Mistaken for a native?
 

I've been reading some other posts about how you can never hide that you're an American, no matter how your dressed or how little you say. Have any of us Americans been mistaken for a native--and not by another tourist? I travelled in Romania (Bucharest, Cluj, Sibiu) when I was in high school on school trip. Even in the midst of over 100 loud and obnoxious teenagers and chaperones, I was casually approached and spoken to at half a dozen times by Romanians who assumed I was the native tourguide. I guess my appearance (broad cheekbones, thick eyebrows and dark hair) made me "fit in" the country I was visiting. Yes, my blond female classmates were also approached regularly, but definitely not in the same way! Anyone else?

Hi <BR>On my most recent trip to Paris <BR>(less than a month ago) I was on two different occasions approached by a local person and asked for directions in <BR>French. This was the first time this happened to me, and it absolutely made my day. I speak some French and was able to help one person but not the other. <BR>I was sure my large totebag and comfortable rain shoes would be an American giveaway, but maybe I "passed". I don't at all mind being taken for an American nor even for a visitor, I was just thrilled to look like I might know where I was going.

sandy, <BR>Yup. I too think it's possible to "blend in." When I spent a year in Paris (a lifetime ago, alas), I was often asked for directions by French tourists (my daily bus stop happened to be in front of Les Invalides). And last year in Switzerland, I was asked directions while waiting for a grocery store to open in Villeneuve and while walking on a back street in Rivaz. <BR> <BR>s

Sandy: Differant thread: I am not terribly conspicuous, but my husband has been stopped 3 differant times, by German speaking tourists(we think they are German however)in Paris, Rome and Barcelona. He is the proverbial blond haired, blue eyed, pink skinned Northern European(Viking maybe?) looking man. I personally feel, that he looks Scots or Welsh(which is part of his ancestry), but who knows these days, yes? ;-) Judy

In Paris, I'm often approached by French, asking directions or what time is it or which metro goes to l'Opera. You should see the look on their faces when I answer in American-accented French (oddly enough, they believe what I tell them - they don't go looking for a "native").<BR>

We've been mistaken as natives quite a few times, but always in one of the same 3 cities, Paris (we both speak some French), Dublin or Edinburgh (I have really "I love Lucy" red hair and freckles, and my husband has black hair and we both have really fair skin, I think it has more to do with our faces then anything else. We always dress "urban casual" (dark colors, leather jackets etc) since we live in a big city and don't own fanny packs, or many brightly colored things anyway. We are very proud to be American and I don't mind in the least being a tourist, but I do take it as a very nice compliment to be asked directions or mistaken as a native.

Several times my friend and I have been stopped by people asking directions in the native language. They look like locals, as they weren't carrying the usual tourist backpack, bumbags or cameras and maps. The weird thing was that my friend and I were carrying cameras around our necks in most instances!

Ah - - the illustrious and elusive goal to be mistaken for a native! I feel like I come "close" sometimes in France - - perhaps not by natives who live in the particular place where I am - - but remember that there are many French-speaking foreigners in France - - Swiss, Belgians, Africans and so on - - and I have often been asked for directions, etc by "native French speakers" (but not French "residents"). This happens most often on train, bus or subway - - and the occasions that a conversation has ensued, I beam with pride when they did not expect that I am an American. (The most common is that I am asked if I am Canadian, though I think I know a French Canadian accent, and I don't think that I have one at all). <BR> <BR>In contrast, in Italy and in Spain I have been asked if I am German as much or more than if I am American. I think that my Italian and Spanish must sound "foreign" enough that they know I am from another non-Romance language speaking country (and maybe I "look" German, in physique, as much as anything). Yet, perhaps my speaking in those languages is not as "bad" as they might typically expect from an American - - lol! <BR> <BR>In Germany/Austria/CH/FL (and I think I speak German as well as I speak French), no one has ever mistaken me as a native.

