To you International Ladies

[DirtyPlum]

I have had the pleasure of meeting American tourists and I have to say that I dont think you can tell they are American in the way they walk etc but def agree with the talking loud and the socks/sandals... and the older couples wearing full white tracksuits... and in the UK, their tans usually give it away!

There is nothing wrong with them talking loud... I guess it just comes down to the accent, its such a contrast to the British accent... I think that makes it sound more loud/emphasised. I have heard that the Americans talk from the front of their mouths, the British the middle and the Australians from the back of their mouths...

I have found the American people I have come across to be so friendly - I met this lovely old couple on the train last week and they got chatting to me on the very busy train... and yes they were talking loudly and yes it was about where they could find a laundry (their hotel didnt have one, rubbish I know!) to wash their clothes, as they had worn the clothes and it had been a very warm couple of days... I kinda thought - ok too much info but obviously it was important to them.

So what do ppl think of us Brits..? Can you spot us a mile off?

 

[Shaquille]

I agree with ms_bloom that Americans are loud. No offense though, just my humble opinion. When I lived in the Netherlands, I went to Amsterdam a lot, and I could easily notice Americans around me just by their loudness. I am actually surprised that I'm not the only one who feels that way 'cause I've never really talked about this with anyone.

I cannot tell the difference in North American accents - Canadian, American (okay, I can spot the country accent of Texas or Alabama, but that's it).
So once I was on Emirates plane, there was this blond-hair stewardess that spoke English with no accent. She didn't speak loudly, so I thought she was Canadian. When I asked her if she was Canadian, she said "no I'm Swiss, but I lived in Vancouver for awhile".

I do admit that loud Americans are annoying. Sorry if anyone got offended

Anyways, DirtyPlum Brits are not easy to spot unless I hear the accent..

 

[Susanne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkylarV217 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

LOL - I thought we Germans would stand out abroad

 

[Shaquille]

I can spot Germans easily just because I speak Dutch

 

[JustDivine]

I think the thing about the Brits is that because so many ethnicities can be British....it's harder to spot a Brit abroad. Plus even the "English" Brits...I dont think attract a lot of attention unless they're in Spain...then you can really pick em out!

I think if you say spot an "English" abroad rather than a Brit. Being British is a civic identity not a cultural/ethnic one. Think about Black British or Asian British....your first thought on seeing them wouldn't be that they are British

 

[glam8babe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDivine 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. S

haha they call them 'fannypacks' which reminds me, i remember i used to watch sabrina the teenage witch years ago and she was singin a song 'shake ya wammy fanny funky song' or somthing and they had to mute it when she said 'fanny' haha rude

 

[user79]

I can usually tell by their accents and the way they dress. Especially if they wear sweatshirts from colleges, baseball caps, and also their shoes. Of course I'm sure some fall under the radar, but that's how Americans stick out to me.

 

[stacey4415]

This is in no way a stereoptype, thus please don't say i have, but when i've encountered Americans in London they've been very loud, and also very rude, ie pushing into queues, obviously one is also able to tell an American by their accent, and certain word choices

 

[stacey4415]

I think it's easy to tell , certainly English when they are abroad, often wearing/displaying some form of St George's flag, namely, and usually, the football shirt!

 

[stacey4415]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatalieMT he Spanish come is huge school groups and no offence meant by this but I find them quite rude.

I also think this
When i went to Barcelona, i found the Spanish i encountered were rude, especially the children, on one occasion we were at a theme park, and like i said earlier, they seemed to enjoy pushing in queues etcetera

 

[stacey4415]

Oh and you can often tell an American, or any other country where it's warm, i guess, as in the warm weather, or at least, English warm weather they often have clothes on which we would wear in winter/spring

 

[pinkvanilla]

As MissChievous said, I would have to go with the way American's dress! Nothing wrong with it or anything, it just stands out

 

[Corvs Queen]

Sometimes I feel like a fish out of water living here. I am from the South (North Carolina) and even the people that speak english here don't understand me the first time 'round. Also, I am a jeans an t-shirt kind of gal and I love wearing my Birkenstock clogs and bright hoodies. Very American Eagle but anyway, women over here dress tacky in my opinion. Lots of Orange and Olive Green. Also, metallic bags with studs on them. ICK! I suppose I look, dowdy, talk loud, and point too much but I must say, I DON'T CARE. I am American and I don't care if I fall into stereotypes that others may have about my home land. I don't speak German and I always order in English even though I understand what someone says to me in German. Speech wise not written.

 

[Corvs Queen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stacey4415 and also very rude, ie pushing into queues

As a southerner I would NEVER, EVER push someone. I had a hard time when I first moved here because people here don't care if they touch you or violate your personal space. If you don't know me, DON'T TOUCH ME!!! I would never push someone.

 

[SkylarV217]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyPlum So what do ppl think of us Brits..? Can you spot us a mile off?

