I've been told that while I'm traveling in Europe I should not admit to being American. Is that true?

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â™ªâ™ª vivet â™ªâ™ª

do not believe all these rumors about Europe.you are welcome wherever you go.you are just one more tourist enjoying European natural beauties and culture and food.
you are safer here than back home....
try to learn some words in local language and enjoy your trip !!

p.s.
please do not eat MacDonald's and Pizza Hut wherever you go. we have great food !! more tasty and healthier

gmacfan3

People say this all the time but it's actually impossible to hide. Europeans can tell you're American by the way you dress, by the way you walk, they already know long before you say anything. So why bother denying it. Just try not to be the typical loud obnoxious American tourist that everyone hates. I lived in London for 6 months, I'm from New Jersey and I began to be annoyed by American tourists too, lol.

papars

Its NOT true.

In fact, you might have to say you are an American and show your passport on board trains, when Customs and Immigration officers board to check for illegal immigrants, smugglers etc.

Servette

That B.S.
People don't care where you are from. Politic is one thing and they know you do not represent the current government.

Ravin

The French are wonderful people, and every time I visited France I was always treated great--I don't even know any French. People in almost any country (including the U.S.) will respond better to you if you act polite, charming, respectful, and otherwise not like an ignorant, boorish idiot with your head in the clouds. True, you'll find folks in any European country who don't like Americans, but the vast majority a generally polite and hospitable to American visitors. You don't have to agree with someone's political views to get along with them, or even to be friends. Don't go out of your way to hide where you're from, but don't go around rubbing it in people's faces, either. Make the effort to at least learn a little about each place you're going, and at least a little of the local language. Making that little effort is both greatly appreciated, and unexpected... very unlike the expectation that we have in the U.S. that everyone who comes here (even to visit) speak English and ONLY English.

Mike R

No I've been to Europe and have never done that. Of course, I try to be respectful... and also try to learn how to say a couple of basic phrases in the language of the country I'm visiting. I would never go to France and immediately speak to someone in English - I'd at least ask a person in French if they speak English first. (Apparently there are Americans who assume everyone in Europe speaks English - many do but not everyone). And of course many Europeans don't like our current administration (understandably) but most people there won't hate you just for being American. They may like you better if you pretend to be Canadian though

â™¥ Freya â™¥

nobody would hate u if yr American....maybe if u were a Muslim terrorist...

holey moley

I lived in Europe 30 years ago, and have travelled there since. I always said I was Canadian unless I had to show my passport, especially in France and eastern Europe.

tartu2222

That's right! You tell those Germans they should feel lucky they aren't speaking German right now.

Don't worry about telling people where you're from. I've been here a number of years and everyone is fine with it. In fact when I tell them I'm from New York, their eyes light up. It has a lot of cache all over the world.

About the smiling American thing: very true. The French don't dislike us either. That's propaganda by right wing idiots to make us want to do the bidding of the American war machine.

Bareasskmeagain

Americans are in the news all the time, the wars, the large corporations etc. Other populations have their ideas and their news media present it to influence their readers, so. . . .
I normally tell people all over the world that I am Canadian and I behave myself very well. Americans are more likely to be kidnapped for political reasons or for financial gain. In France, I am from 'Argentina' and speak Spanish and get all the information I want. . . .oh the French don't want to speak English because of Lord Nelson and the Napoleonic wars

dany

It is true that you shouldn't mention it. And if you speak a different language, those language skills will be useful. Also, if locals see that you are making and effort to learn their language, they will be a little more warm-hearted!!!

GEORGE C

If you come to Greece we do not have problems with Americans.We know it is not your fault what your government does to this world.

levindis

Europeans are intelligent enough to differentiate between disliking a nations policy and disliking a nations citizens. They are usually very polite and do not discuss politics as to avoid uncomfortable confrontations. That being said there is a minority who are belligerent and wish to pick a fight simply because you are remotely linked to what they consider to be a problem, but all societies have those "special people" and it is unfair to only single out those who live in Europe when you are likely to encounter them anywhere in the world. Besides I believe you would be hard pressed to pass as anything other than American since most people can spot us a mile away do to our clothes, speech and mannerisms.

I have been told by several acquantinces from all over the world that American are easy to spot; because they are the only ones who smile everywhere they go.

PrinceEmad

Dont say that my friend. Im from Pakistan.I visited america for some time and I made many friends and had fun. Their is no shame in telling your identity as an american to the european people.They might be jealous of you thats why they must despise you. Some of your media makes fun of european countries thats why they hate you.But dont worry, nothing bad will happen if you tell that your an american.Have fun on your trip,europe is a beautiful piece of the world.BYE and ALLAH HAFIZ. :)

fredonia

I lived overseas for several years and would say I was Canadian when asked what my nationality was. When I was in England, I was asked if I was Italian... lol. Living overseas helped because I didn't "look" American... I looked European.

How can a European tell that someone is American? Usually by how they dress. American tourists are SO easy to pick out in a crowd... shorts, t-shirts, sneakers, baseball caps, and gum chewing.

Just blend in... don't be loud (Ugly American), dress "business casual" even when sight seeing, and don't chew gum. Also.. make an effort to speak the language. Even if your French, Italian, German, etc. is poor, the locals will appreciate the effort and respond to you in English.

MRS.torressanz

i am answering the truth..when i was in europe i faked british..mind you i have a very good accent..but the french dont very much fancy the americans..i saw much better attitude thrown at me when i was a brit that an american..the rest of europe...i've no clue..

Just be yourself -- presumably not an "Ugly American."

gospodar_74

that would probably depend on the country you are visiting.

Pimpin

I would rather die than deny or hide being American. Be proud of your country and for doing what is right. If anything ever happend to those european countires, I know we would be the first one there to really help protect them. We already have if you look at history. So to the people who don't like the American, tell them they are lucky they aren't speaking German right now. We are also at a nation at war, our Soldiers are in harms way, honor them by being proud of what you are espically if you are in a foreign country.

will C

no, as long as you show them a us dollor they will do cartwheels

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