embarrassed to travel abroad as an American now?

[Anonymous]

Yes, very embarrassed. Embarrassed when Trump was elected the first time. Embarrassed when Trump was elected second time (though I suspect this one may have been rigged). Now my embarrassment has turned to outright shame. This has us reconsidering our June trip to Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Due to the US yet again blowing up the world, is anyone else compeltely embarrassed and ashamed to be an American, especially when traveling? Many other countries are economically suffering (e.g., exploding gas prices) due to a dumb war US started. And not only that, our stable genius prez insulted everyone for an entire year straight, plus impose tarriffs on everyone yet is now pleading for international help.

It is has never felt this terrible to be an American. How do you feel while traveling abroad now? Do you try to keep as quiet as possible to conceal your nationality, although the clothes and mannerisms are a dead giveaway. Have you gotten hostility if you've traveled within the last two weeks?

No, not really. I find most people in the world are able to separate people they meet from their governments.

You might get an earful about hatred for Trump. But I doubt anyone is going to hold it against you personally.

The ONLY time I felt any hostility was in 1986 in Auckland. The anti-nuclear sentiment was high and the French had just sunk the Rainbow Warrior. There was widespread dislike of Ronald Reagan and his nuclear policies. It was balanced by appreciation for US protection from the possibility of Japanese invasion during WWII.

[Anonymous]

It’s stupid to feel embarrassed because you’re an American tourist. Should the Chinese tourists feel embarrassed because of their government‘s human rights violations?

[Anonymous]

Pretty much every European country has a right wing party. Ask about educated Brit how they feel about Brexit. They all get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's always been embarrassing to travel to Europe as an American. Luckily for me I am a polyglot and can pass in most Euro countries. Key things to remember are:

Smile less. Do not say please and thank you for every little thing. Don't make a lot of eye contact--that's considered flirting. Speak quietly...Americans are so loud culturally. Try to not have a nervous giggle, that's another big tell. European women hardly ever do this and carry themselves more confidently. Don't feel the need to fill every silence with talking.

I doubt you speak anything close to a native level and so still stick out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My mannerisms aren't very stereotypical American. I also tend to dress in a more European style. I just try to blend in with the crowds. Depending on how tan I am, I've been mistaken for being from a couple different countries.

LOL, I bet you’re super noticeable PP. Your loud, nasal American voice gives you away instantly. I live in Europe and see people like you everyday. Everyone knows. Fortunately they don’t really care.

Right but you have to be talking in order for the voice to give you away. I also live in Europe and it's pretty easy to blend in solo; I don't live somewhere where high fashion is the norm though. e.g., you're not going to stick out wearing jeans and sneakers. When my loud American kids are riding public transit with me that is a different story!

Jeans and sneakers? Is it still 1992? I see plenty of Europeans wearing all kinds of things, even Skechers! Again, the only thing that matters in Europe (and these days more than ever) is you your skin color, way more than in America. In my experience all treatment revolves around that.

I mean that was kind of my point, I'm not sure why you're arguing with me- OP mentioned clothing and I still see outdated advice on these forums to "dress like a European" when IME they don't really dress that different than the rest of us.

I also think your experience about all treatment revolving around skin color is a bit of an overgeneralization and country-dependent but anyway....

Then we agree. But other than skin color, how could you look like the locals, especially in more homogenous countries? And who cares anyway? It’s not like when I went to India I walked around telling myself “I bet everyone thinks I’m Indian!”. Such a weird thing.

funny that you picked indian- its a total accident of history that Im NOT Indian- when im walking around with my cousins who are Indian, ppl can always tell that I am Pakistani. I haven't been post covid but back then people were very nice but they could tell I was a Pakistani-american right away despite me speaking Urdu and having the same ethnic heritage as my Indian cousins, its deeper than just the race.

I have friends who are american who do get mistaken for German or swiss but they have German last names as well.

I also think you are over exaggerating the racism in europe. there are also class markers and politics involved, and each place has its own vibe but there are so so many americans everywhere feels like the left bank. I do think that white americans are more alarmed at the immigration and non whiteness of a lot European cities than the actual europeans who live in those cities themselves b/c it kind of impinges on their sense of what the "old country" is supposed to be. a French person wont blink an eye if the village bistro is run by a Turkish, Tunisian, Lebanese restaurateur, will actually be like phew the village bistro is still open!! but american people will be like "this isn't authentic!" even though it is quite authentic to 21st century France.

