How do people immediately identify Americans abroad? Read on for some of the quirky traits Americans have … and we don’t even know it!
Moving to England has been absolutely a lovely experience. However, as an American living abroad, I’ve had to adjust to the culture, food, as well as manage the time difference with family and friends still in the states.
While I absolutely miss my family and friends, my hubby’s family and our friends here have made this experience heart warming and do their absolute best to make me feel welcome and loved.
However, I have certainly noticed some things that set us Americans apart! Some traits that Americans have are instantly recognized! Folks can immediately tell that I am an American abroad, even before I speak with my Boston accent!
Let’s have a look at how Americans abroad are instantly recognizable!
I know my family and friends in Yank world will completely understand what I am about to describe:
You know when you’re walking down the street, could be anywhere, and you catch someone’s eye? You give them kind of a half smile! As if to say, hello! We don’t know each other but nice to meet you! Have a good day…all with no words spoken!
Well, as an American abroad, let me tell you that most people in other countries will look at you and avert their eyes! They may react as though you’re stalking them, and they certainly don’t return that American half-smile greeting!
It’s. become something of a game/challenge for me! I still give folks that half-smile, and see how many responses I can get!
Another Americans abroad tell-tale is how an American may react when visiting a historical site across the pond.
Now, the Unites States is fairly a young country in terms of history compared to Europe or Asia, Egypt and the like. So, when we visit historical sites like Pompeii, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Stonehenge, the Pyramids, and such, we are enthralled, amazed!
Now, you know the drill!! You’re at the Leaning Tower of Pisa and you need to have that pic of you holding it up. Or you’re at Stonehenge and you take that photo holding it in the palm of your hands!
One of the first questions I get asked in Brit country is, “Where are you from?” How this question is answered can be a definite sign that you’re an American!
For example, I just had a grocery delivery this morning. After mere seconds of conversation, I was asked, “Where are you from?”. Of course not having the Brit accent is an immediate flag. However, how we answer that question is a definite reveal that we are American.
When I first arrived, I used to answer by saying Central Massachusetts. However, even that wasn’t telling enough! The United States is huge! The U.S.A. is about 40 times the size of the entire U.K. There are five U.S. states that are actually bigger than the country of England alone!! See one of my previous posts to learn more:
https://yankeebrit.blog/wp-admin/post.php?post=3220&action=edit
Can you imagine asking a Brit where they are from and they answer Lymington. Would you have a clue? Well, telling a Brit you’re from Millbury, Massachusetts doesn’t tell them much either! But, that’s something we Americans tend to do! We assume everyone everywhere knows that little small suburb where we hail from!
I now hope I have refined my answer. Generally I respond at first by saying “I’m from the states.” I then proceed to say the Northeast Coast, New England. Most folks then have a much better idea where I hail from! If the conversation proceeds, I can then narrow things down! If the person I’m talking with knows Boston, I then tell them I’m about 45 minutes west!
Lastly, for this post anyway, let’s talk about how a lot of Americans expect everyone to speak English and that the U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere!!
Again, I attribute this to the sheer size of the states! When you live in a country that large, you can travel for days on end and still be in the same country! Same language, same currency, same history!
However, a mere 6 – 7 hour flight across the pond and you’re in a whole new culture! Different languages, different food, and in most cases different currency!
Flight path from Boston to England
So, when Americans travel abroad, sometimes the expectations they have are a bit less global than folks who can and do travel fro country to country. Much like someone from New England traveling to Florida on vacation, folks in the U.K. and Europe think nothing of traveling to the next country over!
The moral of this post is that we are all different! And that what makes traveling so fun, so interesting! So…pack your bags, travel wherever you want, and take every difference you find as a learning experience!
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