How To: Not Look Like an American While Abroad in Europe
Thursday, August 30, 2007 by Kelly Sutton Chris, our friend Scott, and I arrived in Germany the last week. Sorry for the lack of posts. We've been acquainting ourselves with the local beer--but not the local women quite yet, unfortunately. While it's a tad pessimistic and unpatriotic, not looking like an American has its advantages. You are less of an obvious target for pick-pocketers, for one. Although looking like an American every day does lend itself to spontaneous conversation.
A quick apology for our international readers; hopefully you can derive some humor out of this post and help out if we're missing anything. Here's a few things I've learned while in Dusseldorf, Germany:
- Dress the part. Let's face it, most people in Europe dress better. Avoiding hooded sweatshirts, flip-flops/sandals/slippers, athletic shoes, non-New York Yankees baseball caps will help you blend in a little bit more. Collared shirts, a nice jacket, and "European" shoes will have locals asking you for directions.
- Don't have your travel guide/translator/language dictionary in your hand at all times. Duh.
- Don't take pictures of every single new thing. Shit looks different outside of the U.S. Get over it.
- Try to learn everyday language. As my friend puts it best, "It's the effort that counts."
- Make a conscious effort to keep your voice down. For reasons unbeknownst the world, Americans tend to talk louder. Much louder. You'll get that feeling like you're the only one talking in a public place quite a bit.
- Get a messenger bag. Backpacks are dead giveaways. Just because the phrase is "backpacking around Europe" doesn't mean you have to use a backpack.
Did we miss anything?
Stay tuned for "How To: Look Like an American in Asia (and Why This is a Good Thing)."
Reader Comments (6)
Hahahaha, #5 is dead on. While I was studying abroad, I would pick out every single American group whether they were speaking English or not. They were just loud. And obnoxious.
Then again... I probably was, too. ;x
7. Don't wear hotpants when you are over 20 (unless you want to be asked how much you cost per night).
8. Keep quiet about Politics especially if you support Bush. He is widely unpopular in Europe.
9. Don't show off with your knowledge of foreign languages if all you know ist the words for "shit", "fuck" and "asshole".
10. If you travel with three persons, take three seats only!
11. Don't great a German with "Heil Hitler". They don't find it funny.
12.Watch out for blond women; they are even more evil in Europe and definitely a great danger for an innocent American!
As a Canadian, I could easily be taken for an American and it does not bother me in the slightest.I do not expect people really care that much where I am from.
If you are loud and insensitive, especially in a group, it does not matter where you are from, you will raise hackles.
Take a genuine interest in the place you are visiting, its language and culture. Do not overreact to everything that is unpleasantly different, nor show indifference to things that are different and matter locally.
And you can assume that the way you do things "at home" is of little interest to the locals.
[...] week I wrote a post about looking like an American in Europe and the usually negative consequences. Asia, on the other hand, has a few different rules to play [...]
I guess I disagree with the dress stuff. I am who I am. You are right about loud and arrogant Americans. Katy and I have been around the world and we deserve some of the current criticism. Most countries treat us better than we treat our visitors to the USA.