US contractor: cultural misappropriator

Recently I was stuck in the airport in Rome because of inclement weather. A US government contractor sat near me, talking with a waiter visiting Italy to test its cuisine. The contractor, a white male, spent hours talking about all the countries he visited– purporting cultural expertise–but actually showing bigotry toward every place he has lived.

He also gave away several pieces of personally identifying information, as well as identifying his wife. I will not share this information, but I will just say that she is not white and is a prominent US ambassador. I find it strange that he would speak so openly in a public place.

Here’s what he shared:

“Colombian women are aggressive. I was in Nicaragua for two years and they’re aggressive, but not like [Colombians].” –Explaining that Colombia has a high rate of divorce.

“I don’t think I’ve lived in one peaceful place, like Australia, where nothing ever happens.”

“Go to Cape Town and do a safari.”

On Thailand: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” On partying in Thailand: “If you can make it without catching some incurable disease…”

“You have to give the Middle East 24 hours.” -In response to a colleague’s complaint that a train in Egypt she took left 30 minutes late (said while waiting several hours for a flight on a US airline).

Russian is originally an “Arabic-based language.”

“I am so done with third-world countries.”

“Italy is a third world country trying its best not to be.”

“There’s more people in Tokyo [than Rome] but everything runs on time.”

“I could live here the rest of my life.” –talking earlier about Italy.

“It’s about time. When I call up [a company, etc] and I have to press one just to hear English, otherwise it’s going to be in Spanish.” -Talking about a cheesesteak joint in Philadelphia that had sign on its window that said, “English only.”

About riots in Piazza del Popolo, Rome on Tuesday, Dec. 14: “Molotov cocktails” were thrown “directly in front of the UN.”

“When I joined the Marines I was that guy. Now I see how other cultures work, cause I’m really in the society.” –After saying he can spot Americans a mile away because they are loud and act like they own the world.

“That’s the shit I’m missing about the United States.” -The waiter is talking about a store that sells Asian cooking supplies, the “Walmart of Asian cooking.”

“Which I’ll do because I’m a dedicated fan.” –On staying up until 4am to watch American football.

“I just wanna walk around Best Buy for two hours and not buy anything.”

“The worst thing we have [in the United States] is people are anti-war or anti-government.”

He gives out a personal email because you don’t know “what the department’s reading.” He also doesn’t keep a business card when he’s “tourist traveling.”

“Everything is Wikileaks now. He turned himself in right?”

He says the US State Department gets a discount at many hotels. In Istanbul he was staying in the city’s “big, five-star hotel” for about $70 a night, because the whole floor is already reserved by the State Department, and even if no one stays there State still pays for it.