View Full Version : Blending in, In other Countries.
Midtown
03-09-2004, 01:40 PM
This summer, my girlfriend is going to france for school for two months, she's completly worried about blending in. She is worried they are going to ask her about american foriegn policy and all that fun ****. And she really doesnt know jack **** about it. So she is completly nervous about that. She is going as far as to get cloths so people wont really recognize she's an "out of towner" I think this is pretty funny.
I am going over to europe in the end of july-august, and I dont care if people know where I am from, hell, Im proud of it. Theres a good chance I'll have my USA Hockey cap on most of the time. I dont think one should be afraid to go anywhere because of where you are from, if you cant be proud of your country, then thats pretty sad. I think she is over dramatizing the situation. And for you guys who live in France/London, Wanna hit up a pub/bar some night this summer? But what do you guys think about traveling to another country, would you rather blend in? or just be yourself? Im intrested to see how the euro-folk will respond.
MolliG
03-09-2004, 01:55 PM
I'd be myself, but I would observe and respect the natives so to speak. That would mean, for example, not having meh ****ies and belly uncovered (:lol:) in a Muslim area on a really hot day, and bowing in Japan even if the other person understands the whole Western handshake 'thing', et cetera.
:)
Maverick77
03-09-2004, 01:56 PM
If your an American be proud of it
**** those assholes.
I wear an american hat here in Canada a lot....a few ****heads say something but I just wear it because its a hat I dont even think about the country on it.
I would wear that exact same hat anywhere in the world and not think twice about it.
and im not even American
Mr Gently Benevolent
03-09-2004, 02:01 PM
Would not bother to much about blending in just go along and you will get along. I did hear a funny story from a friend who knows this New York Jewish girl who wanted to do part of her art history studies in London and Europe her mother was in tears when she told her where she was going to study, her grandmother declared that Europe was full of Nazis and anti-semites and that she surley would come to grief once people found out that she was Jewish. When I met her she looked like something out of a Nazi propaganda poster tall, blonde and blue eyed. Misconceptions eh. :D
Dalleer
03-09-2004, 02:02 PM
Well you know, whenever I go to Sweden I don't really even consider the matter of "blending in" since there are no "real" fundamental differences that you could actually distinguish a Finn from a Swede when it comes to clothing and skin colour etc.
So I don't really worry about it until someone starts to talk with me out there, people tend to recognise that I'm Finnish from my rather poor knowledge of Swedish and that "Mika Häkkinen"-accent.
I probably couldn't speak enough Swedish to save my life, but at least "blending in" externally is really no problem.
http://www.abo.fi/~aiesecmk/kickoff2001/kickoff2.jpg
The example above is a big "no", you will certainly look like a typical Finn stereotype while being dressed in this attire
http://www.sveasvin.se/VM1999/Norgebilder/63.jpg
Now this is much better!
This summer, my girlfriend is going to france for school for two months, she's completly worried about blending in. She is worried they are going to ask her about american foriegn policy and all that fun ****. And she really doesnt know jack **** about it. So she is completly nervous about that. She is going as far as to get cloths so people wont really recognize she's an "out of towner" I think this is pretty funny.
I am going over to europe in the end of july-august, and I dont care if people know where I am from, hell, Im proud of it. Theres a good chance I'll have my USA Hockey cap on most of the time. I dont think one should be afraid to go anywhere because of where you are from, if you cant be proud of your country, then thats pretty sad. I think she is over dramatizing the situation. And for you guys who live in France/London, Wanna hit up a pub/bar some night this summer? But what do you guys think about traveling to another country, would you rather blend in? or just be yourself? Im intrested to see how the euro-folk will respond.
There is no need to worry what so ever, dress however you want to, there are plenty of american in europe. A few months after 9/11 I walked down the main street in the muslim part of town in rural India and they were all really friendly even though I was one of about 10 westerners in town.
Brandon
03-09-2004, 02:12 PM
Theres a good chance I'll have my USA Hockey cap on most of the time
USA hockey.... rofl
TheJedi
03-09-2004, 02:13 PM
If you're going to central or northern Europe (mainly Germany, France, Great Britain, Benelux countries, Denmark etc.), you won't have any problems being recognized as an American concerning clothing.
