Author: Grace Simon
The ugly American is the offensive behavior of an American traveler abroad. While not all abroad travelers are depicted as ugly and offensive, the cases that tourists have been deemed disrespectful it is difficult to overcome that stigma. Since being abroad, and even when preparing for this trip, I have been mindful of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Cyprus and been attempting to avoid developing the “ugly American” stigma.
One of the biggest cultural differences that I have noticed in the short time I have been in Cyprus is the speed of the day. In the United States there is constantly a push for doing tasks in the most effective and efficient way as possible. In this efficiency there is little downtime to appreciate what is going on in our daily routines. In Cyprus, the community and people are much more relaxed and calmer, the people in the towns are not in a rush and taking time to be mindful of where they are at in life and their surroundings. One of the ways I have seen this is the number of outdoor physical activities is much more prevalent in Cyprus. On our first day here, we walked along the sea and saw multiple stands for watersports that were affordable and even a free outdoor gym, available for all residents located right on the boardwalk.
The main emphasis I would place on these activities is the availability and affordability of these items. The various activities being affordable make it much easier for people to access them and utilize their benefits. Being outside and getting active is not only good for physical health but it consequently improves mental health as well.
More positive health outcomes in Cyprus may be linked to their more available outdoor activities and the lack of stress and anxiety that are present in the culture here.
The attached photo of the outdoor gym shows the accessible possibilities for the members of the community.
