allovereurope - I am not as well-traveled as most on this board. That said, is it really that bad to be mistaken for an American? Your comment about smoking to fit in - how tragic! Maybe the lack of smoking have something to do with those pretty teeth? And...

carolla - Most of that "good" dental care in America is called cosmetic dental procedures. Cosmetic dentistry is rampant here. I think it's great, if one can afford it. Teeth whitening is not extremely expensive, but the other stuff is. However, some (especially on t.v.) teeth are SO white they look very fake. I believe great dental care is available in the U.S., but I am disturbed by the trend I see. At best, it's become the norm to go to the dentist here for a simple routine teeth cleaning and they roll out a long list of casualties in your mouth with a total price that runs in the thousands to fix everything. Some are labeled urgent and/or must-do or at least that it the attitude conveyed. Almost every child is given a free visit to an orthodontist which almost always results in a justification for braces. I'm not saying that they can't justify the recommendations because probably no mouth if perfect or escapes identification of something with today's technology, but the "necessity" for everything is questionable. If money is no object, it doesn't hurt anything and I guess it's like insurance for the future which if fine. I could go on and on, but this isn't the place to do it. Any dental defendants don't attack me, it's just my experience and observation that many dentist are taking advantage of their laurels in a gray area. This seems to be the way to keep up what has been traditionally high incomes that can't be had today doing it the old way. Another reason SO many dentist have added or swithed to cosmetic procedures. Nothing wrong with all of that as long as ethics are not being jeopardized.

To say that you can tell an American by his / her teeth is absurd.

There are very good dentists throughout Europe.

I am a Brit with perfect teeth. I have never had a filling and my teeth are perfectly straight. In fact, when I worked in New York, many Americans said they couldn't believe I was from England as I had such good teeth. Even my absurdly priced upper east side dentist found it difficult to sell me lots of unnecessary treatments etc as he could find nothing wrong with my teeth.

But what I will say is that I think Americans take their dental care a bit too far. I dated an extrememly beautiful girl in NYC however the one thing I dfisliked was that she had had her teeth capped. It made them look so artificial. I guess if you really have bad teeth it would make you feel better but it is at the stage where everyone has perfect teeth and looks very samey.

I said I felt I fit in more when I did smoke. Past tense. I don't smoke anymore. And I never meant that one should smoke to fit in. That's what you inferred from my post.

And I've had Europeans tell me that they could tell I was American b/c of my teeth, so...yeah.

I am always reading American magazines, speak English and my dress is not as sophisticated as many Europeans.

Here's what I posted on a similarly themed recent thread that got closed:


I think one way to tell that a couple or a pair of friends traveling in Europe is American is that we all look different from each other. There can be lots of married American couples and small groupos of friends who are obviously not from the same ethnic group. This kind of mixture within families and friendship groups can occur in European countries, too, but I think when you see an Irish-looking man with an Italian-looking wife, or two young women friends, one east Asian and the other blond and freckled, the odds are pretty good that they are from the USA (or Canada or Australia).

I think some of the worst stereotypes about American tourists--that we're obese, sloppy, inappropriately dressed in shorts in a city, or not modestly enough dressed--are actually based on mistake, since I think more often it is German tourists, not Americans, who fit that description, and because so many Americans are of German descent, and physically look German, it is possible that some of the Germans are mistaken for Americans by locals if people don't hear them speaking.

A few years ago when I was wondering why shopkeepers in Florence started speaking English to me as soon as they saw me, I was told by an acquaintance in Milan that it was not that I necessarily looked American in particular, but that I didn't look local, and people in the shops and the tourist industry are trained to use English, when in doubt, with anyone who looks foreign, but whose nationality isn't immediately ascertainable.

I was just recently in Turkey. When I was walking in the Grand Bazaar (perhaps my least favorite place on the trip) the very annoying, aggressive ssales people kept shouting to me to try to lure me into their shops. They spoke Italian or Spanish to me as often as they spoke English. Obviously I was foreign--everyone except the shop owners was. But apparently it wasn't obvious to them what kind of foreigner, even though I was dressed at the time in American casual clothes, some of which came from the very American Lands End catalogue.

When I used to go on hiking tours in Europe, fellow hikers passing us by often assumed we were German and greeted us in German, not becaues we looked German--I don't at all--but because we were engaging in an activity that many Germans love and were wearing practical hiking clothes--shorts, hiking boots, thick socks, etc.

Each of the three times I've been to Greece, Greek people insisted I was of Greek dscent--the daughter or granddaughter of someone who'd emigrated from Greece. They didn't seem to specify whether they thought I was from the US or Canada ot Australia, just that I was Greek.

In southern Italy, away from major tourist areas, people tended to recognize me for exactly what I am, an american of Italian ancestry. I've heard that many Irish-Americans have the same experience when they go to Ireland.

Being a Canadian travelling....I find I too can spot an American in a crowd. I really dont find that we are all that much different...but Canadians seem to be more mellow (an effect of the cold weather and mass comsumption of beer? Hmmm..maybe?)and Americans are more confident. But...on a funny note...there was an article in a paper in Canada. there was a company selling to Americans "HOW TO SEEM LIKE A CANADIAN...for the overseas traveller" I thought that was sooo funny! ALthough I didnt think we were that different...apparently so! This package included canadian flag pins and badges, canadian t shirt, a book about canadian slang words...etc.
And this apparently sold like hot cakes. Why? I dont know! Can anyone else tell me if they can spot difference between the Canadians and the Americans?

Centuryclub... I guess the Canadian would have the Tim Horton refillable mug on his backpack Aye?

