We tend to wear colourful Hawaiian shirts, shorts, sandles and sunglasses.

yes, yes we do. we also tend to wear our wallets in easy view and if you see a group of "skinheads" (the PC term is "cerebrally challenged") be sure to use their traditional greeting
"hello you bald pansy, fancy a go then?"

it depends on where in europe you're going, as it contains many many different countries and cultures and so many different dressing styles.

if you mean you're going to the UK, wear a very large camera around your neck, comment on how quiant and cute everything is, then tip the poor suffering waitress serving your breakfast. 😛

jeans and a t-shirt seems to be acceptable anywhere. but i don't see why you're worrying.

To look smart, you should always look at our royal family for advice...

(Note I don't read the sun)

Prince Harry, what a silly billy.

If you're trying to disguise the fact you're a tourist then clothes alone won't be enough, especially if you're staying in the UK.

As a rule, you should speak at all times in an broad imitation of the appropriate local accent. If in doubt, Cockney or Queen's English are safe bets.

Do like Astrid and wear a "Dont Mess with Texas" teeshirt and a cowgirl hat! Beef up that Southern accent! Ask what "Q"ing is (I realize I can't spell the word). OH and get real drunk at a pub and people who will there will come up and tease you and ask to see your ID. Then walk home in splintering high heels and whine that you didn't realize England was so cold.

I promise with my fail proof plan you'll be everyone's favorite American drunk. But don't take my word for it! Go ask the kind folks of Sheffield who their favorite American drunk is. I think you'll find out it's me.

(plan may or may not be fool proof, people from ohio need not apply for southern accent, guarantee not valid in france, $19.99 prepayment to join plan required. other terms and conditions may apply).

Well, drinking might be a problem for me...I'm 1) genetically predispositioned to become alcoholic. Not good. 2) I take a medicine which can double or quadruple the effects of alcohol. So one beer's like two or four for me evidently. Though I DO wanna sample some wine while in Rome...you know...it's kind of the place where, historically, an economy was built on tat and olives.

I'll be going to London for about three days...it seems I'll have an afternoon free one of those days if anyone wants to try to do a MoFoCon International there. Then I'm off to France, namely Paris and Versailles. Then after that I'm off to Florence and Rome in Italy for a couple days, then back to good ol' Kentucky.

So...*looks at current wardrobe...t-shirts...pants...shorts...* are shorts common over there? I don't wanna wear pants if I can wear shorts on a warm day.

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are shorts common over there? I don't wanna wear pants if I can wear shorts on a warm day

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Our country is practically NEVER warm. You're talking half-way through June, then the heat kicks in for a few days... Then runs off yelling "Time to go back to Florida, fellas, BYE!" Which is why Florida has bad weather sometimes, because we steal their weather...

Anyway. If you're going to London, I don't know how many pikeys are around there... But I can say if you wanna look like one of them (to make sure they don't knife you ) then you're talking pretty much skin tight tracksuit trousers (blue), a football shirt (any colour), a cap (baby blue) and a fluffy hooded coat... Or you can look normal (jeans and a T-Shirt) but risk the chance of being knifed... Hope you have a pleasant visit! Nah, just joking with the pikeys... They won't knife you.

---Notes on Europe---
I haven't been overseas, but my desire to get away from the East Coast has brought me alot of tips and info.

Most important, try not to look like a tourist. As hard or crazy as it sounds, it usualy doesn't take a genius to tell when someone isn't from 'the neighborhood'. While most people will use that opportunity to be extra helpful (especially when they have things to sell you), it can also help you become a target. This is true for any travel, anywhere. Don't be stupid enough and try to find everything yourself, but also watch out for people who seem TOO helpful (Itally especially, watch for gypsies).

Try not to advertise where your from. If someone asks, then be polite and answer honestly. Also try not to stick out any more than you would at home. Try to learn how to dress by casually observing the locals. Buy local clothes wherever you are (saves some washing, and helps you blend in).

Convenience stores are the greatest invention of the 20th century! A useful tip is not to pack things you often see sold in a 7-11. Chances are you can just as easily buy a small, cheap ammount where you are and dispose of without killing your wallet.

