Overheard on a recent flight from Europe to USA:

“It was such a great trip. I just wish they would try to speak English,” she said to her husband. “Considering how much money we gave them after World War II, you’d think they’d show a little more gratitude.”

I had just settled into my seat on the Lufthansa 747 in Frankfurt, heading home to Los Angeles after a busy week of trade shows, hotel visits and a site inspection to Provence. I resisted the urge to spin around in my seat and give her the evil-eye. A few minutes later, I just HAD to turn around to see who had made such an asinine comment. Hmmm. She looked like a nice, educated lady. She didn’t look stupid. Later in the flight, she admired the photographs I was editing on my laptop. We had a pleasant chat. I liked her. I even told her about The WOW! Travel Club and invited her to join my mailing list. Obviously, she doesn’t meet the “code” for inclusion into my Club of extraordinary travelers, but I’m an optimist  – I think she’s trainable. I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt that she didn’t know how ridiculous her comment was.

A few days after I got home, in my ever-growing stack of “I’m-going-to-read-this-book-one-of-these-days,” a title caught my eye: Xenophobe’s Guide to the Americans. The author, Stephanie Faul, defines xenophobia as: “An irrational fear of foreigners, probably justified, always understandable.” Her series, Xenophobe’s Guides, are “an irreverent look at the beliefs and foibles of nations, almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.” There are Xenophobe’s Guides to Aussies, Austrians and Belgians . . . all the way through the alphabet to the Swedes, Swiss and the Welsh. We’re all guilty of gross generalizations and judgement to some extent – it’s a consequence of being part of – and proud of – our country.

Can you guess how foreigners perceive Americans? Here is a sampling:

• “Even if suburban residents could walk to anything other than the house next door, they wouldn’t. Walking is un-American.”
• “Winning is central to the American psyche. What is more, Americans believe themselves to be the only nation that is truly capable of winning.”
• “Once one accepts the Americans’ basically adolescent nature, the rest of their culture falls into place.”
• “Americans are a forgiving sort and have a short collective memory.”
• “Starting a religion can be a profitable enterprise, since religious institutions do not pay taxes.”
• “American parents treat their children with a near-deference unheard of in most European households.”
• “When they go on holiday, Americans become even more American than usual, if that’s possible.”
• “The Superbowl is the most important event in the world, probably in the Universe.”
• “The most typical American restaurants offer no service at all.”

Hmmmm … how many of those ring true for you??