Looking American
Apr 23rd, 2001, 03:36 PM
#41
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Bald men wear baseball caps to protect their heads from sunburn!! Go about your own vacations and get a life! <BR>Stop worrying what others are wearing. <BR>Can't figure out what is wrong with jogging suits-I've seen many at dept. stores that are quite nice-I've seen women wearing them with nice blouses, turtlenecks etc. and they are fine-I am just happy to see people enjoying themselves and having a good time. It gives me a good feeling. As long as they are clean, do not smell, and are conservative I am happy for them-why can't the people on this forum just be happy for others-isn't there enough unrest in this world? Let it go! <BR>
Apr 23rd, 2001, 03:41 PM
#42
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THE most boisterous and foul-mouth people I ran across in the Netherlands were all British. And I like the British! (Though not the loud ones on the train.) <BR> <BR>BTW, I didn't notice any American "talking loud". The Dutch, like most American, speak in a normal tone and like to laugh. This "speak softly" business strikes me as rather odd.
Apr 24th, 2001, 01:42 AM
#45
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Someone made the comment that "I am never going to see these people again, what do I care?" Thats exactly the point. A gentleman (or lady) behaves as such at all times, regardless. When you go abroad, you represent your country, like it or not. I am not ashamed of being American. I do try to blend in on certain occasions, just because it is easier, and because you meet more interesting people that way. But blend in or not, as Americans we are seen as the foremost influence in the world at the current time, and often times it is offensive to dress as if you are in your backyard raking leaves when you are traveling around. The ability to travel is wonderful, I just think we should be considerate of other cultures. So some Europeans and some Americans are rude, ill mannered etc etc, does that mean we all have to default to the lowest common denominator?
Apr 24th, 2001, 06:16 AM
#46
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If you DO want to fit in dresswise(no reason to really) remember that although you will see plenty of people in baseballcaps,tennis shoes etc they are all young. <BR>Middle aged people dressed like this stick out like sore thumb. <BR>So when you see posts saying it doesn't matter, they wear these clothes in Europe, take care, not all ages wear them & those that do....well... <BR> <BR>Example: recently 2 of us were approached by an older man in a baseball cap,tennis shoes etc late in the evening in the centre of town. We could tell he wanted something & we both started fumbling for spare change, assuming he was a tramp.Turns out he was a Canadian tourist looking for directions.He said that the last people he asked also thought he was begging.We had a laugh & went for a drink together, but I think he learned his lesson.
Apr 24th, 2001, 06:39 AM
#48
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My post disn't really adress the specific question about Amsterdam,where the rules are a bit different - in the centre the tourists outnumber the locals. <BR>There you could paint yourself purple & stick a feather up your * & nobody would turn a hair.
Apr 25th, 2001, 08:28 PM
#49
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When I went on a tour of ten European countries 9 yrs. ago, I found that NOT looking obviously American was better as I was not gawked at or approached/propositioned like some of my traveling companions were. I wore a black leather blazer, jeans and doc marten shoes (hey they were popular back then). Everyone assumed I was English (!) But I also didn't try yelling at anyone in English without first asking if they spoke my language either...unlike my baseball cap, big sneaker and college sweatshirt wearin' pals. 
I think if you insist on "looking American" you can get by fine by not "acting American". <BR> <BR>Lastly, IMHO, it's not supressing your patriotism to just blend in, it's just more comfortable. <BR>Marlena
I think if you insist on "looking American" you can get by fine by not "acting American". <BR> <BR>Lastly, IMHO, it's not supressing your patriotism to just blend in, it's just more comfortable. <BR>Marlena
Apr 25th, 2001, 08:37 PM
#50
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Lesli, I finally got around to reading that Washington Post article at the link you posted: <BR> <BR>http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/travel/euro/front.htm <BR> <BR>Thanks, it was great! Those two pictures are worth more than mille mots.
Apr 26th, 2001, 03:54 AM
#51
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forget baseball caps, trilbys and scarves, if going to holland clogs beards and floral dresses are the way forward. if you can get your hands on a pair there's nothing like leiderhosen to blend in like a dutchman but pulling it off is another matter entirely
Aug 9th, 2001, 03:52 PM
#52
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So... not to beat a dead horse, but... my husband and I are 30 and he usually wears a baseball hat when we're outside for any length of time to cover his thinning hair from the sun... It's something he's been doing for years. He'll need something when we hike the Cinque Terre trails and probably for walking around Rome and Florence if it's warm next month. Any ideas? I figure he still looks pretty young so it won't be too weird but it's not really ideal for Europe... BTW, he has about 30 of them and no other hats! <BR> <BR>
Aug 10th, 2001, 12:00 PM
#55
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Nothing for nothing here but, after walking around Boston the other night it's obvious that Europeans don't worry much about what they're wearing while on vacation in America. Honestly, I've never seen so many sandals with dark socks and mis-matched clothing! I think it's nuts that people worry so much about what they're going to wear while in Europe! <BR> <BR>I'm sure many of us stick out like a sore thumb when we're in Europe but so what! Europeans stick out when they're over here. Do you ever give it a second thought when you pass someone on the street who's not from this country? Probably not. You know all it takes is the camera on your shoulder or around your neck to show you're a tourist. <BR> <BR>My advice, just be comfortable and stop worrying about what you're wearing.
Aug 10th, 2001, 05:39 PM
#56
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I agree w/ everyone who says "just be comfortable"! I've read countless posts about trying to blend in, for two reasons, to not embarass yourself but mostly, to not draw attention to pickpockets who target tourists. Well, this advice sure doesn't help me since I'm asian american and anytime I've gone to europe, they think we are Japanese from Japan who don't speak any english. We wear our typical american wear, feel comfortable and don't worry about "not looking american". now, if pickpockets target tourists, not much I can do about the way I look!
Aug 10th, 2001, 06:26 PM
#57
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One summer we were at our hotel in Saignon, Provence . Dinner is served at a long communal table. Seated were a French family from Lyon, the husband a lawyer, the wife, bejeweled and heavily made up. I thought I might dislike her but she turned out to be delightful and the husband and chilren entertained us and the other guests at the piano. A wonderful evening that said: don't judge a book by the cover.
