I worked in the tourist sector and the americans were one of my favourit tourists, yes they shared a lot, but most of the times they were REALLY friendly and exited to visit another country and I preferred this attitude
Smiling and saying "hello" to people as you walk down the street. Our English friend, while truly loving how friendly Americans were when she visited, joked with us that when you do it in the UK, people think you're insane. And yes! The Yankees hats!
Same. I was walking in Scotland with my neice and waved to her neighbour. She asked "do you know that man? Then why are you talking to him?" Seems strange to not say hi to someone's neighbours like that do here.
Same behavior in Russia , they have a saying for it " smiling with no reason, is a sign of stupidity" in Paris , France if you do that (man-man) the guy will think you are gay and flirting 😅
@@stananderson4524 Yes, it does seem to be a recent phenomenon. The whole ubiquitous baseball cap thing is. For some, it becomes an unconscious security blanket, IMO.
The traditional hat rule isn't indoor vs outdoor it's private vs public space.(except Churches). Inside somebody's private house hat off, shops, bars, public transport stations etc hat stays on and if my hat would block the view of the screen or stage again hat stays on
Im a Brit, this did make me laugh, ive always found Americans ive come across both in the US and here in England to be very charming, enthusiastic and friendly.
@@scruff520 There are places for sharing (like here) and places for quiet. If you can't work that out, then it's not me who's being rude and obnoxious.
@@bugsygoo I agree, too much sharing and kind of in your face which isn't nice, and being too loud. Generally the Americans we've encountered have been very pleasant.
If someone is claiming to be1/16th Irish, or Italian or Scottish etc because 5 generations ago there ancestors were from a country. They are definitely American
Lol. You are spot on 40 years ago I was a tour of the Roman Collusium and an American said " we have one just like this in LA" the tour guide responded "you Americans have everything " I have never forgotten it. 🇨🇦
I was sat in a tiny pub in Fort Augustus in Scotland, watching the world outside drift from day to night, sipping a proper scotch.. Quiet, peaceful, gentle hum of chat.. Door suddenly opens as if it was kicked, "Wow this place is beautiful, hey there bartender, could I get a dram of your best Scottish whiskey?" He was wearing shorts with the American flag on them and a t-shirt with an eagle... There was no missing that guy. He was a laugh riot.thoigh, super friendly, super sweet, amazingly well humoured and I'll never forget him. John from just outside Dodge City Kansas who worked his entire life selling farming equipment and if I'm ever in Dodge City I should go look him up... It's been 20+ years and I still wonder if he ever made it to Torquay, which he insisted wasn't far away... "600 miles? Ain't nothin' " he said with a big ole smile.
@@jamesgough3938 but do you actually know anything about their country's politics or do you just base that on what you see on your local media? The US media doesn't even report truthfully in any way shape or form about republicans or Trump so I doubt that they do in your country either. That's not to say that republicans are perfect but don't judge people for what you can't possibly fully appreciate without actually being there.
My other favourite "American Abroad" moment was at a small hotel in northern England, when asked if they would like an egg with their breakfast they replied they wanted an 'over medium' or somesuch, only to be told their options were 'Yes' or 'No'.
Americans and Canadians have the most picky relationship with eggs...it's truly a phenomenon. Nothing will make a grown American man more icked out than runny eggs and it's embarrassing to witness
@@sunflowerfields4409 carry a water bottle as well, particularly if I know I'm going to be out and about all day. I think it's definitely an "Americanism" that's positive, since I get to avoid buying single-use water bottles
@@ariesmry You can buy and reuse "single-use" bottles too if it is more convenient. I find the light weight and advantage walking all day, just refill as needed. Got an apfelschorle in Germany and once finished used it for water after that.
@@davesaunders7080 I always take a bottle of frozen water with me here in Thailand (or if I have holidays in another hot country and have a fridge to freeze). Very good, slowly it is melting, and you always have cold water (if you wrap a half litre bottle in a piece of cloth it can keep some ice all the day).
Not in Vienna. I have many Austrian friends who want to pick up something to eat like a Döner or kebab box and then want to walk and eat it. But I can't walk and eat, and I'm the American in the group. I'm always the one asking if we can sit down somewhere, or go someplace that has sit-down options.
@@Todesnuss I don't know. It's usually when I am out with Millennials and Gen Zers. Gen X and Boomers are happy to sit down and have a few beers and actually visit over food. People my age and younger are always in such a rush to get to the next place.
@@taco7546 I hear ya. Going to Europe next month and although I never had issues in the past (not too chubby, wore no hat, wasn’t loud…), watching these videos makes me a bit self-conscious. I understand the reasoning- overheard a VERY loudly complaining American woman once in a beautiful Prague restaurant and just shrank in my seat- but I also know that travel is hectic and I won’t always maintain a Euro-cool persona. Good to consider, though.
@@Katnip452 People from other places also talk loudly. We often just don't understand what they are saying so we don't pay attention. Don't worry about some petty people. Just be yourself. Remember highschool is over.
Good for you. Remember that people who complain like this are just unhappy with their own lives and looking for a way to make themselves feel better - by putting other people down. This is across the world. Don't let people walk on you.
Swiss American here, you are spot on. Also what gives it away are all the college t shirts or walking around with portable cups - Starbucks cups ( which l also love to do 😅 ) and the white tennis shoes and white socks 🧦 pulled up. I wish, here in Switzerland, same as in Sweden we would wear bolder brighter colors the dull beige and greys get boring after a while - especially in summer ☀️
On a visit to Europe someone told me that in Europe the difference between Canadians and Americans is that Canadians behave as though they're visiting a different country whereas Americans behave as though they're visiting a theme park.
I've run into some very rude and obnoxious Canadians in Europe, but overall this matches my experience. I'm American, but I was raised by German immigrants & near the Canadian border. I lived in the Netherlands for 13 years & I found it both funny and pleasing that most of the time I was asked what part of Canada I was from, even when travelling outside the Netherlands.
I feel like this is a very big misconception held by, primarily, Americans. As someone who has traveled pretty extensively I can tell you Canadians can definitely be rude and obnoxious tourist.
Been watching you guys for years! We had a totally enchanting trip to Czechia due in part to your videos. Thank you!! Raising a glass to many more years of Wolters World
I love Americans! I'm from the UK and I used to work at a tourist sight. Met a lot of Americans and probably had my most memorable moments with them. I remember feeling very low in energy on a shift, when all of a sudden a group of Americans walked in. They were running late and were in a hurry. They had so much positive energy that it rubbed off me and my colleague. We ended up laughing and thanking the Americans. Another time. I helped a young American with a question and as a form of gratitude, he held out his hand in a fist "Thanks brother". I did the same slightly awkwardly. I loved it lol. As he left, I noticed that another visitor was standing by and asked: "Did that just happen?" "Yes". I said as we both laughed. It was like a sitcom. I have plenty more stories but the fact of the matter is, I love Americans :)
about ice... bar tenders LOVE when they sell you ICE at the same price as MARTINI :))) Im Parisian, got an italian pizza restaurant in my street, , i ordered a Martini Bianco, i expected 2 or 3 cubes, they served it with crushed ice 😡😡 i got a Martini with 50% water , a real scam !! I will no longer eat in this restaurant.
Two and three: Come to Thailand. People even drink sometimes their beer with ice. And the cell phone? USA-people: Using phones everywhere.... Thai people: Don't hold my cell phone....
And now, apparently, face masks. I kept seeing Americans in proper protective face masks, not just surgical masks. And they were usually just a bit too overbearing. Wtf is up with that?
I am an American that lives in France and I can tell you that the baseball cap is all over France. In fact it has gotten to where so many of the French wear them that you would think you are in America
I’m American and some years ago when I was working in a department store they told me I was not bubbly and smiling enough. Some of us are just more serious than others, not all Americans have the same personality.
you don't know what oversharing is until you come to Hungary, if you ask someone here "how are you?" be prepared for an exhaustive tale possibly including history lessons and X-ray shots
Because people here don't usually ask "how are you" unless they are genuinely interested in answer. I'm always do surprise, why the heck you pose a question without wanting an answer XD
I made that mistake once when on our 2nd USA tour. I thought I looked exhausted and someone wanting to check if I was OK? Over here in Sweden we say Hallå (hello) or Hej (hi) when we greet eachother. But when we say Hur mår du (how are you), we are asking for a medical report.
When I’m in Europe I am on my phone a lot at meal time mostly because I’m planning the next part of my day! That’s why I love videos like yours, the more I plan my itinerary in advance, the smoother my trip goes and the more I can enjoy the moment!
Your videos are very helpful and reading the comments on this particular one made me chuckle. My husband and I have recently retired and have started doing as much overseas traveling as we physically can do. We try not to make these mistakes. 😊. Keep up the great work!
