Tourists Behaving Badly

Saint Ambrose of Milan
(Public Domain)

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is advice worth considering, especially when traveling to countries that emphasize social mores.

This adage was allegedly first utilized by Saint Ambrose of Milan while mentoring Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica.  The two had been planning to visit 4^th-century Rome and were wondering whether to adhere to its Saturday fasting schedule, which differed from that of Milan.

If some of today’s impetuous tourists were to seek wise counsel, much angst could be avoided.  This past summer, an Australian Instagrammer thought he’d entertain online viewers with a video of him drinking from a can left on a Japanese headstone as a likely offering to the ancestors.  “He’s then seen burping in front of the grave.”

This, plus many another tourist breach, has resulted in public outcry all the way up to embassy levels and online apologies.  What the world needs now is not only love sweet love, but also wisdom sweet wisdom.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_in_Rome,_do_as_the_Romans_do            

https://news.yahoo.com/news/articles/anger-japan-instagrammer-drinks-burial-062859207.html