If you're not going to the countryside and as long as you keep your mouth shut, noone will know. :D
Mr Gently Benevolent
03-09-2004, 02:19 PM
If you're not going to the countryside and as long as you keep your mouth shut, noone will know. :DBut we will make sure everyone in Europe will know you Midtown as we have photos that you made available to us these will be printed on posters bearing the words "CAUTION Anal *** Fiend" :lol: and distributed round bus depots and railway stations. :lol:
EvanL
03-09-2004, 02:22 PM
Ive lived in many different places and visited many different places, and there is really no point in trying to blend in unless you are trying to hide from something. As long as you dont go around in france gloating about your countries power im sure they wont give you any trouble.
Alpha Leader
03-09-2004, 02:23 PM
I was in the states last summer,Lake Thaoe and Nevada, San Francisco,Napa Valley.GREAT STUFF , best vacation ever!!!
Everybody i spoke to were good to me and my girlfriend,she was a bit nervous about it but as long as you are yourself you can go a long way.
But i agree with the aspect of being respectful for the cultural behavior in other Contries.
Come over here to Europe and have a great stay where ever you go.
If you come to Norway,i take you out for a beer. ;)
California Joe
03-09-2004, 02:29 PM
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
EvanL
03-09-2004, 02:34 PM
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Macs.
03-09-2004, 02:36 PM
I eat humans.
TheJedi
03-09-2004, 02:44 PM
I eat humans.
I thought you were in prison... ah, wait, you're not from Rotenburg! :D
Maverick77
03-09-2004, 02:47 PM
I eat humans.
and I train Pokemon
Trigger
03-09-2004, 02:49 PM
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
...or you could sew a little Swedish flag on your sleeve and stencil 'I'm into puppies' on the front. You'll fit right in.
Ichhabe
03-09-2004, 02:50 PM
If your an American be proud of it
f*** those assholes.
I wear an american hat here in Canada a lot....a few ****heads say something but I just wear it because its a hat I dont even think about the country on it.
I would wear that exact same hat anywhere in the world and not think twice about it.
and im not even American
Yo Airborne, relax.
You just don't say "f*** those assholes."
For your ignorant information I strut around in an Enduring Freedom cap with a US flag on it.
Haven't heard Jack **** of bad comments toward it. I also on a regulare basis walk around in desert BDU-trouses and none has EVER walked over to lip me.
I've even walked in to a "hippie"bar in Oslo wearing "Proud to serve"T-shirt. Not an eye was raised.
Hell, I'm sure I could skin the US President and wear him as a suit, and people would not care.
It is all about you own attitude, so be nice. And people are nice back.
Nondescript
03-09-2004, 02:52 PM
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
...or you could sew a little Swedish flag on your sleeve and stencil 'I'm into puppies' on the front. You'll fit right in.
Dude I was almost offended by that. rofl
Kitsune
03-09-2004, 02:55 PM
Macs wrote:
I eat humans.
Yeah, me too. Yummie. :D
@Midtown:
You'd better stay in France. 'Cause if we find out that someone is an American over here in Germany, he or she is burned at a stake. If he's lucky, that is.
p-)
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
...or you could sew a little Swedish flag on your sleeve and stencil 'I'm into puppies' on the front. You'll fit right in.
yeah, I did the same in the states but with an american flag and 'I'm into my sister (who's also my mom)' only worked in the south though, so only wear it in the right areas ;)
Trigger
03-09-2004, 03:22 PM
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
...or you could sew a little Swedish flag on your sleeve and stencil 'I'm into puppies' on the front. You'll fit right in.
yeah, I did the same in the states but with an american flag and 'I'm into my sister (who's also my mom)' only worked in the south though, so only wear it in the right areas ;)
haha!
Do you have a full set of teeth? because that's always a dead giveaway that you're not a real redneck. :D
Flagg
03-09-2004, 03:57 PM
This summer, my girlfriend is going to france for school for two months, she's completly worried about blending in. She is worried they are going to ask her about american foriegn policy and all that fun ****. And she really doesnt know jack **** about it. So she is completly nervous about that. She is going as far as to get cloths so people wont really recognize she's an "out of towner" I think this is pretty funny.
I am going over to europe in the end of july-august, and I dont care if people know where I am from, hell, Im proud of it. Theres a good chance I'll have my USA Hockey cap on most of the time. I dont think one should be afraid to go anywhere because of where you are from, if you cant be proud of your country, then thats pretty sad. I think she is over dramatizing the situation. And for you guys who live in France/London, Wanna hit up a pub/bar some night this summer? But what do you guys think about traveling to another country, would you rather blend in? or just be yourself? Im intrested to see how the euro-folk will respond
I wouldn't sweat it....but it's great that you and your partner are considering it though.
