If you've ever traveled abroad as an American, the chances are you know how it feels to be detected as one. It’s not that we hide it (in fact, we are prouder than anything else!) but sometimes you just wish you could blend in with the rest of the crowd and feel what it’s like to be treated as a local.
And all it takes is to step foot inside, for example, a “bar” in Italy and order a beer on tap, or worse, a cappuccino after 12, and here you've earned a bunch of eyerolls with a solid “where in America are you from?” But in order to find out what really gives Americans away in an instant, we have to look at what non-Americans have to say about their radars themselves.
So below we collected some of the most interesting responses to “How do you spot an American tourist ‘from a mile away’?” on “AskReddit” and wow, this is kinda weirdly specific.
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Americans are very loud, I swear you have loudhailers hidden in your clothes somewhere.
Over 40, the tourists tend to be more on the very overweight side, but the women still wear yoga pants and the men always have a combination of button up shirts and loose fitting cargo shorts. And both men and women wear baseball caps and Oakley's or sunglasses similar to that style; with white trainers.
Under 40, you're very friendly, in a way that's both endearing and creepy. When we chat I feel like I'm being indoctrinated into a cult.
I’m American and I really cannot stand how loud most people are here. I have a quiet voice and it’s considered some kind of a fault by some. It’s actually really stressful.
The way they dress. For some reason Americans abroad dress like they're doing some hard core exploring in the Amazon...even when they're just visiting a European city.
"Hey oh you're [Irish/Scottish/Italian/etc]! I'm [same] too!"
"Oh really? Whereabouts you from?"
"California. My great great great grandpappy was from here though!"
If you are so proud of your country, why do you still mention the origins of your ancestors?Sounds like a European saying he's a Celtic, a Roman or a Viking... (even if it was cool, tho)
Amazed by things which are more than 200 years old, presumably because they don't have many things that old in the USA.
Same in Australia. We once went to a “historic” attraction that people were really fawning over. It was from the 1950s, my mum is older than it 😆
Had an image of an ozzy tourist crowd fawning over your mum, now.
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I was thinking the same thing. History didn't start when europeans colonized. Spending time with people on rez's taught me a lot.
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On the upside, we rarely have to worry that digging a foundation will involve archeological oversight. "We just wanted to expand our parking lot, but instead we found King Richard!"
In truth, there's plenty of archeological oversight - the white people who colonized just tend(ed) to ignore it, sadly.
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My school in Britain (not the building, but the school group itself) is 1,336 years old. Sounds a lot, but some schools are much older.
A fire swept through my town in 1889 and burned the city to the ground. So the oldest buildings here were built around 1890.
Standing in amazement of the culture and architectural achievements of another country. How can Americans be so rude and disrespectful? Next thing we'll do is ask where the bathroom is. Oh I'm sorry. Toilet.
Edit: Ok, I reread your comment and I take it you're being sarcastic? I feel like people are misunderstanding or misinterpreting the sentiment. It isn't us thinking no other culture could achieve impressive things, it's that human development and achievement through the ages ARE impressive. Human ingenuity is amazing. Plus, the development of western civilization is largely at the root of what became the U.S. so in a way, it's our ancestors' history and achievements as well. My ancestry is Italian and yeah I'm proud of and in awe of what the Romans accomplished millennia ago. It's fascinating stuff. Maybe they just aren't a history buff or someone that can appreciate another's accomplishments? Engineering and architectural marvels are awesome regardless of origin.
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Like Australia the historical buildings are not as old and when I first came here (Europe) I was blown away by the old buildings.
Same. when I was in Milan I particularly noticed the weird juxtaposition of old and new. Sometimes a building about 1000 years old next to a modern one. Also, many of the old Australian buildings have already been bulldozed by developers after an 'accidental fire'. Thank god we at least had Jack Mundey back in the day.
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To be fair, some states aren't even 200 years old. Plus, some are amazed by great barbeque as well.
Oh come on! There are ancient cliff dwellings in the southwest U.S. that are very, very old and archeological evidence of mound building cultures in the midwest that are even older. The U.S. didn't just suddenly happen when the first European set foot here.
Not to mention the fact that we have some of the oldest tree fossils found on Earth in Cairo and Gilboa, NY , the latter of which they flooded to make a reservoir for New York City. We treat some of our incredibly ancient history like trash, so why would the rest of the world notice or care, sadly..? It's more convenient to discard or hide our ancient history, than to preserve it.
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This one isn't fair. Half of the tourism advertising is about the charm of the "Old World." If you don't want us to be impressed by it, don't talk about it so much! Or, perhaps, appreciate what you do have! The fact that you have an existing part of your history may be boring to you but is really cool to so many people.
