SkylarV217
Well-known member
I've traveled abroad and such and have heard several times that when American's are in other countries you can spot them from a mile away. Is this true, if so why do we stand out .... and is it annoyinf
To you International Ladies
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captodometer
Well-known member
I'm American, but I can probably give you a partial answer. I have traveled extensively and currently live in New Zealand. No one ever thinks that I am American: most Kiwis and Europeans think that I am Canadian or British. A few Kiwis think that I'm Indian: I'm African-American but there are very few people of African descent here.
It probably has to do with attitude and presentation. Don't want to generalize too much, but in comparison to other Western cultures, Americans tend to be kind of loud, obnoxious, and underdressed for the occasion. And probably kind of isolationist/inward thinking to boot.
Not saying that you have any of the qualities that I listed above, but there is something that easily identifies yous as American. I can easily pick out the American tourists here and abroad when I travel. It's not the accent: most of the Americans I have encountered in my adult life sound Canadian because I spent half my life living in states that border Canada.
You are very un-American in one aspect: you have traveled overseas
The majority of Americans live within 6 hours of where they were born, and don't have a passport.
It probably has to do with attitude and presentation. Don't want to generalize too much, but in comparison to other Western cultures, Americans tend to be kind of loud, obnoxious, and underdressed for the occasion. And probably kind of isolationist/inward thinking to boot.
Not saying that you have any of the qualities that I listed above, but there is something that easily identifies yous as American. I can easily pick out the American tourists here and abroad when I travel. It's not the accent: most of the Americans I have encountered in my adult life sound Canadian because I spent half my life living in states that border Canada.
You are very un-American in one aspect: you have traveled overseas
ms_bloom
Well-known member
Please don't take this the wrong way, I have family and close friends who live and were raised in the States ... but Americans are LOUD. Seriously. I've been in airports and on planes with Americans who talk loudly about quite personal things - not offensive topics, but things I would not want to discuss at that volume level in an airport. Relationships, finances, etc. There seems to be this larger than life quality that intrudes on others' personal space. Annoying? Yes. Is every American like this? No.
spectrolite
Well-known member
I'm an American who's been living overseas for the past 13 years. I think the stereotype of the loud, rowdy American is a bit wrong. I see plenty of loud, obnoxious people from many cultures and countries on a daily basis. I work about 5 minutes from a University and I have Americans, Irish, Canadians, French, Chinese, etc customers coming in all the time - students and families of students as well as tourists. The Americans who have come in are generally very lovely people and don't stand out more than anyone else apart from the accent which gets confused for Canadian 99% of the time anyway.
Perhaps with the current world view on Americans being somewhat negative, travelers are making an effort to break out of the stereotype? I think that making generalizations is pretty stupid. I for one have always tried to be polite and courteous where ever I go.
Perhaps with the current world view on Americans being somewhat negative, travelers are making an effort to break out of the stereotype? I think that making generalizations is pretty stupid. I for one have always tried to be polite and courteous where ever I go.
florabundance
Well-known member
I can never really tell American tourists from any others because London is one of the most multicultural places, so I never really assume anyone is from anywhere until i've spoken with them.
However, the few times i've encountered American tourists, they have been quite loud, but I wouldn't say obnoxious...they always seem excited lol
However, the few times i've encountered American tourists, they have been quite loud, but I wouldn't say obnoxious...they always seem excited lol
vocaltest
Well-known member
Personally I don't think its true! I mean yeah... I've walked past the occasional noisy one but I don't think 'omg, noisy americans'. I tell you who IS noisy though.... I live near/am at uni in Canterbury which has the oldest cathedral in the UK, i think its the oldest, but yeah... LOADS of french or italian school children there on school trips, and they run everywhere, walk into you, run into you, shout so loud, get in the way, and they buy these mouth piece things which make bird noises/whistle noises and its SO SO SO loud. when i'm in a bad mood trying to get from A to B in canterbury, I just wish I had a handy flatpacked bulldozer so i can ride it down there and move them out my way hahaha.
but anyway no... i don't think americans are loud!
but anyway no... i don't think americans are loud!
SkylarV217
Well-known member
I had actually heard that it was obvious in the way we walk and carry ourselves and something about the attitude of women... and confidence... I know many places in the world are not as liberal in the women's movement as the US and the UK. I had never thought about us being loud and such lol .... I know a lot of people are that way .... and a lot of us Americans find it obnoxious and annoying too!