I’d add another to the baseball cap thing. I would suggest a European is more likely to take their headwear off when going into a building or on transport. Americans often don’t. I was once on a 5.5 hr flight and the two guys in front wore their baseball caps throughout
As a former NYC high-school teacher I always asked students to take of their hats in class, but that seems to be an old way of thinking. Their parents don't teach them that anymore.
Americans are great people. I like your small talk and smiles :) If you are traveling on a city or bus tour with random people and meet a group of American tourists, often it will be much easier and more fun to talk to the Americans than to people from your group.
I expected Americans to be loud but when I went to the US (California, Arizona, Nevada & Utah) they weren't loud at all... They were all like: 'Hey... Were you're from?... You're from Germany?...Oh you're from Holland... You smoke pot?... You go to the ladies behind the windows?...' - I live in a little village in the countryside and one guy refused to believe that I have never even seen pot in my life :D
@@RidiculousMadDancer Well I am caricaturizing things a bit :D I did have some fascinating conversations there. You're more than welcome to visit the Netherlands. Maybe go to the Efteling, considered by many to be the best amusement park in the world :)
Parisian , 75 years old , i suppose "pot" is "marijuana" .. i used to smoke but i've never been attracted to smoking other stuff than tobacco . I can recognize the foul smell of it though ...
As a (Greek)-American expat living in Ireland, after a couple weeks I could for sure spot the Americans everywhere I went.. we definitely stand out but what's interesting is it kind of depends where in America you are from.. some Americans are much better at blending in and staying low key than others (looking at you NYers.. the easiest Americans to spot!).
So Sziget Festival just finished yesterday in Budapest, and a couple of days ago I was at a supermarket nearby (Auchan Óbuda) and walking through (hell, coz I hate to buy grociaries lol) I have encountered several people speaking in foreign languages. The only lady that was louder than all the other ones was American (based on her accent in my ears, and maybe from New York, I dunno) and at some point I was even looking at her and her group like why was she so loud. I wish I had gone to and greated her and her friends (and the others in her group were most likely not Americans coz they were not as loud as her and had different accent too) hahahha. Americans are good people and I never had bad experience with them. Love you guys from Hungary!
The language thing is very important IMO. Whenever I travel to a country where English is not the primary language I always try to learn the basics - please, thank you, two beers please, etc. To not do so not only pegs you as an American it’s just, basically, impolite. Even if you butcher the pronunciation the locals appreciate the attempt and will generally open up. The only country I couldn’t pull that off was the Netherlands. That language is absolutely impenetrable!
You can easily spot an American by their tendency to tip 20% 😃 As for the idea that Americans are overly talkative, I don't really agree. My experience was quite the opposite, once people realized we were from the U.S., they were very curios and wouldn't stop asking us questions and sharing their life stories! It's silly to do all these comparisons, because we're all unique individuals, and what one person experiences may differ completely from someone else. Some people feel uneasy stepping out of their comfort zone, while others embrace it. Some prefer the comfort of resorts, while others enjoy mingling with the locals. Keep traveling, keep exploring and most importantly, have fun!
Hey Mark! Thanks for pointing out the accent thing - as an Aussie it's something I personally find rude and belittling. It seems to be a North American thing generally - I lived in Vancouver, Canada for years and would have random people including customers at work and waiters serving me start trying to mimic me. I hate it! I *do* love the American friendliness though! It's always a great chat when running into Americans overseas.
As an Englishman, I had the same experience in a restaurant in Austin TX. The waiter thought we were putting on a "posh" accent. When he found that were really European visitors, he apologized and gave us a free desert. For his good manners he got a good tip.
I can say I do none of those things, I try to blend, but the cargo shorts give me away, but I need the pockets for stuff. I keep my water bottles (I buy a couple bottles of water and keep refilling them from the tap - unless it is someplace where you cannot/should not drink the tap water) and snacks in my packpack. The best was ordering a couple of croissants in Cannes and the nice lady behind the counter starts having a conversation with me - mainly because I looked like a friend of hers and ordered properly. I was with a friend who was born and raised in France who bailed us out. We all had a good laugh. I eat locally, go to local grocery stores, drink local beer, etc. I mean if I wanted an American experience I would stay home. The best was a kebab vendo worried that the spicy sauce would be too spicy. It was not. Damn fine kebab too.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a more 'local' experience. It is when it is pushed on people to change their entire being to avoid being criticized by some petty person that it becomes irritating.
Look at skinny you! It may be relatively easy to spot Americans when traveling, but it's getting harder to spot you since you lost weight. Nice work, Mark.
It’s strange when I was Uk and Ireland i didn’t wanna interact with Americans. However, when I was in Paris I was so glad to talk with a lady from Wisconsin on the metro hear a non French accent. We gave each other tips for Paris. I am also a very loud speaking Canadian.
I think the phone thing is more a lack of an international phone plan in Europe. I know when I’m there I just turn airplane mode on the entire time so anywhere I can get Wi-Fi I’ll use the hell out of my phone since I’m not sure when the next time I’ll be able to use it will be.
Canadian here. On a trip to Dublin, I was sitting in a hotel's bar, having a beer. This guy comes in wearing a brand new Aran sweater. Before he had a chance to say anything, I looked at him and said, "Hi. What part of the States are you from?" Guy looks at me and says, "How did you know?"
Having visited Canada I'd have an awfully hard time telling any of you apart from Americans besides that they stop you all for smuggling at the border and not the Americans 😁, although I live in an area that apparently has the same accent not far away.
0:31 I don't travel at all, but based on my home town experiences I would add China to that list. At the very least there's no risk of mistaking them for Japanese.
A middle aged person with shiny new white trainers is normally something that screams 'Americans'. (I assume that many people buy new comfy shoes as they are expecting to do more walking than at home). Another one in the UK is spotting an American by the look of disappointment when they only get one ice cube in their drink. :)
I don’t think so. Well, maybe years ago. White trainers have been on trend for several years and aren’t going anywhere soon. And all age groups wear them. Europeans have embraced them too but probably not so much big bulky huge ones 😊
Colours are fine, just pump up your game a bit more out of the athletic clothes and you will be able to blend in (which has a big value: if your posture doesn't scream: I'm a tourist, you are more difficult to be sotted by scammers:) )
I've never been to Europe but want to understand why someone wouldn't want to wear comfy clothes with Crocs for daily activities. Like who cares what people think. What matters is feeling good
In Europe, several hotels have a buffet breakfast included in the price of the room. When you are looking at an empty table with plenty of left-over food in the plates, who was sitting there ? Americans ! Americans have this bad habit of wasting food ! Wasting food is a shame !
Yes, many Americans are terrible when it comes to wasting food, and it annoys me greatly (American here). My parents and grandparents lived through the Depression, so taking only what will be eaten, cleaning my plate, and saving the leftovers to eat later was drummed into me as a child. And speaking of European hotel breakfasts: they are wonderful, and FAR superior to what is typically offered here in the States by our hotels (unless it's something more upscale). My husband and I always look forward to breakfast in Europe.
@@georgebelmonte8522 yeah but refusing the use of word "fat" and using some sparkling and colourful words to say exactly the same thing (even when you are speaking in general) is mad... Not gonna say anything about glorifying obesity and being overweight as something good.
I agree with the loudness and complaining about small things. Need to realize that you are in a different country with its own identity, culture and ways.
Another way to spot an American in Europe is that when we are at the airport either arriving or departing we’re most likely wearing sweatpants, sweatshirts and sneakers. just very casual
In Japan, I found that the people who wanted to hang out with me the most, generally wore flashier clothes and/or Baseball Caps. I think that these people are more inspired by America. I as an American do dress quite plainly, alot of blues and grays but I do wear baseball caps alot, not because I am balding, but because I have curly, hard to manage hair. I do get alot of my clothes from Uniqlo like the Japanese do.
I have 2. The first one is being unaware of the bike lanes and standing in the bike lanes while waiting for a bus. The second is one you mentioned. The loudness. I was watching a train video on TH-cam and the train was approaching Gard Nord and you can hear a load conversation in the back ground and my first thought was they must be from the US.
When we were at Stonhenge in 2019 and were getting some things from the gift shop, I did an Americanism with asking for a double bagged item and apologized to the cashier and commented to her that Americans must be the most difficult, obnoxious people to deal with as tourists. And she told me that it was actually usually (in her experience) Chinese folks...lots of them and just totally different habits/customs/social rules. Then the rest of that week in England I could start to see her point at the places we would visit. It's in the eye of the beholder, I guess is what I'd say. Just try to be excellent to everyone wherever you go and try to adopt little bits of language, customs and so on!
