A while back, I came across a list of things American tourists are guilty of doing in foreign countries. Things that we obviously don't give a second thought. Some are merely odd and others are considered offensive.
Expecting American Food To Be Everywhere
When traveling in a foreign country, if you're looking for
McDonalds or Starbucks, you won't be disappointed since these chains and many
other familiar ones are readily available worldwide. But that doesn't mean you
can order your favorite food item. These franchises succeed in foreign
countries by accommodating local tastes and customs.
Exposing Your Toes For All To See
In some Middle Eastern and Asian countries, feet are treated
as the filthiest part of the body. Americans don't view toes this way, so our
lack of foot concern comes off as strange and impolite. In many countries,
you're expected to take off your shoes before entering a room and don't point
your feet in anyone's direction. In other countries, showing the bottom of your
feet is considered very rude.
Dressing Inappropriately
A surefire way to stand out as different when traveling in a
foreign country is to dress like an American. Shorts, skirts, and short-sleeved
shirts might seem like smart choices, especially if you're visiting a place
that's hot all year or traveling in summer. Depending on where you go, your exposed
skin could be offensive. Not only do these fashion errors make us stand out,
they can mark us as tourist targets for scammers and criminals.
Wasting Food And Water
When Americans decided that bigger was better (as they say
at McDonalds, do you want that super-sized?), we also began wasting
resource at a dangerous rate. All-you-can-eat buffets, huge food portions, and
needlessly leaving water running while brushing our teeth or washing our hands
makes us one of the most wasteful countries in the world. Places like France
have passed laws making food waste for supermarkets illegal, encouraging
businesses to donate it to charity. When in a foreign country, conserve like a
local.
Expecting Rush Service
Expecting quick service while in a foreign country is the
quickest way to get a double glance from the locals. In the U.S., our tipping
culture encourages fast service. In most countries, tradition requires little
or no tip. As soon as you complain that you've been waiting too long, don't be
surprised if you are ignored completely. [On one of my trips to London, we sat
in the lobby of the hotel for three hours with our luggage because nobody could
find a key for our room. The hotel manager apologized by saying, "I know
things happen quickly in the States…" After another hour, I finally asked
if someone could use a passkey and let us in the room so we could deposit our
luggage and at least change clothes since we'd been on a flight all night. It
was the next day before they could produce a key for us. The hotel had actual
keys rather than the electronic key cards that the registration clerk swipes
and assigns to a specific room when you check in.]
Wearing Fanny Packs
If you don't like the idea of wearing a money belt because
you think it's too touristy, then just wait until you decide on a fanny pack in
another country. They are far out of fashion's reach and visually mark you as
an easy target.
Putting Ice In Everything
Ice is an automatic part of American life. We want it in
every cold drink. We fill ice chests with it to go to the beach or camping. We
even changed the design of freezers to produce more ice quicker. If you weren't
born in the U.S., you probably don't understand our fascination with ice. If
you're from the U.S. and are traveling in a foreign country, back off of the
ice requests.
Giving Rude Hand Gestures
Americans tend to communicate with our hands, some more than
others. Even automatic things like offering a hand shake when meeting someone
or giving a thumbs up or an ok sign can be misinterpreted when done in a
foreign country. And in China, pointing is very rude.
Using Your Left Hand
Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian, and African countries all
have one thing in common—they expect food to be eaten with the right hand only.
Common practice for those of us who are right-handed. But for you left-handers,
they consider the left hand unclean.
Not learning Local Phrases
In case those born in the U.S. don't realize it, English is
one of the most difficult languages to learn. That's why it's particularly
hypocritical when we travel in foreign countries that we expect the locals to
know at least a few English phrases. Showing cultural respect can be as simple
as memorizing a greeting and a couple of basic questions. Americans expect
everyone coming to our country to speak English. On the other hand, when we
travel to foreign countries, we expect them to accommodate us by speaking
English.
Showing Bad Table Manners
Just because we use knives, forks, and spoons doesn't mean
other countries do, too. It's ok to use utensils if available, but you should
know what is and isn't considered rude at the dinner table. Bad manners—eating
anything with your hands in Chile, using a fork to shovel food in your mouth in
Korea, putting used chopsticks on your empty plate when you've finished eating
in Japan.
Requesting Menu Changes
In the U.S., no one would give a second though if someone
requested more salt or pepper in a restaurant, in fact, salt and pepper shakers
are common as part of the table setting. In Europe, this might insult the chef
since it changes the way he prepared the food. And don't ask for a 'doggy bag'
for your leftovers. They might think you intend to feed their food to your dog
rather than finishing your meal in the restaurant.
Smiling At Strangers
Maybe we're wanting to show off our expensive dental work or
just want to be polite. Whatever the reason, Americans smile too much,
especially at strangers when we make eye contact. In some foreign countries,
that could get you a nasty look in return.
Talking Too Loudly
The U.S. is an expressive culture. Freedom in American means
you can usually be as loud as you want, mostly wherever you want. But when U.S.
citizens travel to foreign countries, we attract attention by raising the
volume of our voices a tad higher than everyone else in the room. Make sure you
aren't the annoying tourist who won't pipe down.
And finally, there's…
Writing Dates Backward
Unlike many places in the world, we don't use metric measurements, our spelling system makes no sense to anyone else (even in the U.K. where English began), and our date format is out of order. While most countries use the DD/MM/YYYY format, we've stepped outside the box since July 4, 1776. We write the numerical date as MM/DD/YYYY. When you travel, be aware that 07/04/2021 is April 7, 2021, and not the 4th of July.
