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Bad travel experience (self.solotravel)

TravelThrowayay が 投稿

I from Scotland. Im Mixed dad is Haitian mom is Scot. I have to say American south your fucking weird. I started my trip in Cali made my way to the PNW and went to visit a friend in Georgia Atlanta

He is in class Im sitting outside his class waiting. Were suppose to go dinner after his class get some drinks I was there to pick him up.

A black american girl approaches me in the hall asked if I wanna join her group after school Black empowerment meet up.

I politely tell her no thanks I'm just waiting on my friend. She proceeds to laugh at me and tell me to stop with the fake accent and join up. I tell here I'm form Scotland here visiting a friend and not into joining her group. She proceed to get angry and tell me there no such thing as a black Scottish person. I then tell her I was born there and my mother is Scottish. this girl then proceeds to tell me Scottish people would never accept blacks in there county and ask me a again why I'm putting on a "bullshit accent"

here where things get bad. One of her friends walks over and ask whats up. She tell him I'm fucking with her. He pushes me as and say I quote "why are you fucking with her " I start to see people coming out of my friends class he see whats up explains. The girl and guy they say sorry and say they just really could not believe there were blacks in Scotland and really through I was "messing with them "

I just wanted to say. I was in GA for 2 days but this really bothered me. I mean I had no problem any were else I travel in the US Seattle, Sf, Portland. But Atlanta sucked. I had some other weird stuff happen in the city but I don't wanna get into it. Lets just say there a lot of Ignorant rude people I meet in that city. Has anyone else had a bad experience there? I dont think ill be back.

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[–]Askii 37 ポイント38 ポイント  (0子コメント)

That kind of treatment, from someone working toward 'Black Empowerment' -- sheesh! I'm sorry you had to experience that. I can only imagine how distressing and alienating that must be, and to a visitor, no less.

Can you chalk it up to the ignorance of a few?

When you consider the history of the state in regard to race, it might not be so surprising to encounter uncommon reactivity and defensiveness there.

[–]Ho_Lee_Fuk 43 ポイント44 ポイント  (8子コメント)

I can see that happening. Welcome to an aspect of African-American culture that Europeans rarely experience. Perhaps this has given you a deeper understanding of the racial divide in the U.S.

[–]qdxv 5 ポイント6 ポイント  (1子コメント)

It is more 'social justice' culture than black culture, because whites do this shit too. Social justice US college campus cretins are totally fucking nuts now, they talk and think like an alien species.

[–]Oggie243 6 ポイント7 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Student politics is literally full of people who just like the sound of their own voice.

[–]Boredinillinoisridin' solo 19 ポイント20 ポイント  (1子コメント)

I am from the north of the USA and must say I avoided the south for a long time. Not only cuz I prefer to travel abroad, but I also always just had a not so great expectation of it.

Well, last year I went twice and LOVED it. New Orleans is now one of my favorite places. The people were super nice to me, the food was great, the music was great too. 10/10 will go back someday. I've never been to Atlanta, but I'd say don't write off an entire half of a huge country becaue of one crappy group of people in one city.

[–]audeo13[🍰] 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'm from Canada and lived in New Orleans for a while. As a result, I had a chance to tour much of the south (checked out Atlanta too). Can say without a doubt that New Orleans is one of the best cities in the US. Can also say that it's different from other parts of the south, which can seem really messed up when you're not used to it. NOLA, while it has aspects of the crazy, it also seems like its own little microcosm of awesome - a blend of old world european, cajun and southern mixed with just a little bit of the new world. Great music, great food 24/7. Great town with some truly charming and colorful people, would happily go back in a hearbeat. The rest of the south... nope nope aaaaaand nope.

edit: spelling

[–]pwnz0rd 21 ポイント22 ポイント  (1子コメント)

Hey man, I live in Atlanta and I do a lot of traveling both domestically and abroad. First off, let me say I am so sorry you had a bad experience.

I don't want to get too into the racial stuff, but keep a few things in mind. One, Atlanta was the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and thus was the home of the civil rights movement in America in the 60's. In that context, Atlanta is still a place where there is a lot of activism and plenty of opportunity to get involved with great groups that are doing good.

On the other hand, Atlanta is a very divided place (not just racially) and you will have a completely different experience depending on where you are in the city. There are still parts of the city and suburbs that are predominantly white or predominantly black where racism is still alive and kicking. On the other hand, places like midtown are hotbeds for art and culture and have some of the most inclusive communities in the entirety of the US.

