Standing Out vs Blending In Debate

I have traveled a lot, visiting 78 foreign countries and don't try to hide my nationality. I have found the vast majority of people in the World are friendly.
As an American, I come from the South and our culture is more gentile and friendly anyway. I try to avoid being rude to anyone and definitely don't want t be an ugly American.

Frankly, I think faking being a Canadian is not just silly, but ridiculous. Nothing against Canadians, I love them.

Since, I am in my 70s, I tend to dress up a little more than most. I don't wear T-shirts and clothes with holes in them.

When I first visited Europe in the 80s, you could spot the Americans, because they were wearing tennis shoes. Now, Europeans wear tennis shoes as well, perhaps not as much, especially Italians.

I might even wear my Georgia Bulldog baseball hat, if I am out in the sun, heck, when visiting the Ukraine in 2013, I saw a local guy wearing a Georgia Bulldog T-shirt.

Nothing says tourist, American or otherwise, quite like wearing a backpack or carrying a day bag. Look around you and try to look a little more like a local and figure out how to walk about without it.

Also, walk around "hands free" as much as possible, including leaving your phone in your pocket. I see Americans who can't live without their phone in their hands at all times, and in addition to marking yourself as a tourist, thieves and pickpockets see you as being highly distracted, too, and thus a prime target.

Twenty years ago the rule of thumb was that only Americans wore sneakers, but that has reversed and plenty of locals in Europe opt for them.

I cringe when I encounter other Americans of the "ugly" variety when abroad. The one thing that marks them is the tendency to be too loud and mouthy. Especially noticeable in France where locals in public are fairly reserved.

This article has no dateline, it feels pretty dated to me. This is the kind of stuff we used to discuss way back in the last century (the '90s that is). Is this really even a thing? Does anyone impersonate Canadians anymore? Does anyone care what logo is on your T shirt? As the article eventually notes, the world has become so homogenized that when you watch travel videos from Europe, everyone under 50 is wearing sneakers, jeans, T shirts and Yankees caps anyway. News flash - everyone in Venice and at the Eiffel Tower is a tourist! That's why they are there. Hey Fodors, the war is over, we won.

I agree with Jojo Rabbit, coming from overtouristed Barcelona, I learned to easily spot tourists from locals. Even being able to guess nationality based on behavior and clothing with a certain accuracy. The number one thing, especially for North American tourists, are these oversized daybags from REI and the like, very flashy colors and material, full of goodies for pick pockets. Also North American tend to wear these distinctive "running shoes" while out doing their tourist things.

Pickpockets seem to be more embolden to try their luck with an obviously American tourist, I've seen it many times in Barcelona. Americans tend to unknowingly flaunt their valuables and are mostly oblivious to the pickpockets on their tail.

For example, on the Barceloneta beach, I saw a group of American women leave their oversized day bags unattended while they made a selfie, right away 2-3 pickpockets scooped up their bags and disappeared into a nearby alley, before the women knew what was happening.

While living in the USA, I am shocked by how the people leave their valuables (laptops, bags etc.) on tables for minutes at a time, I was even more shocked when no one stole them. I guess it's a more courteous culture, even for the thieves in America 😅

@Carlos, no, American thieves are just less ambitious. Plus they know everyone is armed.

I think Frank said it best:

My comment is always -- You can not avoid looking like an American tourist, just don't look like a stupid American tourist.*

But everyone seems to be focusing on what the article says (or doesn't say) about clothing, when the real advice is about the social behavior - conversation, talking loud, courtesy, etc. Thats the part that many Americans seem to miss, by just making the assumption that how Americans act is the norm everywhere. Or don't even care about perceptions, because "Hey! we're on vacation!". If you're paying attention, you do get better treatment when you respect local customs and behavior.

No idea why, but few people ever think we’re from the U.S. People have guessed every English speaking country except the U.S. Maybe it’s because we go to a lot of places not frequented by U.S. tourists and we don’t go around easily identified U.S. brands clothing e.g., REI, North Face, We’ve always found people to be friendly and helpful when we needed anything. It’s all in the way one comports themselves.

American thieves are just less ambitious. Plus they know everyone is armed.

I didn't think about that, I guess in Europe violence is rarely part of the equation, on either side of the theft.

