Comments on: Paris Syndrome: Lack of European civilization sickens Japanese tourists http://granitestudio.org/2006/10/23/paris-syndrome-lack-of-european-civilization-sickens-japanese-tourists/ A Qing historian reads the newspaper... Sat, 02 Jul 2011 03:31:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: 花崗齋之愚公 http://granitestudio.org/2006/10/23/paris-syndrome-lack-of-european-civilization-sickens-japanese-tourists/comment-page-1/#comment-188 花崗齋之愚公 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:29:00 +0000 http://granitestudio.org/?p=76#comment-188 @ Kristen,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment and welcome to the Studio. I agree about the generational divide, you see some of the same thing in China with generations reacting to foreigners differently. (Though you could also say there are are different reactions based on class, location, etc. as well.) <br /><br />I like your blog a lot. Good luck with your classes. @ Kristen,

Thanks for your comment and welcome to the Studio. I agree about the generational divide, you see some of the same thing in China with generations reacting to foreigners differently. (Though you could also say there are are different reactions based on class, location, etc. as well.)

I like your blog a lot. Good luck with your classes.

]]> By: Kristen http://granitestudio.org/2006/10/23/paris-syndrome-lack-of-european-civilization-sickens-japanese-tourists/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Kristen Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:51:00 +0000 http://granitestudio.org/?p=76#comment-186 That's so funny! I can totally understand why the Japanese were shocked by the treatment they received in Paris. Most Parisians I encountered were rude, with a few exceptions. I went on a short trip to Paris while I was studying abroad (in 2001) and found that Parisians fit into one of roughly three categories: old people (who remember Normandy and consequently were very friendly), middle-aged people (who were not alive during WWII and thus were very rude to me and my friend), and the young people (who watch American TV and think that Americans are cool). When we were walking along the Rue de Rivoli from our hostel to the Louvre, this little old man came up to us, grabbed our faces, and kissed us on both cheeks, saying "You are American! Do you want me to take a picture of you?" He was really sweet and took a picture of us right outside the entrance to the Louvre. I will never forget how happy he was to have seen some Americans. Anyway, these three categories were just my experience...did anyone else get the same thing?<br /><br />P.S. Thanks for commenting on my post! That’s so funny! I can totally understand why the Japanese were shocked by the treatment they received in Paris. Most Parisians I encountered were rude, with a few exceptions. I went on a short trip to Paris while I was studying abroad (in 2001) and found that Parisians fit into one of roughly three categories: old people (who remember Normandy and consequently were very friendly), middle-aged people (who were not alive during WWII and thus were very rude to me and my friend), and the young people (who watch American TV and think that Americans are cool). When we were walking along the Rue de Rivoli from our hostel to the Louvre, this little old man came up to us, grabbed our faces, and kissed us on both cheeks, saying “You are American! Do you want me to take a picture of you?” He was really sweet and took a picture of us right outside the entrance to the Louvre. I will never forget how happy he was to have seen some Americans. Anyway, these three categories were just my experience…did anyone else get the same thing?

P.S. Thanks for commenting on my post!

]]> By: Chris http://granitestudio.org/2006/10/23/paris-syndrome-lack-of-european-civilization-sickens-japanese-tourists/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Chris Tue, 24 Oct 2006 08:44:00 +0000 http://granitestudio.org/?p=76#comment-182 I had a sort of opposite Paris experience. It was a holiday--May Day 2003--so that may have skewed things for the better.<br /><br />I came in with low expectations, having heard stories of dirty streets and unfriendly people. Yet, when I got lost the first day (as I do everywhere) an old man saw me looking at a map and said in perfect English, Do you need help? You are American?" Down the road, after another wrong turn, a middle-aged guy walking with his daughter (baguette and all) put us back on the path.<br /><br />And this was two months in to the Iraq war, so Americans weren't so popular. Again, maybe it was the holiday, and maybe it was the low expectations, but I came away with a better impression than most of my friends who go.<br /><br />I just spent way too much money. I had a sort of opposite Paris experience. It was a holiday–May Day 2003–so that may have skewed things for the better.

I came in with low expectations, having heard stories of dirty streets and unfriendly people. Yet, when I got lost the first day (as I do everywhere) an old man saw me looking at a map and said in perfect English, Do you need help? You are American?” Down the road, after another wrong turn, a middle-aged guy walking with his daughter (baguette and all) put us back on the path.

And this was two months in to the Iraq war, so Americans weren’t so popular. Again, maybe it was the holiday, and maybe it was the low expectations, but I came away with a better impression than most of my friends who go.

I just spent way too much money.

]]> By: 舒 杰 瑞 http://granitestudio.org/2006/10/23/paris-syndrome-lack-of-european-civilization-sickens-japanese-tourists/comment-page-1/#comment-181 舒 杰 瑞 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 06:11:00 +0000 http://granitestudio.org/?p=76#comment-181 Forget Paris. Go to Japan and try to find a litter bin within a 50-mile radius. It's nearly impossible. Why? Supposedly, this reduces littering by discouraging people to buy goods that have disposable parts. Which brings to mind the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode with the chicken kebab stick...amazing. Forget Paris. Go to Japan and try to find a litter bin within a 50-mile radius. It’s nearly impossible. Why? Supposedly, this reduces littering by discouraging people to buy goods that have disposable parts. Which brings to mind the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode with the chicken kebab stick…amazing.

]]> By: 無名 - wu ming http://granitestudio.org/2006/10/23/paris-syndrome-lack-of-european-civilization-sickens-japanese-tourists/comment-page-1/#comment-180 無名 - wu ming Tue, 24 Oct 2006 05:24:00 +0000 http://granitestudio.org/?p=76#comment-180 paris, bah. i once met some poor japanese tourist lost in vietnam who had not taken the new microbe environment well. guy looked wrecked. paris, bah. i once met some poor japanese tourist lost in vietnam who had not taken the new microbe environment well. guy looked wrecked.

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