When I am at home (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil), I can easily spot "foreigners" not only by their physical type and the clothes they wear, but also by the way they walk and carry themselves (Brazilians do have a totally characteristic way of walking, specially the women). However, it is hard to tell apart Americans from Northern Europeans.

Well some Canadians do have very distinctive accents, once you recognise them ('aboat' for instance). I once met someone from Chatham, Ontario, who ... spoke ... at ... about ...one.... word ... a... second. And there's a certain combination of reserve and friendliness that seems to suggest Canadian to me. But there's no universal or infallible guide to any national characteristics.

You know I can often pick europeans out of a crowd when traveling in America too.

I think what cues me are different mannerism, body lauguage and sometimes atire.

For instance at the airport last week I guessed a man was european before he spoke just because of the way he was sitting and reading a paper. I notice that european men tend to have better posture when seated and tend to cross their legs, (will still looking masculine) and just take up less space while seated.

The other day I past a group of european tourist in my city the other day and I could tell they were european before I approached. I am not sure how I guessed.

I think we just notice things subconciously that are out of the ordinary.

Greeting someone with a smile and "hey".

The shopkeeper in Shannon knew after just one syllable. "What part of the States are ye from?"

I have long suspected that some of the same people who are rushing around "re-naming" French fries, getting into everybody's face because they think they have some monopoly on what it means to "be an American" and so forth are the very same ones who are scared to death of "looking like a tourist" when, and if, they ever leave the county they hang out in.

To reply to cmt, yes, you're right about Americans of Irish descent. When I was in Ireland I was frequently mistaken for a local (the red hair and pale skin helps, lol). While I was attending school in London tourists often came up to me and my friends and asked for directions, but this also might have been because we were so familiar and comfortable with traveling around the city that we could have seemed like locals. I was always surprised that people didn't know we were Americans straight away, especially since most of the time, the people asking for directions were Americans to begin with! It was always funny to see the surprised looks on their faces when we opened our mouths and had American accents, lol :)

Wow, I've read more than enough about what to wear in Italy so I don't stand out too much. But then I started to think, why is it so important to so many people to try to blend in? Is it our fear of being robbed, pickpocketed etc? Is it our desire to have others think that we are savvy and sophisticated? Maybe a desire to fit in or at least not offend.

If we are just travelling for a short period of time, a week or two, and going from place to place, why does this matter so much?

Hi jujubean. I believe if one dresses appropriately for the area they are in and the activities they are involved in that one will feel happy and relaxed. And one will also be respected by the locals of the area you are visiting.

No matter how much one tries one will look like a "tourist" out of their country.

But what is wrong with that? Some of the most delightful conversations I have had is with locals who realize I am a tourist. They have added to the joy of my trip by either telling me some history of their area, talking about their life, suggesting a restaurant or a great site to visit etc.

I enjoy seeing tourist in SF. I enjoy the "difference" in clothes, mannerism etc. Think people in other countries do also.

What better compliment to an area then the fact that you have spent money and time to go and visit it?

Just my opinion, for what it is worth.

I totally agree LoveItaly!! I have travelled a lot - from India to Italy-though not much since kids:( and I have to say that part of the joy of travel for me is the spontaneous conversation that comes because the local person knows that you're not! At Christmas, while visiting my parents (in US) I met a lovely French couple - yes, their dress was different. But that's a part of travel right?

as long as we exercise caution, are alert to possible danger and respect the local customs, I don't understand the concern over what I'm wearing.

You know, when we say "American", we are speaking of over three hundred different ethnic groups in our country.
Now, there are vast majorities of British, French, Italian, Russian, German, Dutch, etc......

For instance, there are 33 million people of French heritage living in the U.S. (I wonder what they thought of the insults to their former country that were endured the past thirty years by our freedom loving, everyone is welcome citizens?)

There are black, white, yellow, red and all kinds of mixed race people here.

So...how can anyone tell exactly where one is from? Attitude, shoes, stride...no one cannot under most circumstances...unless of course, it is the bellypack, the slovenly dressers, the loud or irritating attitude that some of us display unfortunately on vacation, both overseas and here in the States.

Americans on vacation can be spotted here also...just depends as to what degree of nasty attitude one notices. Ever watch the Southwest Airlines program on TV, called Airline? As Pogo once said, we have met the enemy and it is us....

orval what loud or irritating attitude?
You write that there are all sorts of people in the USA so why do you generalize? There are loud and irritating people of every nation, I worked in the office of the welfare line and there were alot of loud and irritating immigrants believe me. You seem a little ignorant to me. If you are a regular poster I apologize but that is what I think.

Can we at least dispel the notion that Europeans wear better quality clothing than we do in America? It's simply not true. They have their bargain basement clothing stores just like we have WalMart. The "masses" of people you see in big cities (Rome, Paris, London) are not ANY better dressed than Americans.

Who cares about all this? What difference does it make if you wear tennis shoes, white or not? Who WANTS to "blend." And I try to make it a point to avoid countries where simply being an American puts me in danger.

I promised myself I would not jump into another fashion thread but kswl gave me a push. I am into fashion and love it, but none of my French or English friends could care less. A few I know work in very high Genetic research jobs at the Curé institute, and in both countries they have always dressed what is now called boho-chic. Fashion is one thing, style another. Style what makes you stand out as an indivitual. At a recent fodors gtg, one lovely woman stood out with her simple style but with a beautiful colored jacket that she pinned a nice piece of jewelry.
Another wore simple black but accented it with a gorgeous colorful shawl and a magnificent bag that picked up the colors. They could travel anywhere and look great. THEY HAD STYLE!