Switching knife and fork is the main thing for me. I was in Venice recently and it became almost a sport to guess who was American (if you couldn't hear them speak...). If they where eating with their fork in their right hand... you knew. And, God forbid, with their other hand on their lap under the table. That last thing is, as far as I know (I am swedish/dutch), just NOT DONE in most European countries, almost a taboe... Maybe an old custom: " always show both your hands". Maybe they have a weapon under the table. Or worse: doing something undecent... So my advice to Americans who don't want to stand out; both hands on the table in the restaurant! I like your videos, the are so spot on!
i am Dutch and raised with this etiquette about not having your elbows on table, I actually do find it very uncomftable to eat like that, oke when you have both knife and fork it just hapens to not have your elbow on the table. But in case there is nothing more to cut (like the meat is finished and just eating some fries or anything else that is already small on your plate I do put down my knife and put fork in right hand with my left arm laying on the table in line with my body to lean on it.. it is just so more comfartable eating. The etiquette is invented in the middle ages for the rich to feel themself above the peasants. Just stupid to have an uncomfartable posture
Do people eat with their fork in their left hand even if they aren't using a knife? If I'm using a knife I solely use the fork in my left hand and the knife in the right without switching but if I am not using the knife I will use my right hand. I am American but I didn't feel like the fork and knife thing described what I did but I've never really thought about it.
Mexican here: When I was little and visited Chichen Itza, you could still go up the pyramids. When we were at the top, my family was able to smell a French tour group 30 meters away. There are worse things than hearing Americans 50 meters away.
While in Botswana years ago, my sister & I were greeted with a 'Hello" we answered back with "Hi" & were immediately told we must be Americans. How did they know we asked, because we'd said "Hi". Dead giveaway-- I guess.
Took a survey at dinner. I'm the only one in my family that doesn't swap hands when I eat. Fork starts and stays in my left hand, and the knife is in my right
I was shocked by that one. I've never really watched how other people eat, but is that something they do? It seems incredibly odd to be. I'm left handed, so maybe it's easier for me to just have the fork on the left, knife on the right, and just shovel it in with the fork.
@frednich9603 I'm going to do a family survey also. As for me, I am the opposite. Knife in left hand, fork in the right...never swapping, and I'm right handed.
I’m a Brit and have just got back from Sweden and Amsterdam….in Sweden I didn’t see many Americans at all. (Loved Sweden by the way…just wonderful - I watched some of your Swedish videos before which was very useful). We visited friends there and they loved ‘doing the Swedish chef’ themselves and laughed their heads off 😂 but I would never mention that with strangers. However, in Amsterdam, we went to the Anne Frank museum and there was a huge group of Americans behind us in the queue for the introduction talk and they were so noisy and clearly hadn’t stopped to see the sign that read about being quiet (in English) that some people actually ‘shhh’d’ them so the guide could speak. I just think some Americans (because they don’t travel as much as Europeans do) feel the world should be the same as the States. Got to say when some Brits go to Spain as such they are appalling also! 🙄🧡💚
As an American German living for 25 years in the State of Hawai’i, I can clearly state, that there are not much of Aloha spirit on both, American and European side ! As I was born and raised in Germany, I can’t recall, that a shop merchant ever said t”thank you” when I paid for my groceries, or even going in a shop, rudely ask : “What do you want “ 🤣 I admit, that was quite a while ago ! None tipping Europeans/Germans, they are paid full salary + health insurance, unlimited sick days and vacation days, went to at least 3 years of training ( and yes as a waiter too). They expect the same in the US too…..but, that is the big difference amongst cultures, as we say in German “Andere Laender, andere Sitten !
Nicht alle Kellner im Restaurant sind ausgebildete Kellner, Einkäufer sei denn man geht in ein Sternerestaurant. Wer soll denn das Gehalt bezahlen? Das war vielleicht vor 30-40 Jahren so, aber heutzutage kann man froh sein, wenn wenigstens der Koch eine abgeschlossene Ausbildung hat.
The baseball caps. The white teeth. The plastic surgery on the women. They seem to have a calm demeanour and walk slowly.That's what i have noticed Also they seem genuinely interested in everything and help us to see our own places with new fresh eyes and wonder and that's really lovely IMO
I agree with everything! As an American😅 but as for the phone thing, if the menu is not in English our phones can easily translate and help with the language!
I was living in Scotland and I was on the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh. I’m sitting there with my Scottish friends and this woman from New Jersey was sitting behind us. She had this nasally voice and she was loud. As we were going into Edinburgh she said this…”Oh look, they built a castle next to the tracks so it greets you as you go into the city” My friend looked up and said ”Please tell all you Americans are not that stupid”
It's actually true: Americans often refuse to speak the local language even though they should know it: I worked at the Goethe-Institut for a long time, and we had American students at language level C1, which normally allows for fluent conversation. Nevertheless, they always asked if we could talk in English. Hey guys, you were there to learn German! I don't need English in my own country! You can also often recognise Americans by the fact that they stroll along the bike lane without a care in the world and calmly take their photos without even noticing when bike bells ring (ok, ok, Arab and Indian tourists do that too).
I’m B2 in German and have fluent conversation of course not every word or perfect but when I was in learning German it’s total immersion so we were not supposed to speak in English. And I did not want speak in English because I already know English and so therefore, I think because I was strongly motivated, I learned.
I did rather well when I was in Rome. I was walking down the street and a gentlemen in a car starting speaking to me in Italian. I assume that he was asking directions to somewhere. Told him I don't speak Italian. Made him laugh. I looked into what people wear in France and Italy before I went there so that I would blend in. No one knew where I was from until I opened my mouth LOL
@@emilykochetta119 i was in France visiting my gf and the amount of yankee caps I saw was insane, I’m from NJ so the Yankees are our team and i do not see that many here. My gf didn’t even know that the Yankees were a baseball team, she just thought that it was a fashion brand or something, guarantee you that girl you saw probably thinks the same thing.
I always try to learn some basic words and phrases of the local language when I travel to Europe. It really does make a difference. I once got a big smile out of a woman in a small town in the Czech Republic when I said thank you. The same happened in a shop in Ghent when I thanked a lady in Flemish. I can speak some French, so when a friend (he has also studied it) and I bought items from a ceramic artist in Chinon who did not speak English, he and I teamed up during the sales. She was delighted with our efforts.
The random "Hello, I'm from America" is so weird (especially since we usually heard them talk and know full well they are) 😂 I always imagine being on the NY subway, turning to a random stranger and going "By the way, I'm German" 😅 Pulling into a random gas station small town America going "Hallo, I'm from Germany". Visiting the walk of fame "Hey guys, I'm from Germany" 😂 I mean, what am I supposed to do with that information (and I'm not even a grumpy German, I've been socialised in the UK and am also familiar with Latino chatiness)?!?
I'm actually a very quiet-spoken person as an American and before I met my fiance received feedback from Europeans like, "Wow! I'm so surprised you aren't loud! Every American I have encountered was super loud! I can barely hear you." But my fiance is a foot taller than me and has a slight hearing loss issue from being a live musician, so I have to yell in public settings where there's lots of conversations going on for him to hear me, and now everyone just thinks it's because I'm an obnoxious American. :(
@@DavidNewmanDr Yeah, he has a lot of medical problems I wish he would get on top of. Men not wanting to go to the doctor seems to be a universal thing.
@@enjoystraveling I mean, that's the first thing I have tried, but even without background noise he can't hear when I whisper at all. We were out with his father the other day and we were having a conversation and he was yelling basically, and didn't realize it. He thought he was speaking at a normal volume. I really think it's hearing issues and not being willing to get that checked out.
And I can't tell you exactly what it is about the clothing, but it's not just the bagginess--it's all of it together. Europeans have outfits for every occasion, right down to the shoes and the socks. Americans will wear the same outfits for everything, unless it's a wedding, a funeral, or a job interview, and I think I am only in tune to this because I'm native and I know what there is in the U.S clothing-wise.
Perhaps an American would be more muted back in the US because there's a measure of discomfort when you're out in public? Or depending on the state - afraid to draw attention of indivuals with bad intentions?
Yeah, cocktail dress, Sunday dress, dress for a casual meeting in the park, outfit for a club, outfit for theatre, working smart casual, hiking clothes different from gym cloths and the list goes on XD
Recently spotted an American family at the airport with a five year old boy in a dress shirt and trousers, all ready for the plane. Do they want to stand out as knobs?
@@STOG01 I don't know, I just know that when I am back in U.S. visiting I maintain my Euro way of dressing and I'm always the one who is the most dressed up. Everyone else shows up in sweat pants and t-shirts, and flip flops--which kill my feet now.
@@kowaljanowski And it all looks like they did a bunch of research about what every little thing they should be wearing for each event should be and what exact brand it should be.
