Americans in Europe

[MAJic2288]

Hi, I'm planning a trip to Europe after I graduate and I have heard some horror stories from friends who have been to Spain or France on school trips. A couple people told me that Europeans were kind of...hostile towards them when they realized they were American. One of my friends on a trip with her spanish class said there was a group of people in Madrid that actually followed them around for 20 minutes yelling at them. I don't want to offend anyone by asking this but I've never been to Europe before so I don't know, is this a common occurence? Has this happened to anyone else and should I be worried?

[megamay79]

I was worried about the same thing, but I havent had that problem at all. Then again I am not wearing and American flag on my backpack or telling everyone that I am american. I think most people dont want to jump to the conclusion that you are American becuase there are a lot of Canadian and Australian travellers who also speak english. So basically if you dont act like an obnoxious american, or go around saying how much better america is, I doubt anyone will pick you out and criticize you.

If you want to be recieved well in general I found that trying to speak the local language is a really really good start, even if you are really bad at it, if you just say hi and please and do you speak english, in thier language people will be a lot nicer to you.

Meg

[MuvverRussia]

Most people will jump to the conclusion that you're American. Generally if I hear an American accent I semi automatically assume that they're from the US, unless it's obvious that they are Canadian - it's just one of those things.

And I've never confused an Australian/New Zealand/South African/British accent with an American accent - in my eyes they're completely different (in fact Aussie, NZ, SA and UK english are closer to each other in terms of accent, grammar and spelling than American English), even though they share a common language.

[LHR02]

It's always been my experience, both in living in Europe for 6+ years and multiple travels since, that they will know you are American almost before you even open your mouth. Almost seems like we have neon signs hanging above our heads sometimes. ;D That said, can't say I have ever been treated badly for that alone, if YOU are polite and learn some basic phrases in their language and avoid the obnioxious American stereotype you will genrally find them as accepting of you as you are of them. Hostile? Maybe I have been lucky but I've yet to encounter it...even in France.

[googleygoo]

I agree with MR on the accents...

[megamay79]

Oh I totally agree on the accents too, for an english speaker to recognize. but I am not sure that non native english speakers pick up on it so easily. maybe the people that I have talked to were just being polite but several people have asked wether I was canadian or american.

and on a side note, a lot of people seem to think I am german - which my grandparents were, but I have not gone out of my way at all to hide my nationality, I would think that people would see that neon sign on me if on anyone. but german travellers in greece even came up to me asking me something in german, and all over germany I got people talking to me like I should understand-like asking me directions on the street. it was strange really.
meg

[LHR02]

That's funny Meg coz I too had Germans talking to me quite a bit. Normally I could understand them pretty well but have long ago lost my speaking 'abilities' except for the most basic.

[jennifer]

Funny thing, people often think i'm german too, but I really don't think I look like one. Most germans and europeans are tall and skinny, I may be tall, but I sure ain't skinny! ;D

[Rude Ry]

is anyone not proud be an American? I know I sure am! I have roots from many european countries, but I'm proud of heritage here! I've never had a problem travelling...as long as you're not a stereotypical american, I think you'll be fine...I spent this summer in Mexico, many people there weren't crazy about a few things about the USA, but thought it was awesome I was visiting their country...just be respectful, the same way you would act anywhere else =)

[wease81]

The trouble your friends have had probably occur because they were in a group. Groups tend to be loud at times; undoubtedly speaking english; identifying them as american. I don't like traveling with groups. Most of the time people think I'm German. I have gotten so weary of saying "Nine Deutch" (sp.) that I now just smile and nod. Also try to be able to speak a little of the language of the country you are in, and don't dress american; ie. white tennis shoes, baseball caps.

[WillTravel]

I had a fair number of people speak to me in Italian when I was in Italy. I don't think I look Italian (but again there's so much variance among how people look in Europe that generalizations are impossible). Actually everywhere I go people have talked to me in the local language, and it's certainly not because I'm exemplifying the local fashions. I think the factor of whether you're in a group or not is probably the most significant.

What I mean by saying generalizations are impossible is that if I saw a roomful of Germans, a roomful of Italians, and a roomful of French people, who were all not saying anything - I would probably be able to tell them apart, but it's much more chancy to be able to tell the ethnicity of a particular person. In addition, there is so much immigration and intra-Europe travel that identifying people can be difficult.

[me]

Wease81,

i think what you wanted to say is "Kein Deutscher," or "Keine Deutsche." depending if you're a man or woman, respectively.

but, i'm sure you got the point across.

- d

Guest-wease81 said:

Most of the time people think I'm German. I have gotten so weary of saying "Nine Deutch" (sp.) that I now just smile and nod.

[paint]

I spent last summer in the company of Europeans from various non-English-speaking countries and none of them seemed to be able to figure out what country I was from. They were all surprised to find out I was American, though. I was mistaken for Dutch, Polish, and Australian. I had a slight accent from living with Londoners but other than that have no idea why people thought I was Australian. I look like my Dutch ancestors but don't speak the language (I think I wish I did, though). Even in Central America people were asking me, in Spanish, if I was from the Netherlands!

[Nicstar]

In France I *did* get mistaken for being French.

I know hardly any French at all, enough to say "hello, I want...[insert what it is I want]" or "how much does it cost?" and "I don't speak French, do you speak English?" I assumed once they heard me say "bonjour" with my broad Aussie accent they'd go "yikes, foreigner", but everyone would rabbit on, and then I'd stop them and say I didn't speak French and 9 times out of 10 they looked surprised. Said I didn't have an accent when I spoke French, and that I looked French. (I have NO French ancestry!) THen they'd ask my name, Nicole, and I'd always get "are you sure you're not French?"

I actually liked the fact they thought I was French. To me it meant I mustn't have been sticking out like a tourist too much!

[Cat]

It's funny, people always tend to think I'm Dutch.

Oh, wait... I am! ;D

When I'm abroad there are quite a few people who think I'm German though. It has to do with my local dialect, which has the same sounds as German. When with friends we tend to use that dialect and it confuses people.

As a non native english speaker I find it quite hard to make out the different english accents. I can distinguish Uk-english and US-english, but when it comes to Australians ans NZ, it gets difficult. A hobby of mine is to guess what country an non-native speaker comes from. Usually you hear the distinctive traits of a language quite well when people speak English.