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Calling on all Europeans and Britons
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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Tracer Bullet on Sun Feb 27th at 5:16pm 2005

I am in the early stages of planning a European trip. I'm not sure exactly where or when yet, and everything depends on my saving enough money between now and August/September.

What I would like to know is this: How do I avoid looking like a dumb American tourist (which I am, but never mind)? This includes clothing/behavior/anything. What are the particular stereotypes and common annoyances associated with sight-seeing vermin in your home country? I personally have had nothing but good experiences with Europeans in this country, but then, they generally speak pretty good English. German is the only continental language I speak, and my grasp of it more than a bit tenuous.

[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Monqui on Sun Feb 27th at 5:18pm 2005

If anyone asks, just say you're Canadian. Problems solved. [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by $loth on Sun Feb 27th at 5:19pm 2005

Clothing - jeans (ones which have some texture, not bright blue ones lol) behaviour- we are usually quite quiet as britons but will voice out opinion. Common annoyances include chavs - wearing the crappy nike/adidas/ socks over their trousers with fake burberry caps ( note: these "chavs" only travel in herds).
[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Sun Feb 27th at 5:23pm 2005

For the love of god....don't wear a bum-bag/fanny-pack (or whatever you want to call them!)

And if you make it as far as the UK, be sure to look us up

[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Gwil on Sun Feb 27th at 5:29pm 2005

Don't call things quaint. Don't shout or speak slowly to people if you don't speak the language - most Spanish, French, German people will learn English anyway because of the breadth of it's use, and hate being patronised - the British and the Americans are particularly good at annoying Johnny Foreigner.

Also, as a rule of thumb, Europeans don't dislike Americans, they're just people like us after all. Most people dislike your Government/President and the policies associated with it, or the god damn Christian right.

I don't think you'll have any problems TBH, T_B. Just don't be too loud, stay polite and courteous (as I expect you are in the USA anyway), and you'll be fine. As Adam says, if you make it as far as this dirty little hole of a country, give a shout out and i'm sure you'll have a free bed or beer at the hands of some of our members.

And avoid anything unofficial looking, tours, tshirts etc etc - the prices may be cheaper for some things, but theres tinkers and gypsies looking to rip off tourists everywhere - especially Americans. [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Andrei on Sun Feb 27th at 5:35pm 2005

All I can say is that you should be careful around cab drivers, espeically in Eastern-Europe and Turkey. They love suckering tourists. I heard an american tourist was suckered into paying 300 dollars for a 10 dollar fare. And you should follow that "say you're canadian" advice. Some people here (especially the ones without too many braincells) consider americans very very rich but dumb; easy money. And if you cross through contries that have 60 or 80km/h speed limits EVERYWHERE you look (like Bulgaria has), just choose a local car that's going your way (you'll notice that the locals ignore the speedlimit) and use it as a screen. The police usually stop foreigners because they're full of travel-money. Just in case, spare some 25-50 euros; bribe money. When the policeman asks for your passport, put a few bills in it and then hand it to him. Always works , the corrupt bastards!
[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by ReNo on Sun Feb 27th at 6:23pm 2005

Congratulations Andrei, I think you just scared him out of going to Romania
[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Gwil on Sun Feb 27th at 6:27pm 2005

It's the same in Poland and most former Eastern Bloc countries TBH ReNo, not just Romania. The police are as crooked as the San Andreas fault. [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Feb 27th at 6:40pm 2005

listen to those old interviews they did with the Beatles.. practice on your McCartney wannabee voice. everyone knows Brits have the silliest accents. you get their accent down and your in. [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by $loth on Sun Feb 27th at 6:48pm 2005

Brits have the silliest accents? I thought "Luigi" in the simpsons did
[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by ding on Sun Feb 27th at 7:20pm 2005

Germany:

Depends on the location you want to visit. I live in South Germany and we expect high temperatures in August. So wear jeans and a T-shirt. Well I think you can wear "ordinary american" clothing - It's the same
[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Leperous on Sun Feb 27th at 7:21pm 2005

? quoting Orpheus
listen to those old interviews they did with the Beatles.. practice on your McCartney wannabee voice. everyone knows Brits have the silliest accents. you get their accent down and your in.

Says he coming from Arkansas... "Hey maw! Let's cook us some vittles! Guh-huk!"