Don't be afraid to speak english anywhere. Especially in EU countries, English is a second official language and many places will be at least functionally bilingual. You may not be able to have a full conversation, but you should be able to get where and what you need. Speak loud enough to be heard, but dont speak in 'stupid American English'...chances are you won't be understood any better, but you will make a complete ass (arse, contextually) of yourself.

At the same time, try to pick up language wherever you go (test on someone who wouldn't be insulted or call law enforcement, just incase you pick up 'wrong' language). Top 3 phrases are "where is a rest-area", "where are police/help", "how much does it cost".

Learn some metric before you go. Inch-pound may serve you in England still, but elsewhere you'll be using clicks and kilos. Don't rely on calculators as raw numbers only help when your building a bridge. Try to teach yourself the 'essence' of about how much a kilo is, how long a meter is, etc. Best to learn is your height in cm and weight in kg...estimating from those numbers will be easies since you are your own ruler(measuring device, not political leader).

---Notes on Drinking---
Don't read if under your country's legal drinkng age
BlazeSJX is not responsible for anything resulting from his advice

I know where your coming from with the medicine history department. Here's some advice from my experience.

First rule: when in doubt, dont drink. Drink only if you enjoy it. Dont drink for the hell of it. While drinking can help make things more enjoyable, its not a huge loss if for some reason you can't drink. Cola will always be my fist love, far before any alcohol.

If you haven't drank at all before, you'd definitly have to be careful. Start occasionally drinking small amounts (1 drink a week), and eventually move up to regular drinks (im talking over a month or so, not in one day). Generally if you space out drinks in the same day, you should be able to safely build your tolerance without risking addiction or medicinal conflicts. Avoid drinking more than two drinks in the same day during the 'offseason'.

Stick with low alcohol drinks, or frozen cocktails. Beer and wine are good, but you often have to aquire the taste for them. Alcopops (hard lemonade, smirnov ice), or cream liquers (Kahlua and Cream, Bailey's diluted with milk) are good for starters if you have a sweet tooth.

If just holding anything up to your nose makes you tear up, DONT DRINK IT. Chances are it's a high proof spirit or liquer. Don't drink anything neat (unmixed spirit) unless you are a heavyweight (experienced drinker). Anything served in only a shotglass is powerful and not for a beginner. If you haven't heard of it...DON'T DRINK IT. If it looks wierd DON'T DRINK IT. Also beware of Absinth...the smell and power of it should help avoid it to begin with, but it is known for more than alcohol. The green fairy is only for the adventurous.

Spread out drinks, buffer with non-alcohol, eat. Eat before and after you drink, drink juice milk or water between drinks, and avoid more than 1 drink per hour. Otherwise, you could be pushing it. Drinking on an empty stomach also increases risk of effects from alcohole

Also with medecine, as a genral rule don't drink and take medecine within an hour of each-other. This goes for anything, even simple pain-killers.

Again I'm not directly encouraging drinking and am not responsible for nights spent hovering over a ceramic bowl. But if you're going to drink, you should at least know how to drink correctly and safe-ish.

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In regard to Europe and drinking, try not to be alone. Someone who understands your language, knows who you are, and can carry you just in case you become unconcious for whatever reason will reduce your chances of a horrible overall experience.

Good luck.

I think this was the first post I've made with out a large ammount of jokes or sarcasm...I'll have to make up for it in a later post and make fun of someone...

Going slightly off topic, with concerns that harry pic.. WHAT THE $@#%!? They're making a hell of a fuss about a freaking costume party aren't they!? ><

My advice is don't dress like a chav and I won't frown at ye! 😛

To be honest, there's nothing wrong with looking like a tourist...
The problem is tourists who deliberately dont fit in, go around commenting on everything in loud voices and making asses of themselves and taking pictures of every second thing (although the majority of them seem to be japanese who do that...)

Just have a good time, fit in and dont do anything stupid and the majority of people will accept you. (if your in France/Rome/wherever that doesnt speak English, try to use a BIT of french/italien/whatever out of a guidebook if yo uhave to. Trust me, the waiters appreciate it. If you try to speak french or whatever then they'll have a good giggleat how badly your doing but appreciate that you tried.

It's only us Engish who laugh at people trying o get our language right, and there's a scientific reason for that: We're self centered gits.

