We’ve all heard horror stories about the “loud-mouth arrogant American tourist” who barges into other countries and demands his own way. We’ll admit that we’ve run into a few, and we cringe thinking about it. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the people whose country they’re visiting. For the most part though, Americans are open-minded, curious, and polite when traveling abroad. Let’s do our best to keep it that way.
Here are the top 10 stupid things NOT to say as an American tourist:
- We do everything better back home! Yes we know. We get it – you like where you’re from. But you’re not home. You’re traveling. Enjoy something different.
- Who is this Queen Elizabeth/President Obama again? For the love of God Almighty, please don’t leave home without knowing who your elected official is. You can bet your grandma’s purse that most people you meet will know at least a little about the American political situation. We have a challenge for you: Learn at least one thing that’s going on in a country before you visit there. We’re not saying you have to know everything, but at least be open to having an intelligent discussion.
- Yep, our president is gonna kick (someone’s) *$&! We’re not even going to tell you why this is dumb. Just don’t be dumb.
- I would never live here. Let’s be honest. If you’re saying that line out loud, they probably wouldn’t want you there either.
- Don’t these people understand English? Ummm…..really? Why should they know your language? You’re the visitor. Besides, it’s fun and quite enlightening to learn (and butcher) a new language. Make the attempt to speak a few phrases of the native language where you’re visiting. You’ll find that most people are very forgiving if you mess up the pronunciation horribly.
- I speak American! This line is perhaps the most infamous of them all and is sometimes used in combination with #5. American is not a language. We’re guessing that even if it were, it would still not be the one that you are speaking.
- Why does the food taste awful here? Probably because they forgot to add the preservatives and pre-diabetes ingredients. Kindly forgive them for that. If the food really is horrible, try the line “Hmm, this is interesting,” or “This isn’t my favorite, but I’m glad I tried something new.”
- Hey baby, schleeejuz you’re lovelygggly…(falls into druken stuper). (Yes, we’ve actually heard this overseas). Oh please, please, don’t be the drunk, obnoxious American. Our theory is that you can get trashed at home for ten bucks. Why in the world would you go to a foreign country and miss a second of it? Besides, your drunk pickup lines aren’t clever. We promise.
- Wearing very skimpy/trashy clothing when it’s not appropriate. Then again, when is it ever appropriate? We know this isn’t a phrase, but if you’re trying to wear hot pants and a tube top into an Italian cathedral, it kind of speaks for itself. Please, let’s show the world that America has more than Snookie and Honey-Boo-Boo.
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We still need a number 10! What’s the worst tourist line you’ve heard overseas?
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Hum….I think I could start my own top 10. While in Rome we had 2 strollers 5 kids 4 adults and all the tourist gear (including cowboy boots), we had more than 1 person stop and ask us for directions. Really? We clearly did not live there. — However, after moving back I have had more people ask me if I was from another country. What? Because I say “ya’ll” and “check card”. I’m an Okie! 🙂
Just the flip side of #9…”Why don’t these people put on some clothes? Gaw!!” 😉
Haha yes! True! 😀
Nos 9 is something very relevant in a country like India. In India, a few places are complete no no if you are scantily clothed. Even Indians would think a lot regarding clothes before visiting them. And yes, not reading about the country beforehand. Any country will have a few crooks. if you want to save yourself, read about the place. But it was a great read. Cheers.
Sapna, yes, sometimes people just don’t realize that not everyone thinks/dresses/acts like they do. India was actually the first place I traveled overseas. And although my clothing was modest (I wore mainly traditional Indian clothing actually, except in Mumbai), it was still quite different. (And to be honest, my Indian friends played a joke on me and told me to pack sweaters…and I fell for it!). I just love how much I learn about other people and myself when I travel.
Thanks for your comment – Glad you enjoyed the read!
while I would argue sometimes it IS appropriate to be scantily clad, lets save that for the Las Vegas club crawl (which is, naturally, in America). Every traveler worth thier salt knows to pack thier most sensible and modest clothing!
Haha yes I agree! And we *still* run across newbie (or not-so-new) travelers who haven’t quite figured that out 🙂 Hopefully between this post and your comment, we can help convince them 😀 Thanks for the comment!
It’s also annoying when visitors keep converting all prices into dearer currencies and then make grand announcements like “Oh! It’s so cheap I wish I could take home a whole carton” or even just guffaw. It’s important visitors are sensitive that even those prices are unaffordable for a large population of that country.
That’s a great point Chana! I hope I haven’t done this in the past :O
Funny article,well written. Living in Oslo,Norway. I once had two tourists (a couple in their mid 50’s) come up to me and frustratingly ask me where the nearest McDonalds was located because they were so sick of eating fish. They didn’t know I was American and complimented me on my english. Unbelievable!
#10. Being loud and obnoxious. Typical American rumor outside the states is that we’re all loud, fat, and obnoxious. Americans should try to enjoy the surroundings by being (even if they aren’t yet) a tourist with class.