Many years ago, around the 9/11 period, Ron and I were sitting in a French café when a manifestation came marching down the streets, an angry crowd carrying banners, some sort of Communist party gathering. Ron looked concerned and leaned over and whispered to me, “Try to look French”.
I burst out laughing. My hunky husband is at least half a foot taller than the average Frenchman, and was wearing white sneakers, shorts, white crew socks, a polo shirt. You could have put a beret on him and tucked a baguette under his arm and he still wouldn’t pass for a French mec.
I’ve always been tickled by this photo of our friend Paul. He’s rockin’ the French look: beret, a dashing scarf, smoking a gitaine, market basket with bread, café sitting and giving les touristes the sideeye . But in fact he’s a British expat, trying hard not to look the part of the English tourist.
This year, there are fewer European tourists in the States (for obvious reasons), and more Americans visiting Europe. A few decades after our experience, how do the French spot Americans? I quizzed my French friends to find out.
About those running shoes like Ron was wearing: in the interim, sneakers of all sorts have become ubiquitous all over the world, but Americans still get the prize for wearing them nearly everywhere. French women had a little fling with les baskets last year, wearing glitzy sneakers with dressy clothes, but now that is so yesterday.
Add to that list, athleisure wear. Leggings, lycra, sweats, this insanely popular trend in the States has not hit Europe. These things are confined to the gym in France. Ron says too that you can often spot an American guy by his preppy clothes: loose fitting khakis and polo shirts, boat shoes or loafers. Add baseball hats to that, they are an American thing. Then of course we Americans are heavier by far: obesity rates are over twice as high in the States as they are in France.
The French are generally well turned-out, no leggings in sight.
Also in the clothes department, you will not see the French draping themselves in the flag. Flags here stay on a flagpole, not splashed across t-shirts and hats. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a French flag flying on the outside of a residential home.
Flags in France appear on public buildings, not on t-shirts and such.
Ask the French how they will spot Americans, and many will answer: their teeth! Bright and white, shiny and perfect, (While I would give higher marks to French health care, American dentistry is absolutely the top). And Americans love to display them too, smiling at strangers—not a custom here—laughing with much vigor, and so on.
Here’s one more: Americans will walk right up and pet your dog. This is une horreur in France and is considered rude. As an animal lover, I have to restrain myself on this one. Note that the dog won’t like it either! French dogs are as reserved as their owners, they won’t leap up for a cuddle, panting and full of excitement at a new friend. They will ignore you completely in the manner of a cat.
Hands off of Fluffy: French dogs do not indulge tourists.
This is one we can personally attest to: Americans are LOUD. French restaurants are generally quiet places, where you can have a conversation without raising your voice (how we miss that when we are in the States!). If there are Americans dining there, it’s immediately obvious. But wait–surely WE aren’t like that?
Sometimes Americans can be identified by their tipping habits, as in they do it and Europeans don’t much, especially in restaurants.
Americans are in general more extroverted, apt to chat up strangers, laugh loudly, enthuse easily, take lots of selfies. Making them (us?) pretty easy to spot. These qualities can be endearing sometimes, and obnoxious at others.
Uh-oh–Here am I, playing tourist at a Burgundy château and acting like a selfie-taking American, flashing the pearly whites, with my Canadian expat friend Debbie,
Readers, what have I missed? I’m sure you can add to this list!
In the COMMENTS: Christine, I hope you get here soon! Anyone thinking of a move should read Cynthia’s interesting story. And be sure to read Deborah’s comments then check out her site at Feel Good French. She is a native speaker and teaches French on-line. She targets the lessons to particular needs. Take a look at her website, here.
Carolyn Thompson is another American living in Burgundy, and she puts together some wonderful tours. She usually does a women’s tour of Burgundy, but this year she’s doing something different: “An Autumn Adventure in Burgundy for Creative Spirits.” You can find details here at her website, Your Key to Burgundy. She has some beautiful photos to inspire you:
Favorite READS: Natalia as usual is kind enough to find a good French read for us. This week it’s The Little Provence Bookshop, by Gillian Harvey. Now who can resist that cozy title?
Be sure to check out Kristi’s new website at French Word a Day, with a new URL: www.kristinespinasse.com. I’m well into her new book, A Year in a French Life. Love the photos and fun format especially. But it’s teaching me how many French words I don’t know!
And one more, to watch: I haven’t yet learned how to imbed a video in this blog, but I will give you a link. This is absolutely the funniest quick video about France I’ve ever seen . Called “Have you ever been to France?”, it’s by a French guy pretending to be an American tourist, and poking fun at the French, at French stereotypes, and at Americans, all at the same time. Take a minute to watch it here.