I don't think they are offended by it necessarily, just pointing out that it's one way to spot an American. 🤷♀️
Load More Replies... I live an hour from the oldest city in the US, built in the 1500’s.
Technically, the oldest things are at most close to 300 years old, and if you're from somewhere like Atlanta as I am, 150 years is SUPER old since the entire place was burned down in the American Civil War
Very untrue. For example, Grand Gulch ruins in Utah are typically 800 to 1,200 years old. It's not just ruins, either. We have some of the oldest fossils on the planet in the United States, and many of these aren't properly excavated or preserved. Gilboa, NY flooded what was at the time the most ancient tree fossils found on the planet to create a reservoir for New York City. More recently, they found even older ancient tree fossils in Cairo, NY. How many Americans know that we have the most ancient tree fossils on the planet here, I wonder. How many even care or visit such? Hell, Gilboa basically just had a bunch of theirs sitting out along the roadside for years, exposed to the elements. There were others placed in museums, but I used to regularly visit these and feel so sad about them just sitting there, abused by the elements, while their counter-parts are buried nearby under water. Americans regularly ignore and discard ancient history because it's inconvenient to preserve it.
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That is true. I was a bit overly excited to see buildings built before the 20th century. I have much appreciation for places that upkeep and keep very old architecture. Many of our older buildings in Canada get torn down.
When I still lived in London, I used to drink at The Prospect of Whitby pub, which was built in 1520. (not my photo) 1024-61a4b...891dc3.jpg 
Archaeologists in Bulgaria say they have uncovered the oldest prehistoric town found to date in Europe. The walled fortified settlement, near the modern town of Provadia, is thought to have been an important centre for salt production. Its discovery in north-east Bulgaria may explain the huge gold hoard found nearby 40 years ago. Archaeologists believe that the town was home to some 350 people and dates back to between 4700 and 4200 BC. That is about 1,500 years before the start of ancient Greek civilisation. The residents boiled water from a local spring and used it to create salt bricks, which were traded and used to preserve meat. Salt was a hugely valuable commodity at the time, which experts say could help to explain the huge defensive stone walls which ringed the town. 'Extremely interesting' Excavations at the site, beginning in 2005, have also uncovered the remains of two-storey houses, a series of pits used for rituals, as well as parts of a gate and bastion structures. A small necropolis, or burial ground, was discovered at the site earlier this year and is still being studied by archaeologists. "We are not talking about a town like the Greek city-states, ancient Rome or medieval settlements, but about what archaeologists agree constituted a town in the fifth millennium BC," Vasil Nikolov, a researcher with Bulgaria's National Institute of Archaeology, told the AFP news agency. Archaeologist Krum Bachvarov from the institute said the latest find was "extremely interesting". "The huge walls around the settlement, which were built very tall and with stone blocks... are also something unseen in excavations of prehistoric sites in south-east Europe so far," he told AFP. Similar salt mines near Tuzla in Bosnia and Turda in Romania help prove the existence of a series of civilisations which also mined copper and gold in the Carpathian and Balkan mountains during the same period. BBC Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe says this latest discovery almost certainly explains the treasure found exactly 40 years ago at a cemetery on the outskirts of Varna, 35km (21 miles) away, the oldest hoard of gold objects found anywhere in the world.
We got them just they are normally historic sites for racism or witch burning, not real culture we want to feel proud of lol
Like I remember one of our oldest statues in our area turns out member of KKK put it up, for not good reasons, its like oh yeah, I didn't know that statue even existed, yeah its more for them then rest of us... Ok I see why now we have more then just 2 colors in this state city thinks its time to take that down...
Load More Replies... Common misconception, even by most Americans. Everything in the U.S. is just white-washed to exclude more ancient cultures. We have plenty of stuff that dates back thousands of years. It's also relative to what that "older than 200 years" stuff is, and how it's valued (or greatly undervalued).
Built in 90 AD, the amphitheatre held over 20,000 spectators of chariot races and bloody hand-to-hand battles. arles-61e7...57b1c2.jpg 
this one was built in the 12th century and people still live here couvertoir...03acd1.jpg 
this place was built in 1159 and people still live here ste-eulali...f1a8e0.jpg 
Yeah, the original inhabitants were forced to abandon their teepees and run like hell. Hence, nothing much exists over 200 years except some cliff dwellings and the like.
We don't. We live near the "Old National Road", U.S. 40, which is considered historical because (in our area, at least) it was built in the 1840's or so.
Some of y'all's houses are older than our country. Yeah, that's mind-blowing.
