Like I said, we are too polite. You will never be made to feel discriminated against.
I disagree. As long as you dress conservatively, don't go around bellowing at people, and treat people with kindness, they are not just tolerating you. You think I go into some guys home and eat with him, and joke with him, that it is only because he is being polite. That he really despises me and/or wants to slit my throat? That just aint so.
Don't take this the wrong way, but Pakistan aint exactly a major tourist destination outside the region. So I am wondering who these groups of Americans are? Are they teachers, businessmen, how would you describe them? I would wager to say there is a lot more scurrying going on in the streets of Milan than Lahore. Add a bit of alcohol and wham! Instant scurrying. So I would need more info to reply specifically to the walk. Yes the Brits do have a reputation for walking round with their noses thrust upwards, shoulders back, hands behind their back, and cob up their arse, but that is just a stereotype. Having spent time in London, I hardly saw that type of walk at all. Mostly I noticed the general European style of walking quickly and getting to where they need to go. Americans don't walk half as much as Europeans so maybe that would explain the big difference.
I attended an international conference on leadership recently. There were speakers from places like South Africa, Holland, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Britain, etc. But NO Americans.
And I know of a lady from the States who is attending some big convention on shipping and furniture in India. How many American companies that practically want you chained to the desk are going to be chomping at the bit to send their employees halfway across the Earth and with a great deal of expense and lost time to attend some conference. We have so many conferences on leadership right there in the USA. It is counterproductive.
your simple impression that we are just "worried about security".
Oh, you're worried all right. Your Govt. has done a real mind-job on the American citizen. Whatever you say, THIS is the main reason why Americans have reduced travel overseas.
I will concede that there are some people to whom this would be a factor. But it certainly not the biggest, not even top 5 or 10. Unless you are only referring to countries such as Pakistan, or Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bali, you places where shit tends to go boom or there is a wanton hatred of Americans. I have to admit that I would not feel too safe walking the streets of Tehran. Some women may be afraid to travel, but its more of a general sense of uncertainty or lack of courage, nothing really to do with getting kidnapped or killed, more like being worried about being robbed or raped, or lost on the way to the hotel. And I would say that applies pretty universally.
No I aint (CIA). Why would you think that?
I promise you, I aint,, but leave it up to someone in SWA or the Middle East to think every blue eye is CIA, lol
Besides, what the fuck, you're in Kabul. LOL
Go to my blog, listed, and read my story entitled "The Omen". 2nd most recent I think.
