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why do americans dress like tourists?

stillwaters

By stillwaters,
in Ask a Cruise Question

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greatam

greatam

Posted
Posted
I shall ask DH. when I was living in Yokosuka there were no such restrictions( and we were there in 2001) on foot wear but then again, Japan hates us less....

 

 

You are so right that Japan "hate us less". Just curious and I truly believe the new rules about white tennis shoes/US logo T shirts/US type clothing have come into being since 2003.

 

I have heard the lectures, seen the postings (US Military vendor contractor). DEFINITELY for the Middle East and Europe, PRIMARILY for Asia, the rest of the world-MAYBE????

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Donray

Donray

Posted
Posted
You obviously have NO respect for the US Military or those trying to keep your butt safe. My recommendations are also THEIR recommendations as well as the US State Dept for their employees.

 

 

You are wrong; my son is a full colonel in the Marine Reserves and has served in Iraq.

My other son served in the Army. I served in Air Force.

Nice of you to insult people!!!

Tell me what Marine outfit you served in during a war?

Why don't you explain why gunman in India didn't just kill American tourists? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks

You do know that all most all Americans that tour in Europe don't dress like with sorts, ball caps on backwards, etc. But they don't blend in. They go a tourist places and have a camera and take pictures.

I just don't think that the terrorists will only target individuals and not use bombs and suicide bombers. England bomb on bus and subway, Spain bombs on subway.

My sons owns his own business and he doesn't have time to screw around on a web site debating people how do you have the time?

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RetireeWannabee

RetireeWannabee

Posted
Posted
Ya know what though, I kinda agree with the OP. Fashion sneakers don't take up any more space than bright white sneakers, they're just as comfortable, and can be worn without making yourself stand out even more. As for windbreakers, yes, they can be useful, but they don't have to be the bright obnoxious colors that I've seen many people wear. Nothing wrong with a black jacket. Although I'm partial to a red trench coat instead.

 

Ok, I give - what are Fashion Sneakers???

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Oicangi

Oicangi

Posted
Posted

In the end, what's wrong with being a tourist. It's the greatest thing ever!

Isn't that what we all work or worked for. Now-a-days except for the burkas everybody blends everywhere.

Enjoy dressing as you like, but please, ENJOY!!

Io:)

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greatam

greatam

Posted
Posted
You are wrong; my son is a full colonel in the Marine Reserves and has served in Iraq.

My other son served in the Army. I served in Air Force.

Nice of you to insult people!!!

 

No insult intended. I thank your sons and yourself for your service. I bet if you ask your son who served in Iraq he would tell you the same things-it is in ALL the safety briefings. DO NOT flaunt the fact that you are American. It is hard not to be American in combat gear in Iraq but if your son had the opportunity to go off base/out from behind the wire, I KNOW for a fact that he was told to tone it down, no Nascar jackets, no Jets, Cowboys, etc. etc. t-shirts, no backwards ball caps, NO WHITE TENNIS SHOES, NO SHORTS, etc. etc.

Why don't you explain why gunman in India didn't just kill American tourists? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks[/font][/color]

 

IF you read some of the background info on the Mumbai attack, there was supposed to be a large (over 100 people) contingent of Brits and Americans to join those Westerners already at the hotel for an economic meeting. As the two hotels are frequented by Westerners, the number of Americans killed would have been far higher IF the logistics of getting everyone into India had been better. In addition, this particular group of terrorists went after places in Mumbai for reasons OTHER than "just get Westerners". Pakistan and India have been fighting over Kashmir almost forever and the terrorist group that launched the Mumbai attacks have heavy affiliation with terror groups in Kashmir. In addition they went after the Chabad house, which is Jewish. From an article in Stratfor which proves my point that Americans, Israelis (or other Jewish), Brits, now French and Germans are PRIME targets- "The terrorists "would be told by their handlers in Pakistan that the lives of Jews were worth 50 times those of non-Jews." Again, why make it obvious that you are AMERICAN??? Pretty obvious Hungarians, Russian, Czechs, Asians, etc. etc. are NOT the target.

You do know that all most all Americans that tour in Europe don't dress like with sorts, ball caps on backwards, etc. But they don't blend in. They go a tourist places and have a camera and take pictures.

