The Ugly American

Just before my flight left Costa Rica, Julio and I were returning a rental car to an agency that we use often when I overheard the most detestable conversation I can recall.

First I have to describe this couple - the heavy-set man American man in a Hawaiian shirt next to me at the counter was about 35 years old with a loud voice and abrasive attitude. His Barbie-inspired Tica girlfriend was just too much – she had huge breast implants, platinum blond hair (no dark roots because she gets it touched up every week I'm sure), a chihuahua with a rhinestone collar in it's carrying case, and her hot pink cell phone.

The man was angry at the rental car agency for something and thought he was being ripped off. So rather than complain about the company, he started verbally attacking the employee, calling him a “piece of shit” and being generally abusive. The employee dealt with it very well, asking him to calm down and that they'd work it out. I did not deal with it well. I was shaking with rage and indignance... we were supposed to ride in the same shuttle with that couple to the airport, but I just couldn't. I said in a loud voice to Julio: “I am so upset - I can't believe one person would talk to another person that way! I can't be in the same vehicle with him, let's walk instead.” Our paperwork was done after a couple more minutes and I realized I just had to say just one more thing – but this time directly to the man: “You are the kind of American who makes us all look bad! You are an asshole.” Then I left, still shaking and angry, but pleased with myself for voicing my opinion. Of course, he did call out some explicitives after me, further proving my point.

For the most part Ticos (Costa Ricans) are very willing to reserve judgement until they've gotten to know you. However there are some touristy areas where the locals just get used to the vast majority of US travelers being rude and stupid and then they treat everyone accordingly. It drives me crazy because Julio and I (and in turn our clients) work hard to be culturally sensitive and patronize locally owned businesses – our attempt to cultivate the opposite of the “Ugly American” stereotype.