One of the traits that pigeonhole us as Americans is crass behavior while out sightseeing. In some countries, it is considered rude to wear overly casual attire to a religious monument. Americans don’t care. To them, it’s just another tourist stop. Another way Americans are rude is they joke disrespectfully about a culturally important site.
It turns out that people aren’t crazy about it when Americans make fun of their deeply held cultural customs. But we’ve never let human decency get in the way of a good punch line. If you’re gonna crack jokes, at least make sure they’re hilarious!
You Take up a Lot of Space
Traveling from the vast American frontier, you’re used to having plenty of room, so there is no reason to cut down on the amount of space you are occupying. In Europe, they are smashed into one small continent. Almost all of Europe could fit into the U.S. Here we have fifty states. There, they have about 50 countries. Everything is smaller, even their washing machines. So, if you’re trying not to get labeled an ugly American, do as we say and “share the road.”
We’re not sure what it is about public areas that make Americans lose all sense of spatial awareness. Whatever the reason, you’re likely to see us taking up prime real estate on busy sidewalks and other areas where people are in a hurry. That being said, we're also very good about yelling at people who are in our way.
You Packed the Kitchen Sink
There’s plenty of space in the bag; why not use it? Americans go big. When it comes to packing, they bring everything, just in case. Some will carry several bulging bags, while others will drag around a suitcase twice their size. It’s one of the most obvious ways to spot a Yank abroad, and if you don’t care about that, it’s much easier on your back to packing sensibly.
If you see someone in the airport that looks like they’ve packed for a month-long caravan, they’re probably an American. From multiple checked bags to backpacks that make your spine ache, we’re not great at the concept of packing lightly.
You Spend More Face Time With Your Phone Than Your Travel Mate
Never mind your travel mate; they are probably staring into their phone just as much. Why is it Americans spend so much time with their phones? Is it because our wireless plans offer unlimited data? Cell phones are important to people around the world, but for some reason, Americans are a little more obsessed about using them.
We spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to travel to foreign countries, and what do we do when we get there? Spend our precious travel time glued to the phone while new art and culture pass us by. That seems totally logical.
You're Obsessed With Selfies
You brought your selfie stick, you’re constantly stretching your arm out for a quick pic, or you’re posting them to social media. Selfies are a thing. At first, it would be an easy way to spot an American abroad. They take, on average, 500 selfies per year! But Europeans aren’t far behind. In Spain, they are just as obsessed, taking about 700 selfies a year. In the U.K., however, they keep it under 500.
Americans and non-Americans alike use photos to mark special occasions, and there’s nothing wrong with that! But if you’re whipping out the selfie stick nonstop, you might be an American.