I don't want to be offensive and i hope to be tactful Like all the other ladies responding lol. We are talking in generalizations and such so it's not directed at any one... It it's not the beautiful accent. It's the normally the teeth. But thats not just the British I suppose. American's are crazy over dental health and having perfectly strait Brilliantly white teeth lol. All be it not all Americans have the prettiest teeth but I think it's a far greater priority here than in European Countries.

 

[SkylarV217]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkvanilla As MissChievous said, I would have to go with the way American's dress! Nothing wrong with it or anything, it just stands out

How so lol , we Were in England and some ladies passed by and said "They Must be American's Look at the way the DRESS." all snotty like lol , I couldn't figure it out, Mind you it was January In England and we all had coats and hats and scarfs lol ... I thought it was about what everyone was wearing.

The ladies there were wearing big high heals and walking on the cobble stone street, I would break my neck...

about the warm times lol... Where I live it gets in the 90's almost every day and in the winder it gets cold but nothing like England lol ... I wore Panty Hose , 2 pair of work out pants, and jeans over all that and still froze my Tush off.

 

[S.S.BlackOrchid]

When my American friends visited India and men on the street started whistling, cat calling, etc, they would turn around and respond, while the my Indian friends (who were born and raised in India) would look straight, and keep walking with no response. That's simply because we grew up around that and are used to the subtle rules.

It was the same thing when I moved to U.S., I felt very awkward and had to get used to different rules.

 

[S.S.BlackOrchid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stacey4415 I also think this When i went to Barcelona, i found the Spanish i encountered were rude, especially the children, on one occasion we were at a theme park, and like i said earlier, they seemed to enjoy pushing in queues etcetera

That's just because in their culture, cutting in queues is not considered rude.

And in my experience, Americans tend to be more laid back and their idea of being laid back and friendly is often mistaken for being loud or obnoxious

 

[foxykita143]

I'm from the South too, (South Carolina to be exact) but originally from Detroit, MI. When I lived in Michigan, there were actually a couple of British people that lived around me, some Germans, and tons of Arabs, Asians, Russians, you name it.

Anyway, I work at a golf course, and during Masters Week, we had people from all over, but mainly Britain, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan. I found the Scottish and Irish people to be the nicest group overall, and they were pretty talkative and very complimentary about South Carolina, the country club, and the way we treated them. They said that over where they live the people aren't as nice or outgoing and it was refreshing. The next best group would be the Australian WOMEN. They were such sweet ladies, and very polite. The next best group was probably the people from Britain, however they tended to have a stuck up attitude about them, which regretfully I've noticed in a lot of Brits (none of you ladies/gents on Specktra though!). I also have to say I have a thing for British accents and there was a very very cute boy who kept talking to me and asking me to go on a date but I had to decline (I have a boyfriend lol). After that would be the Japanese. Some of my co workers thought they were rude, but I knew that they have different customs and thats just they way the culture is so it didn't bother me (not rude, just quiet). The last group would definitely be the Australian men. A few of the older men were very nice, but the rest of them were straight up pigs. They were trying to play grab ass with every female employee there and about 5 of them complained to my boss about them sexually harassing them verbally and physically. One of them grabbed my arm and yanked me towards him and told me to give him a "girlie show" and then tried to get my phone number but I got away from him quickly. I dont know if this is just this particular group of men, but they didn't leave the best impression.

Besides all of that, I would say the negative opinions most Americans have of Brits is that they are a little rude, they somewhat give off a know-it-all impression, they are pessimistic, and they are judgmental. The positive ones I have however, is that they are good conversationalists, they are funny (I like sarcastic sense of humor and I've found this in a lot of my British friends), and they have a unique fashion sense. I also have found that they are a little more accepting of different kinds of people, and there is not as much hate concerning race or sexual orientation over there as there is in America. I may be wrong, but this is just what I'm assuming based off of what I've seen first hand.

Either way, I think if any country gets to know another and understand the culture and why it is the way it is, people would be a whole lot more understandable. I'm not easily offended and I adapt easily so none of it really bothers me, I actually have respect for people who appreciate and represent where they are from.

 

[JustDivine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxykita143 Anyway, I work at a golf course, and during Masters Week, we had people from all over, but mainly Britain, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan. I found the Scottish and Irish people to be the nicest group overall... The next best group would be the Australian WOMEN. They were such sweet ladies, and very polite. The next best group was probably the people from Britain, however they tended to have a stuck up attitude about them, which regretfully I've noticed in a lot of Brits (none of you ladies/gents on Specktra though!). I also have to say I have a thing for British accents and there was a very very cute boy who kept talking to me and asking me to go on a date but I had to decline (I have a boyfriend lol). Either way, I think if any country gets to know another and understand the culture and why it is the way it is, people would be a whole lot more understandable. I'm not easily offended and I adapt easily so none of it really bothers me, I actually have respect for people who appreciate and represent where they are from.

Getting to know another country is important before forming opinions about it, because a lack of knowledge can lead to unfounded judgments or opinions.

Your post is a case in point.
Britain= England, Wales, Scotland.
UK= England, Wales, Scotland, Northen Ireland

So I'm a bit confused when you talk about Irish, Scottish and British