Doesn't matter what you wear...your accent will give you away in 1/2 second anyway
It's been mentioned by a number of folks to respect the local environment...couldn't agree more.
I was born in the US, but have traveled and now live elsewhere, best advice I can offer:
Always remember, you only have ONE mouth, but you've got TWO ears..listen at least twice as much as you speak.
Going out of your way to be a good person and staying "switched on" to ensure you're making a good impression on those you meet is 99% of the battle.....because you are an ambassador for your country
the other 1% who believe you have a direct hotline to the President and want to tell you how things are so YOU can tell Bush personally...best bet...be polite and respectful...and get out of the conversation.
Beer can be quite a bit stronger in some markets in Europe...
make sure you get lots of drinking practice in before you go...so you're fully prepared to uphold the honour of your nation at the pub....
we don't want to read about you passed out in an Amsterdam gutter after only 5-6 beers...sort it out mate ;)
ibstolidude
03-09-2004, 04:08 PM
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. she can come over to my place for some ahhh "cultural awarness" training.
California Joe
03-09-2004, 04:09 PM
Col Flagg knows. The eagle flies at midnight. Nuff said.
Maverick77
03-09-2004, 04:49 PM
If your an American be proud of it
f*** those assholes.
I wear an american hat here in Canada a lot....a few ****heads say something but I just wear it because its a hat I dont even think about the country on it.
I would wear that exact same hat anywhere in the world and not think twice about it.
and im not even American
Yo Airborne, relax.
You just don't say "f*** those assholes."
For your ignorant information I strut around in an Enduring Freedom cap with a US flag on it.
Haven't heard Jack **** of bad comments toward it. I also on a regulare basis walk around in desert BDU-trouses and none has EVER walked over to lip me.
I've even walked in to a "hippie"bar in Oslo wearing "Proud to serve"T-shirt. Not an eye was raised.
Hell, I'm sure I could skin the US President and wear him as a suit, and people would not care.
It is all about you own attitude, so be nice. And people are nice back.
You think I give a **** what you do in Norway.
As for anybody that says anything to midtown's girl over there.
**** em don't give them the time a day is my advice to her.
you do just say that.... and when more people learn to ignore stupid pricks like that..not giving them the attention they want or whatever it is....
This world will be a much better place.
The problem is that when you go to Europe with the general feeling of '**** these assholes', you're not likely to have a nice time... Just a thought... :roll:
Maverick77
03-09-2004, 04:53 PM
The problem is that when you go to Europe with the general feeling of 'f*** these assholes', you're not likely to have a nice time... Just a thought... :roll:
where did I say it was general feeling....
its a feeling towards any idiot who gives you a hard time because of your countrys foreign policy.
When you have absolutely jack **** to do with it.
Ichhabe
03-09-2004, 05:07 PM
I stll say that you need to relax Airborne. Stay off the sugar.
EvanL
03-09-2004, 05:14 PM
I stll say that you need to relax Airborne. Stay off the sugar.
And the ****. The **** must be pretty far up your ass by now to be yelling so much.
Relax a bit. It makes it much more easier to get your point across.
Maverick77
03-09-2004, 05:30 PM
I stll say that you need to relax Airborne. Stay off the sugar.
And the ****. The **** must be pretty far up your ass by now to be yelling so much.
Relax a bit. It makes it much more easier to get your point across.
if I was yelling id put caps lock on and throw in a few of these !
EvanL
03-09-2004, 05:39 PM
I stll say that you need to relax Airborne. Stay off the sugar.
And the ****. The **** must be pretty far up your ass by now to be yelling so much.
Relax a bit. It makes it much more easier to get your point across.
if I was yelling id put caps lock on and throw in a few of these !
Sorry let me rephrase that.
Enough with the arguing.
Anger runs deep in this thread...
memphiz
03-09-2004, 05:56 PM
yeah just be your self, minus all the buttsex stuff. and dont say you like the Minnisota Wild ;) you'll get your ass kicked. and dont diss their culture and stuff, thats bad. and if none of that works simply say your Canadian, you'll get treated very nicely, and be given free stuff at bars ;)
Fargin
03-09-2004, 06:08 PM
Just don't be acting like the stupid american tourist in "Killing Zoe"
Then, one of the bank customers, a MALE TOURIST, speaks up.