We don't have anything that old in New Zealand either! Hell the country itself isn't that old!!!!!!
There's tons of places in the US and Canada that are very old. Most people never explore their own surroundings that's all
Depends on what part of the US you're from. If you're a lifer in the DC-to-Boston corridor, 200yo buildings aren't super unusual.
Well, the Europeans spent hundreds of years on missions destroying everything in the Americas. They intentionally searched for and destroyed all pieces of evidence that humanized indigenous people or contradicted the Eurocentric narrative that all great things were first developed in Europe. Still to this day, I regularly meet Europeans who believe "Americans killed all the Indians;" or don't know that the Americas had cities larger than Paris, London, and Rome; or believe that Europe invented written language; or even that Europe is the "natural center" of the Earth because of the prime meridian.
" don't know that the Americas had cities larger than Paris, London, and Rome" are you sure they are europeans? lol Salvador Dali once said the " center of the world is in the train station of Perpigan, France " I believe him ! lol
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In Rome we have water fountains that are older than the USA. Some paving stones are older than some pre-Colombian civilizations.
I live in New York, we have things here that are 400 years old, we have ruins and stone work that's much older than that. But it is interesting to me to be in a building that has stood for six or seven hundred years. I'm not Amazed by it, because I know human beings have been around for a long time, even in the United States, but to continuously use a building for seven hundred years is very contrary to what we do in the United States. It's not that we don't have buildings from 400 years ago but that they are generally not still lived in. Four hundred years ago people were building something better and abandoning the previous building is a very American thing.
You would do the same, but this is normal life for you, so it's not special.
Except for the remains of many civilizations over the course of several millennia, the latest of which were all decimated by Europeans.
I am one of those!!! I have no shame in it either lol I am amazed and love it all.
Hey, that's Prague on the picture! I can tell for certain thanks to the TV tower sticking out in the right. So I guess this is taken from the Astronomical Clock Tower on Old Town Square. The church on the left is Church of Our Lady before Týn.
Many commenters seem to overlook the word "many" OP used... I like to think OP did in fact consider native history by conscientiously choosing that word.
I'm from Argentina and I'm sorry, that's the reality of an American (continent).
Even many of our "ancient ruins" are not very old. Many Anasazi ruins date from the 12th - 14th centuries, which is recent history in Europe.
Mayan ruins date back to 1000 BC. Expand scope, discover wonders ! ::-)
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Yes, for Europeans, something 200 years old is almost ten years ago old. Something antique must be from before the XVII th Century.
In Europe when we think "ancient" , we think Roman Empire and Classical Greece. 2000 to 2500 years ago
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I once had a american city guide in prague, he lived there for a couple of years. It was honestly very boring, despite his enthusiam, because instead of learning about prague and its history he often explained normal european things in great length and detail. For a primarly european group it was not well matched.
Not true we have the Bible being from the America that's about the most history we will learn about places that's not here
One should know that one should only be amazed by things that are really old. There's a Saturn V rocket booster on display about 25 miles from my house, but I'm not impressed by it because it's from the 1960s. Never mind that it helped someone reach space. It isn't from 1367, so it's garbage.
Saying “hi, how are you?” to the barista, servers, retail workers. My country doesn’t quite have that culture so I find it really sweet.
when they cross the street, they expect cars to stop for them. in my country, the cars will run you down without thinking twice.
In the Netherlands pedestrians are legally protected into the extreme. If a driver collides with a pedestrians, the driver is always 100% at fault and liable. But even here pedestrians wait till it's safe to cross the street.
When they introduce themselves they never say they're from America: mostly the state/city they're from.
I remember I was a small kid in Tijuana. They were typically a lot more good looking than the local population. The girls were hot as hell. The Marines that would come around from San Diego looked like superheroes and made these other guys look like sh*t.
We'd get European tourists as well but the American ones looked bigger and kind of stronger. Especially the military guys, like something out of these Marvel comics, at least the ones in their twenties.
All buff, tall, etc.
The military tourists were always very friendly to me and made me want to be like them when I grew up, which is why I'm going to enlist in the USMC a few years after college, haha.
Very friendly, generous people, very funny too.
They complain that the portions at restaurants are too small.
You can hear them in museums when everyone else is extra silent.
In my experience, any combination of the following:
white socks
wearing a sun visor
Talking incredibly loud
Their phone will be on a belt loop
American teenagers are usually better at blending in however, so the trick with these guys is to wait until you're in a restaurant, at which point they'll make their presence known by complaining about the local food.
