The Modern Tourist

Typical TouristsFeeling like a tourist sucks. You stick out like a sore thumb. But love of travel supersedes fear of looking ignorant and so we ramble on. In my travels, I have found that there are distinct differences in how tourists are treated in their own country versus elsewhere in the world.

When I was in 8th grade, I went with my Chinese class on a bus tour of the east coast of China. It really was a great experience, and one that I will never forget. Being in a wholly Asian community made me realize just how impossible it is to “blend in.” I am not Chinese, and even though I spoke the language at the time, this fact was regarded as a novel and kitschy feat. People assumed I didn’t know much more than “Hello my name is Julia” or “how much for that purse,” and even though they were pretty much right I was horribly offended when they immediately started speaking to me in English. I wanted so much to emulate their culture as much as I knew how, simply out of fear of being regarded as a mere tourist. For some reason there is a stigma surrounding tourists that paints them as ignorant, dumb, and vulnerable. And while some of that is indeed true (sort of comes with the package of exploring unknown territory), being a full on tourist (fanny-pack, Hawaiian shirt and all) takes a whole lot of courage, even though it shouldn’t! The strangest part to me is that this stigma exists in our own country as well.

I visited Montana last year over the summer, and since I have lived all my life in the United States, I never assumed that my secret tourist identity would be discovered. The first question a shoe salesmen asks me, however is “Where are you guys from?” I should have lied right there on the spot, but instead I hesitated, and then mumbled “California…” When we got back to where we were staying, my dad had picked up on my embarrassment and asked me why I felt that way. To be honest, I couldn’t really explain myself, because in reality I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am proud of where I come from, and yet I try so hard to join the community I visit, however short my trip is. It’s not always fun to be viewed as an outsider, especially when you feel like you have something to prove. Regardless, I have learned to just suck it up, and represent your home in the best of ways throughout your travels. Screw the tourist stigma.

Interesting sidenote: Chinese people were really into taking pictures with us (a predominantly white/African American crowd) and would stop us on the street to do so. I can just hear it: “Look! I saw an American today. Such silly creatures…”