20 signs that you’re obviously an American abroad

It’s summer, so time to break out the sunscreen and hat, right? Or perhaps there’s a bit of rain, and you want to keep drops off your face. A baseball cap is perfect in either situation! It’s also one of the top outfit choices that screams, “I have a Bald Eagle on my passport.” Seriously, no one else wears these unless they’re making a very specific (i.e., American) fashion statement or on a hike.

In theory, you know that they speak Spanish in Mexico, French in France, and Japanese in Japan. But if you don’t speak any of those languages, it can be tricky to communicate abroad. It’s easy to start speaking English, but before you do, try to learn how to ask, “Do you speak English?” in the local language. Otherwise, you’ll likely come off as a rude and presumptuous monolingual American. 

There’s a reason the “loud American” is a popular trope in international circles. The speaking volume in the U.S. is generally much higher than in the rest of the world. When you step off a plane, note that the other people aren’t whispering, you’re likely just talking at an elevated pitch.

Fun fact! You are not obliged to tip in most places outside the U.S. unless it is truly exceptional service. Although, always make sure to double-check local customs as this does vary from country to country.

Once temperatures break into the 70s (or 80s, if you’re from down South), Americans whip out the summer wardrobe, typically full of shorts. However, elsewhere in the world, these are saved exclusively for beach days and can even be considered inappropriate depending on the length and what country you’re visiting.

You know those “foreign student” TikToks that go around where the American looks like they’ve just rolled out of bed, and the shocked international student is very dressed up in comparison? That’s pretty accurate. When packing for a trip abroad, always research the local dress and leave the Hawaiian shirts and sweatpants at home unless you want to stand out.

America is truly the land of cars, which becomes evident when we attempt to use a bus or train elsewhere. Don’t worry: most people, especially the station workers, will be able to help you out and might even approach the obviously lost American.

In addition to our reputation for talking loud and exclusively in English, we just tend to talk more than other nationalities. Small talk isn’t as much of a thing abroad, and Americans rarely keep it “small” or short. Remember to know when to walk away. Your new friend at the bar is likely being polite and doesn’t actually want to hear all about your life all evening.

International destinations are the lands of espresso or whatever the local caffeinated drink is — Vietnamese egg coffee, flat whites in Australia/New Zealand, and freddo cappuccino in Greece. Americanos are named as such for a reason, and you’ll often have a server clarify “American coffee?” when you order one.

Here’s a tip. When it’s not explicitly offered, to-go coffee isn’t the norm. Venti Starbucks paper cups are few and far between at local cafes. So take a note from our friends abroad, and pull up a chair to enjoy your Americano (or other tasty drink) in the relaxed way it’s meant to be sipped.

A friend and I were once approached by our tour guide seemingly out of the blue, as he didn’t know what we looked like. When we asked how he knew we were the clients, he responded, “How quickly you walked, no one walks like that here!” And while people don’t all walk slowly around the world (especially in major cities), the pace is most often different from Americans' to-go-coffee fueled power walk.

The work-from-a-coffeeshop culture that Silicon Valley created and tech bros have now spread across the U.S. has been slower to spread internationally. The digital nomad craze has begun to normalize the phenomenon, but it's not as common outside of cities populated with young people or remote employees.

Again, where it’s not explicitly given, it likely isn’t remote-worker friendly. The pandemic and rise in digital nomads have changed this a bit — like working from cafes is more normalized, so is free Wi-Fi. However, it’s not a given like most places to eat and drink in the U.S. But many cities worldwide offer plenty of free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the center; check with the local tourist office to confirm.

Since you don’t have to tip abroad, servers and other customer service agents aren’t working for that extra dollar or two. And while the quality is usually pretty good, don’t be surprised if they’re not bending over backward or taking the phrase “the customer is always right” too seriously.

Beyond walking quicker and needing caffeine on the go, Americans are less inclined to relax and soak in life. In other parts of the world, people slow down, enjoy a drink at the cafe, walk without a care, and aren’t too fussed if the train is late (again).

Other countries have free healthcare. We have free tap water. But seriously, don’t be shocked if you get charged for water at restaurants, and it’ll usually come in a bottle. You can ask for tap water, but they don’t always comply and may still charge you.

Cash is still king in many countries, so make sure to hit the ATM as soon as you land. If you really want to use a card, look for a Visa or Mastercard sign on the door or window that indicates the establishment accepts the form of payment. Better yet, confirm before attempting to purchase something — particularly food you’ve already consumed. 

The love for an animal is truly universal. But you won’t find the excessive dog-friendly culture that is prevalent in many American cities in a lot of other countries. And people aren’t dying to pet every dog that walks by — something that seems to be the norm amongst us Yanks.

Again, Americans are so in love with vehicles that it can be easy to forget other forms of transportation exist. And in many destinations, most people walk. This is also due to the fact that many places are more walkable or have better transportation than the U.S., so bring walking shoes on your next trip! 

In case you missed the last World Cup, every other country calls “soccer” “football.” If you want to talk about American “football," say “American football,” and they’ll know what you mean.