In France, you must begin every encounter with a Bonjour as a minimum - more politely Bonjour Monsieur or Madame. Even if you just buy a newspaper in passing or a ticket, and even if you enter a shop and have no intention to engage the shop assistants to help you - look at them and say the above. Upon leaving, it's Au Revoir (swallow the e - sounds like" Au R'voir").

The American "thumbs up" means only the number one, the American "rounded-fingers OK sign" is best avoided, and the extended index finger (together with the extended thumb) means the number two.

In a crowd, Americans tend to feel that it is polite to speak loudly among themselves so as not to appear secretive to those around them. The opposite is true in most parts of Europe - we don't want to hear your private exchange, and we don't assume you're talking about us bystanders if you keep your voice down (and we wouldn't care anyhow even if you did talk about us...).

If you're from the US, avoid using the word "fanny". Look it up...

Again, if you're from the US, about the above posters mentioned the "smiling" thing - take it to heart; a smile is a sign of intimacy, don't expect that from people in an official or simply commercial transaction - that would be incorrect on their part.

About that "extended" visit - I trust you know about the 90-days IN and 90-days OUT rule for visitors to the Schengen area of Europe?

"Germans don't like Ausländers;I mean both foreigners and tourists"

Some tourists are foreigners, some are not. I guess by foreigners you refer to immigrants.

Where is the difference to other countries?

Yes, I meant immigrants.

You should move to Garmisch.
swandav somehow manages to meet nice people than you

Too bad that's not where the work is.

<i>In a crowd, Americans tend to feel that it is polite to speak loudly among themselves so as not to appear secretive to those around them. </i>

Is that why Americans are so loud? I have always wondered.

Remember the golden rule and the rest you learned in kindergarten and you will have an easy time.

We have found people that we show respect too, respect us in return. A few key mannerly words in the language of where you are traveling to goes a very long way, as well as the proper salutations. Just as we are interested in their culture, they are interested in ours.

Being a good listener is the best way to be a welcomed traveler we have found. Sincerity goes a very long way in being a good traveler, good visitor and happy traveler!

The hugest difference we noted was Americans are used to rifling through fruits and veggies and goods in shops....that is pretty much universally not liked in Europe. You can point to a hundred different things and the shopkeepers are happy to show you, just don't touch a hundred different things

Have a spectacular trip! Planning is about 50% of the joy of travel.

<< In a crowd, Americans tend to feel that it is polite to speak loudly among themselves so as not to appear secretive to those around them. >>

Where the heck are you from and where did you learn this? What nonsense.

Cowboy 1968 said (to sparkchaser);

>>You should move to Garmisch.
>>swandav somehow manages to meet nice people than you

An actual LOL on that one Cowboy.

A masterful example of the "velvet hammer"

Nonsense to you maybe, but much sense and observational fact nevertheless, from decades of witnessing on several continents, and from US-Americans who told me as much, that's how they were taught.

Look, observe, and learn, you'll see (and hear) it, too.

Most shoppers in Germany have no problems to rifle thru fruits or veggies. We peel or cook so even US fingers are welcome to squeeze peaches or potatos.
Germans are usually pretty loud themselves, so no one will take offense if you don't converse in a whisper.
French are very normal human beings which often have interacted with foreign human life forms before and are not in general so dim-witted that they would not expect you to behave differently than them.
Don't let ex-pats give you any "good advice". All they usually know is which online store carries their favorite brand of US peanut butter.
Few visitors get shot when they smile.
When in France, and ordering dinner or lunch, don't do the "Harry & Sally" thing.. this on an extra plate, the sauce on the side, could I have carrots instead of the courgettes.. just order that darn menu and eat. if you want it personalized, hire a cook or go to Burger King. Just kidding, well a little.
Don't tip 20 pct.
Have fun.

Interesting! That's the first time I've seen a reference to US-Americans. Is that something like EU-Germans, or EU-Englanders? Or could you actually use Non-EU-Swiss? I'm sorry, that term was already used back in November 2012 (Non-EU Swiss grapple with immigration rise).

I'd like to know how someone can "observe" and "hear" the reasons for doing something. You can see and hear the action but how can anyone see and hear the reason?

Robert - I'm guessing that US-Americans means someone who lives in the US and is American (native or naturalized), not a foreigner living in the US. But who knows what that poster means.

burnie, my experience is that the vast majority of people won't mind cultural gaffes if they have the feeling that you're a friendly person and don't intend offense.

The rest more often than not is also easily offended by people from their own culture.

Just don't automatically assume that someone is acting mean if you encounter strange customer service. Often it's just the way things are handled there.

And if you're interested in the honest opinion of a person about his own country, tell him how great his country is. He'll tell you what he thinks is wrong with his home. But if you criticize his country, he'll instead tell you why your country is worse.

"5. Overhearing restaurant staff complaining about Ausländers."

sparkchaser, tomorrow I'll go to work with a team from five nationalities and I happen to like working in a multi-national team exactly as any of the other Germans in it.

For me your sweeping remarks about Germans disliking foreigners are exactly as offensive and hurtful as you experiencing the remarks of this restaurant staff.

The difference is that I don't think that people of whatever country you come from automtically share your opinion just because they share your citizenship.

"Don't tip 20 pct."

I wouldn't have minded when I worked as waiter.

"That's the first time I've seen a reference to US-Americans. Is that something like EU-Germans, or EU-Englanders?"

More like EU-Europeans. Not all of the continent of Europe is part of the EU, exactly as not all of continent of America is part of the USA.

There is no continent called America, it's the "Americas", North and South, and even a portion sometimes referred to as Central America. And then there is 'Latin America', the land of Romance languages, of course that could also include part of Canada where French is spoken, parts of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Florida, several mid-western states and even a large part of New York City.

Don't go into a shop on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich and DEMAND to see a 38 thousand dollar handbag!

You will embarrass a nation!


Thin

<<<In a crowd, Americans tend to feel that it is polite to speak loudly among themselves so as not to appear secretive to those around them.

...

Nonsense to you maybe, but much sense and observational fact nevertheless, from decades of witnessing on several continents, and from US-Americans who told me as much, that's how they were taught.

Look, observe, and learn, you'll see (and hear) it, too.>>>


Huh?? I think you're rather confused. Nobody I know speaks loudly so as not to appear secretive (in the US or while traveling abroad). Do Americans often speak loudly compared to others? That I can go with (though like with many stereotypes it's the loud ones that you really notice) but the presumed logic to the reason why is completely bogus.