Sounds like you were near a college (I'm assuming Tech or State), and your probably ran into some college kids that aren't mature enough to really address the issues that they claim to represent. I've been living here for years and i haven't really had an experience like that. On the other hand, keep in mind that the election results have inflamed tensions and the past few months have seen a lot of activism, protest, dissidence etc in the US as a whole. This is especially so on college campuses, which have always been one of the breeding grounds for social movements and radical thought in the US (both good and bad).

Atlanta still has a lot of things it has to address - public transportation, infrastructure, race relations, inner city education, gerrymandered districts etc. but I believe its trending in the right direction. If you ever do make it back please PM me and I'll give you some recommendations on where to see the real Atlanta. Sorry for your troubles friend.

[–]vtfan08 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

ATLien here. This post is spot on.

[–]mistypee60-ish countries 7 ポイント8 ポイント  (5子コメント)

First off....internet high five from another half-Scot :P

My experience of Atlanta is limited to the airport, but I also had a weird experience there. In my case, it had nothing to do with race though. I was flying from Santiago, Chile back to Toronto. I had a few hours in Atlanta on a layover. It was the end of my trip, and I had just come off a 9-hour red eye flight with a bunch of rowdy drunks on it. I was running on no sleep, so I was looking and feeling a bit bleary. No make-up, hair in a messy bun. I was wearing dark grey cargo pants, hiking boots, a pink fitted t-shirt and a pink zip-up fitted hoodie. In typical Canadian fashion, I had a maple leaf on my bright blue backpack.

I hit up one of the kiosks to grab a bottle of water and a magazine. After paying, as I'm about to walk away, the cashier says, "Thank you for your service."

Being tired and mildly hungover, it took me a while to process the statement. "Sorry, what?"

"Thanks for your service. We really appreciate everything y'all are doing over there."

"Oh....OH! Ma'am, thank you for the sentiment, but I'm not military. I'm just on holidays." I turn around and point to the flag on my backpack. "See. Canadian."

You would think that would be the end of it, but no. She wouldn't accept that I wasn't military. "Don't be silly. It's obvious that you're a soldier." I made a weak attempt to correct her again, but she just scolded me for being modest, "No need to be shy about it. You should be proud of what you're doing."

Uh...sure?

The tale of weirdness doesn't stop there. Having escaped from the kiosk lady, I made my way to one of the restaurants for some breakfast. Enjoying my steaming plate of American Heart Attack, I was feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the process of trying to get my next flight bumped up. I was pulling out my wallet when the waiter brings over my bill, and tells me, "Don't bother looking for your ID. I already applied the military discount."

At this point, I start looking around for the hidden cameras, certain I'm being pranked. "{Heavy sigh} I'm not military."

"Sure you aren't," he answered.

"Buddy, I'm not even American. Even if I were military, it wouldn't be YOUR military. What's the price for the meal without the discount?"

"OK, I get it. You can't admit it. Classified, top secret and all that." He gives me a wink and walks away. Fairly certain I had landed in the twilight zone, I tossed some cash on the table and stood up to leave. As I'm walking by, one of the guys sitting at the table next to me, who had heard the entire conversation with the waiter, says, "Thanks for your service."

By now, I've given up entirely. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

On my way out the door, I overhear his companion asking him, "Why does she have a Canadian flag on her bag?" The man who had thanked me answer back, "I dunno. Must be a Spook or something."

W...T...F???

[–]ilmagnoon 5 ポイント6 ポイント  (1子コメント)

Why did everyone think you were military?

[–]mistypee60-ish countries 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

No idea. Only reason I could think of was the cargo pants and boots....but that's a stretch. Your guess is as good as mine {shrug}

[–]glitterlok 3 ポイント4 ポイント  (1子コメント)

...I have to believe you WERE pranked. And they just never got around to telling you. Seriously, that's the most bizarre thing. And the "classified, top secret" comment? Someone was fucking with you, or you ran into the two strangest people in the airport.

[–]mistypee60-ish countries 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yeah, it was most definitely random. Left me scratching my head for a while. Lol!

[–]Oggie243 4 ポイント5 ポイント  (0子コメント)

I dunno. Must be a Spook or something

That's fucking hilarious

[–]GunzGoPew 5 ポイント6 ポイント  (4子コメント)

It's a problem with American education, to be honest.

