A Russian finally told me the European Secret

Amazing

I would love to travel to Europe some day. I have worked with and been friends with many from Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East for the last 25 years. Of all these people only the Europeans have ever suggested that they can pick an American out of a crowd ... they seem to know us no matter how much we may share the same ethnic background.

I have asked Europeans and others may times just how it is they can spot an American, even when we have not spoken. Is it our clothing? Our facial expressions? The way we walk? Do we hold our heads high in some arrogant way? Yet, I have never received a straight answer. The mystery has eluded me for decades ... until now ...

In my current office we have many from Russia and Eastern Europe. Of course we talk about politics and the struggle that once consumed the United States and the former Soviet Union. These folks are most supportive of the USA (unlike the hissy-fit French ... ) ... they have set me straight on many issues and dispelled myths and misunderstandings ...

Soooo ... I ask ... just how do you spot Americans who visit Europe? Suppose my ethnic background is German or Italian ... and I don't speak ... and I dress in local style clothing ... just how do you still manage to know that an American is in your midst?

Finally, one Russian lady blushed ... she held her head low ... and then giggled. I looked her in the eye and said ... Okay Olga, tell me ... in my irresistable American charm that I knew she could not evade, I said, "I want to know now ... I have waited for decades to have the truth ... I need to know ... and I know you know ... please tell me!" Please!! Pretty Please with a cherry on top!!!

She shook her head in agreement with a kindly nod, and she laughed some more ... she then said, "I hope you won't be offended." I agreed that no matter what, I would not be offended ... I had to know so if I ever travel to Europe, I can fit in and not be noticed.

She then said softly ... you know, in that cute Russian spy-women voice that only Russian women are able to have ... "Americans are fat."

YES !!! FAT !!! ... I laughed and agreed that we do have a problem with being overweight ... Pizza, beer, and Big Macs touch our lips way too much ... So, that's it. I will loose a pile of weight.

She asked me why Americans feel so strongly about fitting in when in Europe. She said that almost every American she knows expresses this desire to not be identified while visiting Europe. Ahhhh ... yes, I agreed. That ... is an American Secret.

frenchbabyface

Amazing : These folks are most supportive of the USA (unlike the hissy-fit French ... ) ...

LOL Amazing : Well if you want to know I like Americans like any others (what I don't like is their politic - but I don't like others country politic's too ... SO ) I'm just interested in the people and you've got everything everywhere of course it is not a secret.

It's not true Americans are not always fat but yes they have some manors that help to identify who they are ... You've named most of them ...

Big Tex

Of all these people only the Europeans have ever suggested that they can pick an American out of a crowd

You mean we don't smell like wet puppy dogs? Oh wait. That's me.

So now I'm outed. I smell like a wet puppy dog and I'm fat.

mustang

I know it was my cowboy hat that gave me away in Shanghai. Yep, gotta get a new one...

Mustang

shotgun

I've always been able to spot Americans around the Globe because for some reason they often order Budwieser Beer...Even when I spent a couple weeks in Mexico and hung out with several Americans they drank Buds.....Probably just my experience and not a universal thing..

xjw_b12

Do I sense a new diet here?

"Planning a trip to Europe?"

"Afraid you won't fit in?"

"Have we got the solution for you"

"Yes siree folks, it the "Amazing Look like an European - Diet"

"Lose 30 pounds in 30 days"

"Satisfaction Guaranteed, or your blubber back" *

* certified by blushing Russian ladies

Hamas

Europe, ala Britain, Germany, Belguim, Holland etc is a huge cosmopolitan dump.

( In some places )

Zoewrex

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I like the diet idea! :)

detective

When I was in Europe my friend told me you could always identify:

a German woman because they have the worst haircuts ("like they got their hair cut in a Butcher shop")

Italian women because they all were dying their hair awful shades of red (X-files had just become popular in Italy)- I will say there WAS an abundance of bottled redheads in Italy

Japanese Women: "the Japanese are the only ones who take the gondola rides in Venice"

And Americans...: "white sneakers"

(I know, that was it about Americans. She let us off easy)

Athanasius

Maybe I don't fit the mold. When I visited Ireland I was asked a number of times if my girlfriend and I were Australian. No I told them. We are Yanks.

A Russian finally told me the European Secret

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