Avoiding Being the ‘Stupid American’ Tourist While Traveling
When I travel to a foreign country as an American, I worry about how I will be perceived—something many Americans relate to. Whether due to the choices of our government or the reputation we have as travelers, I worry I will do something to be perceived as a “stupid American” tourist.
In fact, to quell some of this anxiety, I do a lot of research in advance about what not to do in the country I’m visiting. Often, the results of my research look something like this:
- Don’t speak English and expect people to understand you (like an American)
- Don’t talk or laugh loudly (like an American)
- Don’t dress overly casually in athleisure or the like (like an American)
I take these rules to heart and worry about accidentally forgetting and breaking them during the whole trip. And I have broken many rules that would feel arbitrary to people in the United States—talking loudly on a whispers-only train ride in France, taking my phone out during Argentinian TSA lines at the airport, and more—resulting in pointed stares or being told off in a foreign language.
Following Cultural Norms as a Tourist
Anxiously trying to follow all these rules to avoid getting reprimanded adds a heavy layer of stress and pressure during my vacation. I think many people relate to this fear of making a mistake in a foreign country and having the stereotype of the dumb American tourist applied to them. So here’s my advice for how to navigate these concerns and travel without stressing over your behavior the whole time:
Understand that in a new country, you can expect everything to be different. Look for these differences—don’t ignore them—and respond with the attitude that there is something to learn in them.
Yes, I’m suggesting that getting an education from the country is the antidote for being a stupid American tourist. But let explain how this really addresses all the concerns about making mistakes while traveling that I mentioned. After the trips I’ve been on, and some where I’ve really taken a lot of time to prepare—like learning Spanish and French semi-fluently before daring to step foot in France or Argentina—I promise this is the easy workaround to all the travel prep and stress.
Avoid The Stupid American Stereotype
The root of the “ignorant American” stereotype is simply that Americans, due to the position of our country in the world, are not aware of how different the rest of the world can be. We are in a unique position where very few countries have any influence over us in our day-to-day lives, and this is simply not the case for the rest of the world.
As a result, there is a misalignment of expectations. People in other countries understand that there are differences between nations—and they don’t necessarily judge these differences as good or bad, they simply exist. But in the United States, we don’t see differences like these unless we physically travel to another country. By the time you get there, it takes you by surprise. American tourists get upset that the service is bad, or they speak English and expect people to be able to speak it back. This is the root of the “stupid American” stereotype: that we’re either unaware or disrespectful toward other countries.
And no, we’re not really deserving of being called stupid tourists for this, but we should be better educated to the differences of other countries. That way, when you arrive in a new country, you expect differences rather than let them surprise you, and you welcome differences rather than trying to the country to be more in line with your expectations.
My Advice for Not Being a “Stupid American” Tourist
My advice to you, if you’re an American, is simply this: Bring curiosity and look for differences. They will be there. All you need to do to take it in stride is adapt accordingly.
Look around at what other people are doing. Not talking? You shouldn’t be either.
Not sure what is going on? Ask. Try to understand rather than getting upset when something goes against your expectations.
Start with “Do you speak English?” instead of just barreling into a conversation in English with someone in a foreign country.
People will be receptive to you for wanting to understand them. With this simple attitude shift, you will avoid doing anything to reinforce negative stereotypes about American tourists, and you can relax and actually enjoy your trip. No longer will you have to worry about breaking a rule and getting publicly shamed. Maybe you will break a rule, but you will catch yourself and just change course. Simply being on the lookout for differences is enough, and you will learn a lot.
Taking on this approach means you don’t have to worry as much about accidentally breaking some unknowable rule in advance. People were never angry at Americans for that, anyway. Do you react with empathy and understanding, and change your ways? Or do you double down, ignore the feedback of those around you, and expect to be catered to?
Humility and a willingness to adapt will ensure things go smoothly. You can release the stress and fear that you are one small mistake away from sticking out and being labeled a “stupid American”—because that was never the real problem with American tourists in the first place.