" Where in America are you from ? " the cashier need me .
At the time , I had been studying abroad and living in Bath , England for five months , shop at this same local grocery store multiple time a workweek . I consider Bath home in so many ways – I was n’t a native , but I certainly felt that I was managing to commingle in , at least . Yet the man peal up my spoilable and spotted dick ( really , that ’s a British dessert ) somehow sleep together I wasfarfrom a local .
" I ’m from New York , " I chuckle . " Is my accent that obvious ? I judge ' Canis familiaris ' and ' coffee tree ' like a normal person , I swear . "
Daniel Fishel/Thrillist
" No , it ’s not your accent , " he began . " My friends and I play this game call ' Spot the American , ' and the bragging game show is anyone wearing trainer with baggy sweat wearing apparel out in public . People from the UK would n’t woolgather of black market errand dressed like that . No offense , of course of study ! "
hold off – running errands in a sweatshirt four size too big was " American " ? A hoodie was my Sunday uniform ; I ’d never thought doubly about it . I reckon defend myself , but cursorily realized the obvious : I was American – and stars and stripes were ooze through my pores without me even know it .
More so than other cultures , those hail from the great US of A seem to unwittingly wear their American - cape on their ( sweatshirt ) sleeves – specially when traveling . Wear your identity proudly , but if you must coalesce in , you might need to consider your giveaways . We inquire a pool of mass from around the earth to share the easiest and most clamant ways to spot an American tourist in their rest home country .
IR Stone / shutterstock
Who, what, wear?
" American love wear shorts , even when it ’s not all that quick out of doors . " –Nelly , Spain
" North Face wool . " –Jacqui , Germany
" Ill - fitting thyroxin - shirts that showcase somewhere they ’ve been or a exploit accomplished , like ' Milwaukee Marathon ' or ' Chicago Zoo ' – something mortifying Europeans would n’t dare be make out in . Then on party nighttime , American girls wear pounds of composition . " –Susan , Netherlands
Paul Vance / shutterstock
" Americans are the 1 wearing fanny packs – though I think it ’s because they want to keep an eye on their pocketbook . “–Elio , Venezuela
" [ American women wear]allthe accessory – ALL of them!"–Madeleine , Israel
Restaurant and bar etiquette (and lack thereof)
" Americans are used to fully grown portions in restaurants and cafés . So when I see someone walking around Europe with more than a half - liter of coffee , that person is likely American . " –Matt , Spain
" [ come from someone who works as a waiter ] I can differentiate someone is American if he or she orders Gallic shaver . Like , just minor , and nothing else . " –Steffen , Denmark
" Americans go out and get college - girl drunk – it ’s a gravid ethnic difference of opinion . In Greece , we give care a lot about what people cerebrate , so we grow up try out to do everything in sure way . Plus , there was never a drink age here [ until recently when they made it 18 ] , so as teenagers , we never felt the need to get wasted because we easily could if we ’d really wanted to . “–Stavros , Greece
Bankoo / shutterstock
" Surprised faces when they are not immediately served a glass of ice water . “–Cristina , Romania
" At a restaurant , you may often try a group of Americans talk about how much they should tip . And they usually tip really well , since it ’s not common to leave a significant heart and soul of gratuity in Europe . " –Nelly , Spain
" They ’re the first to buy you a drink . As shortly as I note that I ’m Canadian and used to good beer , an American will fare along in an attempt to turn up me wrong . " –Karl , Canada
Being tourists and meeting locals
" I like the Americans who travel . They are very friendly , offering nice - to - meet - yous and are interested in learning about other cultures . I also make love how all the Americans I ’ve met [ from the middle of America ] apologize about Trump . “–Susan , Netherlands
" Bahamians are a staid bunch , and since most of us are in service job , they see tourer every day . But Americans are congenial and friendly to a mistake , insisting on speak to the locals until their formality divulge down . Also , it blows me off how amiably American holidaymaker spend money – they ’re the main reason I was capable to capitalize on my business of sell $ 20 CD of holidaymaker exposure . Europeans and Canadians bitch about toll , but Americans mirthfully open up their wallets clock time and time again . " –Ken , Bahamas
" American tourists get the most excited when they meet other Americans afield . " –Maria , Spain
" At least in Asia , Americans are always taking picture of the locals . And not in theNational Geographickind of room – more like how I take photos of animals at the zoo on my iPhone . " –Dan , Vietnam
" [ As the dean of a report abroad program for American students ] I ’m loath to imply that all Americans are likewise – it seems to me that it ’s precisely in its diversity that the USA is unique and hard . But generally ( and humorously ) verbalise , Americans are astonish by the sheer historic period of thing in the UK , yet play surprise that most British cleaning woman do n’t wear bonnet . They also get really mad whenever they see sheep . " –Jonathan , UK
Getting physical
" I ’m not saying that all Americans are heavy , but the overweight people I come across here run to be American . " –Barbro , Sweden
" Their beautiful teeth ! " –Jonathan , UK
" If there ’s a girl on the beach in a bikini with six - pack AB , my first thought is , ' she ’s American . ' Spanish cleaning lady do n’t shoot for for that aspect . It ’ ' custom here to wipe out reasonably healthy with the exception of make a beer with every meal , but since we walk everywhere , we do n’t really gain much weight . Americans , however , wreak out to get toned . " –Beatrice , Spain
Bags and bottles
" American carry such huge bags ! And the woman fill up those bags with so many curl up and straightening irons . " –Allie , Australia
" A bottle of rosé wine in hand for an afternoon on the beach , match with combust skin . " –Gerald , France
" Anyone keep back a camcorder and shouting in reverence makes for the prosperous plot of ' discern the American Tourist . ‘"–Kayleigh , UK
Say what?
" I generally find the stereotype about Americans being uncouth and ignorant a bit tired , but their behavior abroad often seems to support to it . One time , a voluble American couple was on the Metro , and the husband ask the wife each sentence they crawled into a post : ' Why is every post in this urban center called sortie ? ' He had to be politely order that ' sortie ' stand for ' loss ' in French . " –Jean - Luc , France
" Anyone who suppose , ' sup ? ' " –Ting , China
" I ’ve been asked by a couple of Americans separately on nights out whether I opt the Beatles or the Stones . businesslike Europeans who are trying to seem coolheaded , however , take similar interrogative . " –Joe , UK
" American pupil exhibit a quirky commixture of the formal and informal . It can take me five or six classes to get them to call me by my first name , rather than ' professor ' ( an honorific which , in English terms , I certainly do not warrant ) , and yet they are far more unforced to be saucy and , for wish of a well word , more playful than many of the English students I ’ve taught . " –Rob , UK
" American are brassy . " –Everyone
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