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A question for Europeans and Asians
- Thread starter iMacZealot
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I think I disagree.
Why are "touristy" giveaways just that? I mean, why would tourists have or dress the way we stereotypically talk about? Let's see:
- caps/hats: block sun when out walking all day long and avoid sunburn, skin cancer, sun in eyes
- cameras: to remember and attempt to capture the essence of a place, to bring back a sliver of the magic, straps around neck? so as not to drop it and convenience when trekking about all day and not knowing when you might wanna snap a photo
- clunky shoes: the stereotype calls for hiking boots, I figure anything semi-clunky-- presumably they're comfortable for walking, as many tourists end up walking a lot
- "fanny pack"/ waist pack: again, convenience of having money available and to show/stow ticket stubs as you go and see sites
None of those reasons to me stand out as a person who necessarily goes just to say they've been to a place. They say to me that that person wants to be comfortable.
I was just mostly adding my own personal "stereotypical" view on the matter. I agree with you though, the way people dress is not an indicator of who exactly they are.
EDIT: My only reason for thinking this way is because when I want to experience something, I try to follow the "when in Rome" philosophy...
Perhaps we should just stick to discussing clothing styles... lest this devolve further from the OP's question. Thanks.
Condensing the rest of the world's population down to Europeans and Asians is a good indicator.
I'd go for white sneakers on a middle-aged person in jeans or khakis as being the giveaway for an American tourist. Brits/European tourists would be wearing darker shoes if they were wearing 'em.
Otherwise, I'd say it's the tan and a general openess in their faces. They just seem to be far more likely to be smiling on the Tube than any Brit.
One thing that does bug me is that Americans abroad can be very insular. If a Brit shows any interest in starting a conversation, they don't volunteer where exactly they're from or assume the Brit knows much about the US - but if another American comes in, they'll chat away. That's not an over-riding observation but does happen reasonably regularly in the sports bars I frequent. Others are cheerful, chatty and genuinely nice folk who I'm happy to share a drink with.
Otherwise, I'd say it's the tan and a general openess in their faces. They just seem to be far more likely to be smiling on the Tube than any Brit.
One thing that does bug me is that Americans abroad can be very insular. If a Brit shows any interest in starting a conversation, they don't volunteer where exactly they're from or assume the Brit knows much about the US - but if another American comes in, they'll chat away. That's not an over-riding observation but does happen reasonably regularly in the sports bars I frequent. Others are cheerful, chatty and genuinely nice folk who I'm happy to share a drink with.
Ahh, I thought the use of "tube" was referring to a tv, which confused me. Then I looked it up and got educated
Yes. I like to wander around new places and get the whole experience, not just the touristy areas. If I find myself in a dodgy area, I don't want to stick out as a target, so pay attention to how I present myself.
Of course it is. That was a joke about the stereotypes concerning US and UK dental standards. Given that this thread is about appearance, not just clothes, I thought it was apt.
While we're still talking about clothing styles, I notice some of you are saying Americans are dressed more "preppy." So, if I went to Europe with my urban wear, would I stick out like a sore thumb?
I can understand the whole fanny-pack-wearing-middle-aged tourists, but how do non-American teens/below-30 dress?
I can understand the whole fanny-pack-wearing-middle-aged tourists, but how do non-American teens/below-30 dress?
I don't get this whole US/UK teeth stereotype. Everyone I know visits the dentist at least once every 6 months and the minority have fillings (I have none, comes from cleaning my teeth).
By far the worst teeth I've seen, which is no indicator really, are the gormless folk on Jerry Springer.
By far the worst teeth I've seen, which is no indicator really, are the gormless folk on Jerry Springer.
Be careful. You really don't want the answer to that question. It's more people than you think.
Since some think we're flaming
Europeans actually do wear hoodies. But they're usually the front zip up type and looser. Not the giant bagggy college hooded sweatshirts that most Americans wear.
Re Polos and such, iMacZealot, you will stick out. There are subtlties to the clothes. First of all, it's not Lacoste or something and yours are probably more loose fitting than the European variations. The shorts, as someone already pointed out at cargo shorts, which means you're definitely American. In Germany, some German boys wear caprees, which I think is a faux pas, but that's me.
When German guys wear shorts, they're not cargo and they'll also wear sneakers (lacoste or pumas) with short socks, not flip flops.
Shirts are also tucked in.
Re: shirts. American shirts look "more" plaid. European patterns are subtler and the colors softer. Compare the American Eagle shirt with the Marc O'Polo model, who's also wearing a sweater over his dress shirt. People here also tend to wear sweaters over dress shirts and even polos.
I think you asked what teens wear. Well kids look like the Lacoste model, at least my students do. They're more dressy than Americans. In general I find that Americans own more clothing, but they're cheaper overall. Here people buy nice clothing, Diesel, Lacoste and whatnot and it's perfectly normal to wear the same thing 2 days in a row or 2 days during the week. Own less but nicer.
[PS, I'm not flaming and stereotyping Americans. I am an American living abroad and speaking from experience! and my favorite stupid American question that I've overheard: Why is the river so brown and dirty? They should clean it..."]
I completely forgot all about Lacoste. I have a few polos from there, actually. The problem is that they're terribly expensive (USD 70 or EUR 50).
I also will often pull that look of the sweater over a collared shirt during the winter, though mostly the clothes come from American Eagle. (By the way, I think we would classify that as a pretty preppy look.)
Then what sort of pants do you wear in the summer and winter?
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>I do think that Americans will make eye contact more often than Europeans in crowded areas. I think Europeans also do less physical contact between friends, yes? We were talking about the American handshake and the European handshake in my French class. Americans love to shake hands up and down for several seconds whereas Europeans do a simple, firm shake that only swoops down once.
>Teeth: I think teeth play a bigger role in one's beauty in America. I think we Americans pay more attention to it.
Depends. I kiss all my friends on one or both cheeks much like many people do here... go to parts of Southern Europe and you'll see both men and also women walking arm in arm with each other.
Erm, kinda. I only shake hands with business contacts and the occasional colleague... and being a girly, I tend to be spared the real bone-crushing and over-enthusiatic handshakes that some of my male collegues get.
I think perhaps you're overanalysing this. Just relax wherever you go.
Hmm....'tis what my French teacher told me.
BlueVelvet said:I think perhaps you're overanalysing this. Just relax wherever you go.
Just think of this as my own personal informal anthropology study.
That, and the fact that I am the only person in my entire family who will not leave the country in the next twelve months, so I make due by taking virtual road trips on Google Earth, reading about foreign countries, and asking foreigners about their culture.
Well take it from someone who lives in Europe there's no distinct "European way" of shaking hands.
They're secret for a reason, how will we figure out if they're trying to infiltrate us or not?
Canadians can be found near the rear of mooses, so i'm told by americans anyway....
A dead giveaway that you're American (well, from anywhere that's not the UK) is that in a public place, you'll stop in the middle of the street, completely oblivious to the hundreds of people moving towards you, staring at something as if it's the second coming. Usually with sunglasses on, and looking upwards. As for Buckingham Palace... can't you just not go to defy convention? And stop paying £1.50 for a Twister in the adjacent park, you make life unbearable for the rest of us!