A pickpocket from Barcelona wouldn't survive a day in the US I think, they would be blasted full of lead at the nearest Starbucks for trying to swipe an iPad.

Just like in the John Wayne movies I watched as a kid 😅

My experience in Germany ... if you speak English their assumption i.e. 1st guess is you're an American, until you tell them otherwise.

Yeah many in Germany grew up with USA military stationed over there every where after WW2. One friend here in Chicago has German citizenship because he was born on a base over there in the 60's.

Embrace understatement— absolutely different overseas. For example, the game show Wheel of Fortune tried to produce local versions in other countries for a while but flopped. Whereas the Americans jumped up and down, yelled and screamed, the French contestants I saw just smiled and said “Merci” when they won something. You have to be in a crowd or group before you’ll see the eccentric behavior, like a large group of friends on vacation or fans at a soccer match; individuals will remain discreet and understated, having been taught not to purposely draw attention or show off.

Implying you care? and if you do, do you care as an observer of the behavior or as not wanting to be part of the behavior?

I "care" about how I present myself in other countries, do not want to draw unwanted attention to myself, make myself a target of someone else's bias or ill intent. That's all...and I do the same here in the US, avoid drawing attention to myself in public. How others comport themselves is no concern of mine other than I avoid being around them whenever possible.

yeesh ... I haven't met any Americans who would be seen as self-deprecating - that's both in-country and abroad.

The last thing I want is any extra attention drawn to myself, wherever I'm at.

My German friends had an inexplicable ability so spot Americans even when I was doubtful. I still don't know quite how they did it. And no, we're not talking obvious examples like Larry the Cable Guy.

And yes it's embarrassing when you hear loud Americans. The trope, as is often the case, has some truth behind it.

From the article:

Some years ago, a common trope was to sew a Canadian flag onto a
backpack or other carry-on to diffuse assumptions. Many Americans
might have done so without realizing they knew less about Canada than
they thought (how many of you can name more than one Canadian Prime
Minister or remember to pronounce the “a” in “pasta” differently?),

Now I'm curious about 2 things:

1. Do Americans do that anymore?
2. How are Americans pronouncing pasta differently than Canadians? For the record, when I'm listening back to myself I'm saying PAS tuh.

My wife and I do not try to specifically to blend in when in Europe or suppress our American-isms or instincts in social interactions. There are some uniquely American traits or conventions that we've found Europeans tend to appreciate or find charming, at least in small doses (e.g., the openness to people you don't know as described in the article). My wife is very open and friendly with new acquaintances and has a great laugh, which helps us even in countries with reputations for being much more reserved with new people such as France or the Netherlands.

We find too that the notion that Americans as a rule are not well-liked in Europe is outdated (if it ever was correct). Certainly the "ugly" Americans will never find a welcome in Europe, but a little self-awareness and common sense seem to go a long way.

It's really not that hard to spot tourists anywhere. I live in a major tourist city and I see them all the time, I can usually tell the Germans from other European groups for some reason. Perhaps the socks?

One friend here in Chicago has German citizenship because he was born on a base over there in the 60's.

@Jazz, if your friend has German citizenship, then at least one of his parents must have been German. Prior to 2000, anyone born in Germany to non-German parents had no claim to German citizenship regardless of where they were born. Since the law changed in 2000, there are certain exceptions, but the requirements are still pretty stringent.

“My German friends had an inexplicable ability so spot Americans even when I was doubtful. I still don't know quite how they did it. And no, we're not talking obvious examples like Larry the Cable Guy.“

I do know how they did it, because even when they don’t mean to come across as Larry the Gable Guy, when in public Americans tend to use their outdoor voice. Even when they are in a museum or restaurant or public transport. For us Europeans it’s very easy to spot Americans in a crowd, because to us it seems that they are always screaming at the top of their lungs. And yes, I know perfectly well that there are US visitors who when in Europe, adjust the volume at which they speak, but a lot of Americans don’t do that.
I always find it very amusing when visitors from the USA post questions on this forum to ask about what clothes to wear to blend in or to not stand out. No matter what you wear, if you don’t adjust your volume you will definitely stand out and not blend in.

