Gadling

Eerie Quark Doll, you have a point there. I live in San Francisco, which is a city heavily visited by foreign tourists, and I've seen plenty of foreign tourists who are totally inconsiderate of our cultural customs as well - like foreigners who are pushy in lines, who cut in on a line of people waiting for something, invade your personal space, not make room for you when you are walking in the opposite direction, etc.

On the other hand, I've seen plenty of "ugly Americans" while traveling abroad. I remember one particular instance when I was staying on the Greek Island of Santorini, and a cruise ship filled with Americans came ashore. I was sitting on a bench with my travel mates (who were American) and we watched a very loud and obnoxious American berate the guy who had a hero sandwich stand - "HAS THE LAMB SPINNING ON THAT SPIT BEEN SALTED? I CAN'T HAVE ANY SODIUM? DO YOU UNDERSTAND? I WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO SODIUM IN MY HERO SANDWICH!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT SODIUM IS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT SALT IS? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?

Needless to say, me and my travel mates shrunk back upon hearing this woman shouting at this poor Greek dude who looked completely bewildered. We were so embarrassed at that moment, that when the shouting American looked around and saw us sitting nearby, my travel mates and I began speaking in Spanish, because we didn't want her to come over and begin speaking to us.