In terms of positives however, I find most American tourists are incredibly friendly and sociable, they usually have no problem talking to strangers and striking up a pleasant conversation, something we Europeans never do with each other (this is also another "tell", but it's one we should adopt).
The absolute fearlessness of asking anyone on the street about anything
Expecting everyone to speak English and/or not wanting to learn the local language.
They always look cheerful and are constantly smiling and seeming happy. Tourists from other places look more neutral or even unhappy.
How can you travel to another place and not be happy??? I'm with the Americans on this one!
They get over-excited over very ordinary events and say things like “OMG look that grass how green it is!
I find this very endearing to be honest. It's how children react and how we should all react in my opinion :)
I always felt embarrassingly underdressed when traveling in Europe.
On the flip side, as a native Arizonan I can always spot the European/English tourist because they will be bright red.
Many of the things we say loudly, includes many irrelevant details. In Israel, no one gives a f*ck about irrelevant details. “Yes” or “no” answers are of high value in middle eastern culture; but in American culture we like to tell you all about why something is or that our daughter got married last year or our cat has diabetes.
I didn’t know yes/no answers had high value in Middle Eastern culture. Interesting!
They’re looking for a store open at like 11pm. Even if in most European countries stores close at like 7-8 pm
American: "Can you imagine not being able to buy a microwave at 3 AM?" European: "Yes."
Americans think the world impressed by their city. No one cares that you’re from Las Vegas
And why do so many tourists visit Las Vegas or New York or California?
Tipping. Americans will try to tip everyone, even in countries where tipping isn't a thing/is considered a serious insult.
They're always asking for extra ice in their drinks.
I prefer my drinks at room temperature unless they're supposed to be hot.
They ask for ketchup no matter what they're eating.
They have impeccable facial hair. Maybe Americans get a trim before they go on holiday, but I'm always impressed by the tidy beards and mustaches.
dollars. God damn it, people - hit a money exchange before you hit the market. Especially in a country where hard currency was still illegal.
They’re the first to kick off when it’s a hot day and the Grade II listed hotel I work in doesn’t have air-conditioning.
Then they leave a bad review :( believe me, I would LOVE air con but we’re not allowed to change the building.
Why would you leave a 900 year old historical building intact, when you clearly can ruin the façade with air conditioners?
Their college t shirt, sweater or cap
We are morons about diet. Another American moved to where I lived. He preached about high protein diets, b*tched about how he couldn’t find fat free milk or pasteurized egg whites, in a country that specializes in high-fat cuisine.
I've lived in the USA for 18 years, originally from England. It's not really anything specific, and it's hard to explain but Americans have a certain attitude and way of holding themselves that's easily noticeable. They just seem more confident and at ease than other nations. You don't notice it at first, but it's easy to spot after you've lived here a while. Last time we were in England we stopped at a convenience store and two young Americans were sitting opposite, they hadn't spoken but we knew immediately.
My wife walked up:
"You here on vacation?"
"Oh.. yeah! Wow, how did you know?"
"Duh. Where are you from?"
Proudly. "We're from the USA"
"Oh, really honey? Where do you think I'm from?!"
Turns out they were from Ohio and the last thing they expected in some quiet British convenience store was to find someone from their home country.
My wife says I've never acquired it either, she can usually spot English people really quickly too.
They’re definitely more confident! I admire this about them (when it’s appropriate, not about arrogance or ignorant confidence). Me and my partner have discussed before: do they all go through some secret special confidence school at the age of 3 or is it genetic?!
Everyone else is freezing outside and then there's that American walking around in shorts as if it's nothing.
That would also be a Canadian on a southern university campus...
They ask things like 'what is that in degrees Fahrenheit?' 'How many miles?' and 'That's two pounds'???
Like Europeans ask "What's that in degrees Celsius" "How many Kilometers?" and "That's 1 KG?" when they're in the US.
In the UK, first-time American tourists look bewildered trying to navigate their rental car in busy roundabouts (traffic circles).
People in the UK are driving on the wrong side of the road, so that's understandable.
All the Americans I saw abroad always traveled as a family and had a MILLION bags, usually the mom would be carrying the largest/most.
Also, we are the only ones who would differentiate between different parts of the country. My European friends never understood why I always asked where in America another American was from. I guess they didn’t understand that people from California can be VERY different from Kentucky or Southern people, so you gotta know in order to judge this new person based on stereotypes.
The way they like to say "oh you call this X? We call that Y in America" or something along those lines
When being a tourist in US, I told my husband there was a queue to get to the toilet... the table next to me (locals) made fun of my choice of words (hahaha , queue, who says that). I speak Dutch, french and English and have a good notion of several other languages... I'm doing the best I can, people....