Even many activists in America are completely unaware of the world at large. I'm from Ireland originally and some of the questions I get asked by people are....interesting.

[–]kingofvodka 6 ポイント7 ポイント  (2子コメント)

I was at a car dealership outside of Atlanta, and the guy asks where I'm from.

"I'm from England"

"Well then, top of the mornin' to ye!"

I thought he was messing with me but he absolutely wasn't.

[–]GunzGoPew 12 ポイント13 ポイント  (1子コメント)

I've been asked if we have African Americans in Ireland.

Then they got confused when I said no, but there are some black people who live there.

[–]DIY_Historian 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

In my medieval history class in college I had a few people refer to A statue of St Maurice as African American. Took longer than I'd like to explain how it's hard to be African American when America doesn't exist yet.

[–]vtfan08 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'll add to this... It's not just education, but experience. An estimated 64% of Americans have never left the country, and only an estimated 3.5% leave North America (note - these articals are both outdated by 3+ years).

Travel just isn't considered important by non-millennial generations.

[–]albeaner 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

I blame it on American schools.

We are not well educated on the rest of the world. We are barely educated correctly on U.S. history.

So, her ignorance is due to a lack of education, unfortunately. Hopefully you've taught her something.

[–]vtfan08 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

What part of Atlanta were you in?

I was born in MD, moved to Atlanta 3/4 years ago. The south is a weird place. Atlanta is a cool spot, and honestly not that 'southern' (compared to more rural areas). Seattle, SF and Portland are (arguabley) the three most progressive cities in America.

[–]13104598210 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

You experienced racism against a black person from a black person who is working for black empowerment. I'm curious how this influences your view on America, race in America, and American politics?

And btw, I'm very sorry you had a shitty experience. If it's any consolation, Atlanta is a shithole and no one wants to live there.

[–]reredditnogetit 3 ポイント4 ポイント  (0子コメント)

i love when a "tolerant" someone tries to tell you about you

She proceed to get angry and tell me there no such thing as a black Scottish person. I then tell her I was born there and my mother is Scottish. this girl then proceeds to tell me Scottish people would never accept blacks in there county and ask me a again why I'm putting on a "bullshit accent"

as an american, im very sorry that happened to you. unfortunately, there are some extreme elements within the race movement in america that are caustic and highly regressive (it is considered widely unpopular to point this out). sometimes, these few people hijack a totally reasonable and often important movement with their inane hatred, then project those feelings onto the world at large. as others have said, chalk this up to "the ignorance of few," as the majority of americans do not reflect those extreme and ignorant feelings. i hope you enjoyed the rest of your time stateside and come back soon.

[–]billbixbyakahulk 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Ignorance perpetuating and sustaining itself.

[–]JorSum 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

What else happened in Atlanta? Just generally?

[–]cruyff8 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Another Trumpian miracle! /s

[–]BrothaBeejusUSA 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Super sorry that happened to you. But please don't listen to the people in these comments, this has nothing to do with race. Just ignorance.

[–]moggd -1 ポイント0 ポイント  (5子コメント)

OK, this is something I wish foreigners to the US understood. The US is a great place, but its HUGE and states can vary widely from one to another! Unfortunately, while there are some quality people in the South, the majority of the southern US is pretty trashy. Not the cities either, the people. Uneducated, closed minded, racist, stuck in their ways, people. This is pretty much widely known to all left leaning Americans.

As a gay person who has been to the south I can see why you may not have liked it. I've not had the best experiences there myself. It's like going back in time.

[–]annerevenant 5 ポイント6 ポイント  (2子コメント)

The US is a great place, but its HUGE and states can vary widely from one to another!

the majority of the southern US is pretty trashy. Not the cities either, the people. Uneducated, closed minded, racist, stuck in their ways, people. This is pretty much widely known to all left leaning Americans.

Way to tell someone to not paint a region with a broad brush and then turn around and do the exact same thing. I've lived in the South for nearly 30 years and have to say that the people I've met here are just as racist as those I've met elsewhere. I've been called a "raghead" and a "Mexican bitch" by people from Colorado and Chicago. I had someone follow my dad and I around a grocery story in Indiana and was asked multiple times in Arizona to prove my citizenship. I can admit the South has its problems but to say that the majority of the people are uneducated, closed minded, racist, etc. is unfair and false. The South didn't elect our current president or the largely conservative house of representatives on their own. I'm terribly sorry you haven't had very good experiences here but I haven't had very good experiences elsewhere - I don't let that color my opinion of the entire region. I have plenty of gay friends, a gay father and all of them are pretty content where they are. I go to church with a largely gay congregation and have a lesbian priest. The South isn't the 1950s hell-hole you assume it to be. Out of curiosity, where in the South did you visit that gave you this impression?