MALE TOURIST
(holding up his passport)
This is insane! I am a U.S. citizen!
You must let me go!
Eric looks at him.
MALE TOURIST
I'm an American! American! I'm just
here exchanging dollars. If it wasn't
for my country you'd all be speaking
German!
Eric is tired of this outburst, he shoots him.
Midtown
03-09-2004, 06:45 PM
Oh I plan on being completly nice, I wouldnt bring up buttsex and whatnot over there, I dont know if the culture over in Europe is quite that relaxed. (buggermy?) I have nothing against the people in europe or france, just some of the asshole politicians, kind of like how some of you hate bush, but not americans. I just picked up my plane ticket, 880$ chrriiiisst. goddamn olympics are why its so jacked up. I dont know any french really, but she's learning. I can speak enough german to get by if we decide to head that way at all. Thanks for most of your comments about it, except the buttsex comment by joe, my girl isnt quite as loudmouthed as I am about ****** ****.
Example - I was at a party last week, and this chick had braces on (she was 21, looked like she was 15) I go "Hey chipper, when your sucking **** does the braces catch on anything at all?" And I even got her to get her boyfriend on the phone to ask him, because I didnt belive her. (awnser was no btw) I could write a damn comic book based on that chick.
My girlfriend - She doesnt discuss ****** things with me unless no ones around. She gets embarresed to reply to my usual "Hey we should go **** in the elevator" jargon. She's super shy about most things like that. I just dont care for the most part. I gotta get a picture of the girl with braces, you guys will laugh your asses off. She also has a Jeff Gordon tatoo on her back (if that doesnt scream of redneck, I really dont know what does)
But keep with the info, and stop with the gaytistic arguments
memphiz
03-09-2004, 06:50 PM
ok you can support the Wild a little but only the Canadian players, not Dwayne Roloson, he did great last year in the playoffs, but when he played for Calgary he was horrible.
Oh I plan on being completly nice, I wouldnt bring up buttsex and whatnot over there, I dont know if the culture over in Europe is quite that relaxed. (buggermy?) I have nothing against the people in europe or france, just some of the asshole politicians, kind of like how some of you hate bush, but not americans. I just picked up my plane ticket, 880$ chrriiiisst. goddamn olympics are why its so jacked up. I dont know any french really, but she's learning. I can speak enough german to get by if we decide to head that way at all. Thanks for most of your comments about it, except the buttsex comment by joe, my girl isnt quite as loudmouthed as I am about ****** ****.
Some good advise:
Never try speaking German in France...[/i] :lol:
Nawlins
03-09-2004, 07:09 PM
I don't think she really has to worry about getting asked any questions... I found when I lived in Europe that for the most part unless you ask them something, they'll ignore you.
As far as blending in... Europeans (in general, there are a few countries I'm not sure about, but I know this applies in Italy and France) tend to wear more dressy clothing all the time than Americans. For example, I didn't see many people wearing jeans, and if they did it was with a nice shirt and shoes. Women wear nice pants and dresses alot. Get a good pair of sunglasses and maybe a nice hat. Wear alot of dark and neutral colors, especially dark red and black. Unless you're going to the beach at some point, don't even bother bringing shorts.
That's about it. Good luck to her.
Midtown
03-09-2004, 07:46 PM
I don't think she really has to worry about getting asked any questions... I found when I lived in Europe that for the most part unless you ask them something, they'll ignore you.
As far as blending in... Europeans (in general, there are a few countries I'm not sure about, but I know this applies in Italy and France) tend to wear more dressy clothing all the time than Americans. For example, I didn't see many people wearing jeans, and if they did it was with a nice shirt and shoes. Women wear nice pants and dresses alot. Get a good pair of sunglasses and maybe a nice hat. Wear alot of dark and neutral colors, especially dark red and black. Unless you're going to the beach at some point, don't even bother bringing shorts.
That's about it. Good luck to her.
Thanks thats the best advise so far! Ill relay the info
Oh I plan on being completly nice, I wouldnt bring up buttsex and whatnot over there, I dont know if the culture over in Europe is quite that relaxed.
they have **** in every other commercial in france, and the rest of europe cracked up when they saw the american reaction to janet's tit. I'd say you bring up whatever you want here people won't be offended. If anything europe is a lot more relaxed.
I don't think she really has to worry about getting asked any questions... I found when I lived in Europe that for the most part unless you ask them something, they'll ignore you.