I just came back from Norway/Sweden and we tried to be good representatives of America and we succeeded by being nice, courteous, and open to conversation which once you break the ice many were open to do. Did we dress American? Yes we did in a casual way.. Sometimes we felt underdressed because they dress so nice BUT it is what it is. Proud to be American but I didn't boast that while there.
We came across a American lady in Porto. She was brutal, we were talking to a shop owner about the product we were buying and te American lady thought well i am important and want to behelped at once no matter what. And she stepped in front of us. And in Dublin youre fellow Americans asked me which country I am from . I answered “the Netherlands”. She did not recognized it. So i toll her “Holland”. And than she told me : so you don’t know where you are from. I found her very rude..
Always wanting to pay in US Dollars (including using dynamic conversion, perfect way to get ripped off). Also referring to US dollars as “American money” (you should say “US dollar” or “US currency” - this is a dead giveaway in Canada). Baseball caps and athleisure seemed more acceptable/commonplace in the UK than in Continental Europe. As for the absolute loudest nationality, I nominate Chinese.
I have been told that they thought I was Canadian because 1) I don’t complain, 2) I threw away my garbage, and 3) I am respectful. It wasn’t just a one time occurrence but many, many times.
I try to check local fashion to blend in. I try to keep my camera out of sight. In Ireland, I bought a newspaper cap, the sort of flat kind. I eat local foods, don't drink alcohol and try to be as local as I can be, while doing touristy things. It doesn't work in Central and South America, as I am 100%Irish Ancestry. But I speak excellent Spanish, which helps avoid trouble. I was listening to two friends talking about robbing me. I got up to go to the bathroom and was two blocks away before they realized I was not coming back. 😅
As an American, I have never even contemplated putting down my knife and switching my fork to my right hand. Is this something most of us actually do? Have I just not noticed other people doing this?
I learned to eat with my left hand because I am left-handed. Theoretically, it should have also been hard for me to cut right handed, but I also had no issues with this and holding a fork in my right hand feels very weird and foreign to me. So although I grew up in the U.S, the European way is more comfortable for me.
@@nikkibee187 Аз също си служа предимно с лявата ръка и ми беше лесно от дете да усвоя етикета за ползването на нож с дясната. Но и десняците могат да се научат, въпрос на практика. Също като свиренето на пиано, където дясната ръка е водеща, но постепенно свикнах и сега тя е по-силната. Като европейка ми е странна смяната на приборите в ръцете по време на хранене, което е типично за американците. Според мен е по-неудобно и създава известен хаос на масата в присъствието на други хора.
Also coffe to go. We get coffee to go if we are on a rush, for example to work, but American never seem to want to enjoy beautiful coffee places and drinking from the porcelain XD rushing with coffe to go even though they are on holidays
In addition to the fashion aspects, a little thing that was pointed out to me that I couldn't unsee: When I was at university and played in a sports team, you could always tell the American exchange students because they were the ones wearing bright white socks (whereas the rest of us usually wore black or other colours). It wasn't exclusively that way, but it was pretty stark.
The one thing that makes Americans stick out is lack of tipping knowledge. I solved this by asking. When I got a haircut at a salon in Dublin, I told, in muted tones, the manager behind the desk when I paid that I was an American and wasn't familiar with tipping customs in salons in Ireland. I was told that hairdressers were very well paid and that the tip could be small. I asked if 2€ on a 65€ cut was appropriate, and she said yes and generous, but not too much. I asked a restaurant manager in Amsterdam the same and she told me pretty much the same thing. You're a better US tourist if you just ask quietly and courteously. You will be respected for that instead of blundering through.
When i was overseas for the Navy, we had dress codes for going ashore in foreign ports. collared shirt etc. I still wore my Auburn hat. I guess you don't see alot of AU's or Atlanta braves stuff in Europe.We tried to practice eating right handed too. I'm left handed. compared to the others, I'm not loud... Maybe i do overshare lol.
I know you're only having a bit of fun and all that, but I have to say that my intern University year in New York was a massive eye opener. The stereotype I grew up expecting from watching 'Saved By The Bell' was no where near the mark. I was really impressed by the young Americans my age at the time (21). I found them calm, caring, ambitious, and really interesting. But, I agree that stereotypes are good fun and we play 'Spot the Brit' on holidays in Spain and Portugal. We always go for the stupid white t-shirt, brand new shorts, and fat kids in tow!
I'm British and I always somehow end up sitting next to an American on flights. But I'm okay with that because she's my wife.
Hahahaah. So at least one if us are OK 😀
You made your bed on that one. BTW, I love your book on economics. (Just kidding, I know that you're 250 years too young to be that Adam Smith, LOL)
Phew, saved by the last 4 words 😂
😂😂😂
I worked in the tourist sector and the americans were one of my favourit tourists, yes they shared a lot, but most of the times they were REALLY friendly and exited to visit another country and I preferred this attitude
Smiling and saying "hello" to people as you walk down the street. Our English friend, while truly loving how friendly Americans were when she visited, joked with us that when you do it in the UK, people think you're insane.
And yes! The Yankees hats!
Same. I was walking in Scotland with my neice and waved to her neighbour. She asked "do you know that man? Then why are you talking to him?" Seems strange to not say hi to someone's neighbours like that do here.
@@tessahiggins8142 Just FYI -- we don't do that in New England or NYC.
@@zazubombay You're missing out!
Same behavior in Russia , they have a saying for it " smiling with no reason, is a sign of stupidity" in Paris , France if you do that (man-man) the guy will think you are gay and flirting 😅
I made a TON of friends in the UK by doing that... and in Italy. But I was a solo female.... may have had something to do with it? 😉
Americans wear hats indoors. That's considered bad manners in a lot of countries, perhaps less so than in the past, but it stands out a mile.
Old enough to remember hat etiquette which was forgotten in the 1960s when a hatless style for men developed in the U.S.
And they put cloth napkins on the plate (even with food) after they finished.
I am an American and it was bad manners in our house. Mom would enforce it.
@@stananderson4524 Yes, it does seem to be a recent phenomenon. The whole ubiquitous baseball cap thing is. For some, it becomes an unconscious security blanket, IMO.
The traditional hat rule isn't indoor vs outdoor it's private vs public space.(except Churches). Inside somebody's private house hat off, shops, bars, public transport stations etc hat stays on and if my hat would block the view of the screen or stage again hat stays on
Massive water bottles clutched like a comforter.
I'm american and this is one I don't understand either. I don't carry one with me. Too heavy. :P
Some people have health issues. I carried one as we were going to be out touring all day.
Greece here... I love American people! Always with a smile every time I cooperated with them...
thank you for your kind words.
Im a Brit, this did make me laugh, ive always found Americans ive come across both in the US and here in England to be very charming, enthusiastic and friendly.
lmao omg did i run into you in london? j/k i'm pretty sure everyone i came across thought that of me. like a puppy! 🤣😂
Too enthusiastic and too friendly. Rein it in, Yank!
@@bugsygoo rather rude, I'd much prefer friendly and enthusiastic than rude and obnoxious
@@scruff520 There are places for sharing (like here) and places for quiet. If you can't work that out, then it's not me who's being rude and obnoxious.
@@bugsygoo I agree, too much sharing and kind of in your face which isn't nice, and being too loud. Generally the Americans we've encountered have been very pleasant.
If someone is claiming to be1/16th Irish, or Italian or Scottish etc because 5 generations ago there ancestors were from a country. They are definitely American
I have talked about that in my ireland and greece videos.
I usually go by that rule. They don't care.
if they didn't care, they wouldn't complain about it. Hence, they are hypocrites.
that's so me 😂😂😂
@stuartmarshall-gs5cd I'm American by citizenship, not by ethnicity. People really should learn the difference.
Lol. You are spot on 40 years ago I was a tour of the Roman Collusium and an American said " we have one just like this in LA" the tour guide responded "you Americans have everything " I have never forgotten it. 🇨🇦
haha the difference is the Roman one never got used for the Olympic Games
USA even has the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramides in one town....
I was sat in a tiny pub in Fort Augustus in Scotland, watching the world outside drift from day to night, sipping a proper scotch..
Quiet, peaceful, gentle hum of chat..
Door suddenly opens as if it was kicked,
"Wow this place is beautiful, hey there bartender, could I get a dram of your best Scottish whiskey?"
He was wearing shorts with the American flag on them and a t-shirt with an eagle...
There was no missing that guy.
He was a laugh riot.thoigh, super friendly, super sweet, amazingly well humoured and I'll never forget him. John from just outside Dodge City Kansas who worked his entire life selling farming equipment and if I'm ever in Dodge City I should go look him up...
It's been 20+ years and I still wonder if he ever made it to Torquay, which he insisted wasn't far away...
"600 miles? Ain't nothin' " he said with a big ole smile.
they're ok one-on-one, it's when they get together and vote Republican that all hell breaks loose.
