Canadian flag sewn on pack

[LHR02]

You may be right Jen, but it was my personal experience that I actually had more 'locals' approaching me over my flag than other Americans. Sheesh....'everyone' has an opinion on American Idol, or Tom Cruise, or which is better...Miami or Tampa. ;D If you are approachable, whether you have a flag or not, folks will talk to you. And particularly in Scotland! Lordy those folks love to talk.

[jennifer]

Yup, your most likely right, I guess it depends on the smile on your face, not the flag on your pack!

[rezkalla]

I'm an American (and proud of it despite recent events) and have considered passing myself off as a Canadian. Have any Americans encountered much hostility? Where can I get a velcro Canadian flag (I'm in California)? I'm not ashamed of my nationality, I just don't want to be hassled. Thanks!

[WillTravel]

For the most part, Americans have reported little or any hostility. That's on this board and lots of other travel boards, at all budget ranges. If you met someone from a country whose policies you didn't agree with, you would certainly be able to prevent yourself from being hostile to that person for no reason, I'm sure, and it's the same for Europeans. (And for that matter, for the most part it's true for Americans who meet Europeans too.)

I think it would be far more stressful to have the lie hanging over you throughout the trip.

[LovinEurope]

two years ago when i was in spain and portugal when that whole "Shock and Awe" was going on in Iraq i was travelling with some americans and the portuguese didnt like them all that much, so gave them canadian pins and patches it seemed to make a little difference

[Cat]

I don't think you have to worry too much about being American. As long as you are polite and respect the 'local way', you'll be fine. I have an American friend and we get along just fine, as long as we avoid political debates. Then again, there are lots of Europeans who'd love to hear an 'inside view' on all recent events.

[Jackie]

I just got back from 2 weeks in Italy, am an American, and I felt very comfortable overseas. Of course, I didn't broadcast the fact that I was American, but I didn't hide it either. As many others have said, just do your best to be polite, treat others as you want to be treated, and try to take part in the "local way". I found that locals responded well if you just attempted to speak to them in their language - even if you butchered it!

Just to note though, I did find that, especially in Rome, there was a lot of graffitti to begin with, but a bunch of it was politically driven and even aimed at Americans. It was an eye-opener to see. It's so easy to forget when you're at home how others think of you outside of your country.

Lastly, I've almost finished uploading all of my pics from my trip, so I'll post a link if anyone's interested!

Happy travels,
Jackie

[WillTravel]

Jackie, I'd love to hear about your Italy trip and see your photos!

[CowTown19]

I´m currently sitting in Barcelona and I definitely have a Canadian flag on my pack. I would agree that you get made fun of (occasionally), but it is also a great conversation starters... other Canadians just walk up to you in the streets. So far throughout my trip I would say my flag has come in handy at least twice, once to get a ride to my hostel on a golf cart (the man yelled Canada! Canada! and then offered me a ride) and the second time a street vendor gave me a nice discout because I was Candian (though I´m sure haggling would of got me the same discount). I´d definitely wear one again, but they are kind of tacky.

[canadia]

Hey guys....

I've been in western europe since February and I have a flag on my pack. The funny thing was tho, that i had no clue Canadians were the only country who does put a patch on. As soon as I bought my pack it was just an automatic thing to sew one on I never really thought about it.

I met a two Americans in london who had Canadian patches on their bags. They said they just didnt want the hassle.

The thing with ppl over here is that they say they dont like Americans...but all they always ask me about America and if it's really like the movies. lol Go figure.

[Jules80]

Liza - the thing about Canadians in Europe boils down A LOT (although not all) with World War 2. particularly in places like holland. and particularly with the older generation. Canadians joined immediately and helped out while the US waited until they were attacked.

[Libby]

But the US played the largest role in rebuilding Europe after the war was over and the soldiers, with great reason, were/are greatly honoured. The grandfather of a good friend of mine landed with the US troops on D-Day and returned for the 50th anniversary in France . He was given free accomodations at a B&B, he had meals paid for in restraunts by the owners and by regular people. He said people who didn't speak a single word of England would come up to him and kiss him on the cheek and thank him.

Canada does have a very special relationship with the Netherlands and we probably always will. But I really don't think we can signify any anti-american sentiment in Europe is a result of WWII. If anything, it's been the events of the past 4 years that has created a dramatic rise in it.

Still, I think most of the animosity is against the current administration and not against individual people.

[Jules80]

I wasn't saying it was universal thoughout europe or all generations. i think opinions (and where they date from) vary greatly. i think animosity among people of our generation has come from the current administration. but in older genreation the second world war greatly defined them and their lives. my grandfather who faught in the RAF hated americans exactly because they joined the war so late. the netherlands as you say has a special relationship with canada, largely because we hosted their royal family during ww2. i also had a prof in university (quite young) who when she went to amsterdam was in a pub with her friend and an elderly gentlemen asked where they were from. when they found out they were canadian (and not american) he bought them a beer! so while i agree with you that animosity towards american with younger generations has nothing to do with ww2 you really can't underestimate how it shapped the generation that grew up during the war or fought in the war.

[Libby]

Oh, I understand what you meant and I didn't read it as being a universal explanation for the current situation, I just don't think that WWII plays such a major role. If it did, then we'd be hearing more about the difficulties experienced by Germans and the Japanese when they travelled.

[mango]

The cultural differences between the US and Europe should not be underestimated. Canadia is probably are culturally closer to many parts of Europe than the US. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but when it comes to things like body language, cadence, tone and volume of speech, the way interpersonal conflict and confrontation are dealt with - the unspoken way we interact with others - it is very easy to misinterpret what is meant or misjudge what someone's motives are. I strongly suspect this is the reason some people claim that US americans have a bad rep in EU