Venisha Colon 
Traveling is a privilege that a lot of people don’t get to do often or at all. This summer, I was lucky enough to have been able to save up enough money to finally go somewhere that wasn’t in the U.S.: I took a study abroad course in Italy for marketing. This was my first time travelling so far away and completely on my own, but I was excited and ready to take in the culture.
I spent some time learning a few key words in Italian to get by, but I found that almost every place I went to was accommodating to English speakers. We stayed in Florence, a popular tourist spot, during the height of the travel season in the country. Everything felt Americanized for the “tourist.” It felt like they were holding our hands no matter where we went. Some enthusiastically, and others not so much. I get it. There was an air of fatigue in the locals you could see and hear when you interacted with them, and I don’t blame them. When your home turns into an amusement park for the privileged and you in turn become an accessory to their travel vlog, I can see how you’d be over it after a while.
I tried my best to be as respectful as possible when interacting with locals. I know the stereotype of the rude American, and I saw some keen examples while I was there. People throwing trash everywhere, kicking the birds on the street and just the sheer entitlement among these tourists. At a rooftop bar one evening, I overheard an American woman being incredibly rude to a staff member and vowing to “never come back here.” The fact she thought they’d even want her back is another story, but it was insane to witness. This particular bar was a hot spot for tourists because of its Instagrammable backdrop of the Duomo di Firenze, so everyone comes here to get their little picture and that’s all they care about. The staff were just done with everything, and I felt it in our interactions.
At the same time, the anti-tourist sentiment was visible in the streets not just in Florence but in almost every other city we explored. I kept coming across graffiti with one phrase persisting: “Yankee go home.” I felt awful for even existing there. There’s a way to travel respectfully, and I really believe that yet it’s hard when others set a bad example. In a way, I understood how they felt, to a lesser extent. In Brownsville, we get a sizable influx of tourists for SpaceX launches. They come here, get their clip of the rocket and, then, go home without thinking of how we’re affected.
I don’t think it’s inherently wrong to be a “tourist.” But you should always be a human first. Learn the language. Learn their history. Go in the off-season if possible and spend time in the less trafficked areas. Talk to locals like they’re normal people because they are. People should be understanding and recognize that, while you’re there for fun, you’re also a guest in someone’s home. Basically, don’t be a jerk.
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