Worse they vote Democrat. Ask any Californian.
@@jamesgough3938 but do you actually know anything about their country's politics or do you just base that on what you see on your local media? The US media doesn't even report truthfully in any way shape or form about republicans or Trump so I doubt that they do in your country either. That's not to say that republicans are perfect but don't judge people for what you can't possibly fully appreciate without actually being there.
@@gentronseven I was going to comment but I thought better than to waste my time with someone who drank the Kool-Aid...
@@hammondeggs3356I'm with you. Arguing with cult members just gives you a headache.
My other favourite "American Abroad" moment was at a small hotel in northern England, when asked if they would like an egg with their breakfast they replied they wanted an 'over medium' or somesuch, only to be told their options were 'Yes' or 'No'.
LOL
Americans and Canadians have the most picky relationship with eggs...it's truly a phenomenon. Nothing will make a grown American man more icked out than runny eggs and it's embarrassing to witness
@@ashleymatthews683 Except it is not true.
Cargo shorts. And always carrying a water bottle.
I don't wear cargo shorts, but I do always carry a water bottle. 😳 But I'm thirsty.
@@sunflowerfields4409 carry a water bottle as well, particularly if I know I'm going to be out and about all day. I think it's definitely an "Americanism" that's positive, since I get to avoid buying single-use water bottles
@@ariesmry You can buy and reuse "single-use" bottles too if it is more convenient. I find the light weight and advantage walking all day, just refill as needed. Got an apfelschorle in Germany and once finished used it for water after that.
@@davesaunders7080 I always take a bottle of frozen water with me here in Thailand (or if I have holidays in another hot country and have a fridge to freeze). Very good, slowly it is melting, and you always have cold water (if you wrap a half litre bottle in a piece of cloth it can keep some ice all the day).
@@ariesmry Yea these people clearly don't care about the enviornment unlike the Americans carrying reusable water bottles.
Walking down the street while eating food is a major American tell
Not in Vienna. I have many Austrian friends who want to pick up something to eat like a Döner or kebab box and then want to walk and eat it. But I can't walk and eat, and I'm the American in the group. I'm always the one asking if we can sit down somewhere, or go someplace that has sit-down options.
Where's this come from? I'm from Vienna as well but I doubt we're special in that regard.
it's literally a Japanese thing.
@@tomodomo1000 True. And even then it seems like every time I go to Japan, I'm noticing a few more Japanese eating on the street each trip.
@@Todesnuss I don't know. It's usually when I am out with Millennials and Gen Zers. Gen X and Boomers are happy to sit down and have a few beers and actually visit over food. People my age and younger are always in such a rush to get to the next place.
I'm an American traveling to Europe next month, and after watching these types of videos I've decided to just be myself!
@@taco7546 I hear ya. Going to Europe next month and although I never had issues in the past (not too chubby, wore no hat, wasn’t loud…), watching these videos makes me a bit self-conscious. I understand the reasoning- overheard a VERY loudly complaining American woman once in a beautiful Prague restaurant and just shrank in my seat- but I also know that travel is hectic and I won’t always maintain a Euro-cool persona. Good to consider, though.
Really? I decided not to go
@@debbylou5729 lol
@@Katnip452 People from other places also talk loudly. We often just don't understand what they are saying so we don't pay attention. Don't worry about some petty people. Just be yourself. Remember highschool is over.
Good for you. Remember that people who complain like this are just unhappy with their own lives and looking for a way to make themselves feel better - by putting other people down. This is across the world. Don't let people walk on you.
Swiss American here, you are spot on. Also what gives it away are all the college t shirts or walking around with portable cups - Starbucks cups ( which l also love to do 😅 ) and the white tennis shoes and white socks 🧦 pulled up.
I wish, here in Switzerland, same as in Sweden we would wear bolder brighter colors the dull beige and greys get boring after a while - especially in summer ☀️
You are definitely living in Zurich😂
On a visit to Europe someone told me that in Europe the difference between Canadians and Americans is that Canadians behave as though they're visiting a different country whereas Americans behave as though they're visiting a theme park.
I've run into some very rude and obnoxious Canadians in Europe, but overall this matches my experience. I'm American, but I was raised by German immigrants & near the Canadian border. I lived in the Netherlands for 13 years & I found it both funny and pleasing that most of the time I was asked what part of Canada I was from, even when travelling outside the Netherlands.
Usa is the theme park
I feel like this is a very big misconception held by, primarily, Americans. As someone who has traveled pretty extensively I can tell you Canadians can definitely be rude and obnoxious tourist.
Haha, so spot on!
I thought Canadians were the same but without the gun 😅😅
Been watching you guys for years! We had a totally enchanting trip to Czechia due in part to your videos. Thank you!! Raising a glass to many more years of Wolters World
I love Americans! I'm from the UK and I used to work at a tourist sight. Met a lot of Americans and probably had my most memorable moments with them.
I remember feeling very low in energy on a shift, when all of a sudden a group of Americans walked in. They were running late and were in a hurry. They had so much positive energy that it rubbed off me and my colleague. We ended up laughing and thanking the Americans.
Another time. I helped a young American with a question and as a form of gratitude, he held out his hand in a fist "Thanks brother". I did the same slightly awkwardly. I loved it lol.
As he left, I noticed that another visitor was standing by and asked:
"Did that just happen?"
"Yes". I said as we both laughed. It was like a sitcom. I have plenty more stories but the fact of the matter is, I love Americans :)
-Wearing College or university gear
-asking for Ice in all beverages
-the iphone thing is 100% true also
Or sports gear. Hat, t-shirt, backpack. In the Louvre. "Honey, where's the Mona Lisa?"
about ice... bar tenders LOVE when they sell you ICE at the same price as MARTINI :))) Im Parisian, got an italian pizza restaurant in my street, , i ordered a Martini Bianco, i expected 2 or 3 cubes, they served it with crushed ice 😡😡 i got a Martini with 50% water , a real scam !! I will no longer eat in this restaurant.
Two and three: Come to Thailand. People even drink sometimes their beer with ice. And the cell phone? USA-people: Using phones everywhere.... Thai people: Don't hold my cell phone....
Baseball caps. When someone is wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and a fanny pack, you know they are either a ticket inspector or American.
And now, apparently, face masks. I kept seeing Americans in proper protective face masks, not just surgical masks. And they were usually just a bit too overbearing. Wtf is up with that?
I am an American that lives in France and I can tell you that the baseball cap is all over France. In fact it has gotten to where so many of the French wear them that you would think you are in America
Could also be South Korean or from Singapore.
Why are there no videos telling Europeans how to dress in the United States?
@@JasMcKenzie I don't know, I'd love to see a video showing how Europeans stand out in the US, it'd be pretty funny
We can spot Americans easily here in the UK because they're smiling
So most people don't smile?
I’m American and some years ago when I was working in a department store they told me I was not bubbly and smiling enough. Some of us are just more serious than others, not all Americans have the same personality.
@@gumerzambrano I'm an American and I find that people outside of the US are more somber, at least out in public.
@@BillGreenAZ hm interesting. Costs nothing to smile . I guess it's the culture of feeling depressed
Може да си любезен и без да се хилиш на всеки срещнат непознат. Фалшиви усмивки, които нищо не означава. Неизкренността винаги се усеща.
you don't know what oversharing is until you come to Hungary, if you ask someone here "how are you?" be prepared for an exhaustive tale possibly including history lessons and X-ray shots
😂😂
That's the same in Austria. Might as well grab a coffee and pull up a chair.
That's not "oversharing" that's "honesty". Don't ask "how are you" unless you actually want to know.
Because people here don't usually ask "how are you" unless they are genuinely interested in answer. I'm always do surprise, why the heck you pose a question without wanting an answer XD
I made that mistake once when on our 2nd USA tour. I thought I looked exhausted and someone wanting to check if I was OK?
Over here in Sweden we say Hallå (hello) or Hej (hi) when we greet eachother. But when we say Hur mår du (how are you), we are asking for a medical report.
When I’m in Europe I am on my phone a lot at meal time mostly because I’m planning the next part of my day! That’s why I love videos like yours, the more I plan my itinerary in advance, the smoother my trip goes and the more I can enjoy the moment!
Your videos are very helpful and reading the comments on this particular one made me chuckle. My husband and I have recently retired and have started doing as much overseas traveling as we physically can do. We try not to make these mistakes. 😊. Keep up the great work!
I’d add another to the baseball cap thing. I would suggest a European is more likely to take their headwear off when going into a building or on transport. Americans often don’t. I was once on a 5.5 hr flight and the two guys in front wore their baseball caps throughout
Not everyone that wears them is rude, but the jerks tend to wear them around town. I switched to the flat cap and haven't looked back
As a former NYC high-school teacher I always asked students to take of their hats in class, but that seems to be an old way of thinking. Their parents don't teach them that anymore.