"Does that come with a side order of French Fries?"
This phrase and that sentence alone are so foreign here even if you faked an accent perfectly it would stand out.
i am Central African.
See, I didn't figure OP didn't know what French fries were. I figured he found it strange that Americans presume every meal comes with a side of fries. (Sorry, but fries at restaurants are kiddie food... familiar, comforting food when other food at a restaurant can be unfamiliar and therefore intimidating to children... but now generations of us Americans have grown up getting fries with dinner at restaurants.)
For some reason, American tourists in Norway always seem to be marveled at how technologically advanced Norway is. Read: how everywhere takes and prefers card, how chuggers that go about with those money jugs also have a sign with an account number you can send money to, how there's a lot of electric cars here, etc etc etc.
Also, they always seem to automatically assume that if you aren't norwegian, you're either a tourist, or, if you're middle eastern, a refugee. It's always a button annoying when you try to help some lost American couple find a stave church and they brush you off just because you have an Australian accent and are apparently a tourist who doesn't know the place like them even though you've lived in that area for ten years.
Footwear. Americans for some reason wear sneakers / running shoes when unnecessary. Also usually loud along with their accent, it's very distinct when heard abroad. Except some Canadians have a very similar accent. And dress, kind of hard to explain this one though. Usually unintentionally stand out when back home they'd blend in perfectly.
Just an American view on identitying other Americans overseas.
staring confusedly at the food you just ordered. Beef Stroganoff in a fancy restaurant doesn’t look like your Hamburger Helper version, and fish soup is traditionally served with the head still attached
If they have kids they say "Good job!" to them a lot
It's positive reinforcement! It encourages them to behave or strive to be better.
In Germany, I never realized how many other Americans wore baseball hats.
The huge American flag they are wearing usually gives it away
Hand-held fans, maybe because air conditioning is very common in the USA.
As a woman of a certain age, I find a hand held rechargeable fan necessary at times. I also hug an ice pack occasionally.
Look for the crocs, walking cane, Hawaiian shirt, shorts, wiiide hiker’s hat, and a map.
Asking for the bathroom in a restaurant or public place. Do you need to take a shower? No. What you're really looking for is the toilet.
He's politely letting an entire tour bus full of Chinese jump the line by pushing past him and his entire family.
Touching everything behind "Do not touch" sign.
That's what all tourists have in common. In the Netherlands Chinese tourists are notorious for trampling the tulip fields despite numerous signs telling them to stay out of the fields. One flower grower once said on TV that his fields looked like they had been attacked by a swarm of locusts if a bus with Chinese tourists had stopped at his place. He closed his fields for the public.
He/She/they will usually be the only that takes up the space where 2 people should be.
Easy joke aside, living in Switzerland i've noticed the american trends tend to be more blatant here. Things like popped collars, sunglasses even during the rain, obnoxiously loud talking in bars are usually a dead give away to me. Dont know why, but it seems that the US people living here are just generally stand out more compared to the rest
I mostly find them in the most visited beaches when I go for a vacation inside of my own country and a real easy tell there is that they're the most sun burnt around. Most of them look like a walking tomato.
They're usually tanned, and grinning ear to ear as they marvel loudly about some aspect of our culture. Also very likely to strike up conversation with any passer by, which many of the locals here (rural UK) find intimidating or annoying. Also their accents are super distinct, so if any of them ever talk at a normal volume level (jk that never happens) you can still hear them from a mile away.
They ask for to-go coffee cups. Everyone else in Europe sits and drinks their coffee, but Americans always seem to be in a rush so they take their coffee to go.
What? "Everyone else in Europe"? No no. In Greece we do it all the time
They pronounce things horribly and make zero attempt to say it correctly.
Most tourists aren't interested in the language or the culture of the country. They just go there because of the weather and cheap food and drink. A few of my Dutch friends have been going on holiday to Spain for 20 years. None of them have advanced beyond the point of "Dos cerveza, por favor." "Quanta costa?" and "Gracias." All said with a heavy Dutch accent.
The accent, you can usually hear an American tourist no matter how far they are from you.
They take their shoes off for airport security, even when there is a sign saying not to take shoes off.
In New Zealand, American hikers were the only ones with Nalgene water bottles.
They are little sweet, little shy & little soft spoken. They usually respect everyone around them. They take selfie with old age people. The best part is they apologize too much. Sometimes it feels like they are just scared to come to my country Vietnam.
This sounds like the opposite of American tourists tbh (to clarify, while I'm a kiwi, I have a tonne of USA friends who are nothing like this, and it's a generalization yadda-yadda) but here they tend to be very loud, anything but shy, come across too strong with compliments etc.