Nox
Well-known member
I have traveled alot and I do notice that it is a small number of Americans who catch the attention of the locals in a negative way. Some of them are considered rude when they are abroad, and I'm sure those are the same people who are considered just as rude at home. Yet, those are the few that contribute to the bad rep Americans get abroad.
As far as observed mannerisms go, I notice that American women (depending on where they travel to, like Southern Europe, or Asia) tend to be considered less graceful than the local women, simply because American women may not adhere to what the culture finds "feminine". It could be the gait, it could be sitting posture, volume of speech, presentation, clothing, amount of skin showing, hair length, whatever.
I think wherever we happen to go, we have to remember a few things:
__________________________
-Know what not to do in the place you're in. Learn an acceptable way to apologize if their has been a faux pas committed.
-Try to learn at least basic conversational bits in the local language(s). People can get miffed with a quickness if you come at them in the street expecting to exchange information in English. I understand that when travelers are lost or stressed, it slips out and it happens. However, I don't know anywhere in the world where that is considered proper.
-"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
-The place you visit is arranged to make the locals feel comfortable, not to make 'you' feel comfortable.
As far as observed mannerisms go, I notice that American women (depending on where they travel to, like Southern Europe, or Asia) tend to be considered less graceful than the local women, simply because American women may not adhere to what the culture finds "feminine". It could be the gait, it could be sitting posture, volume of speech, presentation, clothing, amount of skin showing, hair length, whatever.
I think wherever we happen to go, we have to remember a few things:
__________________________
-Know what not to do in the place you're in. Learn an acceptable way to apologize if their has been a faux pas committed.
-Try to learn at least basic conversational bits in the local language(s). People can get miffed with a quickness if you come at them in the street expecting to exchange information in English. I understand that when travelers are lost or stressed, it slips out and it happens. However, I don't know anywhere in the world where that is considered proper.
-"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
-The place you visit is arranged to make the locals feel comfortable, not to make 'you' feel comfortable.
SkylarV217
Well-known member
Quote:
I couldn't agree more even when you are in a country where most people know English ( Like Greece ) You still neek to know " Do you speak English" Please, and Thank You in Greek! It's rude to just start speaking in English and respect a response
Originally Posted by Nox
-Try to learn at least basic conversational bits in the local language(s). People can get miffed with a quickness if you come at them in the street expecting to exchange information in English. I understand that when travelers are lost or stressed, it slips out and it happens. However, I don't know anywhere in the world where that is considered proper. . |
I couldn't agree more even when you are in a country where most people know English ( Like Greece ) You still neek to know " Do you speak English" Please, and Thank You in Greek! It's rude to just start speaking in English and respect a response
chrissyclass
Well-known member
I consider myself very well traveled and I just came from Hong Kong and they are the loudest people I've ever come across. I'm talking yelling and screaming is a normal conversation.
Their kinda loud talkers in S.Korea too.
Their kinda loud talkers in S.Korea too.
generally the only way i can tell if somebody is a traveller is if they are wearing a back pack on tehir front rather than back!! when i was in london last month the amount of people doing thsi was insane! seriously i'm concious of lifters too but no need for front wearing back packs! hee hee!
but that's not aimed at just americans - it's all tarvellers in general.
oh and in lincoln (where i live) we have lots of visters becausse people love our catherdral and you can always tell because they have our lincoln city maps in hand. and generally you don't need a map for lincoln! it's called a city but is very very small!!!
but that's not aimed at just americans - it's all tarvellers in general.
oh and in lincoln (where i live) we have lots of visters becausse people love our catherdral and you can always tell because they have our lincoln city maps in hand. and generally you don't need a map for lincoln! it's called a city but is very very small!!!
BarrelOfDonkeys
Well-known member
Well I'm not overseas so I probably don't count, but I find it really easy to spot American tourists versus tourists from other countries, especially the ones that come in on the cruise ships. They tend to walk very slowly in groups of seven or eight and stick very close to their little group. They also pretty much always wear jackets even when it's like 20+ degrees out and I've seen more than a few of them walking out into traffic when there's a red light.
