Americans have a reputation for being loud and obnoxious, but with cause. When I’m over there, I’m sometimes embarrassed by the behavior of my fellow countrypeople. They do have a reputation for being fat and kind of ignorant, as well, but that one is more of a generalization.
I’ve been going to Italy for over 13 years and I have witnessed my share of bad behavior perpetrated by Americans. Pretty much any time there’s a disorderly drunk, people being drunk and loud well into the early hours of the morning, something gets vandalized or stolen, there’s an American involved. Many Americans enter other countries with an egotistical sense of entitlement that is offensive to the natives. After all, technically we are guests in their country. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many people travel to a foreign country that don’t even bother to learn a few words of the language, and then the kicker is when they can’t communicate with a shopkeeper or something, they get all pissed like the native is at fault for not speaking English.
Over the years, I’ve just figured that all I can do is be an ambassador to my country.. and frankly, America, you should be glad for it because there are loads more travelers who thoughtlessly trash any good image folks may have of us. So I try to use their language when I can and to be kind, easy-going, respectful, tolerant, and accepting of their culture and any difference between theirs and mine.