@@babsr8479 society has moved past pointless etiquette
@@eddie-lamardavis1354 Not all of us consider it pointless, just manners.
I don't wear ball caps or hats at all so I'm curious as to why you would take them off when entering a building or traveling on an airplane?
Americans are great people. I like your small talk and smiles :)
If you are traveling on a city or bus tour with random people and meet a group of American tourists, often it will be much easier and more fun to talk to the Americans than to people from your group.
I expected Americans to be loud but when I went to the US (California, Arizona, Nevada & Utah) they weren't loud at all... They were all like: 'Hey... Were you're from?... You're from Germany?...Oh you're from Holland... You smoke pot?... You go to the ladies behind the windows?...' - I live in a little village in the countryside and one guy refused to believe that I have never even seen pot in my life :D
😂 that's hilarious.
I'm sorry everyone you spoke to really didn't have anything worthwhile to say. Someday I would like to visit the Netherlands.
Here in the Midwest people are quite quiet, the US has alot of regional variations
@@RidiculousMadDancer Well I am caricaturizing things a bit :D I did have some fascinating conversations there. You're more than welcome to visit the Netherlands. Maybe go to the Efteling, considered by many to be the best amusement park in the world :)
Parisian , 75 years old , i suppose "pot" is "marijuana" .. i used to smoke but i've never been attracted to smoking other stuff than tobacco . I can recognize the foul smell of it though ...
As a (Greek)-American expat living in Ireland, after a couple weeks I could for sure spot the Americans everywhere I went.. we definitely stand out but what's interesting is it kind of depends where in America you are from.. some Americans are much better at blending in and staying low key than others (looking at you NYers.. the easiest Americans to spot!).
So Sziget Festival just finished yesterday in Budapest, and a couple of days ago I was at a supermarket nearby (Auchan Óbuda) and walking through (hell, coz I hate to buy grociaries lol) I have encountered several people speaking in foreign languages. The only lady that was louder than all the other ones was American (based on her accent in my ears, and maybe from New York, I dunno) and at some point I was even looking at her and her group like why was she so loud. I wish I had gone to and greated her and her friends (and the others in her group were most likely not Americans coz they were not as loud as her and had different accent too) hahahha. Americans are good people and I never had bad experience with them. Love you guys from Hungary!
Seen at Disney. A British family dressed head to toe in their favorite football club uniform. Easy to spot each other. Genius.
😂
The language thing is very important IMO. Whenever I travel to a country where English is not the primary language I always try to learn the basics - please, thank you, two beers please, etc. To not do so not only pegs you as an American it’s just, basically, impolite. Even if you butcher the pronunciation the locals appreciate the attempt and will generally open up. The only country I couldn’t pull that off was the Netherlands. That language is absolutely impenetrable!
Nah, it's not that. We just speak English so well, we go English to have a better quality conversation.
You can easily spot an American by their tendency to tip 20% 😃 As for the idea that Americans are overly talkative, I don't really agree. My experience was quite the opposite, once people realized we were from the U.S., they were very curios and wouldn't stop asking us questions and sharing their life stories! It's silly to do all these comparisons, because we're all unique individuals, and what one person experiences may differ completely from someone else. Some people feel uneasy stepping out of their comfort zone, while others embrace it. Some prefer the comfort of resorts, while others enjoy mingling with the locals. Keep traveling, keep exploring and most importantly, have fun!
Hey Mark! Thanks for pointing out the accent thing - as an Aussie it's something I personally find rude and belittling. It seems to be a North American thing generally - I lived in Vancouver, Canada for years and would have random people including customers at work and waiters serving me start trying to mimic me. I hate it!
I *do* love the American friendliness though! It's always a great chat when running into Americans overseas.
As an Englishman, I had the same experience in a restaurant in Austin TX. The waiter thought we were putting on a "posh" accent. When he found that were really European visitors, he apologized and gave us a free desert. For his good manners he got a good tip.
I can say I do none of those things, I try to blend, but the cargo shorts give me away, but I need the pockets for stuff. I keep my water bottles (I buy a couple bottles of water and keep refilling them from the tap - unless it is someplace where you cannot/should not drink the tap water) and snacks in my packpack. The best was ordering a couple of croissants in Cannes and the nice lady behind the counter starts having a conversation with me - mainly because I looked like a friend of hers and ordered properly. I was with a friend who was born and raised in France who bailed us out. We all had a good laugh.
I eat locally, go to local grocery stores, drink local beer, etc. I mean if I wanted an American experience I would stay home. The best was a kebab vendo worried that the spicy sauce would be too spicy. It was not. Damn fine kebab too.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a more 'local' experience. It is when it is pushed on people to change their entire being to avoid being criticized by some petty person that it becomes irritating.
Look at skinny you! It may be relatively easy to spot Americans when traveling, but it's getting harder to spot you since you lost weight. Nice work, Mark.
👏👏👏
Hey Mark, awesome video
The NY Yankees cap thing is so true! I noticed that on my last trip to France and Spain so it's good to have confirmation of my observation.
American flag clothing, not just small emblem, but an entire shirt that is the American flag. I don't see other countries doing that.
One of the style features not mentioned, at least for American men, is that American men tend to have shorter haircuts.
Hm interesting. We do love out fades
It’s strange when I was Uk and Ireland i didn’t wanna interact with Americans. However, when I was in Paris I was so glad to talk with a lady from Wisconsin on the metro hear a non French accent. We gave each other tips for Paris. I am also a very loud speaking Canadian.
...the surprised look on their face about size of the portions of food when they arrive at the table... LOL
I think the phone thing is more a lack of an international phone plan in Europe. I know when I’m there I just turn airplane mode on the entire time so anywhere I can get Wi-Fi I’ll use the hell out of my phone since I’m not sure when the next time I’ll be able to use it will be.
Canadian here. On a trip to Dublin, I was sitting in a hotel's bar, having a beer. This guy comes in wearing a brand new Aran sweater. Before he had a chance to say anything, I looked at him and said, "Hi. What part of the States are you from?"
Guy looks at me and says, "How did you know?"
Having visited Canada I'd have an awfully hard time telling any of you apart from Americans besides that they stop you all for smuggling at the border and not the Americans 😁, although I live in an area that apparently has the same accent not far away.
0:31 I don't travel at all, but based on my home town experiences I would add China to that list. At the very least there's no risk of mistaking them for Japanese.
A middle aged person with shiny new white trainers is normally something that screams 'Americans'. (I assume that many people buy new comfy shoes as they are expecting to do more walking than at home).
Another one in the UK is spotting an American by the look of disappointment when they only get one ice cube in their drink. :)
I prefer less ice and often ask for little or no ice. It waters down the drink.
I'm assuming trainers are gym shoes
Why isn't my beer cold?
I don’t think so. Well, maybe years ago. White trainers have been on trend for several years and aren’t going anywhere soon. And all age groups wear them. Europeans have embraced them too but probably not so much big bulky huge ones 😊
@@gumerzambrano yes
I have travelled much in Europe and I'm afraid the clothes are the main giveaway. City dwellers in Europe wear black or muted colours.
The same is true in New York City. Out-of-towners are easy to spot.
In Paris this past June I noted bright summer colors on many woman.
Colours are fine, just pump up your game a bit more out of the athletic clothes and you will be able to blend in (which has a big value: if your posture doesn't scream: I'm a tourist, you are more difficult to be sotted by scammers:) )
@@kowaljanowski no athletic wear here
I've never been to Europe but want to understand why someone wouldn't want to wear comfy clothes with Crocs for daily activities. Like who cares what people think. What matters is feeling good
One of the benefits of being Left handed is that we do not switch hands with our knife and fork when we eat. We Blend…lol
Im left handed and i hold fork in right hand and hold knife in left hand
In Europe, several hotels have a buffet breakfast included in the price of the room.
When you are looking at an empty table with plenty of left-over food in the plates, who was sitting there ? Americans !
Americans have this bad habit of wasting food ! Wasting food is a shame !
Yes, many Americans are terrible when it comes to wasting food, and it annoys me greatly (American here). My parents and grandparents lived through the Depression, so taking only what will be eaten, cleaning my plate, and saving the leftovers to eat later was drummed into me as a child. And speaking of European hotel breakfasts: they are wonderful, and FAR superior to what is typically offered here in the States by our hotels (unless it's something more upscale). My husband and I always look forward to breakfast in Europe.
also being scared of the word "fat" is mostly American thing 😅
We’re not scared, but it seems childish to say something outright that makes other people insecure.
