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

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 1:03 pm
by Sgt Schultz
zenmonkey wrote: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.


I've been to Latin America 3 times and I'm guilty of wearing both shorts and baseball caps :) But you are right, I rarely saw anyone wearing shorts. Even in the hot and humid weather down there.

I also did it in the UK and France. The tour guides in each place made fun of me a little bit.

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

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 1:10 pm
by zenmonkey
Sgt Schultz wrote:
zenmonkey wrote: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.


I've been to Latin America 3 times and I'm guilty of wearing both shorts and baseball caps :) But you are right, I rarely saw anyone wearing shorts. Even in the hot and humid weather down there.

I also did it in the UK and France. The tour guides in each place made fun of me a little bit.


Used to be I could identify the country of origin rather well based on shoes, shirt and pants. But that's changed a bit.
Still there are pant colours only a German or a New Englander would wear. And a collarless shirt in Mexico City was verboten in anyone over 15 at one point...

The world can be divided into those countries where "shoes matter" and "elsewhere"... :lol:

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

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 3:36 pm
by Serpent
What about women/female-read people? :)
For example how about less sporty shorts? (including denim ones) They're not exactly bermudas and can't be used for swimming :?

As for wet hair, I once went outside in winter without drying mine and got an eye infection :evil:

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

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 5:51 pm
by jeff_lindqvist
Speaking of shorts, a history teacher once told us that her husband had been denied entrance to a museum in Italy - he was wearing (denim) shorts, but his knees were showing...

In Ireland, you can spot a tourist from a mile away if the person is wearing a Guinness tshirt and/or cap.

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

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 5:53 pm
by tastyonions
jeff_lindqvist wrote:In Ireland, you can spot a tourist from a mile away if the person is wearing a Guinness tshirt and/or cap.

Ha! That phenomenon would make for an interesting list in itself: "Things people do to fit in or show common ground with the locals, but actually make them stick out as a foreigner."

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

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:10 pm
by limey75
zenmonkey wrote: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.


I take the obviously unpopular view that unless you're a professional baseball player, someone over about 14 years' old looks a bit ridiculous in baseball caps (especially if they're reversed!). It's a bit like grown men in the UK wearing football jerseys who aren't professional football players.

No offence meant to anyone here that wears these items :)

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

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:50 pm
by geoffw
tastyonions wrote:
jeff_lindqvist wrote:In Ireland, you can spot a tourist from a mile away if the person is wearing a Guinness tshirt and/or cap.

Ha! That phenomenon would make for an interesting list in itself: "Things people do to fit in or show common ground with the locals, but actually make them stick out as a foreigner."


Wearing or carrying anything that says "I [heart] New York" while in New York City. Or looking up. Or standing still on the sidewalk.

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

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 5:53 am
by Marais
Go in McDo's and when they ask you where you're sitting say 'no'.
Go into the butchers and greet the butcher by saying 'thanks'.
Go to the greengrocer and ask for a cabbage by saying 'cabbage' in your best TL accent.

All shit that happened to us :D

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

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:29 pm
by flabbergasted
In Egypt: start haggling with a taxi driver for the fare before the actual trip. The locals just shout the destination, get into the car, and pay only upon the arrival.

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

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:01 am
by M23
limey75 wrote:
zenmonkey wrote: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.


I take the obviously unpopular view that unless you're a professional baseball player, someone over about 14 years' old looks a bit ridiculous in baseball caps (especially if they're reversed!). It's a bit like grown men in the UK wearing football jerseys who aren't professional football players.

No offence meant to anyone here that wears these items :)


I am with you. I think sports jerseys only belong on the people actually playing the game. I have yet to meet someone that makes it look natural and not like part of a costume.