 

So now you are agreeing with me??? If you took a group of Hungarian tourists and a group of American tourists, dressed them all in the same black outfits, gave them all the same camera and sent them to look at XXXX tourist site, the people doing surveillance for various terrorist groups would be VERY hard pressed to go back to their handlers and state something like "we can hit XXXX tourist site at YYY time because that is when all the AMERICANS go on tour to XXXX tourist site." The surveillance team would NOT have accurate info that part of the group were American.

 

But take the same two groups, put them in "normal" clothes for each nationality (I have no idea what Hungarians "normally" wear but most likely it is NOT shorts, Dallas Cowboys T shirts, fanny packs and white tennis shoes to visit a tourist site in Europe/Asia) and the surveillance observers can with certainty go back to their handlers and relate that the AMERICAN tour group arrives at XXXX tourist site at YYY time. Again, WHY make yourself a target just for a minor change in clothing.

 

My sons owns his own business and he doesn't have time to screw around on a web site debating people how do you have the time?

 

I write this as I am sitting in a chair at the docks in Valparaiso Chile COUNTING MT containers as they are brought into the docks. I need a total of 400+ refrigerated containers to begin our fruit shipments to the USA in about a month. This is NOT a speedy process, as they are unstacking HUGE stacks of containers to get to only the refrigerated ones, so they can be sent directly to the fruit growers.

 

I spend a lot of time in the air, in airports, waiting for meetings, waiting for dock workers to get their ducks in a row and particularly when I am dealing with military logistics, I have a LOT of "slack" time-the old hurry up and wait scenario. Please don't worry about how I run my business-I am not neglecting it. But thanks for the concern.

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frantic36 Holiday Sharing Rare

frantic36

Posted
Posted

Greatam

 

Thank you for all your input. I appreciate all your expertise on the Asian sites.

Please don't get frustrated by all these nay sayers who are just 'gonna do what their gonna do' and give up.

 

My father who was in the Polish underground during the war and fiercely proud of his heritage would have applauded your commen sense. Blending in does not make you less

proud of your heritage it is just sensible.

 

Julie

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DanJ

DanJ

Posted
Posted
Wear a maple leaf and bring a hockey stick.

 

Then I would look like an American pretending to be Canadian. Maybe a lacrosse stick LOL.

 

As if my bright white (early in the week) or bright red (later in the week) skin isn't going to give me away either way LOL.

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grand isle joe

grand isle joe

Posted
Posted
Any advice for Canadians trying not to look like Americans blending in? LOL Or should I just stick with Cuba for now?

 

I was in Monte Carlo a few years back and on the same tour as a fellow I met from outside Toronto. (french decent). We went into the casino and he went to play craps. I was treated rudely and left. Later I saw the same man and he was fuming! "I have never been treated so badly in all my life" he yelled. I said "they probably thought you were an American".:D Best stay a Canadian in Monte Carlo at least(and let the natives know).;)

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sapper1

sapper1

Posted
Posted
I was in Monte Carlo a few years back and on the same tour as a fellow I met from outside Toronto. (french decent). We went into the casino and he went to play craps. I was treated rudely and left. Later I saw the same man and he was fuming! "I have never been treated so badly in all my life" he yelled. I said "they probably thought you were an American".:D Best stay a Canadian in Monte Carlo at least(and let the natives know).;)

Most people of French descent are decent.

 

I meant to add a "wink" icon but can't do that with the edit function.

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UKBayern

UKBayern

Posted
Posted

We live on the Czech border and went on a daytrip this week to Český Krumlov, a Unesco World Heritage Site town a few hours from where we live and one of the most gorgeous places in the world by the way (go there if you have the chance - even better than Prague). We always confuse the Czech locals with some basic knowledge of the lingo (which does not extend any further than hello, goodbye, thank you, please). You see them thinking "they do not look Slavic (DH is Dutch, tall and blond) but they just spoke Czech to me" and hand us the Czech menu. Just like Cynthia said. We have the same experience in other countries, just by knowing a few basic words in the native language.