Plus size lol
Hahaha 😂
lol american here. i'm past that point. i own my fat-ness at this point in my life! 🤣😂
@@georgebelmonte8522 yeah but refusing the use of word "fat" and using some sparkling and colourful words to say exactly the same thing (even when you are speaking in general) is mad... Not gonna say anything about glorifying obesity and being overweight as something good.
I agree with the loudness and complaining about small things. Need to realize that you are in a different country with its own identity, culture and ways.
Travel across the ocean to experience something different and then complain that things are different.
Another way to spot an American in Europe is that when we are at the airport either arriving or departing we’re most likely wearing sweatpants, sweatshirts and sneakers. just very casual
And taking of their shoes at security.
@@picobello99we have to do it here in America
I never wear sweatpants sweatshirts at the airport and I’m American, I don’t dress really fancy, but I do dress casual, but not sporty.
In Japan, I found that the people who wanted to hang out with me the most, generally wore flashier clothes and/or Baseball Caps. I think that these people are more inspired by America.
I as an American do dress quite plainly, alot of blues and grays but I do wear baseball caps alot, not because I am balding, but because I have curly, hard to manage hair. I do get alot of my clothes from Uniqlo like the Japanese do.
Your videos are the best!
I have 2. The first one is being unaware of the bike lanes and standing in the bike lanes while waiting for a bus. The second is one you mentioned. The loudness. I was watching a train video on TH-cam and the train was approaching Gard Nord and you can hear a load conversation in the back ground and my first thought was they must be from the US.
When we were at Stonhenge in 2019 and were getting some things from the gift shop, I did an Americanism with asking for a double bagged item and apologized to the cashier and commented to her that Americans must be the most difficult, obnoxious people to deal with as tourists. And she told me that it was actually usually (in her experience) Chinese folks...lots of them and just totally different habits/customs/social rules. Then the rest of that week in England I could start to see her point at the places we would visit. It's in the eye of the beholder, I guess is what I'd say. Just try to be excellent to everyone wherever you go and try to adopt little bits of language, customs and so on!
Switching knife and fork is the main thing for me. I was in Venice recently and it became almost a sport to guess who was American (if you couldn't hear them speak...). If they where eating with their fork in their right hand... you knew. And, God forbid, with their other hand on their lap under the table. That last thing is, as far as I know (I am swedish/dutch), just NOT DONE in most European countries, almost a taboe... Maybe an old custom: " always show both your hands". Maybe they have a weapon under the table. Or worse: doing something undecent...
So my advice to Americans who don't want to stand out; both hands on the table in the restaurant!
I like your videos, the are so spot on!
i am Dutch and raised with this etiquette about not having your elbows on table, I actually do find it very uncomftable to eat like that, oke when you have both knife and fork it just hapens to not have your elbow on the table. But in case there is nothing more to cut (like the meat is finished and just eating some fries or anything else that is already small on your plate I do put down my knife and put fork in right hand with my left arm laying on the table in line with my body to lean on it.. it is just so more comfartable eating. The etiquette is invented in the middle ages for the rich to feel themself above the peasants. Just stupid to have an uncomfartable posture
Do people eat with their fork in their left hand even if they aren't using a knife? If I'm using a knife I solely use the fork in my left hand and the knife in the right without switching but if I am not using the knife I will use my right hand. I am American but I didn't feel like the fork and knife thing described what I did but I've never really thought about it.
Mexican here:
When I was little and visited Chichen Itza, you could still go up the pyramids. When we were at the top, my family was able to smell a French tour group 30 meters away.
There are worse things than hearing Americans 50 meters away.
Mark, what's the amazing food you showed after the cutlery bit? Looks so amazing I want to go to that restaurant immediately.
I enjoyed this video. Very interesting topic.😊❤
You don't need to look for them, you'll hear them from 50 feet away.
They are also the only black/latino people you will see in places like Lithuania.
While in Botswana years ago, my sister & I were greeted with a 'Hello" we answered back with "Hi" & were immediately told we must be Americans. How did they know we asked, because we'd said "Hi". Dead giveaway-- I guess.
Took a survey at dinner. I'm the only one in my family that doesn't swap hands when I eat. Fork starts and stays in my left hand, and the knife is in my right
I was shocked by that one. I've never really watched how other people eat, but is that something they do? It seems incredibly odd to be. I'm left handed, so maybe it's easier for me to just have the fork on the left, knife on the right, and just shovel it in with the fork.
Same. Using a knife with my dominant hand feels absolutely bizzare, but the whole rest of my family does it. I wonder why these things happen.
@frednich9603 I'm going to do a family survey also. As for me, I am the opposite. Knife in left hand, fork in the right...never swapping, and I'm right handed.
Do you guys have the link to spotting an european in the US. Or also a serrie on don'ts US general or region?
I’m a Brit and have just got back from Sweden and Amsterdam….in Sweden I didn’t see many Americans at all. (Loved Sweden by the way…just wonderful - I watched some of your Swedish videos before which was very useful). We visited friends there and they loved ‘doing the Swedish chef’ themselves and laughed their heads off 😂 but I would never mention that with strangers. However, in Amsterdam, we went to the Anne Frank museum and there was a huge group of Americans behind us in the queue for the introduction talk and they were so noisy and clearly hadn’t stopped to see the sign that read about being quiet (in English) that some people actually ‘shhh’d’ them so the guide could speak. I just think some Americans (because they don’t travel as much as Europeans do) feel the world should be the same as the States. Got to say when some Brits go to Spain as such they are appalling also! 🙄🧡💚
The Swedish Chef😅😅😅😅😅
As an American German living for 25 years in the State of Hawai’i, I can clearly state, that there are not much of Aloha spirit on both, American and European side ! As I was born and raised in Germany, I can’t recall, that a shop merchant ever said t”thank you” when I paid for my groceries, or even going in a shop, rudely ask : “What do you want “ 🤣 I admit, that was quite a while ago ! None tipping Europeans/Germans, they are paid full salary + health insurance, unlimited sick days and vacation days, went to at least 3 years of training ( and yes as a waiter too). They expect the same in the US too…..but, that is the big difference amongst cultures, as we say in German “Andere Laender, andere Sitten !
Nicht alle Kellner im Restaurant sind ausgebildete Kellner, Einkäufer sei denn man geht in ein Sternerestaurant. Wer soll denn das Gehalt bezahlen? Das war vielleicht vor 30-40 Jahren so, aber heutzutage kann man froh sein, wenn wenigstens der Koch eine abgeschlossene Ausbildung hat.
The baseball caps. The white teeth. The plastic surgery on the women. They seem to have a calm demeanour and walk slowly.That's what i have noticed
Also they seem genuinely interested in everything and help us to see our own places with new fresh eyes and wonder and that's really lovely IMO
Yes, the teeth are a definite give away!
I agree with everything! As an American😅 but as for the phone thing, if the menu is not in English our phones can easily translate and help with the language!
Ebonics is your native tongue. Lol
I was living in Scotland and I was on the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh. I’m sitting there with my Scottish friends and this woman from New Jersey was sitting behind us. She had this nasally voice and she was loud. As we were going into Edinburgh she said this…”Oh look, they built a castle next to the tracks so it greets you as you go into the city” My friend looked up and said ”Please tell all you Americans are not that stupid”
Sports sunglasses worn over a baseball cap
That's it!
Sunglasses on top of the head Australian
It's actually true: Americans often refuse to speak the local language even though they should know it: I worked at the Goethe-Institut for a long time, and we had American students at language level C1, which normally allows for fluent conversation. Nevertheless, they always asked if we could talk in English. Hey guys, you were there to learn German! I don't need English in my own country!
You can also often recognise Americans by the fact that they stroll along the bike lane without a care in the world and calmly take their photos without even noticing when bike bells ring (ok, ok, Arab and Indian tourists do that too).
I’m B2 in German and have fluent conversation of course not every word or perfect but when I was in learning German it’s total immersion so we were not supposed to speak in English. And I did not want speak in English because I already know English and so therefore, I think because I was strongly motivated, I learned.
@@enjoystraveling Yes, of course. And it's also rude to those who want to learn German but don't speak English (yes, there is such a thing).
American living in Europe for 20 years. This is SPOT ON!!! 😂
I did rather well when I was in Rome. I was walking down the street and a gentlemen in a car starting speaking to me in Italian. I assume that he was asking directions to somewhere. Told him I don't speak Italian. Made him laugh. I looked into what people wear in France and Italy before I went there so that I would blend in. No one knew where I was from until I opened my mouth LOL
When you live in a very touristy city. It’s pretty easy to spot which country people are from. Not just Americans.
I was in Bordeau and noticed a French woman with a Yankee ball cap on backwards, and I thought, "Is she trying to look American?!"
@@emilykochetta119 i was in France visiting my gf and the amount of yankee caps I saw was insane, I’m from NJ so the Yankees are our team and i do not see that many here. My gf didn’t even know that the Yankees were a baseball team, she just thought that it was a fashion brand or something, guarantee you that girl you saw probably thinks the same thing.