One thing I've learned as a dual national living in the US and France for the past fifty years is that with so many people buying their clothes at C&A, H & M, the same brands North Face and Marmot, so many people looking at their phones instead of maps, so many people happy to be on vacation, there is no way either my husband or I can spot who is from what country. One thing I have learned is that people are more alike than different. I see people in Europe gaining weight, long lines of cars at drive thru, the same grass surrounding houses, while I see many well-dressed, fit, savvy Americans. Too many differences exist within populations to lump everyone as one unit.
Edit. I take it all back after reading the water bottle post. Do a lot of Americans really invest in container$ and lug water everywhere? I've never run across that with European family or friends. It's either reusing plastic bottles or a drink at a café.

We were just in Ljubljana and at 2 different stores the cashiers asked if we were English. We’re from Brooklyn. Guess the accents are similar, lol

Like it or not, we generally look like Americans. Likely, it's that extra 20 lbs. that is normal for us. It's also the clothing we wear and our accents.

I don't think it's a big deal to be "spotted" as an American. I do like the thought of not being "Otro tonto tourista". There are lots of ways to avoid that. A few don'ts come to mind: Don't complain that coffee refills aren't free. Don't complain that there is only a small amount of ice in your drink. Don't ask, "How much is that in real money?" Don't let them change your bill to U.S. currency before paying with your credit card. Don't overpack. Don't order your Filet Minot "well done". Don't overtip. Don't be the loudest one in the room. Don't stop as you exit an escalator. Don't walk around gawking with a stupid grin on your face. I've personally witnessed all of these more than once.

There are also some do's to remember. Do be polite. Do be kind. Do be courteous (and know something of what local culture considers courteous). Treat everyone you meet with respect (including a wait person or clerk at a convenience store). Clean up after yourself. Be discreet (rather than loud or boisterous). Listen at least as much as you talk.

If you avoid the don'ts and remember the do's, you will be surprised how well you are treated - even by those "snobby" French people (well, maybe not Parisiennes). Americans might even approach you on the street to ask directions, thinking you must be a local.

Plane hijackings and on the ground terrorists activity in Europe years ago is when some believed it was better to identify as Canadian. The radical fanatics were not necessarily opposed to Canadians and their government. What I remember, anyway.

As far as being a “loud” American is concerned, Americans certainly do not have a monopoly on that behavior. I’ve been in restaurants and other public places throughout Europe, and I can name many nationalities who fit the description of being inappropriately loud and obnoxious.

My wife and I try to be pleasantly dressed. We are clearly tourists. I wear a hat with a lot of pins on it. I carry a camera.

But we attempt to be polite. We are pleasant and non-demanding. We are respectful of locals.

I'll admit that my first solo trip to the UK in 1981, I put a Canadian-flag luggage tag on my backpack. It was the time of Reagan and Thatcher, labor unrest, and IRA bombings, and there was a lot of Anti-US feeling in the air. A lot of hostility, just as in recent years. I did it on the advice of people I knew who had just been, and I read same such advice in the media. So its nothing new. Take it as tribute to our northern neighbors.

I dont think the issue is with random passers-by caring what you look like, or judging you, or even pickpockets targeting you.. Or caring whether you're American or Canadian or local. But people who you interact with do react to how you present yourself. That's human nature. Insensitivity to local social customs, and looking like a slob, gets you bad service and yes, negative judgment, here at home and abroad.

I only got a paragraph in, Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been relevant in over 20 years. So, this is obviously very very dated. The Canadian flag thing sounds like it’s from the George W Bush era so it fits that timeframe.

Urbanites everywhere I’ve been carry backpacks or some sort of bag, especially men. There’s no car to store stuff in.

Hip hop stars have made sports apparel a fashion statement. Someone could wear a Yankees cap and have no clue who the Yankees are.

In a diverse place like London with lots of expats, it’s hard to tell tourists from residents Maybe on day 1 when I’m getting accustomed to the opposite traffic flows

I don’t really care about blending in, but I do try to leave a few basics about the country. How do you pay for public transit, do you need to validate? That sort of stuff. Do you order at the bar? Do you usually wait to be seated or is it ok to just grab a table?