[Anonymous]

If you are a guy, start carrying a man-purse and you'll blend right in in many places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always been embarrassing to travel to Europe as an American. Luckily for me I am a polyglot and can pass in most Euro countries. Key things to remember are:

Smile less. Do not say please and thank you for every little thing. Don't make a lot of eye contact--that's considered flirting. Speak quietly...Americans are so loud culturally. Try to not have a nervous giggle, that's another big tell. European women hardly ever do this and carry themselves more confidently. Don't feel the need to fill every silence with talking.

I doubt you speak anything close to a native level and so still stick out.

^^Plus, do you speak Hungarian, Polish, Danish, Estonian, Greek, Albanian? If not, you certainly cannot pass in “most Euro countries,” as you say. How American of you to think so!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mannerisms aren't very stereotypical American. I also tend to dress in a more European style. I just try to blend in with the crowds. Depending on how tan I am, I've been mistaken for being from a couple different countries.

LOL, I bet you’re super noticeable PP. Your loud, nasal American voice gives you away instantly. I live in Europe and see people like you everyday. Everyone knows. Fortunately they don’t really care.

Right but you have to be talking in order for the voice to give you away. I also live in Europe and it's pretty easy to blend in solo; I don't live somewhere where high fashion is the norm though. e.g., you're not going to stick out wearing jeans and sneakers. When my loud American kids are riding public transit with me that is a different story!

Jeans and sneakers? Is it still 1992? I see plenty of Europeans wearing all kinds of things, even Skechers! Again, the only thing that matters in Europe (and these days more than ever) is you your skin color, way more than in America. In my experience all treatment revolves around that.

I mean that was kind of my point, I'm not sure why you're arguing with me- OP mentioned clothing and I still see outdated advice on these forums to "dress like a European" when IME they don't really dress that different than the rest of us.

I also think your experience about all treatment revolving around skin color is a bit of an overgeneralization and country-dependent but anyway....

Then we agree. But other than skin color, how could you look like the locals, especially in more homogenous countries? And who cares anyway? It’s not like when I went to India I walked around telling myself “I bet everyone thinks I’m Indian!”. Such a weird thing.

funny that you picked indian- its a total accident of history that Im NOT Indian- when im walking around with my cousins who are Indian, ppl can always tell that I am Pakistani. I haven't been post covid but back then people were very nice but they could tell I was a Pakistani-american right away despite me speaking Urdu and having the same ethnic heritage as my Indian cousins, its deeper than just the race.

I have friends who are american who do get mistaken for German or swiss but they have German last names as well.

I also think you are over exaggerating the racism in europe. there are also class markers and politics involved, and each place has its own vibe but there are so so many americans everywhere feels like the left bank. I do think that white americans are more alarmed at the immigration and non whiteness of a lot European cities than the actual europeans who live in those cities themselves b/c it kind of impinges on their sense of what the "old country" is supposed to be. a French person wont blink an eye if the village bistro is run by a Turkish, Tunisian, Lebanese restaurateur, will actually be like phew the village bistro is still open!! but american people will be like "this isn't authentic!" even though it is quite authentic to 21st century France.

Oh wow, this tells me how little you know of France! I am here now, and there are lots of people of color in the cities, but they are seen as immigrants and treated as such, even if they are French citizens and have lived here their entire lives. You will rarer, if ever, see people of color in the villages, unless they are tourists from Germany or Britain or elsewhere in Northern Europe. Europeans, and the French in particular, judge you immediately by the color of your skin, now more than ever. The things that French people tell me about other races are shocking to the core, you’d never hear it in America. If you are Pakistani, you will NEVER blend in in modern France, even if you have a French passport. That’s just the way it is, I’m not saying it’s right obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven't had any issues. Be polite, try to respect local customs, and learn a few key words and phrases in the native language so you can properly greet people and say please and thank you.

+1 We’re abroad right now, visiting DC who is living here temporarily. We just try to be polite and respectful to everyone, and for the most part, that’s what we get back. DC has had no issues. If anything, DC gets a lot of sympathetic glances when people realize their citizenship.

Otherwise known as study abroad. Your DC does NOT live in Europe temporarily, lol. What an American thing to say!

