Cya in 7
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For the past ten years (whoa) I've been married to a military officer, but not just any military, the red headed step-child of the "armed forces" the Coast Guard. And by the very nature of its name, my husband's job is to "Guard" the "Coast" which means we have had the (ahem) honor to live in some pretty sweet areas of our great country.
For example: We currently live in Hawaii. We moved here from Washington, D.C. and so on and so forth. Now, this rant isn't about idiots out on the American Waterways, this rant is about tourists.
Being that we currently live in what is (arguably) the top tourist hotspot in America, the island is crawling with folks who, since they are "on vacation", demand being catered to 24/7.
Tourists are great, they're always good for a good heartfelt laugh when walking down the street in their fanny packs, cheap Hawaiian print shirts, black socks pulled up to their knobby knees under sandals, and video cameras hanging off their necks. But, come on people. Some of us have lives we have to live. Yes, People live here.... the rest of us did not get off the cruise ship with you.
When you are dining out in a restaurant, this might be a really big deal to you, so much so that you have to TALK REALLY LOUD SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SQUAKING INTO YOUR CELL PHONE ABOUT HOW YOU ARE IN HONOLULU! YEAH! I KNOW!! ITS BEAUTIFUL HERE!!"
Seriously? The rest of us? Don't need to hear about "the fantastic price you paid for your ticket, but dear god! It's expensive here!!!" We know.... we live it.
We are just trying to enjoy our meal. You know. US. The people who have to live on this island you come to, go to a luau, ride your duck boat tour down the street staring at all the rest of us just trying to take our kids to school, and go to jobs that we hate, that pay crap so we can spend it on stuff you can buy for 20%-40% cheaper when you go back to North Dakota, or Alabama, or wherever it is you came from.
And something else? We all don't exist to serve you. They didn't make me sign a waiver that I would become a personal tourist concierge before they allowed me to move here.
Living in D.C. was similar, although a little more tolerable, since D.C. tourists come with a sense of reverence to see America's Capital City. Usually the older retired set, or families with children bringing them on a personal history lesson. Not like here, where people come to get "lei'd" and want to do nothing more then sit on a beach drinking mai tais.
Just remember this: Wherever you go, whatever you do, Have fun, enjoy your stay, but keep in mind that the rest of us have to go to Safeway and buy the toilet paper you wipe your Topeka Kansas ass on.
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I visited Hawaii once. I hope I wasn't that annoying tourist. I do remember how nice the people were. The first day we were there, we checked into the hotel and then wanted to drive around and find somewhere to eat. I put the video camera on the hood of the car to strap the baby in the car seat and forgot about it. As we were pulling out of the parking lot this car honked at us. I thought it was a little wierd but we drove away, again I hear a honk behind us and I look back and they are waving our video camera out the window. We pulled over and retrieved our video camera. They told us at first they were just going to turn it into the front desk, but then they were afraid we might be checking out so they followed us to give it back. I couldn't believe how nice that was. I will never forget that. Thanks for the laugh! It makes me want to go back again even if the milk is a small fortune!
ReplyDeleteWow! Somebody sure has an "elitist" attitude. Give me a freakin break! How long have you lived in Hawaii? A year or two? That hardly makes you a local. I suspect that you could find some annoying ass cell phone user in just about any restraunt in any city in the United States. So, let me get this straight. You get annoyed when somebody askes for your help with directions? I thought one of the things that made Hawaii great was how happy and friendly the "locals" were. Guess not. Get over yourself.
ReplyDeleteI am not a "local" and don't claim to be. I also do not work in the "tourism" industry. And I don't get "annoyed" when people ask for directions, I get "annoyed" when people are rude about it. I'm asking that people respect where they are. Certain (not all) tourists dump their trash, don't care about stepping on the vegetation, not respecting the history/locales/etc. And I'm not an "elitist". I am a military spouse, so I can respect that the certain locals do not appreciate us here, but I live on the economy because living on base is where the "scared of the real world" elitists are (in my opinion). I have a feeling I know you, anonymous, be a grown up and show your name.
ReplyDeletelol. this was funny. i always thought it would be weird to live in a high tourist town. i never really thought about the fact that i'm the nerb with the camera strapped to my neck taking photos of things the locals see everyday. it would be odd to have hoards of people come to gawk at what you see everyday.
ReplyDeleteto whoever anonymous is, aside from the fact that we already know i can't stand people having an opinion but not being able to own it, i think i might have been reading a different blog than you. i don't remember emi saying she get's annoyed with people asking for directions. actually i don't remember her saying anything about being asked for directions at all. i also don't think she sounds like an elitist. i think you need to go to hawaii and get yourself lei'd so you can calm down. the rest of us thought the blog was funny.
Wow, anonymous, what's your problem? I thought this was a great rant that touched on something very true in our society. It was fun to read and not offensive at all. Since when does getting annoyed with rude people make someone an elitist?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say amen to Angee's last two sentences.
ReplyDeleteI was curious about this rant because my husband has to go to the Military base for 2 weeks for school. I am tagging along for the free room. “Anonymous” is dead on. Well except for calling you an "elitist". To me you came across more as a small town girl in a big city. Take out Hawaii and insert Las Vegas, Malibu or Anaheim. Your rant is the reality of living in EVERY SINGLE WARM WEATHERED tourist destination. I'm not disagreeing that these things aren't annoying but they are not exclusive to Honolulu. Ever thought about Rome or Paris? Hell, as an 11 year old American living in Athens I'd get asked direction by adult tourist who spoke English on my way to the park to play. Do you think American tourist visiting Mykonos take the time to understand the culture. No- They want to drink all night, puke on the city streets and then lay on the beach all day. Sound familiar???
ReplyDeleteYou did indeed say you were ANNOYED. I quote "We all don't exist to serve you. They didn't make me sign a waiver that I would become a personal tourist concierge." Maybe you prefer "bothered, irked, badgered, harassed, or ruffled." but annoyed is as good a word as any to describe the sentiment beyond your words. Nice back peddle though, I think I felt the air rush by as I read your second comment. You implied “the tourists” in D.C. are more tolerable than Hawaii but deed not qualify what kind of tourists you meant. i.e., “only the rude ones.”
I don’t mean to speak for anonymous but I think they were trying to say that the subject matter of your rant was a little silly. (complaining about tourists in Hawaii???) Perhaps you love going to rock concert but you hate the loud music and all the crowds or the Swiss Alps was beautiful, but you hated the pesky snow, or maybe you love eating but hate the calories?????? Well, I would agree with you on that last one.
Ah, a kindred spirit! I have to agree, Emi. Living and working on Cape Cod has given me a whole new appreciation for the "locals". I think I had a similar rant in my blog last summer....I just wish I could tell people that I am not on their vacation. I have work to do, so shut-up and get out of the way! Oh and traffic laws are not suspended because you are on vacation either. AND if you can't ride your bike without training wheels or without falling off then don't ride in the street.
ReplyDelete-Diatomsrcool (anne)
After reading the newest of KG's rants I formally apologize. I had no idea how full of horse shit a rant could possibly be. FYI- it's not about her political views entirely, the whole thing blows in every way. For the record, you did ... back down when you were challenged. Don't do that----- However, I should have given you more credit. This one sucks so badly yours is a Pulitzer prize winner in comparison. I apologize in a major way. I really wish I had read a "true" bad one before I read yours, which now BTW- I really like. I don't agree with it- but I like it. I'm sure this doesn't change your opinion of me, and that's okay- but I'm throwin' it out there. you can throw it right back if ya want to.
ReplyDelete