An estimated 700 million tourists traveled internationally in 2022 between January and September, which is more than double (+133%) the number recorded for the same period in 2021.
As the sector rebounds from the pandemic, we can once again go abroad (or have people visit us) and observe the peculiar ways of foreigners. This gives us insight into the world's cultural diversity, helping us understand how people from different backgrounds interact and behave in various environments.
One of the most talked-about nationalities is American. Due to the United States' global status, they are one of the most-traveled-to countries (5th) and biggest tourism spenders (2nd) on the planet.
So when recently Redditor Ermland2 asked other platform users to reveal what are some of the tell-tale signs that someone is from the US, many contributed. Continue scrolling to check out the submissions and upvote the ones you agree with. Let's see which is the most accurate!
#1
From what I've been told by European friends and travellers, our complete and utter lack of an indoor voice.
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228points
#2
An Italian told me that Americans walk confidently in the wrong direction.
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216points
#3
In Salzburg I went to grab something from the drug store. As I was checking out I said hello to the cashier (thinking there was very little difference between how I said it and how Austrians say it). She immediately started speaking to me in English and I asked her how she knew I spoke English.
She deadpan stared me in the eye and goes "hellloooo". I just about died laughing since I'm a very stereotypical friendly American that says hello exactly like that. One of my favorite memories from that trip.
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213points
#4
They're wondering why everyone is speaking German. In Germany.
I wish I was making that up.
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206points
#5
A smile on their face for no particular reason. Being friendly and encouraging even to strangers.
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204points
#6
When they claim to be 1/8 German, 1/8 Irish, 1/16 Scottish 1/16 Spanish, 3/8 French and 1/4 Canadian
202points
#7
I’ve always observed my US friends like to point at stuff while walking and say what it is….
We were out walking around Amsterdam recently and they were like ‘hey look it’s a smoke shop’…. ‘Oh look a sex shop’…. ‘Oh hey, it’s a prostitute’ …. ‘Look at the canal’…. ‘Wow it’s another prostitute’….. ‘another canal’ etc etc
It was like watching Netflix with Audio Descriptions turned on
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192points
#8
NOT wearing Speedos at the beach.
And for this, I’d like to thank American men!
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181points
#9
Assuming something is about america on the internet because it isnt declared otherwise
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180points
#10
If someone asks how far away something is, an American will tell how you long it takes to get there as opposed to a physical distance.
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177points
#11
According to the CIA- when training to be a spy- you have to unlearn how to lean. Americans tend to lean on things when standing still.
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176points
#12
Definitely the wit. I'm Asian, and I've talked to a lot of Americans, and one thing I've noticed about them is their sense of humor. I also watch a lot of American movies and have seen many humorous videos and memes from them, which is one of my favorite things ever lol. They're hilarious!
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169points
#13
To quote a Latvian woman I met at a hostel: you hear them coming like the thunder.
More often than not, if they’re talking and laughing louder than everyone else, they’re American.
Edit: I love my American neighbours! Sorry if I sounded rude. Canadians are also pretty loud when we get going.
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155points
#14
In Europe - being afraid to go to the ER or doctor's, anticipating a massive bill, even after you try to convince them that it's basically free.
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139points
#15
When I lived in Europe, people said only Americans eat while walking. I’d be eating a bagel or something on the way to work or class and multiple people asked if I was American lol
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138points
#18
One American I've met was a bit stereotypical in some regards. He was on a biking tour from Sweden to Palestine, had an unusual beard, huge white teeth, was extremely friendly and a bit loud, and he literally carried a bucket of peanut butter with him because he said that was the most efficient way to carry energy for his travel.
I was an intern at a software company that just got bought by a huge American company (Warner I think) and one time some executives were visiting, walked through our office complimenting all the developers loudly and then disappeared again.
My general impression of Americans I've met in person is that it's difficult to see what you guys really think and feel, because you seem to hide it behind a layer of aggressive cheerfulness. So when I see someone radiating that, I expect them to be from the US.
133points
#19
British man once told me he knew I was American because I was wearing a baseball cap backwards.
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130points