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Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 5:56 pm
by MamaPata
I am always amused by the things that mark people as 'locals' (aside from opening my mouth!).

In Russia, the quickest way I prove to people that I'm foreign is that I go out with wet hair! :o Russians are horrified by this. It's also something that Australian friends of mine have noticed living in other parts of Europe.

I'd be very intrigued to find out your experiences!

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 6:27 pm
by Cavesa
In Italy, it's easy. Put sugar (and milk) in your coffee in the afternoon. Congratulations, you're a barbarian!

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 6:33 pm
by rlnv
Cavesa wrote:In Italy, it's easy. Put sugar (and milk) in your coffee in the afternoon. Congratulations, you're a barbarian!


Wouldn't that make one a barbarian everywhere? ;)

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 6:34 pm
by tomgosse
Ask for ketchup for "french" fries. :)

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 8:19 pm
by tastyonions
Wear socks with sandals in a Mediterranean country.

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 11:32 pm
by Adrianslont
tastyonions wrote:Wear socks with sandals in a Mediterranean country.

Or in Australia.

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 6:50 am
by MamaPata
Adrianslont wrote:
tastyonions wrote:Wear socks with sandals in a Mediterranean country.

Or in Australia.


For me this is particularly interesting, because I would find that very weird in the UK! But it wouldn't suggest someone was foreign, it would just get a raised eyebrow.

Enjoying all the suggestions! :)

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 7:47 am
by Ogrim
In France, ask for a toothpick in a restaurant. It is considered really rude to clean your teeth in front of other people.

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 8:12 am
by Adrianslont
MamaPata wrote:
Adrianslont wrote:
tastyonions wrote:Wear socks with sandals in a Mediterranean country.

Or in Australia.


For me this is particularly interesting, because I would find that very weird in the UK! But it wouldn't suggest someone was foreign, it would just get a raised eyebrow.

Enjoying all the suggestions! :)

And yet this a stereotypical image Australians have of Brits at the beach - wearing sandals with socks! It's probsbly outdated though. I'm actually British born myself - though I well and truly pass for Australian - and I have a picture of my childhood self on a beach in Wales, wearing just shorts, socks and sandals. It's so old, though, that it's black and white. I would include it here for everyone's amusement but I am currently overseas and it's not on my phone.

Re: Fastest ways to prove yourself a foreigner...

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 12:20 pm
by zenmonkey
Wear shorts in any major city in Latin America. Although this is changing, shorts used to be for the beach, kids and ... tourists. Same with baseball caps.