As far as blending in... Europeans (in general, there are a few countries I'm not sure about, but I know this applies in Italy and France) tend to wear more dressy clothing all the time than Americans. For example, I didn't see many people wearing jeans, and if they did it was with a nice shirt and shoes. Women wear nice pants and dresses alot. Get a good pair of sunglasses and maybe a nice hat. Wear alot of dark and neutral colors, especially dark red and black. Unless you're going to the beach at some point, don't even bother bringing shorts.
That's about it. Good luck to her.
that stuff maybe true about older women (ie 30+ at least) but younger people dress more relaxed then that.
Have her wear low cut tops and discuss anal ***. She shouldn't have any problem making friends. You however, will probably just run amok annoying the piss out of the locals and generally giving the rest of us a bad reputation in Europe.
...or you could sew a little Swedish flag on your sleeve and stencil 'I'm into puppies' on the front. You'll fit right in.
yeah, I did the same in the states but with an american flag and 'I'm into my sister (who's also my mom)' only worked in the south though, so only wear it in the right areas ;)
haha!
Do you have a full set of teeth? because that's always a dead giveaway that you're not a real redneck. :D
I have a full set of yellow teeth so I fit right in ;)
Midtown
03-10-2004, 01:28 AM
Oh I plan on being completly nice, I wouldnt bring up buttsex and whatnot over there, I dont know if the culture over in Europe is quite that relaxed.
they have **** in every other commercial in france, and the rest of europe cracked up when they saw the american reaction to janet's tit. I'd say you bring up whatever you want here people won't be offended. If anything europe is a lot more relaxed.
Yeah when that happened i was like "Who gives a ****, its a tit, get the internet."
Nawlins
03-10-2004, 01:45 AM
I don't think she really has to worry about getting asked any questions... I found when I lived in Europe that for the most part unless you ask them something, they'll ignore you.
As far as blending in... Europeans (in general, there are a few countries I'm not sure about, but I know this applies in Italy and France) tend to wear more dressy clothing all the time than Americans. For example, I didn't see many people wearing jeans, and if they did it was with a nice shirt and shoes. Women wear nice pants and dresses alot. Get a good pair of sunglasses and maybe a nice hat. Wear alot of dark and neutral colors, especially dark red and black. Unless you're going to the beach at some point, don't even bother bringing shorts.
That's about it. Good luck to her.
that stuff maybe true about older women (ie 30+ at least) but younger people dress more relaxed then that.
Eh... Just relaying my observations.
fred_engles
03-10-2004, 01:45 AM
Other notes on dress in Europe: don't wear shorts, socks with sandals, white socks, or white running shoes. In general, what for americans is business casual (nice khakis, polo shirts, etc) makes good streetwear in Europe.
citizen-k
03-10-2004, 02:42 AM
I was in Amsterdam a few weeks after 11/9 and there was a huge demonstration against the planned American attack on Afghanistan.
One of the people who organized it started talking to me and tryed to convince me to join them...
After I told him I'm from Israel he told me he is from Iran and he was very intersted in my point of view about the current situation - we talked for a while and then I left. (As you can guess I couldn't care less about the American response to 11/9 - It's their problem and they should solve it however they want)
So, I don't think there is a problem to talk about it - depends with who, where and why.
If its a polite talk of exchanging views its fine - if it's an argument with some skinheads or extream leftists - just walk away.
Hullebullen
03-10-2004, 03:59 AM
Jeez, one would think this was about making first contact with little green men from Mars, not going to west Europe on vacation...
mustamato
03-10-2004, 04:09 AM
Here at the University where i study there are a lot of American students,
the only reason to why I know that is because I hear them speak sometimes
out on the town and so forth. Otherwise I wouldn´t know. They look the same,
they dress the same and everything. Perhaps Americans are more loud though,
they brag about stuff publicly and don´t care if someone hears it. Swedes
usually don´t do that. But maybe it´s more those individuals that lived in a big
city or something back in US.
Advice: Don´t brag when you are here, don´t complain on how ugly those
"European" cars are, don´t comment on our culture etc. Remember that you are
guests. Then you´ll be fine. Btw one of my teachers is American, she has even
learned Swedish and picked up our southern Sweden accent. That´s the way
it should be.
ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð
03-10-2004, 04:29 AM
be yourself, dont be anyone else, dont piss off the locals, dont call any english "wankers" and most importantly dont make fun of the local culture.
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