Guess how the rest of the world distinguishes Americans?

[Misfit]

Spoiler

Fat, loud, stingy, drunk, think they own the world & always wear pajamas

….Starts at 0:37

 

[vraiblonde]

The Italian guy calling Americans loud? Really?

 

[SamSpade]

I was a little amused by the ones calling us overweight. We are, but some of them weren't slim by any measure.

 

[Beta]

always wear pajamas

wait...wtf is wrong with that?

 

[Radiant1]

"...smell like freedom!"

 

[SamSpade]

We were told when abroad that people would always be able to tell we were Americans, but that - depending on the country - we would do well not to make it too obvious.

What was strange to us was to be in any way friendly to strangers. Eye contact, smiles, even things we might consider courteous. Definitely do not "chat" with strangers unless they initiate. Wear shoes, not sneakers. Don't wear shorts.

But every country had "rules" we didn't know about, and it made us "rude". In Ethiopia, it was inappropriate to ever eat with your left hand or to reach across a table. Most places, it was rude to show the bottom of your shoe. On the other hand, everyone appreciated even flailing attempts to speak their language.

Well, except the French, but - you know.

 

[vraiblonde]

I guess I feel like foreigners come over here and are completely welcomed. We are generally friendly toward them and interested in them. If they wear strange things or have odd mannerisms we're not only forgiving, we are fascinated. This is in general, of course - there are always going to be some idiots who freak when confronted with a non-American.

So if they want to pick me apart and be snotty when I go to their country, I think that's *them* being rude, not me.