People do mistake me for a native in Paris (and lots of North American cities I've visited, too). I think there are a few reasons for it: <BR> <BR>- my natural gait is confident, with my head up. I usually do my map-reading before departure, so I end up looking like I know where I'm going. <BR> <BR>- on my last trip, I was often alone. I think people expect tourists to be in pairs or groups. <BR> <BR>- my fashion strategy when travelling is pretty much "all-black, all the time." This blends in just about everywhere. (and also creates maximum mix-and-match potential!) ;) <BR> <BR>- I have one of those big bike-courier-chic bags; it's my everyday bag at home, too, but when I'm travelling it hides touristy accoutrements like the camera. <BR> <BR>- and for Paris, in particular: my French is not bad. <BR> <BR>As others have said, I don't mind people knowing I'm a tourist--as long as they don't feel I'm an intrusive one. Nonetheless, it's flattering when people ask you for advice "from a local," especially if you're able to help them. :) <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver -

Almost everyday day while I was in Italy someone asked me if I was Argentine.

Wendy, did you meant Argentinian? <BR> <BR>Yeah, when in NYC I often get confused with a New Yorker because of my uncanny ability to spot bullshitters.

No, I meant Argentine.

While living in St. Petersburg I was often mistaken as an Estonian. Apparently, I looked like the prototypical Estonian, and my Russian had an Estonian accent. Go figure.

When I first started traveling to Europe and beyond, I could have been the poster child for "typical American tourist" what with the Nike tennis shoes, fanny belt, Bulls t-shirt (in the good ol' days of Michael Jordan and friends!) and toting way too much luggage. Thankfully, I've learned some lessons (and just enough Italian and French to get by) from seasoned travelers along the journey and now everyone assumes I'm Italian (particularly Naples for some reason).

It never became routine, but I found that after I'd lived there for awhile, the gestures and movements came to me, I had stopped wearing American clothes that I just knew didn't fit in with the society that I had acculturated myself to. And like one other guy here, I have some of the French features except that I'm 6'1", but that isn't all that rare, either. <BR>It was never a goal, but I would get a chuckle when it rarely happened because the other person would be startled when 20 or 30 sec after first contact he realized his error. <BR>The bottom line is that without knowing it or trying to imitate it, over time you unconsciously reorient on how to dress, how to act, how to eat, and we even got totally comfortable with the French habit of using the bathroom that is closest, nevermind what the sign says.

Only once have I been mistaken for a native, in a German market on Saturday morning, perhaps because I had learned (the hard way) that you don't pick your own flowers/vegetables/whatever, but rather, allow the vendor to do so for you. I asked for some flowers from a stall and the vendor began talking with me in German that was way over my head (esp. in dialect). When I said as much, she then acknowledged me as being American and said, "But you must be of German ancestry." Since my family came to America in the 1600s, I thought that was a bit of a stretch, but she insisted that she could tell from my face that I was of German descent. Hmmm. But it did give me a feeling of connection to my long-departed ancestors, and believe it or not, I've since run into relatives from another branch of the family tree and we do resemble each other... and we've learned that certain forenames are "traditional" in both branches over generations. So don't pooh-pooh even tenuous connections to the old sod....

What a great thread! Not so long ago I just posted that we are immediately recognized, but then my grey-haired, Paul-Newmanish husband never is. I often leave him waiting for me while I wander in a shop, but when I return someone--Greek, Danish, who knows--has started up a conversation in their native language. And despite my protestations of "looking American," we have been approached many times from French people needing directions. I remember distinctly one very old woman at a Metro transfer point whom I had to walk to her platform and two teenagers who also needed help. (Of course, there was a time--my first--in Boston when I had to explain to a Bostonian which stop on the T she needed to use to go to Legal Seafood.) Maybe, as Quicksilver says, the trick is to look like you know what you're doing. (It also helps, I'm sure, that we look totally harmless.)

