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Not All Americans Abroad Are Created Equal… But They All Have a Story to Tell
From over-apologizers to passport bros, these traveler archetypes expose the American experience in unexpected ways.I was sitting at a traditional restaurant in Tbilisi, sipping on a glass of Saperavi and digging into a Khachapuri Adjarian… both stronger than my resolve to ever return to the U.S., when it happened.
A guy in a ”We The People” oversized t-shirt demanded “ranch dressing” from a baffled Georgian waiter.
Nearby, a woman in an REI vest clutched her phrasebook, apologizing to the bartender for… nothing.
In the corner, a linen-clad expat lectured others on “real cultural immersion”… right before ordering a 8 PM cappuccino before dinner, a crime in most of Europe.
I’ve lived in Albania, Ukraine, France and Georgia long enough to classify Americans abroad like a National Geographic researcher. And here’s the truth: we all fit into one of these categories.
Travel reveals who we really are… how we tip, talk, order food, or just exist in a foreign space.
Some adapt, some cling to home comforts, and some think they’re here to “fix” the locals. (Psst: they don’t want your advice.)
So, are you The Over-Apologizer, The Passport Bro, or The Checklist Tourist?
Time to find out.
And if you claim you’re none of these? You’re lying.
1. The Over-Apologizer
I once watched an American woman in a Parisian café apologize to a waiter five times before even placing her order.
By the time she got to “Un café s’il vous plaît,” the poor guy looked like he needed a cigarette break.
In a single breath, she managed to say, “Sorry, I don’t speak French. Sorry, can I order? Sorry, is it okay to sit here? Sorry, is this too much trouble?”
Here’s the thing: In the U.S., over-apologizing is sometimes, just part of the social script.
We do it to be polite, to soften requests, to avoid confrontation.
But outside of America, this doesn’t always translate well.
In places like Ukraine or Bulgaria, people are direct.
No one’s apologizing for existing or for ordering food.
In fact, too many sorrys can make you seem weak, insecure, or worse… annoying.
The Good and the Bad
Good: You’re polite, respectful, and conscious of other people’s feelings.
Bad: You’re apologizing for things no one expects you to, making interactions awkward and overly “polite” to the point of insincerity.
Travel Tip: Confidence is key… apologizing excessively can sometimes make interactions more complicated than necessary.
A simple “thank you” is often far more effective than a string of nervous sorries.
2. The Loud and Proud Patriot
You can hear them before you see them.
They’re the ones in stars-and-stripes tank tops, talking about how “Europe is nice, but America just does things better,” while attempting to order a Coors Light in a country that doesn’t sell it.
Look, I get it. Americans are raised on a steady diet of patriotism. The flag is everywhere, from football games to underwear.
But when you take that energy abroad… especially in a place like France or Spain, where nationalism has a different history, you might come across as… let’s say, a little over-the-top.
The Good and the Bad
Good: You love your country and aren’t afraid to show it.
Bad: Your enthusiasm might come off as tone-deaf in foreign settings, especially when you start ranking countries like it’s the Travel Olympics.
Expat Tip: Showing appreciation for other cultures makes interactions richer… balance pride with curiosity.
Maybe try a local beer instead of demanding a Bud in a Belgian bar.
3. The Wannabe Local
This is the guy who’s spent two weeks in Tbilisi and is suddenly speaking with a thick Georgian accent, lecturing fellow Americans on how they’re “not really experiencing the culture.”
Meanwhile, he butchers madloba (“thank you”) every time he orders a khachapuri.
I once met a guy in Spain who refused to speak English, not because he was fluent in Spanish, but because he wanted to prove he was different from other tourists.
The result?
He confidently ordered a ropa vieja, expecting a steaming bowl of the slow-cooked Cuban stew he grew up loving in Miami, only to get confused stares because he’d just asked for “old clothes.”
The Good and the Bad
Good: You genuinely care about cultural immersion.
Bad: You try so hard to blend in that it becomes performative… and painfully obvious.
