If you have ever traveled across the pond you probably thought you blended right in with the locals. But Europeans can usually spot an American tourist from a mile away without you even saying a word. Here is the real information on the nine habits that give us away every single time.
Wearing Gym Clothes Everywhere
You guys know we love our comfy yoga pants and basketball shorts when we run errands back home. Over in Europe though people dress up a bit more for the day so wearing full athleisure outside the gym is a massive giveaway.
Carrying Huge Reusable Water Bottles
We are totally obsessed with staying hydrated and carrying those massive insulated cups everywhere we go. Locals usually just stop at a cafe for a quick drink so seeing someone lugging around a giant jug is super American.
Talking Way Too Loud in Public
We naturally project our voices when we get excited about seeing cool new sights and taking pictures. The volume level in European restaurants and trains is way lower so our booming conversations easily cut through the quiet rooms.
Rocking University Logos and Baseball Caps
Throwing on a college hoodie and a curved baseball cap is basically our national uniform for traveling. Most locals do not really wear sports gear casually like that so it screams tourist before you even ask for directions.
Smiling and Waving at Random Strangers
It is super normal for us to make eye contact and smile at people walking down the street back in the States. In a lot of European cities doing this can actually confuse locals because they tend to keep to themselves while commuting.
Expecting Ice in Every Single Drink
We are used to getting our sodas and water filled to the absolute brim with ice cubes at every single restaurant. Over there you usually have to specifically ask for ice and even then you might only get two tiny cubes in your glass.
Walking Around With Giant Backpacks
We love to pack everything we could possibly need for the day into a massive backpack before we leave the hotel. Europeans usually carry smaller crossbody bags or simple totes so a huge hiking bag on a city street stands out instantly.
Tipping for Absolutely Every Service
We are so programmed to leave twenty percent on every bill that we just automatically do it on vacation too. Service workers in Europe get paid a regular wage so handing out huge tips for basic things is a dead giveaway of where you are from.
Asking How People Are Doing
Greeting a cashier with a big friendly question about how they are doing today is just polite small talk for us. Over there a simple hello is enough and asking about their day feels a bit too personal for a quick store transaction.
Related Posts
