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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.

#1

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away 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.

Sco0bySnax , unsplash Report

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Leah Person
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#2

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away 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.

jackofharts94 , pexels Report

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Pixie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, the thrilling and dangerous urban jungle of an European metropolis - beware of the bike lane

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#3

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away "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!"

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Sarcastic Cow
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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)

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#4

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Amazed by things which are more than 200 years old, presumably because they don't have many things that old in the USA.

Dusepo , pexels Report

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Tenacious Squirrel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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 😆

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#5

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away 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.

tomayto_tomaahto , pexels Report

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Ba Loeloe
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems like Americans don't expect a answer when they say "Hi, how are you?

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#6

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away when they cross the street, they expect cars to stop for them. in my country, the cars will run you down without thinking twice.

ToeRagger , unsplash Report

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#7

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away When they introduce themselves they never say they're from America: mostly the state/city they're from.

hazily , pexels Report

#8

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.

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#9

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They complain that the portions at restaurants are too small.

TheBenji300 , pexels Report

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately I've heard this too. It's a culture thing I guess.

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American expats often say that although the portions are smaller, the food is so much better that they think that they wouldn't be able to eat American portions in Europe.

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Marco Conti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, it's the portions in the US that are huge. The first time I saw a Chocolate Eclair in a american pastry shop I thought it was there for display.

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Reuben BirkHaskell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a culture thing. In the USA when we go out to a nice restraint we expect a full meal. We expect to spend our money and be fully sedated and still have leftovers to take home and eat the next day. Many of us, myself included, would be disappointed with the meal in the picture.

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Tenacious Squirrel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is true for some very overweight people - I know a British couple who complain constantly about portions. They’re very overweight and eat WAY too much.

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Titian
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huge populations of essentially refugees came to this country over the last 300 years, typically fleeing awfulness of some sort, and often food insecurity. If you came from not-enough, too-much becomes a means to recover, and eventually it becomes cultural.

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Christine Curylo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except in Hungary where a single portion is large enough for a family of 4

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Shashonie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I personally love the small portions because many times your meal is more than one course and since you have to wait for each one, you actually realize you are full before downing a whole plate of buttery calories.

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Sarah Macrabbit
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The complaint is mostly over paying the same price for half the food. I'm used to a restaurant meal being enough for two meals and bringing a to go box. Most of my friends and family do this as well.

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Liam Patrick Dexter Da kitty
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is EXACTLY what 1 out of 4 Americans to be obese. it's more like an obesely excessive hunger for everything other than what's healthy.

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Tamara Kroonen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forced diet, when your holiday ends, you will be in the green again!

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Marilyn Ransberry
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you been to a regular restaurant in the USA? Quantity, quantity quantity....

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julien
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can only speak for France : this picture here represents the main course of a full meal. Usually in France a meal (lunch or dinner) consists of an appetizer, a main course, cheese/green salad, dessert and coffee (sometimes with liqueur ! lol ). that's why the main course is not huge ! So after this trust me you're not hungry anymore ! Of course if you don't want the full meal you can just order the main course, or appetizer and main course, or main course and dessert.

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Eunice Bentley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I ask for a take away box when I order my food. There is always too much for 1 person to eat.

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Kassiopeia
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me, why isn't this a XXXXXL [Food] with extra sauce? Let me speak to your manager

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Sue Sanders
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. The smaller the better; just as long as it tastes good.

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Cymruman
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I visited the States a few years back to see friends. Realised within a day or two how ridiculously HUGE the portions are at restaurants etc. My BF and I ended up picking things we both liked and sharing. And still had food over. No wonder there is an obesity problem in the USA

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MAKtheknife
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are sizes we should be eating in the US of A. Not trying to SuperSize everything.

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Mary Jaye
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer small portions being a poor eater. but my sig other he likes large ones.

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Fester Sixonesixonethree
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true! Smaller portions lets you eat another small meal sometime during the day. :)

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Gregg Bender
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, in the U.S. restaurants seem to use shovels to serve meals.

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Lynn Morello
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Supposedly, an American portion of food is enough to feed a family of 4.

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Dorothy Cloud
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably true. I guess that's whey so many of us are overweight!! Sad.