Expat Tip: It’s okay to be a visitor. Locals appreciate effort, but they also see through forced authenticity.
True cultural appreciation comes from learning, not pretending.
4. The Checklist Tourist
“Okay, we have exactly 36 hours in Paris. We’ll do the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, then catch the overnight train to Amsterdam.”
Ready? Let’s GO!
If you’ve ever seen an American sprinting through the Louvre Museum, barely glancing at Leonardo’s masterpiece before rushing to the next checkpoint, you’ve met The Checklist Tourist.
They view travel like a military operation… tight schedules, no deviations.
If they don’t hit at least five countries in a week, did the trip even happen?
The Good and the Bad
Good: They get to see a lot in a short amount of time.
Bad: They often miss the deeper experience of a place, treating destinations like a shopping list instead of a story.
Expat Tip: Sometimes the best experiences come from slowing down.
Instead of power-walking through a city, find a café, sit outside, and just watch life happen.
5. The Party Seeker
They land in Spain, skip all the historical sites, and head straight for the bars.
They’ll wake up at 2 PM, hit a beach club, and by 3 AM, they’re leading a drunken group singalong of “Sweet Caroline” in a club where no one else speaks English.
This traveler has zero idea where they actually are, but they definitely know where the cheapest shots are.
The Good and the Bad
Good: They know how to have fun and embrace spontaneity.
Bad: They often experience a new country from inside a club, missing everything that makes the place unique.
Expat Tip: A great night out is fun, but if the only thing you remember about Barcelona are tequila shots of Mezcal from Mexico, you did it wrong.
6. The Fearful First-Timer
They clutch their passport like it’s a life raft, refuse to eat anything they can’t pronounce, and stick to the most American-looking restaurants they can find (hello, McDonald’s).
I once met a guy who was so terrified of scams in Eastern Europe that he refused to take taxis, buses, or even ask for directions.
Instead, he walked six miles in the heat of summer just to avoid being “ripped off.”
The Good and the Bad
Good: They’re cautious and prepared.
Bad: Fear prevents them from embracing new experiences.
Expat Tip: Step out of your comfort zone gradually… small risks often lead to the best adventures.
Try a local dish.
Take the metro.
Not everyone is trying to scam you.
7. The Passport Bro / Wife Hunter
This one is… controversial.
They show up in places like Ukraine, Thailand, or Colombia not for the culture, not for the food, but for one thing: women.
They’ll tell you, “American women are too difficult,” before launching into a TED Talk on why foreign women are ‘better.’
Here’s the deal: They’re not actually interested in cultural exchange.
I once met a guy in Odesa who “accidentally” moved there for two years after falling for a woman he met on vacation in Greece.
He was convinced she was the one.
Meanwhile, she barely remembered his name.
The Good and the Bad
Good: Can lead to genuine cross-cultural relationships.
Bad: Often stems from unhealthy idealization and a transactional mindset toward relationships.
Expat Tip: If you’re looking for love abroad, treat people as individuals, not as representatives of a culture. Real relationships require mutual respect and understanding.
What This Says About Us
Americans abroad are a walking case study in cultural habits.
Some of us try too hard to blend in, some refuse to adapt at all, and some turn travel into a scavenger hunt with beer chugging as the grand prize.
But if there’s one last “surprising” lesson to be learned from all of this, it’s this:
None of these stereotypes are inherently bad.
- The over-apologizer? Kind.
- The loud patriot? Enthusiastic.
- The checklist tourist? Efficient.
The point isn’t to shame these travelers… it’s to recognize ourselves in them, and maybe learn how to travel a little better.
So, be honest: Which type are you?
Or have you met someone who fits one of these categories perfectly?
Drop your best (or worst) travel encounter in the comments.
Let’s compare notes.
David Peluchette is a Premium Ghostwriter/Travel and Tech Enthusiast. When David isn’t writing he enjoys traveling, learning new languages, fitness, hiking and going on long walks (did the 550 mile Camino de Santiago, not once but twice!), cooking, eating, reading and building niche websites with WordPress.