20 Ways People Could Tell That A Tourist Was American

‘Music was playing and ‘Sweet Caroline’ came on’
20 Ways People Could Tell That A Tourist Was American

Americans who travel abroad have the unique capability of making it very clear that they’re from the U.S. — and they don’t even need to chant “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” to do it. There’s always some different telltale sign that distinguishes an American tourist from other people.

For instance, an American Redditor recalled his time in Italy and described exactly how he was found out. He was doing his best to blend in: he dressed spiffy, kept his running shoes at the gym, didn’t own a baseball cap and tried his hardest to have a basic grasp on everyday Italian phrases. But even with all of that, everyone greeted him in English before he even said a word. He couldn’t figure out why until his travel buddy alerted him to his biggest American tell — smiling at strangers.

Other Redditors have shared their humiliating observations of the standard American tourist, including our weird obsession with old buildings, penchant for singing “Sweet Caroline” and signature uniform of free corporate swag and cargo shorts. 

God bless this stupid country.

DJA2019 6y ago The American sense of humor. When visiting Poland with my Polish-born wife (I only know a few Polish phrases), her uncle wanted to learn English so he could get my humor directly (his son had to translate). When leaving the airport and my wife was done at the ticket counter, the multi-lingual agent asked me in English, How was your stay in Poland? I replied very straight-faced in Polish, I lost my underware. (My favorite go-to phrase.) She immediately disappeared beneath the counter. | looked over the counter and she was laughing in histerics. 174 ...
Per_The_Pear 6y ago If they buy peanutbutter. It sounds very weird, but everyone who buys peanut butter where I work, turns out to be american. 415 ...
YesHunty 6y ago Pronouncing things horribly and not making any attempt to fix it. On my honeymoon in Quebec City, an American couple kept pronouncing Quebec as Kwee-Beck. Granted most anglophones don't pronounce it right here anyways, but for some reason I felt like this guy was going out of his way to pronounce it stupidly. - 146 ...
IIIGreyfoxlll 6y ago Edited 6y ago Not looking to blame or shame, but there was this (otherwise Adorable) lady at a social gathering a few weeks back, that started talking about religion, and abortion, and how everyone should basically 'pick a side' (her words). I live in Northern Ireland, and that happened in Derry. Luckily everyone took it fine and the conversation went on after a short silence.
 6y ago The way they like to say oh you call this X? We call that Y in America or something along those lines 2.5K ...
ardyndidnothingwrong 6y ago I was at a beach where music was playing and sweet Caroline came on. I told my sister (we are both Hispanic, but | love in the US): hey, if you are wondering who here is from the US, you are about to find out 10 seconds later: PA PA PAAAAAA - 3.3K ...
ToeRagger 6y ago when they cross the street, they expect cars to stop for them. in my country, the cars will run you down without thinking twice. p/s: when i was in america, i got so used to waiting for cars to drive past before crossing the street, i stopped every time i see a car. i can see so many drivers getting upset with me because they were waiting for me to cross first. - 2.2K ...
Zack1018 6y ago Baseball caps, University spirit wear, cargo shorts, free t- shirts from events with ads and text all over them, and for the older Americans they always seem to just kinda stand in the middle of everything looking around. 27K ...
vinegarstrokes5 6y ago | read somewhere that the way we put our weight on one leg while standing is a sign as well as holding a cigarette with the middle and index finger instead of the index and thumb 927 ...
millennium-popsicle 6y ago They're looking for a store open at like 11pm. Even if in most European countries stores close at like 7-8 pm 3.9K ...
R3ddspider . 6y ago | hear that us Americans can easily be spotted in the airport by the fact usually were use to taking off our shoes in TSA 1.5K ...
MogadonMandy 6y ago Asking for the restroom. I mean, obviously the accent was then heard too but in my little village in Scotland I was in the pub and a woman politely asked the barman where the restrooms were. Не didn't know wtf she was on about and then it obviously clicked. Ye mean the toilet? Aye hen it's joost back 'err. - 13K ...
Dayoldpancakes 6y ago If you see an American in Japan, they will frantically look for public trash cans. The absence of trash receptacle is something unfounded in the US, and we become confused at the idea of having to hold it for extended periods of time. - 13K ...
MorganBeesley 6y ago I'm half Japanese and I live in Japan. Basically, we automatically assume any white person is American 3.4K
dcabines 6y ago When visiting Paris my wife and I learned they don't seat you at restaurants. You just walk in and sit down at an available table. We figured it out after standing around at the entrance a few times. Then we started noticing other American tourists doing the same. 855 ...
hazily 6 6y ago When they introduce themselves they never say they're from America: mostly the state/city they're from. 3.6K ...
curved_oracle 6y ago They get amazed by old things. Girlfriend used to work on a farm and an estate in the U.K. and would often have Americans in awe of the old buildings. One once said 'some of these buildings are older than my country' - 9.5K ...
jrlags 6y ago While in Korea, I was casually talking to a friend on the bus in regular speaking voice. Not even a minute later, the lady in front of us turns around in her seat and says very casually, please calm down. I guess American volume is noticeably louder - 7.8K ...
thewidowgorey 6y ago . Edited 6y ago When I went to Italy with a friend, I couldn't figure out why everyone greeted me in English before I said a word. I don't wear running shoes outside of the gym, I dress pretty posh, | can't remember the last time I owned a baseball cap, and I try to have a basic grasp on the local language. How can they tell I'm American? My friend told me, it's because you're smiling at them. - 7.4K ...
SalemScout 6y ago A random guy in London told me he knew I was American because when | crossed the street | looked right first, then left. I told him to fuck off and quit watching me. That probably only confirmed his observation. 83 ...

Tags:

Scroll down for the next article
Forgot Password?