Do you wear your RED, WHITE & BLUE?
By New Wave Gurly
By Verdammelt
Or are you the type who prefer's to blend in with the locals? While traveling in Ireland with a group of girlfriends one of my friends showed up wearing an American flag on her hat. This was her first time traveling outside of America so we explained that it might be smart to keep a low profile and try to blend in. She got all patriotic on us and told us she was proud to be an American and was going to wear her American flag hat.
Well we finished our sundaes and everything was fine. We all ended up having a good laugh about it but I'm pretty sure my friend wont be wearing her red, white & blue while traveling overseas.
I consider myself fairly patriotic...after all I was born on the 4th of July. But after this and not being allowed to stay in a hostel in Greece after they found out we were Americans, I have since fibbed a few times saying I was a Canadian. Anyone else out there from the USA sporting a Canadian patch on your backpack?
10 comments:
I'm with you, I won't even wear white sports shoes (not that I ever do). I'm very proud to be American and I still believe it's the greatest country I've ever been to, but when in Rome...
I don't fib about my citizenship but I find myself quickly adding that I wasn't born in the US. That usually successfully diverts the conversation to other countries.
I try to blend. We've had some unpleasant experiences living overseas and have had a few comments about "those Americans" so we just try not to do anything but blend. It sucks but you have to be safe too. It's a crazy world these days.
When I was overseas years ago, American's were extremely unpopular that summer ... terrorist acts, etc. Sometimes taxi's wouldn't pick us up because we were American ... If I kept my mouth shut and wasn't with my friends I could pass for French. After I was there for a while, I figured out you could spot an American from a mile away because of the confident walk & loud speach. I noticed the French have the same haughty walk ... so ... Bonjour!
It's denim and T-shirts for me - and plenty of room around my neck for my cameras!
Greetings - I found you through post of the day. :) I think many people mistake American bravado and openess with arrogance. I am a Canadian living in the UK, and years ago I removed my Canadian flag from my backpack. It just seems less important than when I was younger. I do however correct people who assume my accent is American. Canadians are known for their curiosity and polite nature, and when I travel I find myself making extra effort in order to assist the continuation of this perception.
Gosh I hope now that we no longer have an a$$hat in the White House you AND your friends can admit to being Americans.
Over from David's to say congrats on the POTD mention
It is sad, isn't it, when we feel unable to state proudly are heritage. Every country is someone's enemy, someone's hate, someone's bete noir. There was the time, when in France, that the natives were up in arms because we refused their lamb...I kept my big mouth shut...The French and we British have been common enemies for so long it is funny. But best to keep a low profile when a guest in another counry, though I do feel for the old ladies. Shame.
And bad manners of the oafs who yelled at them. I do cringe at the oafs and apologise to anyone who has suffered at their hands, or should I say mouths.
Ireland is such a special place. Congrats on the Post of the Day Award from authorblog!
David, thanks for nominating this post "post of the day".
Daryl, I agree hopefully we'll have some positive changes. I'd love to travel abroad and not see negative graffiti towards America.
Moannie, I agree it is sad that I feel like I need to hide my heritage because I do love America!
Cheffie-Mom, Ireland is a very special place. Even though we had this experience I still think the Irish are some of the nicest people I've met while traveling.
I don't wear anything that says USA when I travel. I do try to blend in. My husband told me that if someone asked me here in Saudi Arabia where I am from, he wanted me to say Canada because he wasn't sure how people might react to American. I haven't done that and I find that people here really like Americans - they just don't like America's foreign policies. I can't recall ever having any troubles or nasty comments while traveling because I am American.
Post a Comment