Spotting an American tourist abroad isn't tough. They've got a few giveaways that make them stand out, from fashion choices to social habits. Whether it's a love for sneakers or a loud chat, there are some surefire signs. Let's check out the 12 ways you can spot an American tourist from a mile away.
Table of Contents
- 1. Eating While Walking
- 2. Greetings and Salutations
- 3. The Accessories
- 4. Voices That Carry
- 5. Imperial System of Measurement
- 6. Good Teeth
- 7. Leg Cross
- 8. Ranch Dressing
- 9. Sense of Humor
- 10. Swimwear
- 11. Public Toilets
- 12. Table Manners
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1. Eating While Walking
Only Americans eat and drink while walking, says an American participant who previously lived in Europe. They continue, "I'd be eating a bagel or something on the way to work or class, and multiple people asked if I was American, lol." In Europe, it's customary to sit down and take the time to enjoy your food and beverages instead of walking while eating and drinking.
2. Greetings and Salutations
The friendliness of Americans, especially the habit of greeting strangers with phrases like "Hello" and "How are you?" is an obvious tell. Friendly greetings and pleasantries seemingly aren't a custom in many places outside of the U.S.
3. The Accessories
According to several responders, wearing certain accessories makes it easy to tell if someone is from the U.S. One says they looked American because they wore their baseball cap backward. Another one remarks that it was because they rested their sunglasses on top of their head when they weren't wearing them. A third one claims that wearing tactical sunglasses is a uniquely American trait.
4. Voices That Carry
Numerous participants in the discussion point out how much louder Americans are compared to their global neighbors, with a person admitting their European friends and fellow travelers saying Americans do not have anything resembling an indoor voice and always sound like they are talking to someone far away.
5. Imperial System of Measurement
While much of the world uses the metric system of measurement, America is one of the few countries using the imperial system. A commenter on the thread acknowledges that Americans give themselves away because "they measure things in inches and yards and talk about the weather in Fahrenheit." The metric system isn't widely taught in American schools, making measurements challenging when traveling overseas.
6. Good Teeth
A rather unusual way of identifying someone as an American is to look at their teeth. According to a few contributors, people from the United States either have exceedingly white teeth due to bleaching or are perfectly straight because of braces.
7. Leg Cross
An American traveler admits, "While visiting Turkey, I was told I looked American because I was sitting with one leg across the other, and the bottom of my shoe was exposed." While sitting with one leg crossing the other is commonplace in the U.S., in many cultures in that part of the world, displaying the soles of your shoes or feet is considered disrespectful.
8. Ranch Dressing
If you had to identify the most all-American condiment, it must be ranch dressing. One American from the discussion board recounts discovering that ranch isn't a universally known condiment: They went to a Burger King in Norway, asked for ranch dressing, and the worker had never heard of it.
9. Sense of Humor
An individual from Asia shares their appreciation for Americans' sense of humor, writing, "I've talked to a lot of Americans, and one thing I've noticed about them is their sense of humor. I also watch many American movies and have seen many humorous videos and memes." Americans do love a good laugh!
10. Swimwear
The typical swimwear worn by European and American men is as different as night and day. Speedos that leave little to the imagination are the conventional swimwear worn by European men. American men wear more modest swim trunks unless they compete in a swim meet. Someone on the thread thanks American men for their swimwear preferences.
11. Public Toilets
One clear sign of being an American tourist is assuming that public toilets are free everywhere. In many countries, using public restrooms often comes with a small fee. So, if you find yourself searching for that elusive free restroom or feeling surprised by the entrance fee, you might just be giving away your American roots.
12. Table Manners
In America, it's common to hold the knife in the right hand while cutting food and then switch to the right hand to eat. However, in many other countries, it's customary to hold the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left hand throughout the entire meal. Using a knife in the right hand while eating might reveal your American dining habits to observant locals.
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