PS. My husband always wears jeans. <BR> <BR>Plus, (re ancestry) in Sete we visited the Georges Brassens "museum" (very nice, I might add), and despite my assuring the man at the entrance that I was not French, he insisted that I must be "d'origine francaise." (What a nice compliment, although I expect it arose because he rarely saw Americans who speak French.)

While living in Germany, I was often mistaken for a native as I bought my clothes in German Markets and spoke German with the local dialect as well as other dialects. I had many evenings where I was able to drink bier all evening and never paid for a single drink as there were bets made on whether I was German or not. One experiance that I had was during Fashing I was on a streetcar with a couple of German friends still in my AF uniform. Some other German youths asked me where I got the costume and would not believe that I was a American serviceman. After I showed them my ID they still insisted that I must have been born in Germany. <BR>

All 4 of my grandparents are from southern Italy, so you could say I have typical "Mediterranean" looks. As a result, I have been mistaken for native in Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey. This comes in very handy in countries where touts are approaching to sell you something. Just one word of greeting (e.g. merhaba in Turkish) has stopped many in their tracks. (2 words, however, and I'm in big trouble). <BR> <BR>As an aside, I traveled with an Italian tour group to Egypt during the NATO bombing of Iraq in late 1998. Even though there was anti-American demonstrations in Cairo, the Egyptians could never tell that my very American Italian accent was not native, so I was able to "pass" as Italian the entire time. (Which made me feel much safer).

I'm asian--not Korean, but in Korea I am ALWAYS mistaken for a native. My most hilarious encounter was in Venice, when a German woman came up to me and asked me for directions....in GERMAN! And although I speak not a word of German, and we used very few gestures, somehow I could understand what she needed and pointed her in the right direction. I turned to my flabbergasted sister and said, "You see? She could tell that I'm multi-cultural." hahaha

I'm always asked for directions, no matter where I am. NYC, DC, LA, SF, Paris, Belfast, London, on the beach in Jamaica or Florida, you name it. I think it is because I look like, oh, "Aunt Mary" or a 6th grade teacher, or someone else familiar. Totally non-threatening. I'm usually confident of my surroundings (because I check out the map before I leave the hotel). I'm usually smiling because I'm usually quite happy. I should probably learn some pick-pocketing techniques and I'd easily make enough to support my growing travel habit!

On a visit to New York City last year, three different young women looked at me, walked over and asked: "Are you a TV star or something?" When I asked who they thought I was, they did not really know a name, but told me I looked familiar. Well, I must admit that I could be Brad Pitt's twin brother. :-)

I'm guessing it's because of my very short, very blonde hair - but people always start conversations with me in Germany (in German). I have enough of the language to get about three lines in and then I have to confess I don't speak it!

I was snookered into going into a tourist bar near Shannon airport in Ireland with a bunch of Scottish friends - we were all somewhat bearded and raggy from work we were doing in the area, and some American gent fresh off the plane (his name was Howard, or according to his rather noisy wife, Howw-erd), wearing a Full Cleveland, lurked about with his camera, glancing at us. He finally whirled and fired off a flash, no doubt expecting us to launch into faiths and begorrahs. Instead, I affected my best Texarkana twang (it's a good one) and went up to him and asked "Cain yew git me a copy of that picture?" He fled.

Sjoerd: Sigh, you must be one cutie pie! Brad Pitt, move over! ;-) Judy

Having relatives in three different European countries, I can say that I have been taken for native only in one, Italy. The first thing out of my German relatives' mouths when I meet them in 1984 was that I didn't look German. (As they all looked down upon the top of my head.) I have been asked if I was Cuban about 5 different times by Europeans and Americans both while traveling, which I am not, but people do sterotype on looks- regardless it has never concerned me. One time I was totally alone in Formia, Italy when a man came up and talked to me for about 3 or 4 minutes as I was waiting in a bus station. At the end he asked a question and although I did not understand more than one word in twenty, I could tell that he was trying to get to Gaeta. I said Gaeta and showed him the bus stop signs. He said gratia to me about 20 times on the bus ride and was meet by what looked like a number of his teen-aged children. They also started to talk to me as I left the bus station. Just smiled, said bon journo and went on my way.