12 thoughts on “Spotting A Common Species: The American Tourist”
Thanks for the encouragement, Lynn. Each day seems worse than the last here and I can’t explain why I haven’t taken the leap—except that I’m one of a couple and it takes two. On another note, I spent a January term in 1970-something in Paris where a total stranger in La Marais where I was spending the month told me as I passed by that I showed too many teeth. And I’ll have to admit, I do have all my teeth, including all four wisdom teeth. And I do smile a lot. Mea culpa.
Always enjoy your insights ! What I find tres intéressant is all of the birthday party paraphernalia “en Englais “: Happy Birthday cards, banners, plates etc
French, American, Canadian and British flags are everywhere in Normandie — outside houses everywhere. Brought tears to my eyes.
So well observed Lynn. Bravo!
ON Point! We have a planned trip to Spain and Portugal coming up so I have been musing about packing. Some of the fax pas we wouldn’t be guilty of – spandex in public? Sneakers, however, will happen, otherwise it’s orthopedic shoes if we’re touring, no significant difference. Height, weight and teeth…guilty as charged. We will make every effort to behave appropriately in public. Ron will smile when he considers the challenge that stifling my “personality” to fit European norms may pose. Sincerely, thanks for the reminder, we have encountered “ugly Americans” both abroad and at home and truly don’t want to be seen in that light.
I’ve lived in France for 16 years now (Provence near Carpentras) and have noticed many changes. I see people of all ages in sneakers now. A few people fly the French flag at their homes, and it is usually a nod to National Rally (former Front National). If I want to pet someone’s dog I ask in French, and they are usually quite flattered. I’ve never had someone be cold about it or refuse. I also see French children petting other (French) people’s dogs, very politely. One can also spot tourists from other countries and areas: Parisians with their very chic clothes worn in a certain way; the Dutch with their really cool expensive casual clothes. By now most of my clothing is French, and I might fool someone until I say something.
bonnie in provence
In Lourmarin I saw a man picking stickers out of his Yorkie’s feet. My friend has a Yorkie, and I asked the man if I could take his picture to send to my friend. He put the dog in my arms and grabbed my phone. The dog cuddled up to me, and I got a cute photo for my friend.
During our school years my Mom and I spent several summers traveling through Europe on the way to visit relatives, and we found it SO easy to spot Americans. One dead giveaway back then was the rinse that senior women used that turned their gray hair almost blue. We packed to fit in as much as possible, but I never quite made it — we were always taken for Americans until my Mom spoke, except one year when I ruined a shirt and had to buy a replacement in Amsterdam. The differences were so subtle that I couldn’t define what, exactly, they were, but that summer I “passed” readily. Thanks for jolting the memories. I really enjoy your blog.
Dear Lynn, first of all,I love your coiffure!! You two gals make us Americans proud for your elegant and chic look!! Wow!
Thank you for another wonderful post, one filled with fun and useful information!
I completely agree with the French outlook of do not pet someone else’s dog! A stranger attempting to do that with our Yorkies ( aka our mignons!) drives me nuts!
My book suggestion this time is by Rebecca Raisin ( a favorite of mine) ” A Love Letter to Paris”. Perfect summer escape reading!
I feel very flattered when going about my business in Dijon and a French person stops me on the street to ask a question in French. Since I’m not very good at French (despite my efforts), the best I can do is try to grab a couple of key terms and give an answer I hope satisfies. But I guess the fact that I’m asked means I don’t look too American. But one sign for me that someone is an American tourist is that their clothes are ill-fitting. There are many other signs (hoodies, anyone?), but this is so obvious. However, I would like to speak up in favor of American leggings and yoga pants. Although quelle horreur in France, they are easy to pack and comfortable. But I always dress them up with a long sweater or tunic (hide the rear) and wear fashionable sneakers, not running shoes, so I don’t look like I’m coming from the gym.
I’ve been hiking in the Dordogne with friends for 10 days and am sitting in the Bordeaux airport now, waiting to return to Atlanta. When I got your post I immediately sent it out to the other hikers. We had a huge laugh over it. Needless to say we committed all those sins and then some … the sparkling toothy smiles, petting strange dogs and probably my worst was waving when a car passed us – we’re from Georgia, after all, and that’s what we do! We’re still laughing …
🧳 This post is a hilarious and affectionate ode to the unmistakable charm of the American tourist! From the oversized sneakers to the enthusiastic menu translations, every observation is spot-on and delivered with wit. I especially loved the bit about “patriotism in the luggage aisle”—such a clever way to highlight the pride and personality that travelers bring with them. It’s refreshing to see cultural quirks celebrated rather than critiqued. Thanks for the laughs and the reminder that travel is as much about people-watching as it is about sightseeing!