Lapis
Well-known member
Ok I live in the US but I'm not from here and the one thing that I'm repeatedly told is I must speak louder, even if I'm ordering a meal the waiter will generally have me repeat atleast once and english is my first language and I don't have a strong accent, so the loud thing stands out to me, both before I lived here and now living here
BarrelOfDonkeys
Well-known member
Quote:
Yeah I work in a store and I've noticed that American customers tend to tell me to speak louder a lot more often than local customers do. I don't get it.
| Originally Posted by Lapis
Ok I live in the US but I'm not from here and the one thing that I'm repeatedly told is I must speak louder, even if I'm ordering a meal the waiter will generally have me repeat atleast once and english is my first language and I don't have a strong accent, so the loud thing stands out to me, both before I lived here and now living here |
Yeah I work in a store and I've noticed that American customers tend to tell me to speak louder a lot more often than local customers do. I don't get it.
seonmi
Well-known member
Quote:
I got told the same thing at work, too. I have an internship this summer and the only not-positive feedback people there have for me is I need to speak up. I'm not American and even compared to other people in my country, I am not loud either so it's quite hard for me to talk loudly. But English is not my mother toungue, so it may be one of the factors.
About the topic, I've travelled outside the U.S. quite a lot since I came here. I would say Americans are typically the loudiest among Western people, so I'm not comparing with Chinese or any other Asians. One of the things you need to consider when making that comparison is that the difference between languages. For example, to you guys, Asian languages sound like screaming and stuff. And my boyfriend studies Chinese and he said Chinese with Hong Kong accent (and another accent but I don't remember) is one of the most terrible for your ears (no offense to those from Hong Kong, it was just his observation during a couple of months in China).
Beside from being relatively loud, Americans have a high threshold for cold weather
I started paying attention to that when my German friend said so to me and I have to agree with her. A lot of Americans just wear flipflops and a small hoodie while it is freezing.
Other stuff, I totally agree with the first 2 replies from Captodometer and ms_bloom. But I don't really want to generalize things because there are sweet and lovely Americans, too.
| Originally Posted by Lapis
Ok I live in the US but I'm not from here and the one thing that I'm repeatedly told is I must speak louder, even if I'm ordering a meal the waiter will generally have me repeat atleast once and english is my first language and I don't have a strong accent, so the loud thing stands out to me, both before I lived here and now living here |
I got told the same thing at work, too. I have an internship this summer and the only not-positive feedback people there have for me is I need to speak up. I'm not American and even compared to other people in my country, I am not loud either so it's quite hard for me to talk loudly. But English is not my mother toungue, so it may be one of the factors.
About the topic, I've travelled outside the U.S. quite a lot since I came here. I would say Americans are typically the loudiest among Western people, so I'm not comparing with Chinese or any other Asians. One of the things you need to consider when making that comparison is that the difference between languages. For example, to you guys, Asian languages sound like screaming and stuff. And my boyfriend studies Chinese and he said Chinese with Hong Kong accent (and another accent but I don't remember) is one of the most terrible for your ears (no offense to those from Hong Kong, it was just his observation during a couple of months in China).
Beside from being relatively loud, Americans have a high threshold for cold weather
Other stuff, I totally agree with the first 2 replies from Captodometer and ms_bloom. But I don't really want to generalize things because there are sweet and lovely Americans, too.
NatalieMT
Well-known member
Where I live is a really tourist orientated city. It's called Chester and it's a really historical place hence why everyone wants to visit! We get mainly a lot of Japanese, Spanish and American people.
The Japanese are all very nice, very pleasant and curtious. All they seem to want to do is take photos of everything and anything. So they are pretty easy to spot. The Spanish come is huge school groups and no offence meant by this but I find them quite rude. They are all particularly rowdy and manage to take up pretty much the entire street without letting anyone get past. If I was away on a college trip the group I was in would always huddle together to make sure we weren't inconviniencing the rest of the public.
As for Americans, all the Americans I've met in America whilst I've been there have been absolutely lovely. Really friendly and chatty usually! But when Americans are over here I just don't think they understand us English people are generally quite reserved. I remember in a cafe once and these two American ladies were shouting across the cafe to each other and honestly I wanted to duct tape both of their mouths shut. I just thought it was something locals wouldn't have been doing. I also agree with comments that Americans seem to hold indepth personal conversations in ear-shot of a lot of people for example on aeroplanes. Fair enough that's their choice though, it's not exactly 'wrong'.
But yeah I've been a tourist and will continue to be a tourist when on holiday and I just think it's important to try and go with the flow as much as possible, trying to fit in and making an effort to speak a foreign language etc. I little effort does go a long way and makes people generally more receptive of you.
The Japanese are all very nice, very pleasant and curtious. All they seem to want to do is take photos of everything and anything. So they are pretty easy to spot. The Spanish come is huge school groups and no offence meant by this but I find them quite rude. They are all particularly rowdy and manage to take up pretty much the entire street without letting anyone get past. If I was away on a college trip the group I was in would always huddle together to make sure we weren't inconviniencing the rest of the public.
As for Americans, all the Americans I've met in America whilst I've been there have been absolutely lovely. Really friendly and chatty usually! But when Americans are over here I just don't think they understand us English people are generally quite reserved. I remember in a cafe once and these two American ladies were shouting across the cafe to each other and honestly I wanted to duct tape both of their mouths shut. I just thought it was something locals wouldn't have been doing. I also agree with comments that Americans seem to hold indepth personal conversations in ear-shot of a lot of people for example on aeroplanes. Fair enough that's their choice though, it's not exactly 'wrong'.
But yeah I've been a tourist and will continue to be a tourist when on holiday and I just think it's important to try and go with the flow as much as possible, trying to fit in and making an effort to speak a foreign language etc. I little effort does go a long way and makes people generally more receptive of you.
JustDivine
Well-known member
Quote:
You are spot on...on all counts!
Having travelled a lot, and lived abroad, I think this is my perception too.
Americans can be very loud, obnoxious and the opposite of the reserved British! I can normally spot them by the shorts, bumbag( or whatever its called) and rainmac in London! Then if I can't spot them, you bet I'll hear them. Sometimes I have felt like gagging America tourists on the bus....I had to go upstairs cos the noise was getting on my nerves. I seriously can't bear it. I'm not fond of the accent either I guess.
Re:spanish......I'm not too familiar with them per se. However, the courteous British nature is not common across Europe. Having spent the last year living in Belgium where.....people do not respect queues (esp at bus stops), people spread themselves across the pavement and do not feel that they should move to let you pass. At times I have had to barge people and not look back because they can see you coming but will not move. I find it disgraceful
| Originally Posted by NatalieMT
Where I live is a really tourist orientated city. It's called Chester and it's a really historical place hence why everyone wants to visit! We get mainly a lot of Japanese, Spanish and American people. The Japanese are all very nice, very pleasant and curtious. All they seem to want to do is take photos of everything and anything. So they are pretty easy to spot. The Spanish come is huge school groups and no offence meant by this but I find them quite rude. They are all particularly rowdy and manage to take up pretty much the entire street without letting anyone get past. If I was away on a college trip the group I was in would always huddle together to make sure we weren't inconviniencing the rest of the public. As for Americans, all the Americans I've met in America whilst I've been there have been absolutely lovely. Really friendly and chatty usually! But when Americans are over here I just don't think they understand us English people are generally quite reserved. I remember in a cafe once and these two American ladies were shouting across the cafe to each other and honestly I wanted to duct tape both of their mouths shut. I just thought it was something locals wouldn't have been doing. I also agree with comments that Americans seem to hold indepth personal conversations in ear-shot of a lot of people for example on aeroplanes. Fair enough that's their choice though, it's not exactly 'wrong'. But yeah I've been a tourist and will continue to be a tourist when on holiday and I just think it's important to try and go with the flow as much as possible, trying to fit in and making an effort to speak a foreign language etc. I little effort does go a long way and makes people generally more receptive of you. |
You are spot on...on all counts!
Having travelled a lot, and lived abroad, I think this is my perception too.
Americans can be very loud, obnoxious and the opposite of the reserved British! I can normally spot them by the shorts, bumbag( or whatever its called) and rainmac in London! Then if I can't spot them, you bet I'll hear them. Sometimes I have felt like gagging America tourists on the bus....I had to go upstairs cos the noise was getting on my nerves. I seriously can't bear it. I'm not fond of the accent either I guess.
Re:spanish......I'm not too familiar with them per se. However, the courteous British nature is not common across Europe. Having spent the last year living in Belgium where.....people do not respect queues (esp at bus stops), people spread themselves across the pavement and do not feel that they should move to let you pass. At times I have had to barge people and not look back because they can see you coming but will not move. I find it disgraceful