Great stories, one and all! <BR> <BR>My first trip ever to Europe, I was approached by a local woman in Florence, who began speaking to me in Italian - she was soliciting funds for her church's charity. I knew enough to get the general idea, and to respond, (in Italian) that I did not know the language very well. She was very sweet and apologetic, but I was flattered! I thought the Florentines extremely stylish and attractive, and considered it a tremendous compliment that I was mistaken for one of them. <BR> <BR>I have also had people ask me for directions in various languages in Paris. One woman did not know French or English, but asked if I knew Spanish. I don't, but we managed to get by in broken Italian, with lots of gesturing. A Frenchman asked me how long the RER trip to the airport was; again, I was flattered! <BR> <BR>Another favorite moment of mine happened right at my local produce market, where a man asked me a question in Russian! I said, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Russian," and he replied, (in perfect English) that he just assumed that I was Russian, since my neighborhood has a large Russian population. I love it that things like that can happen in my "everyday" life.... <BR>

Given that so many of us living in North America have parents born elsewhere (or we were born elsewhere), I would think that this happens frequently when we travel to the 'homeland'. <BR> <BR>I had a funny experience when I was in Sydney, Australia visiting my mother-in-law. My husband (originally from the US) and I (Canadian) were sitting in a pub. Two English police officers (who were in Sydney on business) asked if I was Scottish. This was apparently because of the way I was holding my glass of beer! Since I was clearly with my husband, I don't think it was a pickup line. (Actually my father is Scottish - but I don't know if I've ever even seen him drink beer.) <BR> <BR>In terms of being mistaken for a native, for many years now, we've tended to travel to Mexico, Central America, last year Greece and Turkey. In no way would my Scottish Canadian (i.e., pasty white) appearance allow me to pass as a native. Even in Australia, coming from a Canadian winter, I couldn't pass as an Aussie! <BR>

I am always mistaken for a native especially in Italy and France. I am of Irish/Italian descent, but apparently medium skinned enough not to attract attention and also I try to dress conservatively (shoes always give you away). On the other hand, my husband is obviously of Irish descent and he has been pickpocketed in Rome and Paris. His face is an obvious target. He also makes it easy by pulling his maps out in front of the world to announce he is from other than the country he is in. <BR> <BR>I don't think people should change their identity completely when traveling, but they should have a sense of where they are and try not to make a target of themselves - unless they're looking for excitement.

Great posts everyone! <BR> <BR>I lived in Union City, New Jersey (of all places) while working on Wall Street in NYC. Union City has the second largest Cuban population behind Miami. While I am very English/Irish decent, my strawberry blonde hair (at the time), green eyes and fair skin should have been a dead giveaway, but I was constantly approached by Spanish speaking people all the time. I usually gave them a good laugh when I told them in my limited Spanish "Yo hablo un poco, pero, me Espanol is muy malo" (I speak a little but my Spanish is sick)&gt;

It happens to me a lot in Paris - I never need a map since I visit there so often, and I wear the obligatory black with a scarf - but my last trip (which ended last night!) was the wierdest. <BR>In Venice, people repeatedly, and I do mean like 9 or 10 times, thought that my boyfriend was a movie actor from France. Nobody could come up with a name, but it happened in cafes, on the Accademia Bridge twice, in line to get into the Basilica etc. Anybody know of a French actor who's about 5'9", pretty ordinary looking (forgive me, sweetie)but a body-builder, mid 40's, sandy brown hair? I watch a lot of French movies and I've never seen him yet...

