The Ugly American

Ok, in three weeks we head off for our first trip to Europe. I'm very excited ( and not just because I get to be with my daughter again after 7 months). But - I am a social worker and "The Ugly American" was mandatory reading in my anthropology class days .(Yes, I know that was many, many years ago!) I really want to represent myself (and my country) in a positive way so I've been thinking about ways to avoid being seen as "ugly" by the lovely dutch folks. That may be somewhat difficult with my Missouri Show Me state, Arkansas (Go Pigs, Soooooeh), Texan, and South Carolina southern background. So I need a list to help me avoid the pitfalls. This is what I've got so far:
1. Blend in. (i.e. leave the sapphire blue coat at home -per Michelle's advice).
2. Leave politics out of all conversations. (I figure that since Michelle and her Dad fight on the phone about politics already - it would be best to avoid this topic completely. Actually, as far as I'm concerned that's a topic I always prefer to avoid.)
3. Keep my voice volumn down. (I hope this doesn't apply to singing - but I will avoid singing in public places.)
4. Speak dutch. (Well, that's one item I won't be doing. As bad as I am at languages I'd probably insult someone while asking where the bathroom is. So scratch that one from the list.)

Suggestions anyone?

I think I'm going - "blonde"

Last weekend Ron and I had a formal "do" to attend. I spent much of the weekend before shopping for the right dress (fashionable, sexy - but not too sexy). So Friday comes and I hurry home from work so I would have time to showere and do my hair and make-up before going out. Ron gets home, changes too and off we go.
We get down town and stroll up to the party location - only to find the entire building completely cloed up and dark. So now we walk back to the car and call Logan (who happened to be home on break and actually at the house for a change) and ask him to go look at the invitation. Sure enough - right there in plain english - the date of the party - Saturday (not Friday!).
I actually found it quite funny - and told Ron we had a "dress rehearsal".
So now I need to decide if I am turning blonde or if this was a "senior" moment. Personally, I vote for going blonde!