Being American Abroad: Conversation Points for Students

It’s no secret that Americans often stand out when travelling abroad.

There are countless articles on the topic, from May 2024’s “How to Spot an American Tourist” on Upworthy to “The American Abroad” published in The Atlantic as far back as 1957.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with being American, or even being recognized as being American while abroad. However, it’s a topic of conversation worth bringing up with your students before you travel so that they are aware of how their identity can impact their experience both positively and negatively and to set some expectations.

Key talking points before they travel?

Why are Americans so recognizable abroad?

One of the main reasons it’s easy to spot an American abroad is that much of our culture—our movies, music, TV shows, and more—has a global reach. People across the world have become familiar with American brands, cultural references, mannerisms, and fashion. Our cultural icons have some of the most recognizable faces in the world.

As one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world, the US is also in the spotlight globally when it comes to politics, economics, and technology.

What stands out as “American-ness”?

It’s useful for students to understand what specific traits or actions people in other countries might associate with “American-ness”. It’s not that we shouldn’t do these things, but being mindful of them in certain situations can help us blend in (for example, so as not to attract the attention of pickpockets).

Some of the stereotypical characteristics that set us apart? Some of these are more obvious than others, but across various articles, the following have been noted:

·      Our accent

·      We lean on things when standing around

·      We ask for ice in restaurants

·      We carry water bottles

·      We’re louder than most

·      Our direct style of communication

·      We smile a lot

·      We’re polite

·      We have very white, straight teeth

·      We dress casually

·      We often travel in groups

·      We eat or drink while walking around

·      We wear baseball caps or clothes with sports logos

·      We ask what people do for a living

·      If we travel to a non-English speaking country, there is a good chance we don’t speak the language

We are Unofficial ambassadors abroad

It’s useful for students to reflect on the fact that, as travellers, we are essentially ambassadors of our country. We have a responsibility to represent our culture and other Americans in a positive light.

When we come in contact with people from other cultures, our actions and words can leave a lasting impression which plays into the way we (and other Americans) are perceived while abroad.

Tricky topics of conversation

We’re itching to learn everything we can about our host culture, but often, people we meet in our host countries are just as curious about us. As Americans, our opinion is often of great interest to people in your host country.

Unfortunately, this is often in relation to topics it’s best not to give a strong opinion on, even if we have one: Politics, religion, healthcare, world events, and ways that we might feel American culture or lifestyle is superior.

These conversations—and they will inevitably arise—should be navigated with sensitivity, kept to constructive dialogues, and avoid a collapse into argument.

Viewing a host country through an American lens

Another great talking point before travel is on flexibility and adaptability and the importance of keeping an open mind.

It’s easy to fall into a pattern of comparing everything to the US. We eat cereal for breakfast at home, so we might think a continental breakfast in Europe is “weird”; we use a dryer for our clothes at home, so we find line-drying clothes in England is impossible to get used to; or we value punctuality, and therefore see lateness—which might be more socially acceptable in another country—as rude; and so on.

Teach students to remember to embrace the positives in the differences. Travel is a beautiful opportunity to broaden our perspectives and open our mindset to other ways of thinking and living.

Embracing cultural sensitivity and thoughtfulness

It’s obvious and it’s appreciated by locals when American travellers lean into curiosity and embrace differences in lifestyle. A good tip for traveling Americans to remember is to act like a guest… because we are!

This includes a respect for local traditions, customs, and norms, even if they seem unusual to us or don’t align with our own values.

Another example is, even if many people in the host country do understand some English, learning basic language skills goes a long way when it comes to respect. Even if we make mistakes, the effort will be appreciated.  

A third example here is making an effort to observe before acting. If you’re on the tube in London, especially during rush hour, notice that, no matter how many people are on the train, no one around you is speaking. Sit back and respect the silence.  

Reflection and debriefing on return

Being American abroad and the positive and negative implications of this is a great journal topic for students during their trip. They can note their observations, the way their “American-ness” makes them feel, and reflect on this experience both individually and as part of the group. This ties into themes such as growing global perspectives, identity and personal development.