I hate to be critical here, but I'm sensing more than a little defensiveness about being identified as American, notwithstanding the protestations otherwise. I just can't understand people going out of their way to dress in a stereotypical Parisian manner so as not to give any hint of their real nationality while in Paris. I would no more wear all-black (... I'll bet they wear berets too...) to "pass" in Paris than I would wear liederhosen in Bavaria. <BR> <BR>It's one thing to avoid clothing that would appear silly or inappropriate to those around you. That's common sense. But I don't think a single person in this forum has ever worn a polyester jogging suit in a cathedral -- whether in Europe or America. Just don't get slavish about this fitting-in urge. <BR> <BR>People ask you for directions on the street because you look pleasant and you seem less lost than they are... not because they are sure you live there. If you go up to a person in Paris to ask directions, not knowing anything about the person, OF COURSE you'd speak to them in French... whether you were a native speaker or not. If I'm asking directions in New York, I'll ask in English regardless of whether the person appears to be European, East Asian, African, South Asian, or whatever. <BR> <BR>And I don't know what to think of the person above who says he gets mistaken for a Frenchman when he's in North America because, in part, "my natural gait is confident, with my head up". I had no idea that was a French trait not commonly seen among Americans. <BR>

Relax, Bill, we're all "regular guys" around here. ;) <BR> <BR>Re-read my post and you'll see you've misinterpreted what I said. I am mistaken for a *native*, not necessarily a French person, in cities on both sides of the pond. I'm theorizing that this is partly because my stride makes me look like I look like I know where I'm going (illusion though it may be!). After seeing other posts, I realize I'm also asked for directions because I'm eminently non-threatening. ;P <BR> <BR>As for the all-black, some of us wear "mostly-black, most of the time," anyway. :) This is nearly an urban uniform around the world, IMHO. If we already own these black clothes, it makes sense to take things that mix-and-match and don't show dirt, when we're travelling. My point was that this *incidentally* blends in. <BR> <BR>I don't think the point of this thread is that anyone wants to put on a costume, assume another identity or "fool" anyone. Not only do I know that I *can't* fool anyone, but more to the point, who cares? I'm sure I speak for many people here when I say that I travel because I love difference, and so I don't mind exhibiting it! As long as I'm not interfering with anyone's enjoyment of their own hometown (e.g., being really loud in a quiet restaurant) I've "blended in" enough. <BR> <BR>Your exhortation to be ourselves is well-taken: it's good advice, anywhere and anytime. As far as I'm concerned, though, being mistaken for a native is significant primarily as a fun anecdcote. Perhaps, on occasion, it makes us feel satisfied that we took a language class, or pleased that we've mastered the local underground. I doubt any of us consider it a serious quest. <BR> <BR>Closing thought: perhaps I'm pleased when this happens in Paris, not because I'm *not* myself, but because it makes me feel like a little bit of Paris has become *part* of myself. It's comforting to know I will take that little piece home with me. <BR> <BR>(yeah, yeah, Hemingway said it better, give me a break) ;) <BR> <BR>Cheers! <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver - <BR>

Why be yourself when you can be someone else?

This why I WEAR WHITE TENNIS SHOES. I figure it's my badge as a tourist in Europe. I know I'll always need some help, why not advertise? <BR> <BR>Actually I'm an Anishinabe Woman and was once greeted in New York's China Town with (phonetically) "nee how ma" Luckily I knew this meant "hello" so I smiled.

Thanks Quicksilver, you hit it right on the mark!!!

Quicksilver - <BR>I DID misread the intent of your original message. Sorry. <BR>And if you wear all-black-all-the-time, there's certainly no reason to switch to pink polyester while in Paris *grin* It's just that I was seeing a number of posts that seemed to suggest wearing all-black to "pass" in Paris and it was getting to me. Apologies to anyone who took offense.

I don't wear all black to "pass" when I'm in Paris. I'm from Chicago - I wear all black about 90% of the time anyway...

<BR>Actually, Bill, it seems there is *one* reason: if I get tired of people asking for directions, I can don the pink tracksuit in order to get some peace and quiet! ;) <BR> <BR>Anyway, no worries. :) And now, hopefully, Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming... <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver -