I work a lot with turists from around the globe and I seem to have noticed that americans often notice other americans and start a conversation about where in us they are from and what have they done and seen so far etc. Meanwhile tourists from other countries completely ignore their compatriots. Maybe sometimes if someone doesn’t speak any other language than their own they might quickly ask for help in some simple thing when they spot someone else speaking their language. Is this the case in you opinion?
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I used to work at a service station that a lot of tourists passed through. In my experience, Americans were always the chattiest. It didn’t matter if they were with other Americans, or with anyone else, they’d just strike up conversations with whoever would listen.
Yep. Maybe it’s because “abroad” for Americans tends to mean a lot further from home than, say, a Brit would be when holidaying in Italy or something, so it’s a bit more of an occasion when we run into each other by chance. That and we’re just a chatty bunch.
I feel like we do this domestically too. When I see Wisconsinites in far away states, I am likely to chat with them. it’s an easy conversation & there’s usually some shared experiences to talk about.
I’m not from Michigan but I have family there, so whenever I see someone with a Michigan or “Go blue!” shirt, I tend to point it out and they thank me for liking it.
Yeah, for sure. Dunno what sets us apart or why other cultures would hesitate to do the same, but I would agree that this is something I would be inclined to do.
Yeah. We do this at home and abroad. It’s just part of being friendly. Also, we know we’re all underprepared for the trip and probably lost… so comparing notes gives us a chance to see if we missed anything (or should give something a miss).
Note: we would do this for non-Americans too, but don’t want to be disrespectful or intrusive. We just know how our countrymen will react. So, if you see American tourists (or are a tourist in one of our cities), always feel free to say hello, ask any questions you have, or give us some free advice on how to have a better experience!
I was wondering about this recently as I’m in Japan and have noticed the same phenomenon.
I think we are socialized to chat each other up in public. We tend to try to talk to everyone, but it’s easiest for us to talk with other Americans (and Canadians).
When I was in Austria I heard American accents once, I turned around and gave them a quick heyyy, but we didn’t chat. We all had stuff going on.
I’ll even do this if I see a Michigander out in a different part of the country.
Not universally, but for sure common.
I was in Paris last year, and one night at a crowded bar I met an Italian guy studying locally, who introduced me to a friend of his who happened to be an American who was visiting after finishing grad school elsewhere. We immediately struck up a conversation that made my time with the Italian guy feel like a distant memory.
In Mexico City earlier this year, I did befriend some Americans that I met in yet another crowded bar, but also encountered dozens of other American tourists/expats that I never felt compelled to chat with.
You also have to remember that, in terms of sheer size and variances in local culture/climate/lifestyle, America is somewhat like Europe to Americans. We obviously don’t have such drastic differences in language and history, but the US is huge and varied, and one thing most of us seem to share is a willingness to socialize and learn about other people’s walk of life. This is easiest to do with other Americans, and encountering them abroad can be exciting.
Probably, but I’ve had lots of non-Americans initiate conversation with me, on the plane, at a restaurant, etc. so, I think it works both ways.
Yes! I feel like I am a relatively introverted person but find that I (and my husband) do this in other countries and states. My mom is the stereotypical American and comes home from any trip with 20 new Facebook friends.
Americans are in general naturally chatty. Small talk is ingrained in our culture, and it seems only other Americans get it and are therefore more receptive to it.
When I was in France, I chatted with just about anyone that spoke English (like a 30 second conversation.) Usually they were British. But it just felt nice to speak English freely after a while of only speaking French (or broken French).
NGL, I get excited when I see other Americans abroad. Instant golden retriever energy. “Omg, where ya from? Isn’t this cool? Have you tried such and such yet? I know, I’m always thirsty too and they make me pay for refills!”
only time I’ve done this was in rome, only because they happened to be from the same area we were from and noticed our accent lol
As I pictured myself in this situation it actually made me think that it would be almost rude not to acknowledge and speak to another American. Maybe rude is too strong but somehow it just strikes me as so wrong not to engage in a conversation. As others said, we do that in the states when we meet somebody from our own state when we’re out of the area. I can’t imagine not doing it when we’re out of the country.
We want to help, make sure everything is going alright with them, maybe ask for some guidance, offer tips, just let them know they aren’t alone I guess.
