Whenever someone from the United States goes to Europe, they immediately stand out unless they know what to do to blend in. According to MSN.com writer Sarah Barber, here are 40 ways of how one from the United States stands out to European locals
I'm from the United States and I try very hard not to be like all the other people from the United States. When people hear me talk, yes, they will find out that I am from the United States. I have a bad habit of talking loud only because my late grandmother was hard of hearing in one ear and deaf in the other. My family had to talk loud for her to hear us. The loud talking is a habit I'm thankfully getting better at reducing.
Also, you might see me put my opinion in on each one. Especially if I have seen it or accidentally done it myself when traveling abroad. I already know I will stick out as a US tourist because of my accent. At least with these in mind, I'll stick out less
1. "How you doin'?"
-This phrase is immediately associated with the popular sitcom Friends. It's usually uttered by Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt LeBlanc. Anyone who utters this, there's probably going to be a high chance they are from the United States. This kind of greeting is used infrequently in other parts of the world, as formality and proper manners are important. Using this phrase will all but tell someone that you are not a local
-I have not witnessed this, thank goodness. Whenever I talk to someone from a foreign country, I try to be polite and formal, by asking / saying "Hello", "How are you?"
2. Fanny packs
-These interesting clothing items are essentially small backpacks worn around the waist. These are most commonly worn by parents when they are going somewhere with small children in tow. They have everything they need in that bag without having to carry a purse or backpack. In many parts of the world, these "fanny packs" are considered outdated fashion or considered a stereotypical tourist item. To avoid drawing attention to yourself as a tourist, read up on what local fashion norms are so you can blend in
-The only time these are appropriate is when you have small kids in tow with you. That's when these become handy. Instead of lugging a purse with you, just put all of your essentials in a fanny pack and be on the go
3. Just can't get enough
-For some reason, it's a common practice in the United States to add tons of condiments to food, such as ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, cheese, spices, etc. This is simply not done in other parts of the world. And adding all of this can actually be seen as an insult to the chef. It essentially tells them that you are not willing to try the food as it was presented. Simply put, eat the food as it was presented. If the condiment you are searching for is not at the table, don't ask for it
-I'm going to have to refrain from doing this if I ever go to England. I have a habit of adding ketchup to eggs (gross, I know. It's the only way my mother ever got me to eat them). I will stick out so badly if I ever do this. I may as well have "US tourist" tattooed on my forehead if I even contemplate adding ketchup to eggs. I don't eat eggs too much because they affect me in a way that is better left unsaid
4. Littering
-While not everyone in the US litters, there is that small percentage of the population that are litter bugs. It's not only rude to litter, but it harms the environment. If you have trash, dispose of it properly. Keep things clean and tidy. This will endear you to the locals and show you respect their wishes for a clean and tidy world
-I would never do this. I am not going to pollute the beautiful city I am in with trash
5. Being loud
-It's been said (and certainly heard) that people from the US can be loud, almost to the point of obnoxious. Thankfully, not everyone is like that. Some people from the US are loud because that is their personality or maybe they knew someone who was hard of hearing. In the last one, people usually explain why they talk loud and it makes sense. While being loud can be seen as sometimes positive, it's seen as obnoxious elsewhere. In Japan, being loud is frowned upon, especially on public transportation. It's completely okay to be enthusiastic about something, but just remember that not everyone is like that. Remember to take cues from locals to blend in. They'll see that you are trying to do what they do and respect the local culture
-As I stated above, the only reason I am a loud talker is because of years of being around my grandmother, who was hard of hearing in one ear and completely deaf in the other. The only way to communicate with her was to look directly at her and speak loudly but slowly, so she could read lips. I am getting better at the softer talking. And if I do accidentally talk loud, I will explain why, just so people understand. I will also tell them that I offer my deepest apologies for it.