And Weirdo, it IS a big issue, but not that big one.
The problem is, why didnt ANY of his advisors, or even his BROTHER say "no, wear something else" and is he really stupid enough to think it was funny in the first place?
You should of heard my history teacher ranting about it

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And Weirdo, it IS a big issue, but not that big one.
The problem is, why didnt ANY of his advisors, or even his BROTHER say "no, wear something else" and is he really stupid enough to think it was funny in the first place?
You should of heard my history teacher ranting about it

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Heh, yeah, his advisors should have said something. Still, I mean, it's a costume at a costume party. 😛 I don't care how big an issue other people are making of it, your teacher included, I think it's bloody ludricrous the fuss that's being made out of it.

Meh, i went to London for a week a few years back, couldn't really tell the difference between tourists and the indigenous people of the British Isles...except for the occasional person with bad teeth, or everyone that smoked profusely...

OFFTRACK STORYTIME: so in my stay in London i was in the BHS marching band *aka marching 200* and we marched in the New Years parade, kind of cold due to the scattered light showers *not as bad as Detroits thanksgiving though*. There were firebreathers *who btw smelled like crap up close from whatever they were drinking* a few clowns messing around with us, and the best part, mounted gaurds whose horses' @#%$ is too precious to clean up... this leads to the funny part... As we marched through the parade we finaly went by the stands near the end were the Queen or head of Parlliament or some important person was seated, as we went by one of the colorgaurd*flag twirlers* caught a peice of crap on the flag and flung it into the air, landing on a flutes hat. That in itself made my trip.

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except for the occasional person with bad teeth, or everyone that smoked profusely...

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bad coloured teeth and smoking tend to go together, you know.

personally i find american glow-in-the-dark-dead-white-oddly-straight teeth a bit creepy looking at times.

Meh thats for them rich folks and ther fancy 'crylics

acrylics..?

i use those to paint with. o.o;

meh meant veneers just wrong word came to mind...

You can tell if someones a tourist or not by their accent.

No ammoun of dressing up or trying to fit in will work, from their accent and the confidence level you can tell weather they live here, come here regularly or are tourists.

You just need to keep your ears open.

Still never got an answer about the shorts.
Also, I think my accent'll stand out. Unless anyone in England, France or Italy speaks with a light "hillbilly" accent.

I'm going to purposefully use full Rezspeak around you silly's over there. You'll think I'm speaking a foreign language.

~Rico (iun ndn)

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You'll think I'm speaking a foreign language. :p

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What makes you think we're not using google translation right now to decode your messages? 😛

In Italy, especially in southern Italy, people will judge whether you're a tourist or not by your hair/eye color. If yours is rather dark, you won't be recognized, if not...good luck trying to look italian... I'm italian, but have dark blond hair and green eyes, so everyone thinks I'm a tourist!>.<

I don't know what to say about the shorts... try not to use too tight ones.
Since you're going to visit Rome let me tell you one thing: Never.Never.Bathe your feet in a fountain!
People despise tourists that do that!

Your clothing shouldn't be too colored or with colors that just don't blend in well. People are going to think you're german then. 😛

I don't google has rez speak... At least I hope it doesn't.

~Rico

I'd say that instead of avoiding looking like a tourist, ham it up and make a big joke out of it. People will see that it's all a joke and will therefore conclude that you are NOT a typical tourist.

Or maybe not.

just be yourself, and whatever you do, please don't wear really tight shorts with socks pulled up to your knees. that's just strange looking. oo;

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Your clothing shouldn't be too colored or with colors that just don't blend in well. People are going to think you're german then. 😛

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I'm german-descended on both sides of my family. I'd pass off like a native Deutchlander up there.

(Blink)
I don't fit in despite living here all my life, so I doubt my dress ense would be much help to you.
Most people here seem to wear jeans and sports jackets, and the like. And have very short hair.

Although I've been told that I don't look like a typical northerner.

It's all down to which invaders of England settled where, but the more Danish stock down south tend to be tall and slimmish, whereas northerns tend to be shorter and stockier.

I was told when I went to London that, accent notwithstanding, I could pass for a native - but I look a little different to the standard phenotype in my bit of Lancashire. Maybe it's the German blood on my mother's side. 🙂