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Alejandro Hutchinson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I severed a European the other day and he was so happy to witness American portioned food" I chuckled

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Mer☕️🧭☕️
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, tbf, they ARE smaller than what Americans are used to. That's the crashing point between what we (Americans) consider a regular, decent portion versus what considers a regular, decent point. There is a REASON why obesity is a problem more "here" than "there". Going by the general notion that the stomach should be more/less the size of your fist is a good start...

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Carrie Rodich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans do eat ridiculously large portions. Especially in the Midwest. That's why so many are overweight.

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Yehudit Hannah Cohn
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not in my country--I'm still amazed at how much food one gets for the price.

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Deborah Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it would be refreshing - the portions are WAY too big here. I can't eat all that food.

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Karen Merkel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe that's why Americans are so fat. We should get used to smaller portions. What's on that plate is enough to satisfy your hunger.

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Martha Higgins
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The portions in Europe are sometimes quite small, on the other hand in the U.S. sometimes they are unnecessarily huge.

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Tara Johnson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spend one holiday in the Midwest and you will understand why. 😂

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Kaitlyn Stefanowicz
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is partially because everything here is a competition between companies to offer the best deal. The majority of Americans go out to eat and expect a large portion not to eat it all in one sitting, but to take half of it home as a second meal for later. All marketing tactics we've gotten so accustomed to that it feels like we're being ripped off if we get anything less.

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Amelia Forsyth
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also depends. Generally it's in regards to the price/portion ratio. $150 for 4 0z filet... but most places give you WAY TOO MUCH

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Ryan Lekan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on which European country you go to. Many European countries offer Very large portions

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Bender Bending Rodríguez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would also complain about whatever portion size is on pictured plate. Who are they feeding with that portion size? Ants?

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Zillyboy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my experience we complain because the portions are too large.

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Kaun Faelad
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I need 3200 calories a day, and thats probably a €25 plate... So bankruptcy looms for an American bodybuilder

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Kaun Faelad
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that was a 25 euro plate, yep, I'd be mad. I need 3200 calories a day. If that's the portion, I'm bankrupt.

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#10

You can hear them in museums when everyone else is extra silent.

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#11

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away 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).

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eirini
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In South Europe we do have pleasant conversations with total strangers. Not all Europeans behave the same way.

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#12

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away The absolute fearlessness of asking anyone on the street about anything

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#13

Expecting everyone to speak English and/or not wanting to learn the local language.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember I was at the French border (Back when we had to stop and show our passport) and a car in front of us was at the checkpoint. A woman yeeted herself out of the car screaming "I don't need a passport, I'm American".

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#14

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They always look cheerful and are constantly smiling and seeming happy. Tourists from other places look more neutral or even unhappy.

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can you travel to another place and not be happy??? I'm with the Americans on this one!

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#15

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They get over-excited over very ordinary events and say things like “OMG look that grass how green it is!

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find this very endearing to be honest. It's how children react and how we should all react in my opinion :)

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#16

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They wear white socks pulled all the way up.

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#17

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.

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#18

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away 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.

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Tenacious Squirrel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn’t know yes/no answers had high value in Middle Eastern culture. Interesting!

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#19

They’re looking for a store open at like 11pm. Even if in most European countries stores close at like 7-8 pm

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American: "Can you imagine not being able to buy a microwave at 3 AM?" European: "Yes."

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#20

Americans think the world impressed by their city. No one cares that you’re from Las Vegas

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#21

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Tipping. Americans will try to tip everyone, even in countries where tipping isn't a thing/is considered a serious insult.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the other way around tourists from outside the USA forget to tip or don't tip enough.

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#22

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They're always asking for extra ice in their drinks.

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September Meadows
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer my drinks at room temperature unless they're supposed to be hot.

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#23

Quite often on the heavy side weight-wise (sorry!)

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#24

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They ask for ketchup no matter what they're eating.

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#25

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away 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.

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#26

dollars. God damn it, people - hit a money exchange before you hit the market. Especially in a country where hard currency was still illegal.

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Al Cook
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, most vendors in third world countries are happy to receive dollars because they're worth so much more than the local currency. In first world countries though, you'd have to be pretty stupid to think they'd be legal tender.

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#27

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.

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you leave a 900 year old historical building intact, when you clearly can ruin the façade with air conditioners?

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#28

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Their college t shirt, sweater or cap

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#29

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.

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#30

fanny pack.

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Al Cook
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F***y usually means something completely different in other English speaking parts of the world!

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Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.