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I've been travelling to London for more than twenty-five years (I like the theatre) but I've had to put up with more than my fair share of guff on the part of Britons. Oddly, they often seem to think American visitors are quite deaf - as well as dumb - because they will say the most appalling things within earshot. My favorite was the tour guide at Oxford who began her spiel with the immortal words: "I hate to take Americans around - they're so childish." At an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden, a woman at the next table was very annoyed at the oh-so-American habit of engaging the waiter in small talk. In a loud voice, she announced that Americans were so stupid "they didn't even know how to elect a president." Sometimes my husband and I confront them and sometimes we let it slide. If you confront them with their bad behavior, they often fold like paper angels.

On my last trip, a friend of mine complained about British bad manners and I said offhandedly "Oh, I've had to deal with it for years. You really have to get used to it." The look of embarrassment, shock and shame on the face of a mutual friend after I said that - a British woman - was priceless. I honestly think they don't think we hear them!