I've seen multiple American tourists here in Canada asking their partners "WhErEs tHe sNoW?" I really hope they were joking it was summer at the time.
I live in Toronto, and the most obvious sign of a tourist is turning around, seeing the CN Tower and trying to take a group selfie in front of it. Get off the sidewalk.
The same problem exists in the Netherlands with tourists on the bicycle path. Bicycle paths are painted red. They also have bicycles painted on them. It is not the best place to stand with your entire family for a photo. A crash course in swearing in Dutch will be your reward. And I will get downvotes but Dutch swear with diseases.
Back at it again BP. always ripping on Americans. Please find another group of people to disparage.
It's also total hypocrisy advocating for equality and against discrimination in some posts and then being guilty of it in others. Posts like this suggest that it's okay to discriminate or stereotype certain groups but not others.
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This makes me very nervous to travel to other countries. I would be afraid of insulting someone with my smile or my hello. As an American, I am very polite and happy. I love to ask questions. How am I supposed to learn of the country I wish to visit if I can't comfortably speak to a citizen there? If I wasn't interested in your country, I wouldn't visit it. Just my opinion.... I know every country is different and i respect that.
You are welcome to come over here. This is a stupid thread, that's why I posted nice things. This USA bashing is just stupid. Not all of us are like that.
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Thank goodness, haven’t seen one of these re-hashed articles in nigh on a fortnight. Can I get paid for one of these? Pretty sure I could do it from memory at this point ;)
Most repetitive BP Posts: #1 - Tell us how horrible America is. #2 - Tell us how horrible your workplace is. #3 - Tell us how horrible your family and friends are during (insert holiday or event). #4- Rehashed Reddit topics.
This would honestly only really make sense if each poster said where THEY are from. Something that screams "TOURIST" in one country might be perfectly normal in another.
So... The one thing I've taken away from this, and the many, MANY American-bashing articles on BP is that Eurpopeans hate us. You commenters have made me never want to visit, and that's just sad. I feel unwelcome. And frankly? I don't fall into many of the categories complained about above. But my god, if you hate Americans so much, I hope you NEVER come visit our country. And we will avoid yours? Better? Everyone separate. No mixing. WOO HOO! WHAT A FUN WORLD! Everyone exactly the same. FFS Bored Panda. Stop bashing us.
Don't base your idea of what other people think of your country or people off of the internet. This is just a very picky selection of a lot more comments in a Reddit post.
Load More Replies... Nope. How about we talk about something really non-stereotyping, like how all the French eat is cream and snails? ;-P
Load More Replies... I work in tourism in Boston (USA). I could easily write a counterpoint with all the European stereotypes. Germans, ugh.
Beat me to that one. In my area, you can tell the German tourists b/c nothing is ever good enough. Ever. Even our forests, apparently.
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This is sort of a senseless article. Yes, Americans ARE different. We do things other populations don't do. We also don't do things people in other countries do. It's a wide world. There will be differences. Ok, some Americans are fat over 40. Others talk loud. But not everyone is fat over 40 and not everyone talks loud. French people don't bathe. The English have bad teeth. Russians never smile. We can do this both ways.
As an American who wants to travel in Europe someday… I just want you guys to like me. Go easy please
Most of us are nice, just like you guys in the USA.
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I call BS. I don't think these people have ever meant an American. They just see crappy behavior from their own neighbors and then call them Americans.
So basically don't care about or show interest in history, don't smile or be polite, or enjoy anything ever. Got it.
As an American traveler, none of these stereotypes apply to me with the exception of being amazed over 500+ year old architecture, and asking people who are serving me how they are (which are stupid things to get irritated over). No. I don't wear white socks up my calves (terrible look). No, I don't wear t-shirts with American flags on them. Or sun visors. Or f***y packs. No, I don't expect locals in countries where English is not an official language to speak English to me. No, I don't have loud and obnoxious conversations that everyone can hear, nor do I complain about food or portion sizes. And I would never laugh at local culture that I find different from my own. Part of being a successful traveler involves taking in every cultural difference as your own.
Apart from being somewhat over my ideal weight, I don't match any of these. Looks like I'd go undetected.
