Well - I watched an episode of race 6 tonight. Maybe I am just disconnected from the race I was following on pay TV (race 2) and haven't been following this one from the start, but gee I just couldn't find any couple to identofy with and cheer on amongst this lot.

There was one dude that reminded me of the stereotypical "ugly american abroad". His name is John - maybe Jonathon. Man I just cheered when the Budapest taxi driver threw his punk ass the hell outta his cab :D . What a knob end he made of himself. All the other pairs seem to just be yelling at each other with hardly any teamwork going on - just one huge bitchin session. The ones that seem to be working together are the poor suckers (weightlifters) that had the car break down.

I would have liked to see someone hit something with one of those catapults though ;) .

I guess this show doesn't do a lot in a positive sense for the American traveller image, because it encourages so much bossiness and demanding and riding roughshod from its competitors to achieve the goals and win the million. I tend to prefer the couples that engage the locals in helping them and that think their way around problems rather than the ones that try to stampede on through. Maybe that is why I want to see Will (series 2) and Johnny (series 6) get their come-uppances ;) .

I heard Rupert on the radio a few months ago, and he's really a pretty cool guy, 1/2 his million was gobbled up in taxes, and the rest he used to pay off his house, his parents house, and start a charity "Ruperts Kids"

Ladyzekke I sure like your taste in T.V. I also love amazing race. I was choked about last week when the southeren guys got the boot. I liked it when he got onto the zip line and said that at least it is getting a load test.

And I do not care if Amber and Rob are on I kinda like them. I mean if the let gay people on the should allow anyone on. Joke Joke Joke. Just trying to ruffle some feather. That gay couple crackes me up. I loved it when he said the poncho looked cute on his partner. ;)

In last week's episode, Kendra and Freddy were riding in a taxi to the airport in Senegal. Kendar'a looking out the taxi window in disgust at all the poverty and pollution and grime and says to Freddy in a disgusted tone of voice, "Why do these people keep breeding?". Geez, definately an "ugly American traveller".

Yea, what's with Rob n' Amber going for another million... was that first $1 Mill just not enough for them? [img]tongue.gif[/img] It looks to be a good season so far though. ;)

Yeah, everyone HATED John. He's a wife beater. Rich little whiner. I was hoping some other team would have kicked his ass.

And Darvos--most all Americans do not act like that. He ALMOST acts like he's a flamer/gay.

lol, there was this one gay couple a few seasons ago that was all laid back, and lol, they would go shopping and crap and still have time to come in early in the race! Crazy. They never rushed, never ran or anything, I just thought it was funny and kinda cool.

They went shopping? Lol... how close did they get to winning? ;)

Chill Z [img]smile.gif[/img] - I know that most Americans don't act like that prize idiot John boy.

Never the less, American's don't have a reputation for being "great travellers". By that I am referring to international travel, and it stems back mainly to the fact that things abroad are not like they are at home. I have travelled fairly widely and run into quite a few Americans abroad. Let me just say that what I have seen backs up the sterotype. You guys and gals are much easier to get along with when you are in familiar surroundings.

I still have visions of a particular foursome in the elegant breakfast room at the Turnberry Hotel (*****). Nothing was ever right fo these people. They strolled on in in caps and sunglasses and started bossing about the staff. "No - I am not interesed in going up to the buffet - you can do that for me. I want two lightly poached eggs and some crisp rashers of bacon. I want toast, and by that I don't mean under the eggs I want it on the side. And none of these little racks that I have to butter myself - I want twice that much and I want it hot buttered. Now - do you have a Washington Post today, or do I have to do without again. Urgh - don;t you English know how to make decent coffee - it's not hard you know. Gee - could you have picked me any more ameobic bacon - surely they had some better cooked stuff .........."

OK - those guys and gals were extreme, but you get my drift. The last golf tour I went on had a total of 4 Americans that joined us Aussies. One of them really mixed in and had a great time. He was really great company. The others were quite painful to deal with in terms of their foibles. I got a trifle bored with their propensity for telling us how much better things ere back home in the states - it made me wonder why they were out in the wide world experiencing things.

As a footnote - the one guy who's company I really enjoyed left us on the day that a plane flew into the WTC. He joined up with us again the next day in Ireland, his plane being turned back form Newark, and having nowhere else to go until the borders opened again he came and rejoined us. He was a reformed alcoholic and he was really having a hard time dealing with the fact that he worked in one of the towers and that so many people he knew might be dead. We stayed up late at night for several of the next nights keeping him company and finding him things to do so that he wouldn't be brooding over things. I hope he is doing well, cos American Bob (we also had an Aussie Bob so we had to distinguish them) was a great guy.

I love meeting Americans, and travelling in America, but I am cautious about Americans abroad. That is the reputation that this TAR show does nothing for, because it reinforces the stereoytpe.

BTW - the pair who stopped to do the shopping were on the series 2 show that I watched on Tuesday. They did that and still managed to get the first plane to OZ [img]smile.gif[/img] .

Hmm, well they showed the first episode in the middle of the day on Sunday I think it was....