[–]moggd -3 ポイント-2 ポイント  (1子コメント)

I didn't tell him not to paint a region with a broad brush. FL, GA, SC, and AL.

Agree to disagree I guess. These types of things you mention are just way way more common in the south, but obviously they still happen in other places. They also happen in Europe and I'm sure in Scotland as well. No place is perfect. I'm sorry if you disagree.

[–]annerevenant 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

These types of things you mention are just way way more common in the south

Based on your limited experience. You're correct, they happen elsewhere and that shitty people are all over. Just a point of contention: I'm a historian and a lot of academics don't consider Florida a Southern state due to the high Cuban population in the south and the large amount of retirees from all over the US. The demographics don't match the rest of the South. (I've taken two graduate courses on Southern history - Latinos in the South and Defeat and Memory - neither included Florida.)

I've never been to South Carolina or Georgia but I have been to Virginia, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana and (aside from Alabama) have never felt uncomfortable or called a name. I also tend to stick to larger cities like Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Birmingham, etc. I'm willing to bet if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere North Dakota you'd have similar experiences to bumfuck Alabama. Again, I'm sorry you had a bad experience but your bad experience doesn't make it a fact.

[–]jp_books 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

the majority of the southern US is pretty trashy. Not the cities either, the people.

Do you have any idea what a ridiculous statement that is?

[–]carbearnara -1 ポイント0 ポイント  (0子コメント)

This. I avoid the South like the plague.

[–]philsfly22 -2 ポイント-1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'm American and from the northeast. I got a mild case of culture shock when I went to Georgia. I got downvoted to hell last time I said that, but it's the truth. This shit doesn't surprise me. Glad you enjoyed the rest of the country.

[–]adrianmesc -1 ポイント0 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Atlanta is awesome man!

But I will say the USA lacks a lot of tact and class. This is nothing like Europe and the same with our culture and history.

The girl was probably ignorant as hell and had never left the south. I don't know what to tell you other than I'm not too surprised. Take notice of these things and you will understand some of the problems we experience in the USA

[–]kristallnachte -3 ポイント-2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

What you've learned about racism in the US is that the minorities are quickly becoming more openly racist than the majority.

[–]thexenixx -2 ポイント-1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

We've got a lot of angry, self-entitled, stupid people running around places like college campuses these days.

[–]corelatedfish -1 ポイント0 ポイント  (4子コメント)

hate to say it but murica is divided into roughly two groups. if you stick to the blue parts, as a forigner you will be seen as a cat. if you go red side... (like ga) you will get more bs stereotyping. the west cost is where all the Americans that didn't like slavery went... nowhere is that cut and dry but pretty much.

[–]jp_books 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (3子コメント)

Is a university in downtown Atlanta still considered red?

[–]corelatedfish 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (2子コメント)

Georgia? yup.. i mean i know it's stereotypical in of itself but really there are closed of yokels and city folk who ain't so dumb.. this is from personal experience of solo traveling the south.. not my cup of tea. I'm just saying you will have less of that in non-bible belt area's. extreme conservatism(close minded isolationists) is a plague imo and its not easy to avoid... rule of thumb.. .if you can get rush limbo on the radio... leave.

[–]jp_books 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (1子コメント)

I get the feeling that an Afro-American group at a university in downtown Atlanta isn't leaning too far right. OP sounds like he found some real loons.

Source: lived in Georgia for four years, attended a liberal college in a liberal city in Arizona.

[–]corelatedfish 0 ポイント1 ポイント  (0子コメント)

yea... but its a "liberal" college in Georgia... thats where i think op went wrong.... just saying tolerance(maybe better word is open to other cultures) goes down the more east and south you go in the us.. maybe its more liberal in the bigger cities sure, that is to be expected.. but come on if you've never been to the west coast or sf you just don't know the difference between people coast to coast. also you can look up the actual statistics, and yea.

[–]solidpancake -5 ポイント-4 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Pa kite bagay sa yo anmede ou. Se pa chak moman nan vwyaj ou yo kap bon!