Dear Heloise: My husband and I recently returned from a lovely trip to Europe. For the most part, it was enjoyable, except for a couple of embarrassing moments that were not caused by fellow Americans.

We were in Germany when a man from the United States started yelling and insulting the young man stamping our passports. He brought up World War II and made all sorts of ugly accusations.

Finally, his wife grabbed his arm and told him to be nice. The airport security was called, and things just went downhill from there. As an American, I was appalled by the man’s behavior while he was a guest in another country.

We finished our trip in England, where we went to a very nice restaurant for dinner one evening. A couple of Americans were seated at a table next to us, and when the waiter asked them how they were enjoying their trip, they complained loudly that they hated the food in England.

We were also in a beautifully restored historic building, but they said that there were too many “old things” in England. They didn’t like their trip to Stonehenge either because “it was just a pile of old rocks.” They didn’t see the mystery or the historic value.

Americans are not well-liked by many countries because of attitudes like these. If our trip was a sample of “American politeness,” I can understand why we are not liked. When traveling abroad, it’s always best to be polite and use the manners your mother taught you. — Abby H., Franklin, Pennsylvania

Abby, I agree with you that politeness is the best policy. When traveling, we should try to appreciate the things we like about a place rather than looking for what lacks. Yes, they are different from the United States, which is why we choose to go to foreign places. Experience and enjoy the culture of a new place! Remember, the people of that country probably love their country just as much as we love ours. — Heloise

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DRESSING WOES

Dear Heloise: I’m only 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and I’m about 15 pounds overweight. While I’m not grossly overweight, when I wear a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I look like a sack of potatoes tied in the middle. Got any hints for me about dressing slim while I try to work off this extra weight? — Gloria S., Lima, Ohio

Gloria, there are tricks to make you look slimmer:

— A boatneck T-shirt usually makes the hips look smaller.

— A V-neck T-shirt places emphasis on the neck instead of the hips.

— Wear the same color top and bottoms for a slimmer look.

— Avoid flowery prints, tent dresses or anything too baggy or too tight.

— Stretchy fabrics often showcase every bump, so avoid them.

— Keep jewelry at the neckline or above. Avoid wide belts and shiny fabrics.

— Vertical stripes are your new best friend! — Heloise

SMOKE DETECTOR REMINDER

Dear Readers: Make a habit of checking any smoke detectors in your home every Memorial Day or Fourth of July. (Or you can pick any day you want, but just make sure to pick one you’ll always remember.) Make certain that it has working batteries and functions properly. — Heloise

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