My husband and I have been saving for, and planning a trip to visit Austria, Belgium and Germany. I can't guarantee I won't be very excited and happy while I'm there, but I WILL be quiet and not ask for ice! 🙂
I can say all these things about anyone one from any country because there's always that one idiot that makes the whole country look bad. I.e. Trump. I personally have never done ANY of these things. The only time I ever slightly did one of these things was when I was in Japan and couldn't find a store I was looking for. I found a police box and asked for directions (in passable Japanese thank you very much). But that's what police boxes are for! Now did I do something wierd culturally or rude while traveling? Possibly. I'm not from that culture and as hard as I try to know everything about the country I'm visiting, i'm not some walking encyclopedia of cultural knowledge. But I do TRY not to be a giant prat
Always hating on us. Guess they don't want people visiting and spending money there. Honestly, this makes me afraid to travel.
Actually, it IS just you. Unless you are close enough to hear speech patterns and dialects you are probably including a lot of Brits and German. In any event, in any more or less homogeneous environment any local can almost always detect any foreigner because the foreigner will look, sound and walk differently, exhibit interest in things you take for granted and be ignorant of local practices (e.g., in Manhattan, you'll have to jaywalk if you want to get anywhere on time). So, Liucija and Mindaugas, you can stop patting yourselves on the back now, and maybe Bored Panda editors will think twice henceforth think twice before posting threads that are mostly puerile nonsense.
So many stereotypes and generalizations...all Americans are not the same, as I'm sure all Italians, Chinese, Icelanders are not as well.
True story - myself and a friend were in London for a couple of days last month to see a couple of shows. We're doing the whole touristy thing on a Thursday morning, I'm trying to frame a nice shot of Buckingham Palace, when this American tourist spots the NASA flying jacket I'm wearing and loudly asks what part of the States we're from. He was quite perplexed when we told him we were from Scotland.
Lost my temper a bit with this one. Sorry folks. The depths and amounts of stereotypes of Americans as fat, rude, loud, uncouth and unwanted really pisses me off. I think my next trip will not include Europe. There's a whole world out there.
When you are at war, starving, you can easily spot American boys coming to save your asses. Something for which we will be punished in the future as well.
I'm American and no one can tell. I've been all over the world. Stereotypes exist for a reason, but people miss other Americans that don't meet the expected look and demeanor.
Im icelandic. Our american tourists are always dressed like theyre ready to climb mt. everest. Even while just hanging out in the city. Also, backpacks.
Please try to remember that America is huge, and we have all different types of weather. If someone from the Southern states comes to visit, you betcha they are going to be dressed like they are climbing Mt. Everest. If someone has never been there, they aren't quite sure about how to dress. You're Icelandic, so you know. People coming to visit don't. Please be patient.
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I found this really interesting and insightful! There are a lot of things you wouldn't think about or think to Google before going.
Yes, Americans are different. But, if we are so terrible, why do people want to come live here? Let them live in their wonderful, cheap, clean, friendly countries.
Back at it again BP. always ripping on Americans. Please find another group of people to disparage.
It's also total hypocrisy advocating for equality and against discrimination in some posts and then being guilty of it in others. Posts like this suggest that it's okay to discriminate or stereotype certain groups but not others.
Load More Replies... This makes me very nervous to travel to other countries. I would be afraid of insulting someone with my smile or my hello. As an American, I am very polite and happy. I love to ask questions. How am I supposed to learn of the country I wish to visit if I can't comfortably speak to a citizen there? If I wasn't interested in your country, I wouldn't visit it. Just my opinion.... I know every country is different and i respect that.
You are welcome to come over here. This is a stupid thread, that's why I posted nice things. This USA bashing is just stupid. Not all of us are like that.
Load More Replies... Thank goodness, haven’t seen one of these re-hashed articles in nigh on a fortnight. Can I get paid for one of these? Pretty sure I could do it from memory at this point ;)
Most repetitive BP Posts: #1 - Tell us how horrible America is. #2 - Tell us how horrible your workplace is. #3 - Tell us how horrible your family and friends are during (insert holiday or event). #4- Rehashed Reddit topics.
This would honestly only really make sense if each poster said where THEY are from. Something that screams "TOURIST" in one country might be perfectly normal in another.
So... The one thing I've taken away from this, and the many, MANY American-bashing articles on BP is that Eurpopeans hate us. You commenters have made me never want to visit, and that's just sad. I feel unwelcome. And frankly? I don't fall into many of the categories complained about above. But my god, if you hate Americans so much, I hope you NEVER come visit our country. And we will avoid yours? Better? Everyone separate. No mixing. WOO HOO! WHAT A FUN WORLD! Everyone exactly the same. FFS Bored Panda. Stop bashing us.
Don't base your idea of what other people think of your country or people off of the internet. This is just a very picky selection of a lot more comments in a Reddit post.
Load More Replies... Nope. How about we talk about something really non-stereotyping, like how all the French eat is cream and snails? ;-P
Load More Replies... I work in tourism in Boston (USA). I could easily write a counterpoint with all the European stereotypes. Germans, ugh.