I’m sure if I worked at a tourist attraction, I’d see some crazy examples. Bad fake cockney accents like from Mary Poppins, that sort of stuff.

Most American cities are designed around the automobile and aren’t dense enough to make becoming a pickpocket worth it.

Travel boss has a lovely paragraph in the posting about the Do things for tourists. I find that to be necessary no matter where you travel or where you live. How you are raised is more important than where and how you behave whether a tourist or resident. To me it is important how you represent your country and how you represent yourself.

Hear hear, Gail and Travel Boss. Just as "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." I am firmly on the side of appropriate outward appearance, in both dress and manner, in accordance to wherever you are. A city dweller having lived in small towns at times, it's as natural for me to 'dress up' to go downtown/church/special events/places where looking presentable is appreciated-appropriate-smart, as it is to put on shall we say relaxed togs when either literally mucking about or remaining home.

Americans don't own the obnoxious tourist prize. There are plenty of other nationalities who give them a good run for the money. The day bag couple, he in white clod hopper sneakers and a white belt, she in capris pants or both of them with zip off pants are solid clues from the past. Now look for tweety bird tattoos on her ankles and some big gallic cross or stylized flag on the man's calf to make a quick spot.
The baseball, cap, day bag, Rick Steves map or guidebook also are tells.
The rudest of the rude can be Australians.....loud, large groups, intoxicated...
Different cultures practice different behaviours.....try a hotel checkout line in China sometime. Watch the fresh fruit feeding frenzy when some Asian guests descend upon the morning buffet in a Singapore or Malaysian hotel.
We all have our cultural and behavioral quirks that make us stand out wherever we go.
You can't hide.
As a guest, you should be polite, civilized, aware, informed, curious and appropriate. You won't always get it right but you can be pretty sure that flipflops have no place in the Sistine Chapel, cutting to the front of the line at the ferry terminal, eating your baguette while walking down the street or yelling across the restaurant while eating at Jumbo Seafood are not putting your best foot forward, even if it's sporting that nice new butterfly tat.

there is no way either my husband or I can spot who is from what country. One thing I have learned is that people are more alike than different.

Bets wins the well-traveled prize. No one can tell even 15% of the time who is American and who isn't. I have been spoken to in German, French, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, and now Icelandic. I can understand some words in the Scandinavian languages, I remember the guy taking tickets at Frederiksborg Castle said something in Danish like: "You guys are going to want the tour pamphlet in Danish." I shop at Kohl's, if you do then you can pass for European, too.

I am a little perplexed that people think this is even possible? Only a person removed from the European day-to-day, like being on a tour or staying at the Marriott, could think this.

Many many times we were given German menus that were later exchanged for English versions (in the larger cities).

I am a tall, fit, fair haired American man, arguably look like i could be German, I guess. And Germany is the one country where people immediately speak to me in German, on the street, like they assume I am a local German, and they are asking for directions. The only country this ever happens to me where English is not the #1 language.

On the topic of this thread, I think it also shows that I don't otherwise look or act American if Germans are mistaking me for one of their own. But I could easily be cast as an extra in a German movie as I have that "look"...just not a speaking role, please.

My husband,our son who has Downs syndrome and I are also given German menus. Even in Germany we too are spoken to and asked directions by other Germans. Both my husband and I had grandparents from Germany. My doctor from Eastern Europe has told me we look German so I have always assumed that is why we are mistaken for Germans.

I agree with Phred's initial post above, although, Phred, it does have a dateline - July 6, 2022.... I know, hard to believe.

With all the crazy and "different" appearances of people out there, we're really concerned about looking like an American? Quite frankly, I'm too old to care if I blend in or not. And, as for other people, the only thing I care about is that they not have an offensive odor and are kind and courteous. Otherwise, go and rock your look!

"Standing out" does not only apply to American tourists. As a French tourist, I often feel like I stand out even in neighboring countries. It is unavoidable in smaller towns... and occasionally it is a blessing, because if someone starts talking to me in, say, full-speed German, Italian or Portuguese, I will be completely lost!

Hip hop stars have made sports apparel a fashion statement. Someone could wear a Yankees cap and have no clue who the Yankees are.

This makes me laugh as the "popular" NY Yankees cap in Europe is red. No real NY Yankees fan would wear that color as red is not one of the team's colors.

