On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:50:52 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:



I am afraid that the old "Ugly American" from the 50's novel has taken on a
new meaning.

Maybe the same meaning. I do hope they went to the trouble to learn
to ask for a beer in Russian. It's not that difficult.
Even the guys who wrote "Ugly American" didn't really "get it."
As I recall the hero gained some cred by noticing the old women were
hunched over because they had no handles on their brooms.
With his great American entrepreneurial and engineering mind the hero
showed them that they could actually sweep without bending over.
I mentioned this once to my wife, who grew up early without
electricity. She laughed her ass off that somebody should suggest
that any human tribe within the last 50,000 years didn't know how to
make a friggin long-handled broom.
I had never even thought of that, but of course I'm an American.
Anyway, the most rudimentary knowledge of the native language goes a
very long way with the natives. I've seen it in action.

--Vic