 

We were sitting in this restaurant with a great view of all the tourists walking by. On such an occasion we always love to play the game "spot the nationality". Now remember that we could not hear them speak, it was purely on clothing and behaviour. The people that were an absolute no-brainer were the Americans. Yup, white tennis shoes and windbreakers. But also because they looked so lost, out of place and insecure. They were probably on a daytrip from one of the Danube river cruises. We saw this American woman, she must have been at least 85 years old wearing ill-fitting, far too large, bright white sneakers, and she could not walk with them because they were not right for her feet. Wearing what you like is one thing, but you have to also wear something befitting of your age and your body type, maybe matching the rest of your clothing, which actually fits your feet.

You can tell by the way that Japanese tour groups get clothing advice before they come to Europe. They always blend in very well, apart from their facial features and the fact that they travel in large groups of course.

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Gathina

Gathina

Posted
Posted

Hmm..maybe the person that wears the windbreakers and white sneakers is just being who he or she is..why is that bad??

 

The only thing I have observed is that SOME (not all) Americans don't dress as well as others I've seen..in South America, Jamaica, Central America, Japan, and Europe (countries and nations I've traveled to regularly). I observe more NEATNES in terms of clothes..ironed shirts, neat jeans with no holes, no belly rolls or ill fitting clothes, pressed pants, shined shoes, etc...whereas to me the Americans stood out more for the reaons I just mentioned.

 

But that's only MY observation. You don't have to be a fashion plate, but you can still look neat. I hate seeing people dressed like slobs, especially in a restaurant or such place..hats at the table, baggy sagging pants, wrinkled dress, etc. etc.:D

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KFC

KFC

Posted
Posted
Hmm..maybe the person that wears the windbreakers and white sneakers is just being who he or she is..why is that bad??

 

The only thing I have observed is that SOME (not all) Americans don't dress as well as others I've seen..in South America, Jamaica, Central America, Japan, and Europe (countries and nations I've traveled to regularly). I observe more NEATNES in terms of clothes..ironed shirts, neat jeans with no holes, no belly rolls or ill fitting clothes, pressed pants, shined shoes, etc...whereas to me the Americans stood out more for the reaons I just mentioned.

 

But that's only MY observation. You don't have to be a fashion plate, but you can still look neat. I hate seeing people dressed like slobs, especially in a restaurant or such place..hats at the table, baggy sagging pants, wrinkled dress, etc. etc.:D

 

Uhoh you may get flamed by those that say it's my vacation and i'll wear what I want (and not watch my kids and be loud and obnoxious too!). Oh no I'm going to be flamed!

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DanJ

DanJ

Posted
Posted

If you wear black tennis shoes, do you look like less of a tourist? How about if I lose the windbreaker but wear a Harley-Davidson shirt?

 

But seriously, I'm confused on the windbreaker/jacket issue. Can someone please post pics of what are typical American-looking tourist windbreakers and what would be an acceptable local, non-tourist looking spring jacket? To me, a jacket is something with a full zipper front, and a windbreaker is something you pull over your head. I remember the cheesy windbreakers of the 80's that had a pocket in the front that made you look pregnant if you put a wallet in it, but the jacket folded into that pocket and you could strap it around your waist.

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Gathina

Gathina

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Posted

People have a right to be who they are..as I said before..

 

If they choose to wear ill fitting clothes, show their belly rolls with their little tops, and not iron their shirts..they have a right to..and I'm still going to think that they look like a slob, period. The same way they might think I'm a priss because I iron my clothes, make sure I look neat and clean, and even be cautious to not wrinkle my clothes needlessly.

 

Uhoh you may get flamed by those that say it's my vacation and i'll wear what I want (and not watch my kids and be loud and obnoxious too!). Oh no I'm going to be flamed!
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cruisemom42 Great Review Rare

cruisemom42

Posted
Posted

I think a lot of people just don't feel comfortable traveling overseas. Maybe it's because we have such a large and varied country, and some don't have the opportunity or means to visit other countries until later in life. Americans, more than most other countries (except perhaps the Japanese) seem to feel more comfortable in large groups rather than doing it on their own when outside their own country.

 

Whatever.......I would just say that as long as you are relatively neat and decent, it's not generally a big deal. Just the fact that you are interested in travel and (hopefully) in learning about other cultures is the important thing. If you want to dress like a stereotypical American, I have no problem with it -- assuming most travelers are not going to places where the risk of terrorist actions is very high. I only hope you would respect local culture and dress codes.

 

As I said in my earlier post, I like to make an effort to blend in, but the same isn't true for everyone.

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