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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Tracer Bullet on Sun Feb 27th at 7:28pm 2005

Well, I wasn't really planning on eastern Europe to begin with, and Andrei has indeed succeeded in reinforcing that opinion. On the other hand though, I hear it is allot cheaper. The scope of the trip depends on how many pennies I can pinch between now and then.

The core is going to be Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. However, my intent is to basically wander wherever the wind blows. I may spend all my time in one country, and I may hop around allot. I do want at least 7-10 days per country though, so how many I hit depends on the quantity of time and money i have to run with. Since the UK isn't part of the eurail system it's a bit harder to include... That said, if I do end up with enough money and time I'd like to make it a tail end stop and either fly in or out of London. I'll certainly be sure to look up some of you guys if I make it out there.

On the clothing/appearance front, I'd really rather avoid jeans if I can. They are heavy, bulky, and suck up water like a sponge. What else is common? I suppose the differences between the States and Europe may be pretty subtle. i haven't been able to find much information on this subject.

[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Gwil on Sun Feb 27th at 7:31pm 2005

There isn't much difference at all. Americas contribution to culture is fast food, jeans, casual clothes etc etc - all of which have gradually been exported over to Europe, Africa, Asia, anywhere really.

You can't really go far wrong by wearing what you wore when you met Orph, TBH.

Also as you say the mainland EU countries aren't particularly well linked to the UK, but flights in and out of London are dirt cheap - keep in mind that the UK has the highest living costs in the world, so if you intend to stop by, budget for it. [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by thursday- on Sun Feb 27th at 8:18pm 2005

? quote:
If anyone asks, just say you're Canadian. Problems solved.


You will get one hell of a beating if you do. "Blame Canada" is a strong theme in our society, next to "Blame America" then "Blame Tony Blair".
[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Gwil on Sun Feb 27th at 8:22pm 2005

Er, no it isn't It's a line off South Park which is used universally to mock the Canadians for being a nobody country

*me runs from angry Canadians*

I think about 40% of the British population wouldn't be able to point to Canada on an unmarked map, let alone know it used to be one of our colonies which didn't rebel. [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Tracer Bullet on Sun Feb 27th at 8:29pm 2005

? quoting Gwil
Er, no it isn't It's a line off South Park which is used universally to mock the Canadians for being a nobody country

*me runs from angry Canadians*

I think about 40% of the British population wouldn't be able to point to Canada on an unmarked map, let alone know it used to be one of our colonies which didn't rebel.

You'd think the fact that they speak english (mostly) would be a big hint on that one. I sometimes wonder what the world would be like if the British Empire had not fallen apart. Imagine a single nation that ruled all of North America, India, and elsewhere I don't even know about. Kind of a scary thought.

Thanks for the help, all.

[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by omegaslayer on Sun Feb 27th at 9:04pm 2005

T_B people are people....theres no denying that, they are people just like you, but generally americans are known for being "loud mouths", like everyone has said, speak softer. But all in all eveyone wants to have a good time like you .

Don't act like your better than anyone because your from america, like some of my stupid friends did.....ohh boy they still have scares from getting beaten up (but don't let this stop you ).

About the only rare time I've been talked down to was in Canida by some local whom I was asking directions from, so you have nothing to worry about in europe.

Just my 2c from my travels.

[addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Myrk- on Sun Feb 27th at 9:26pm 2005

Pronounce words with "ham" on the end as "um". Its not Birming Ham, its Birmingum Use the english words for stuff too- aluminIUM, nappy, etc. Not that you'll ever use those words lol. But yer, watch out for large groups of drunk people in the whole of Europe. Their goal in life is not to steal your money, but just beat the crap outa ya! [addsig]



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 Re: Calling on all Europeans and Britons
Posted by Orpheus on Sun Feb 27th at 9:35pm 2005

? quoting Leperous

Says he coming from Arkansas... "Hey maw! Let's cook us some vittles! Guh-huk!"

i do not have a native Arkansan accent lep. in fact i have little that would define an origin in my speech at all. i think that stems from my constant moving as a child maybe. i grew up in the west as a child, but spent may winters in the east in the same time period. accents are acquired in your young years i think.

far easterner notice i am not from local, but so do far westerners. but mostly its speech choices of wording. for instance. when i delivered to California, i told them "i have the bus out on the road, i need to move it" apparently they do not use the word "road" in that context. they asked me where i was from, when i told them all they could say was "figures, from the woods"

any who's ask TB, my accent, if i have one is not Arkansan.

[addsig]




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