6. Fashion taking a backseat to comfort
-It's commonly known that fashion trends differ all over the world. But in the US, it's been seen and known that fashion will take a backseat to comfort. People from the US are known for wearing gym shoes and other comfortable footwear, especially when traveling abroad. They may not always go according to local fashion trends. In order to blend in, try adopting some of the local fashion trends for yourself
-The only reason I wear gym shoes is because I walk a lot. I'm going to have to do some research if I ever get the chance to go to England. I already know I'll stick out because of my US accent. Or the fact that I have a massive amount of tattoos. I was talking to a woman from England on vacation one year and she told me that it's not too common to see women with a lot of tattoos in England. I'm making sure to do research so I don't stick out, even though I probably will with my accent
7. No such thing as too much ice
-One thing those from the US are shocked to discover is that outside the US, you won't get too much ice in drinks. In the US, you get the equivalent of a small iceberg in your drink. In other parts of the world, it's not common to find a lot of ice in drinks. It can be seen as excessive and bad for the drink, as it dilutes the flavor
-I'm definitely good here. I never ask for too much ice. I hate having practically a small iceberg in my drink. It gets diluted
8. Waiting to be seated
-Normally, in most places, especially certain eating establishments, you must wait to be seated. It's the proper thing to do and it keeps order from descending into chaos. In the US, it's common to see a sign saying "Please wait to be seated". Adhering to this sign is respectful and keeps things in order. Then a member of the wait staff will find a table for you or booth for you after asking how many in your party. In many parts of Europe, restaurants are casual, customers will find their own table with out the need to be seated by wait staff. Make sure you understand this before going abroad
-Ooooooooooo, I could get used to that. That would be lovely. That's certainly a good way to get to know new people. The hardest part will be to decide which table or booth I would like
9. Bragging doesn't look good on anyone
-There's a fine line between arrogance and being self-assured. Many people from the US fall into the arrogant bragger category. This concept of overconfidence can be linked to emphasis being placed on self-reliance, being a unique individual and the "can do" attitude. While there's nothing wrong with the "can do" attitude because it drives ambition and innovation, abroad it can be seen as arrogance and inflated sense of superiority. It's good to get the right balance of humility and self-confidence
-While I have the "can do" attitude that keeps my positive thinking going, I would never brag. Despite not being devoutly religious, I've always considered those who brag constantly to be suffering from one of the seven deadly sins, Pride or Arrogance
10. Go Team!
-It's not surprising to hear that people from the US love supporting their sports teams. It's a uniquely "American" thing to wear a jersey with your favorite team on it or a hat sporting the logo of your favorite team. And it's not always football or baseball gear that people will be seen wearing. It could even be soccer gear, hockey gear, even auto racing such as IMSA, Formula 1 or NASCAR as well
-If I ever wore a sports-related item, it would most likely be a hat with the Mercedes or Aston Martin logo on it. It would be a jersey of the Mercedes F1 team or Aston Martin F1 team. It would be a t-shirt showing the logo of the Arsenal Gunners football (soccer) team on it or the Cincinnati, Ohio-based hockey team the Cincinnati Cyclones. But, honestly, I'd be a bit worried wearing a sports hat for Mercedes / Aston Martin Formula 1 on vacation only because I don't know what effect chlorinated pool water will have on the hats
11. Diet soda is a thing
-People think that by drinking diet soda that they are saving on sugar and calories. The cold, hard truth is that they are not. Diet soda is actually worse for you. It makes you crave sugar. It might be low on calories, but it's not necessarily low on sugar. This all comes down to the health-conscious idea that is common in the United States. People want to be health-conscious, and if they crave a soda, a diet option sounds reasonable. That by consuming diet soda, they are avoiding conditions like diabetes or obesity. The truth is no. Diet sodas are actually worse than regular soda
-Just don't. Don't bother drinking this. You're not doing yourself any favors. You might be saving yourself calories, but you're not saving yourself on sugar. Diet soda is actually worse for you. I don't have to worry about soda too much because I don't drink it all that often. I prefer juice, tea, water or coffee. What can I say? I'm trying to lose weight, not gain it
12. Tipping is a bit excessive
-The United States is often the only country that tips for service. You can usually spot a US tourist on vacation. How? They tip. This is a sign that you are grateful for good service. It's very common in the US to tip because wages for wait staff is so low and they work off tips. In other countries, tipping can be seen as offensive because the staff are already being paid good enough or by tipping, that is seen as a sign that staff need to work harder. In China or Japan, tipping is considered both insincere and disrespectful
-Guilty as charged. I stick out to European tourists while on vacation (holiday to people from Europe) in Mexico or the Dominican Republic. It's because I tip to show my gratitude for good service. Some people don't seem to like that I get served ahead of them. It's because I tip. It's something I've noticed over the years of going to Mexico or the D.R. When you tip, you get served ahead of others.
