I am not following this little squabble lol.
It would upsetting to be abroad and be met with rudeness (‘ugly American’) due to your nationality. But this situation discussed here is the opposite - a well travelled mother trying to raise well - travelled girls.
Let’s face it, people can let their guard down and some can be uncouth when they travel. Unfortunately this reflects on the rest of us from that cultural group regardless of how polite and interested we personally are.
If I go to Britain I am likely to run into the occasional jokey comment about my ancestors being comedy pirates and prostitutes.
At least ppl from the US have the good graces not to think this way or at least refrain from saying such things out loud lol.
So perhaps not such ‘ugly Americans’ to me