Maybe I’m not explaining it well but the short answer is, yes, this is absolutely normal
I just got back from Italy and I can confirm that Americans will engage if they hear someone else from America. It’s a little bit of a hospitality thing – mostly small talk, but we would share restaurants we liked, ask what sites they saw, make recommendations and vice versa, and generally have a pleasant chat. One restaurant there were 3 American couples when we were seated and they were joking that this was the side room where they put the loud Americans.
To be fair, we also tend to chat up other folks too – especially Canadian, British, Australian or New Zealanders but really we’ll chat with anyone.
Absolutely. I always have. I live away from ‘home’ domestically in the US and always talk with someone from my state when I encounter them. There’s a scene in a Kubrick movie about this very phenomenon: https://youtu.be/1TzC2eqkFdk.
In some cases, you have to remember how big the U.S. is. Say I went to a convention in France, and I see a guy with a “Seatle Seahawks” T-shirt on. If that person is FROM Seattle, that’s 3000 miles away from me. However, I can be reasonably sure that person speaks English. So if I were to talk to them, I KNOW they probably speak my language fluently, and they are from a relatable but also interesting to me place.
Now, imagine if someone there is from France, and they meet someone from italy. Paris to Athens is 1700 miles or so. They are from two entirely different countries that are slightly more than half as far away as I am from the Seattle-ite. But, they are both EU, so they will have certain commonalities.
It’s not the whole answer, but, the language barrier (even if assumed) along with the vastness of the U.S. surely contributes.
Texans will talk to a signpost if there’s no one else around. I tend to find Texans in the wild abroad because we’re the two people at the bar looking to start a conversation with a stranger. The two friendliest people at a bar will find each other no matter their country of origin.
I’ve noticed this as well and I’m guilty of it. If I hear Americans a compulsion from deep within rises and has me asking them which state they are from.
I’ve made some great friends this way.
Very common. Americans are a friendly people, and most of us like to talk, and don’t mind talking to strangers. When we see each other across the globe sharing the same new experience, we’re going to talk about it.
I’d love to chat to Americans, I’m Irish but would love to have some American friends..
Yep I do this. I live in England (a random, non-touristy part, not London) and you best believe I stop people dead in the street if I think I hear an American accent anywhere. Once I did it to an Irish person by accident because I heard the hard “r” we both share and they were not too amused.
Yeah not sure why that is but I definitely did it in the times I was overseas.
I think a lot of Americans realize how different their culture is once they travel. And it’s nice for a minute to have a little slice of home in a foreign place.
We sort of assume that we are having the same sort of cultural moments and that is a moment for some interesting conversation.
Yes. I’m surprised other tourists ignore their countrymen.
Definitely for me, but only when in a place that you don’t expect to see other Americans (so Cancun or something doesn’t count).
I remember being at a bar in Florence, Italy and running into somebody from West Virginia and I was really excited to see an American even though meeting a West Virginian in my day to day life would not be remarkable.
Well yeah, isn’t the trope that a lot of places think we’re too friendly and they’re not interested in our small talk? If I spot another American, they’re far more likely to be engaging and want to have a conversation with me.
Yup, all the time. My girlfriend and I were at a show in Amsterdam and were talking about the band, and the guy next to us overheard us, he was American too, settled in Amsterdam. We hung out with him and his friends the rest of the evening.
lol yes, I was in Edinburgh, meeting up with a tinder dude (was trying to get weed but this guy was pretty hot so I was interested) at a more tourist-y bar on the royal mile because it was like around the corner from the flat I was staying in. As we’re drinking I’m talking somewhat loud and this one dude was like “oh you’re American??? I’m from NY!” and started a conversation and I was like “yeah yeah I’m from Florida” and then 3 other Americans appeared out of the woodworks to start a conversation as I’m trying to leave this conversation cause ain’t no way other Americans are gonna cock block me.
Americans are talkers. They don’t need to get a letter of introduction from a mutual acquaintance of indisputable integrity in order to say hello. Your reputation isn’t going to go down the tubes for talking to someone of unknown lineage. It’s OK to talk to someone who didn’t go to the same school and doesn’t move in the same circles. We aren’t going to demand your pedigree to say hello. The world seems preoccupied with this ease about us but it’s just not a big deal. The world doesn’t end. The strangers don’t try to then come to your house or borrow money, lol, they are just chatting a little.