Paris Syndrome
Mike has left this link up to remind us to write something about this article we read last night. We had to laugh because any foreigner who has spent sometime in Japan would understand why, this would happen to a Japanese Traveler:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15391010/?GT1=8618
We'd love to hear some of your comments!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15391010/?GT1=8618
We'd love to hear some of your comments!
posted by Unknown | 10:21 PM
7 Comments:
When I first read this article I thought "what happens when they visit New York?"
But I'm guessing their romantic expectations would not be anywhere near as high.
I would think that a country as Westernized as Japan would actually teach its schoolchildren that the rest of the world is not like Japan.
I guess seeing (or traveling) is believing.
My son, who lives in Kyoto and is married to a Japanese national went on their honeymoon in Paris. They had a great time.
Jeff- Many Japanese are more prepared for New York as there are many many more American's here in Japan to fill them in on all the......well, details. :)
Yes, in my opinion Japan is westernized but in a controlled & sheltered way. There are still many things that some or many Japanese persons don't know or understand about "western" culture. Many times it's little things but I'd imagine the little things might add up when experiencing such a radical change during travel. Especially, if it wasn't properly researched!
This was in no way a slam on Paris or Japanese people. I've never been to New York and honestly....(I may offend some folks here)have never really felt a need to visit. (Although if we were in the Northeast, I'd like to go) Paris however, I have a hankering to see during this lifetime.
Hi guys - I myself have not travelled to Paris personally, but have heard the similar kind of discontent as some of the Japanese tourists. Parisians are, by stereo type, notoriously rude to tourists. We've been told that Paris is definitely worth the visit, but just be aware that customer service isn't on the top of the list.
As a side note, I hope that if given the chance, you would give NYC a try. I've been there twice & have had a blast both times minus the "rude factor".
While living in Japan, I've often heard from my more well-traveled Japanese friends that they've seen this often from the less-seasoned Japanese travelers as well.
Many Japanese travelers choose (due to tough language barriers) to take Japanese guided tours via bus in foreign countries. So, I wonder if this lends to a kind of "Disneyland Travel" mentality where the real world has a decidedly different slant.
I know the times when I've traveled abroad without a tour, I get a little more "hardened" and realistic ahead of time, doing a lot of cultural (as well as geographic) homework and preparation because I'll literallly be "on my own". The times when I've traveled by tour bus I get a little insulated and it's easy to let the realism slide a little.
And I definitely agree on the New York attitude....most of us around the world (I LOVE New York don't get me wrong here)ALREADY know New York as being a gutsy kind of town. Paris had a "built in" romance factor, but the metropolitan areas are definitely getting pushier.
That made me laugh. IN many ways I would love to visit Paris, but not sure I could tolerate the French culture.
When Nicki and I found that story online, I wanted to write about a few of my own personal experiences from travelling through Paris, but Nicki posted it because I've been MIA for a while and haven't had time to even check my email for days.
First, I love parts of France. But here are a few choice things I remember:
1. My first visit to Paris was with my family when I was about 13. My 16 year old sister (at the time) had barely gotten off the plane in Paris and was propositioned by a much older man, who asked in a heavily accented version of English for a sexual favor that I won't speak of here. What made it even less tasteful is that she was within 5 feet of the rest of my family, including my mom, my dad, and me. Throughout the remainder of our 4-5 days there, we were met with beautiful architecture, art, and fashion; and terribly rude people, despite my dad's attempt at speaking French and trying to "fit in".
2. My second trip to Paris was much later, just a few years ago. I thought the city had redeemed itself from my first experience because I was there for 3 days and was having a good time. Then on my last day, I was heading to the train station to travel to Southern France, and became the victim of a drive-by pellet gun shooting. I was with a tour group of American art students who definitely stood out of the crowd, but when any gun is pointed in your direction from a car window, your first instinct isn't to think "it's only a pellet gun". We were all sprayed with fire from it and several in my group got bruised pretty bad.
3. The South of France is the place to be. Seriously. Paris is pretty and worth doing... quickly. Then head south. From what I have experienced, France has some of the warmest, friendliest, and pleasant people in the world - the catch is that none of them seem to live in Paris.
Just my 2 cents.
-Mike
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