After all my years of travel, I know I will be seen easily as a tourist. How I behave is more important to how I'm treated than anything else.

I think the article was interesting, peoples comments more so...

Re: Canadian Flag...old news certainly, but I still hear people in the US suggesting doing so, it has become a "thing". Now usually it is from those that do not travel, or much, and it seems to come and go with the political state, several years ago, in to 2016 timeframe, for several years it seemed to be a thing again...not sure why.

Re: Being spoken to in German, in Germany. Well, makes sense, that is the language. But more so, German is the largest ancestry group in the US...so many of us just have German and European traits. But mostly, among my German acquaintances, I find them to be pretty direct, and what I experience is you will be addressed in German, until you correct them or request to speak English. The exception will be in very tourist type places. Now being addressed in German in Greece, Italy, or Spain, then yeah, maybe more your appearance.

Re: Clothes; I think the salient point about clothing is less the specifics of what you are wearing, than if it is situation appropriate. I think back a few years ago when outdoor clothing became the travel rage (hey, it is lightweight, weather proof, comfortable) my European colleagues started commenting about all the Americans going on "safari" while visiting the city. Yes wear what you want, I just cringe thinking of the public Walmart pajama wearing trend being exported to Europe.

But above all it is the interpersonal things that resonate with me, as I have heard them before from my European colleagues. One guy who visited the US was just shocked that while standing in line with a guy that he went on about his job, all his health problems, family issues, you name it, all in the course of 10 minutes or so, and added that Americans tend to share too much, even discussing your job, not including work situation, is something many Europeans do not chit-chat about except with good friends.

Also received comments that while it is good to learn a few basic phrases, using the equivalent of please and thank-you multiple times in an interaction seems strange and insincere. I have noticed that locals, more in Spain and Italy, use voice inflection to indicate both please and thank-you, rather than saying it often, Hard to explain, but a well inflected "Ciao" can express "Thanks, Goodbye, and see you soon" at the end of an interaction.

This is sort of interesting but an old subject.
As long as all tourists, no matter what country they identify with, are polite and don’t leave a mess behind themselves what the heck does it matter the color of our shoes! For many countries the American tourist dollars are helping the local economies.

I quit reading all the replies. So many presumptuous assumptions.

First, unless you go up and ask them, how do you know the nationality? You are spotting thousands of people on a daily basis.

My trip in May I found these things:

On subway rides, which generally stop in residential, not just tourist areas, I saw plenty of Nike, Adidas, Puma and other brand shoes on people's feet. Although, I did notice a lack of neon colors in the shoe section of a certain sporting goods store.

At a table for two, whether indoor or outdoor, people of all nationalities spend more time staring at phones than at one-another.

I saw plenty of daypacks on what I assumed were locals. (I guess locals by business attire.). And while wandering tourist haunts, I overheard plenty of non-English langueges spoken and the people had T-shirts with words on them, day-packs, and water bottles.

But I will say, upon returning to America I did notice that on the whole, Europeans are less sloppily dressed. And that goes for all ages.

Why always so negative about yourselves how you look? Must there something be proofed? There are Americans as tourists dressed very well, very tasteful. They stand out but in a positive way.

Quite frankly, unless someone is dressed rather garishly or behaving outside of public norms - I just see the populace at large.

Having said that, I do wonder at times at those tourists, what the Sam H are you carrying in that packed-to-the-hilt daypack, yeesh.

Just be yourself and enjoy your vacation.

For 99% of tourists truly blending in is impossible. First off as soon as most open their mouths the jig is up. Very few tourist speak the local language the same as a local. (assuming the speak it at all). Add in that you are doing “tourist things” such as visiting tourist locations looking at land marks or otherwise looking at things the locals have not actually looked at in decades and other tourist things.

You cant avoid this. So lets give up. on the blending in bit…

I have been treated a bit differently in Germany until i open my mouth. My father was from Germany so perhaps i look German.
Once in England the third time we ate at the same restaurant they assumed we were local until i talked a. bit more. the waitress actually was surprised and said “i thought you were English” but that. was only a very short time.

I had a hotel staff member in Germany ask if my dad was a German Language teacher because of how “proper” his German was..