[Anonymous]

By the way, it’s a myth that Europeans don’t like Trump. Many of them love him and think he’s on the right path, especially as it comes to immigration. We have told many people, especially in the rural areas, that we voted for Trump three times and they absolutely love it. So don’t be afraid to mention your conservative politics in Europe these days!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mannerisms aren't very stereotypical American. I also tend to dress in a more European style. I just try to blend in with the crowds. Depending on how tan I am, I've been mistaken for being from a couple different countries.

LOL, I bet you’re super noticeable PP. Your loud, nasal American voice gives you away instantly. I live in Europe and see people like you everyday. Everyone knows. Fortunately they don’t really care.

Right but you have to be talking in order for the voice to give you away. I also live in Europe and it's pretty easy to blend in solo; I don't live somewhere where high fashion is the norm though. e.g., you're not going to stick out wearing jeans and sneakers. When my loud American kids are riding public transit with me that is a different story!

Jeans and sneakers? Is it still 1992? I see plenty of Europeans wearing all kinds of things, even Skechers! Again, the only thing that matters in Europe (and these days more than ever) is you your skin color, way more than in America. In my experience all treatment revolves around that.

I mean that was kind of my point, I'm not sure why you're arguing with me- OP mentioned clothing and I still see outdated advice on these forums to "dress like a European" when IME they don't really dress that different than the rest of us.

I also think your experience about all treatment revolving around skin color is a bit of an overgeneralization and country-dependent but anyway....

Then we agree. But other than skin color, how could you look like the locals, especially in more homogenous countries? And who cares anyway? It’s not like when I went to India I walked around telling myself “I bet everyone thinks I’m Indian!”. Such a weird thing.

funny that you picked indian- its a total accident of history that Im NOT Indian- when im walking around with my cousins who are Indian, ppl can always tell that I am Pakistani. I haven't been post covid but back then people were very nice but they could tell I was a Pakistani-american right away despite me speaking Urdu and having the same ethnic heritage as my Indian cousins, its deeper than just the race.

I have friends who are american who do get mistaken for German or swiss but they have German last names as well.

I also think you are over exaggerating the racism in europe. there are also class markers and politics involved, and each place has its own vibe but there are so so many americans everywhere feels like the left bank. I do think that white americans are more alarmed at the immigration and non whiteness of a lot European cities than the actual europeans who live in those cities themselves b/c it kind of impinges on their sense of what the "old country" is supposed to be. a French person wont blink an eye if the village bistro is run by a Turkish, Tunisian, Lebanese restaurateur, will actually be like phew the village bistro is still open!! but american people will be like "this isn't authentic!" even though it is quite authentic to 21st century France.

Oh wow, this tells me how little you know of France! I am here now, and there are lots of people of color in the cities, but they are seen as immigrants and treated as such, even if they are French citizens and have lived here their entire lives. You will rarer, if ever, see people of color in the villages, unless they are tourists from Germany or Britain or elsewhere in Northern Europe. Europeans, and the French in particular, judge you immediately by the color of your skin, now more than ever. The things that French people tell me about other races are shocking to the core, you’d never hear it in America. If you are Pakistani, you will NEVER blend in in modern France, even if you have a French passport. That’s just the way it is, I’m not saying it’s right obviously.

+1. I lived in Strasbourg and then Paris for several years. This has also been my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By the way, it’s a myth that Europeans don’t like Trump. Many of them love him and think he’s on the right path, especially as it comes to immigration. We have told many people, especially in the rural areas, that we voted for Trump three times and they absolutely love it. So don’t be afraid to mention your conservative politics in Europe these days!

Wait until they get the price shock for food and fuel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even last year I traveled through Europe was Canada hat. Ppl knew but at least they knew why.

Lol, my husband too. He was on an international hiking trip with a Canadian flag bandana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By the way, it’s a myth that Europeans don’t like Trump. Many of them love him and think he’s on the right path, especially as it comes to immigration. We have told many people, especially in the rural areas, that we voted for Trump three times and they absolutely love it. So don’t be afraid to mention your conservative politics in Europe these days!

As someone with EU family, this is rich. My ancient great uncle lives in a tiny house in the edge of the sea in a village you have definitely never heard of and the very first thing he said to us was "boy that Trump is a [expletive] moron".