Mark is so funny 😂
I always try to learn some basic words and phrases of the local language when I travel to Europe. It really does make a difference. I once got a big smile out of a woman in a small town in the Czech Republic when I said thank you. The same happened in a shop in Ghent when I thanked a lady in Flemish. I can speak some French, so when a friend (he has also studied it) and I bought items from a ceramic artist in Chinon who did not speak English, he and I teamed up during the sales. She was delighted with our efforts.
Why do Americans wear baseball caps in doors.
In the immortal words of Dean Wormer, "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
english?
The random "Hello, I'm from America" is so weird (especially since we usually heard them talk and know full well they are) 😂 I always imagine being on the NY subway, turning to a random stranger and going "By the way, I'm German" 😅 Pulling into a random gas station small town America going "Hallo, I'm from Germany". Visiting the walk of fame "Hey guys, I'm from Germany" 😂 I mean, what am I supposed to do with that information (and I'm not even a grumpy German, I've been socialised in the UK and am also familiar with Latino chatiness)?!?
I'm actually a very quiet-spoken person as an American and before I met my fiance received feedback from Europeans like, "Wow! I'm so surprised you aren't loud! Every American I have encountered was super loud! I can barely hear you." But my fiance is a foot taller than me and has a slight hearing loss issue from being a live musician, so I have to yell in public settings where there's lots of conversations going on for him to hear me, and now everyone just thinks it's because I'm an obnoxious American. :(
:(
Thet's why | got a hearing aid, so others didn't have to speak so loudly.
@@DavidNewmanDr Yeah, he has a lot of medical problems I wish he would get on top of. Men not wanting to go to the doctor seems to be a universal thing.
Could you just whisper right directly into his then instead of shouting?
@@enjoystraveling I mean, that's the first thing I have tried, but even without background noise he can't hear when I whisper at all. We were out with his father the other day and we were having a conversation and he was yelling basically, and didn't realize it. He thought he was speaking at a normal volume. I really think it's hearing issues and not being willing to get that checked out.
This is somewhat different content 👏 congratulations Mr Walter ❤🎉
And I can't tell you exactly what it is about the clothing, but it's not just the bagginess--it's all of it together. Europeans have outfits for every occasion, right down to the shoes and the socks. Americans will wear the same outfits for everything, unless it's a wedding, a funeral, or a job interview, and I think I am only in tune to this because I'm native and I know what there is in the U.S clothing-wise.
Perhaps an American would be more muted back in the US because there's a measure of discomfort when you're out in public? Or depending on the state - afraid to draw attention of indivuals with bad intentions?
Yeah, cocktail dress, Sunday dress, dress for a casual meeting in the park, outfit for a club, outfit for theatre, working smart casual, hiking clothes different from gym cloths and the list goes on XD
Recently spotted an American family at the airport with a five year old boy in a dress shirt and trousers, all ready for the plane. Do they want to stand out as knobs?
@@STOG01 I don't know, I just know that when I am back in U.S. visiting I maintain my Euro way of dressing and I'm always the one who is the most dressed up. Everyone else shows up in sweat pants and t-shirts, and flip flops--which kill my feet now.
@@kowaljanowski And it all looks like they did a bunch of research about what every little thing they should be wearing for each event should be and what exact brand it should be.
I just came back from Norway/Sweden and we tried to be good representatives of America and we succeeded by being nice, courteous, and open to conversation which once you break the ice many were open to do. Did we dress American? Yes we did in a casual way.. Sometimes we felt underdressed because they dress so nice BUT it is what it is. Proud to be American but I didn't boast that while there.
How did you feel you dont have to tip everywhere 😂😂
@@deadzio , that is what I was told, no tip BUT if the service was very good I still would at some spots. It's all good
Clothing choice of Americans abroad: dad sneakers or very bright colourful sneakers (e.g. pink fluo)
In Hawaii the locals are speeding and the tourists drive slow. You can get a genuine smile by pulling over and letting the speedy ones go by.
We came across a American lady in Porto. She was brutal, we were talking to a shop owner about the product we were buying and te American lady thought well i am important and want to behelped at once no matter what. And she stepped in front of us.
And in Dublin youre fellow Americans asked me which country I am from . I answered “the Netherlands”. She did not recognized it. So i toll her “Holland”. And than she told me : so you don’t know where you are from. I found her very rude..
Je hebt die voordringer toch wel even goed op plaats gezet zoals een echter Nederlander behoort te doen 😉
What about the cargo shorts, tie-dye tank tops and gray pony tails?
Entertaining video! ❤
Always wanting to pay in US Dollars (including using dynamic conversion, perfect way to get ripped off). Also referring to US dollars as “American money” (you should say “US dollar” or “US currency” - this is a dead giveaway in Canada).
Baseball caps and athleisure seemed more acceptable/commonplace in the UK than in Continental Europe.
As for the absolute loudest nationality, I nominate Chinese.
I have been told that they thought I was Canadian because 1) I don’t complain, 2) I threw away my garbage, and 3) I am respectful. It wasn’t just a one time occurrence but many, many times.
I try to check local fashion to blend in. I try to keep my camera out of sight. In Ireland, I bought a newspaper cap, the sort of flat kind. I eat local foods, don't drink alcohol and try to be as local as I can be, while doing touristy things. It doesn't work in Central and South America, as I am 100%Irish Ancestry. But I speak excellent Spanish, which helps avoid trouble. I was listening to two friends talking about robbing me. I got up to go to the bathroom and was two blocks away before they realized I was not coming back. 😅
As an American, I have never even contemplated putting down my knife and switching my fork to my right hand. Is this something most of us actually do? Have I just not noticed other people doing this?
There are videos about how this mannerism developed; the Euros did it one way, Americans another, then we effectively switched. (I eat this way, too)
I learned to eat with my left hand because I am left-handed. Theoretically, it should have also been hard for me to cut right handed, but I also had no issues with this and holding a fork in my right hand feels very weird and foreign to me. So although I grew up in the U.S, the European way is more comfortable for me.
I think it was an etiquette way of slowing down eating.
@@nikkibee187 Аз също си служа предимно с лявата ръка и ми беше лесно от дете да усвоя етикета за ползването на нож с дясната. Но и десняците могат да се научат, въпрос на практика. Също като свиренето на пиано, където дясната ръка е водеща, но постепенно свикнах и сега тя е по-силната. Като европейка ми е странна смяната на приборите в ръцете по време на хранене, което е типично за американците. Според мен е по-неудобно и създава известен хаос на масата в присъствието на други хора.
The knife and fork thing was a surprise to me. Most of the other things I knew about.😂
Watch a meal scene in an American film, it’s quite a revelation!
Also coffe to go. We get coffee to go if we are on a rush, for example to work, but American never seem to want to enjoy beautiful coffee places and drinking from the porcelain XD rushing with coffe to go even though they are on holidays
Yes, living life at a breakneck pace is another give away!
European coffee is served in such small cups it can be easily consumed in five minutes if you're in a rush.
In addition to the fashion aspects, a little thing that was pointed out to me that I couldn't unsee: When I was at university and played in a sports team, you could always tell the American exchange students because they were the ones wearing bright white socks (whereas the rest of us usually wore black or other colours). It wasn't exclusively that way, but it was pretty stark.
The one thing that makes Americans stick out is lack of tipping knowledge. I solved this by asking. When I got a haircut at a salon in Dublin, I told, in muted tones, the manager behind the desk when I paid that I was an American and wasn't familiar with tipping customs in salons in Ireland. I was told that hairdressers were very well paid and that the tip could be small. I asked if 2€ on a 65€ cut was appropriate, and she said yes and generous, but not too much. I asked a restaurant manager in Amsterdam the same and she told me pretty much the same thing. You're a better US tourist if you just ask quietly and courteously. You will be respected for that instead of blundering through.
TOP VIDEO! PERFECT TOPIC!
When i was overseas for the Navy, we had dress codes for going ashore in foreign ports. collared shirt etc. I still wore my Auburn hat. I guess you don't see alot of AU's or Atlanta braves stuff in Europe.We tried to practice eating right handed too. I'm left handed.
compared to the others, I'm not loud... Maybe i do overshare lol.
I know you're only having a bit of fun and all that, but I have to say that my intern University year in New York was a massive eye opener. The stereotype I grew up expecting from watching 'Saved By The Bell' was no where near the mark. I was really impressed by the young Americans my age at the time (21). I found them calm, caring, ambitious, and really interesting. But, I agree that stereotypes are good fun and we play 'Spot the Brit' on holidays in Spain and Portugal. We always go for the stupid white t-shirt, brand new shorts, and fat kids in tow!