Beat me to that one. In my area, you can tell the German tourists b/c nothing is ever good enough. Ever. Even our forests, apparently.
Load More Replies... This is sort of a senseless article. Yes, Americans ARE different. We do things other populations don't do. We also don't do things people in other countries do. It's a wide world. There will be differences. Ok, some Americans are fat over 40. Others talk loud. But not everyone is fat over 40 and not everyone talks loud. French people don't bathe. The English have bad teeth. Russians never smile. We can do this both ways.
As an American who wants to travel in Europe someday… I just want you guys to like me. Go easy please
Most of us are nice, just like you guys in the USA.
Load More Replies... I call BS. I don't think these people have ever meant an American. They just see crappy behavior from their own neighbors and then call them Americans.
So basically don't care about or show interest in history, don't smile or be polite, or enjoy anything ever. Got it.
As an American traveler, none of these stereotypes apply to me with the exception of being amazed over 500+ year old architecture, and asking people who are serving me how they are (which are stupid things to get irritated over). No. I don't wear white socks up my calves (terrible look). No, I don't wear t-shirts with American flags on them. Or sun visors. Or f***y packs. No, I don't expect locals in countries where English is not an official language to speak English to me. No, I don't have loud and obnoxious conversations that everyone can hear, nor do I complain about food or portion sizes. And I would never laugh at local culture that I find different from my own. Part of being a successful traveler involves taking in every cultural difference as your own.
Apart from being somewhat over my ideal weight, I don't match any of these. Looks like I'd go undetected.
My husband and I have been saving for, and planning a trip to visit Austria, Belgium and Germany. I can't guarantee I won't be very excited and happy while I'm there, but I WILL be quiet and not ask for ice! 🙂
I can say all these things about anyone one from any country because there's always that one idiot that makes the whole country look bad. I.e. Trump. I personally have never done ANY of these things. The only time I ever slightly did one of these things was when I was in Japan and couldn't find a store I was looking for. I found a police box and asked for directions (in passable Japanese thank you very much). But that's what police boxes are for! Now did I do something wierd culturally or rude while traveling? Possibly. I'm not from that culture and as hard as I try to know everything about the country I'm visiting, i'm not some walking encyclopedia of cultural knowledge. But I do TRY not to be a giant prat
Always hating on us. Guess they don't want people visiting and spending money there. Honestly, this makes me afraid to travel.
Actually, it IS just you. Unless you are close enough to hear speech patterns and dialects you are probably including a lot of Brits and German. In any event, in any more or less homogeneous environment any local can almost always detect any foreigner because the foreigner will look, sound and walk differently, exhibit interest in things you take for granted and be ignorant of local practices (e.g., in Manhattan, you'll have to jaywalk if you want to get anywhere on time). So, Liucija and Mindaugas, you can stop patting yourselves on the back now, and maybe Bored Panda editors will think twice henceforth think twice before posting threads that are mostly puerile nonsense.
So many stereotypes and generalizations...all Americans are not the same, as I'm sure all Italians, Chinese, Icelanders are not as well.
True story - myself and a friend were in London for a couple of days last month to see a couple of shows. We're doing the whole touristy thing on a Thursday morning, I'm trying to frame a nice shot of Buckingham Palace, when this American tourist spots the NASA flying jacket I'm wearing and loudly asks what part of the States we're from. He was quite perplexed when we told him we were from Scotland.
Lost my temper a bit with this one. Sorry folks. The depths and amounts of stereotypes of Americans as fat, rude, loud, uncouth and unwanted really pisses me off. I think my next trip will not include Europe. There's a whole world out there.
When you are at war, starving, you can easily spot American boys coming to save your asses. Something for which we will be punished in the future as well.
I'm American and no one can tell. I've been all over the world. Stereotypes exist for a reason, but people miss other Americans that don't meet the expected look and demeanor.
Im icelandic. Our american tourists are always dressed like theyre ready to climb mt. everest. Even while just hanging out in the city. Also, backpacks.
Please try to remember that America is huge, and we have all different types of weather. If someone from the Southern states comes to visit, you betcha they are going to be dressed like they are climbing Mt. Everest. If someone has never been there, they aren't quite sure about how to dress. You're Icelandic, so you know. People coming to visit don't. Please be patient.
Load More Replies... I found this really interesting and insightful! There are a lot of things you wouldn't think about or think to Google before going.
Yes, Americans are different. But, if we are so terrible, why do people want to come live here? Let them live in their wonderful, cheap, clean, friendly countries.
