate "Americans," then she hasn't seen their reaction to the Chinese.
Stalk much?

[xeroxchick]

The self-loathing in this thread is appalling. Europe needs our tourist dollars more than ever, so if they do indeed hate us, they need to get over it. People, here is a news flash: You ARE from the United States, you will never "pass" or "fit in" and just be your nicely mannered self and proud of your country. Much worse to be embarrassed and apollogetic about who you are.
Oh, and buy a horse while you are at it.

[meupatdoes]

The self-loathing in this thread is appalling. Europe needs our tourist dollars more than ever, so if they do indeed hate us, they need to get over it. People, here is a news flash: You ARE from the United States, you will never "pass" or "fit in" and just be your nicely mannered self and proud of your country. Much worse to be embarrassed and apollogetic about who you are.
Oh, and buy a horse while you are at it.

If I were going around talking about how hard I was working when being chauffered around I would be embarrassed at myself. IME, 'hard work' while vacationing is mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow to build a school in Tanzania or gutting houses in New Orleans with a sledge hammer while wearing a hazmat suit.

And I too was raised in a very well off family so no, I don't hate the wealth. It is the LAZY and the CLUELESS I have the problem with.

Additionally while born here I was raised by German parents, did not speak English when I started school, speak German with no accent, and DO VERY MUCH 'pass' when I go over there.

I don't hate myself one little bit when I travel but then again I don't behave like a dumb@$$ either. I don't hate my friends I travel with but then again they don't act like tools. They may USE tools, but they don't act like them.

So if I may, I'll persist in my belief that this kid is a git who could do with working a day in her life so she can learn what 'work' even is. In the meantime, she probably shouldn't use words in her little articles if she doesn't know what they mean.

[cyberbay]

Do you think that the Euro horse shopping article was just tongue-in-cheek on that whole scene ?

Hundredacres (post #6)... I had same reaction to Eat, Pray, Love. The author was a spoiled brat who couldn't discern real emotions from hystrionics (sp?). ALthough I thought she did a good job describing different religions, which occurs in the book just about at the point you tossed it at your seat mate. Don't blame you... I found the first section exasperating.

[belgianWBLuver]

So if I may, I'll persist in my belief that this kid is a git who could do with working a day in her life so she can learn what 'work' even is. In the meantime, she probably shouldn't use words in her little articles if she doesn't know what they mean.

Yeah I agree, Hopefully she'll develop a sense of openness and humility while visiting foreign countries shopping for that 70K + Euro warmblood. Wait, what am I talking about - the price goes cha-ching every time they see Yanks coming much less experiencing the "tudes" at the introductions. Well me thinks they are having the last laugh

[abv1269]

I totally agree with those that didn't find the Eat.Pray.Love thing enjoyable. Kept seeing it in airport bookstores while on business trips, had heard so much about it that was good, would read the flap again, and say to myself, "Nope, she still sounds like someone who would irritate the bejeepers out of me and not worth my $15 bucks."

As for this article, I was gobsmacked. Flabbergasted. If it was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, boy did it miss the mark. I backpacked through Europe for seven months when I was just out of college and have been back several times since. I can speak a teensy bit of French, very badly, and try to buy a guidebook everywhere else I go. I've found if you are polite, and make an attempt to learn a bit of the language and communicate, in general you'll have a lovely experience.

Isn't the whole point of travel about experiencing differrent cultures, not expecting them to replicate ours?

To sum it up, the article was extremely unimpressive.

[J-Lu]

Meupatdoes, YES YES YES! What you said. What you've been saying. Yes!

[mvp]

And another thing!

I don't want the price of horses to go up for people like me because the Americans who came before offended the sellers.

[suzier444]

I'm not horrified or irritated, but the author does come across like somebody who grew up in a little bubble and has had very little exposure to the world, so she's now shocked and terrified to be someplace that feels foreign to her where People and Foods are (gasp) Slightly Different. I mostly feel sorry for her. To be fair, people in this country don't have as much of an opportunity as those in Europe do to visit other countries, just due to the geography. I think parents in this country have to make a deliberate effort not to raise bubble-kids like this. People from the US also tend to be somewhat direct and open about their thoughts and feelings, which can come across as offensive or ignorant in cultures where more discretion is expected. So many people from the US not only lack exposure, they also have a tendency to shine a spotlight on their own lack of exposure.

This article mostly made me thank my lucky stars I got the opportunity to travel and live overseas a lot as a kid.

The cell phone tip was a good suggestion.

[Rhiannonjk]

I didn't know this was an Eat, Pray, Love hate thread! Count me in!!!

Otherwise, in general, I think that "Tourists" in general, are obnoxious. Americans just happen to be tourists when they go to Europe.

(I've considered sewing an American flag on my backpack for my next hike on the Camino, but I really enjoyed my first hike through Spain where people actually had to ask where I was from.)

[meupatdoes]

. To be fair, people in this country don't have as much of an opportunity as those in Europe do to visit other countries, just due to the geography.

If a person is spending "hundreds of thousands of dollars" on inmporting horses, the only thing that is limiting them from otherwise travelling to see the world/study/volunteer is a profound lack of interest.

[suzier444]

If a person is spending "hundreds of thousands of dollars" on inmporting horses, the only thing that is limiting them from otherwise travelling to see the world/study/volunteer is a profound lack of interest.

Very true.

[rileyt]

If a person is spending "hundreds of thousands of dollars" on inmporting horses, the only thing that is limiting them from otherwise travelling to see the world/study/volunteer is a profound lack of interest.

Too true. I found it obnoxious. I think part of what really irked me is the disconnect between "supremely wealthy elitist" (as evidenced to the superiority complex involved in the Wall Street and "all my horses are groomed and tacked up for me" references), and insular American red-neck who has never bothered to look beyond NYC (or Indiana vet school?) as having anything to offer.

I don't mind that some of what she writes is true. I don't mind that she even pokes fun. What bothers me is the "I am a rich American trust fund baby and therefore I find it supremely funny that these silly Dutch people have crazy things like farm machinery on their farms." It is the inherently condescending tone that changes this piece from "quirky and comical first experience abroad" into "obnoxious American tourist".

Seriously? What bubble did you grow up in?

[showidaho]

Having just read this article (I'm late to the party) I was left somewhat dismayed with a bad taste in my mouth. First, I considered commenting on the article, then thought better of it and searched the forums (although the thought of commenting is still ruminating in my brain). It appears a large number of readers feel that this article was in poor taste. I wonder if there is a mod, or an editor, or a someone we might alert as to the negative reception of this particular piece. I am somewhat astonished that COTH staff thought it appropriate to run it.

[LauraKY]

I find it offensive. Just another example to the rest of the world of spoiled, ignorant, pampered Americans.

[LauraKY]

I would pay money to be a fly on the wall during her clinic internships. If there is a God, she'll end up at my vet's practice...my vet in particular. He would take her down a notch or two...he's quite the practical joker.