13. High Roller
-A term used to describe someone with a fat wad of cash. There seems to be a wide availability for credit and strong sense of consumerism in the United States. This can lead to overspending. Spending more than what is necessary. Unlike some other countries, when some from the US go on vacation, they tend to want to spend a little more, to take in experiences that they never have before. Travelers must find the right balance of being frugal with their money and enjoying their journey. Because if you run out of money, then you are in trouble unless you find an ATM that can partner with your bank back home or find a bank that can do currency exchange
-Self control is the operation of the day for me. I'm going to have to exercise quite a great deal of self-control if I get the chance to go to England. There's so much I want to do. So much to plan on seeing and taking in. I will need to plan out what I plan on doing to make sure my funds cover that
14. The More The Merrier
-It's not surprising to find that some people from the United States have a penchant for multiple accessories. Such as multiple pairs of earrings in one ear or both ears. Multiple bracelets. Multiple necklaces, etc. This can be attributed to the idea of prioritizing self-expression and personal style. It's considered completely normal to show one's individual personality in the US, to show their uniqueness or use accessories to make a bold statement. The United States is so diverse and unique that it does allow room for inspiration from other cultures. And some take that advice and use it to stand out
-The only accessories I often wear are earrings, maybe a necklace and a watch. Sometimes a ring, but not all of the time. I tend to avoid all the accessories only because it's more you have to take off at the end of the day
15. Obsession with peanut butter
-It seems like many in the United States have an obsession with this peanut-based paste. There is the creamy variety, which lacks peanut bits or the crunchy variety, which includes peanut bits. It can be used in almost any dish, from the classic peanut butter and jelly to peanut sauce or peanut butter cookies. It's considered "comfort food" and is high in protein and just tastes good. Other countries might find this to be repulsive
-I don't blame some for finding this repulsive. Even though I am guilty as charged for loving peanut butter, each country and culture has foods that some might find repulsive. I love peanut butter because it tastes good. I say each country has their own unique foods that might be repulsive to some or good to some. It is what makes this world unique. There are even arguments amongst people in the US about what brand is better, such as Peter Pan, Jif, Skippy or the local grocery store-based brand
16. Quit dawdling
-While it's completely okay to stop and snap a few pics at a historical location, don't dawdle. That might cause a traffic jam of people. This excitement of being in a new place fills one with wonder. It's easy to spot a tourist from the US. Those from the US, not all of them, but some stop completely to snap a few pics. This dawdling can lead to the bemusement of locals and cause traffic jams, even if the person causing it is doing it unintentionally because they are caught up in the excitement and wonder of a new place
-I am definitely going to have to avoid doing this. If I want to stop and snap a few pics, I'm moving out of the way. I know for a fact if I ever get the chance to go to England, I'm going to be mind boggled by the rich history, the unique architecture of the buildings, the thought of being in a historic country and just hearing the unique accent all around me. I'll be in a perpetual state of excitement. Hopefully I don't dawdle and not realize I am doing it. I don't want to be a stereotypical US tourist
17. "Next round is on me"
-There is a strong concept of sociability and generosity deeply rooted in the culture of the US. This leads to the idea of "next round is on me" at bars, people buying rounds of drinks. This is by no reason at all only limited to those from the United States. The "next round is on me" concept is not universally practiced by everyone, but it does help prove the idea that those from the US are eager to get to know new people and be outgoing. This helps reflect a sense of positive social interaction
-I'm not one to really drink heavy. Maybe a drink or two. But in between, I'd prefer tea, water or coffee. On vacation, I tend to want to try different drinks offered, but I always add water in between them, especially in hot climates. It's best to stay hydrated
18. Closing time
-Every restaurant and business has a closing time. Even bars. Most bars close between 2:00 am-2:30 am. In urban areas of the United States, there is a strong expectation that businesses will stay open until 10:00 pm or later. It's deeply ingrained in the culture of the United States. This can be a rude shock to those traveling outside the US. For example, in the UK, stores can close as early as 6:00 pm. Shopping hours can vary widely across the world. That's why it's incredibly important to check store opening / closing times to make sure you visit in those specified hours to avoid the shock of finding the store you wanted to visit has closed for the evening
-I'm sure I will probably forget this rule for a short time if I ever visit England. I will have to remember this rule. And if a store I would like to visit is closed, no bother. I'll simply come back the next day, simple as that
19. Water closet or bathroom?
-In the US, "restroom" is the term used to describe the room where one relieves themselves or freshens up. This reflects the United States idea of being reserved and avoiding any mention of bodily functions. In other parts of the world, this reservation about mentioning anything related directly to bodily functions is out there in the open. Most people from Europe prefer the term "toilet" or any variation on it. Each culture has different sensibilities about certain things
-Typically, if I need to address something, I'll ask "Where is the ladies room?" Only because I prefer to exhibit the good manners I was taught
20. Flip flops
-This is a universal shoe often seen in the warmer months in the US or in warm destinations all over the world. When traveling abroad, those from the United States can be easily spotted because of their fondness for the flip flop or sandals. They are seen as comfortable and sensible, but not sensible for long walking. They are most often seen at beach locations and warm weather locations. These shoes do not always go hand in hand with the fashion norms of other countries. This can make tourists from the United States stand out. Other countries might prefer more sensible footwear, such as gym shoes and leave the flip flops for beach / poolside time
-The only time I wear flip flops is on vacation because I tend to go to tropical destinations with pools with my family. At home, if it's warm weather out, I'll wear flip flops around. But if I am doing a lot of walking, I'll be wearing gym shoes because they are more sensible for walking. Again, I'll have to do research on what the fashion trends dictate is appropriate fashion
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