Rude things Americans say abroad

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Part of international travel is the beauty and uniqueness of cultural exchange. Speaking to people from different backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and norms, makes the outcome of traveling so much more than just crossing a destination off your bucket list. But the exchange itself can sometimes leave people with a bad taste in their mouths. Although your travel intentions may not include insulting the nation you’re visiting, sometimes, certain comments can come out wrong due to some insensitivities that you might not be aware of. This gallery includes a list of some unfortunate, yet quite common statements that Americans say abroad that are considered rude in other countries.

Just as preventative care is key to our health, awareness of this list can prevent an unfortunate slip of the tongue that can leave your hosts less than enthusiastic about your return. Curious to know what they are? Click through to find out.

Mistakes happen

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Even in our own countries, we can sometimes make a mistake in how we communicate something. The tone, delivery, or message that you want to convey can sometimes be poorly received.

Common at home, rude elsewhere

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

This gallery offers some insights into things that may be common to say (or believe) in America, but are considered rude in other places. 

The customer is always right

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

The first comment on the list that Americans say that can be considered quite rude in other places is: “The customer is always right.” Have you said this while visiting another country?

Common rule in the US

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

In the United States, this phrase is considered a rule in the playbook of sales and hospitality. Whatever the customer  requests or complains about is often considered more important than whether the customer is objectively correct or not.

Over extending

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Customer service in other countries is often about seeking to facilitate the best experience possible for a customer, but service people may not overextend themselves just to please the customer in every way.

Very often, the customer is not right

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Nick Leighton, etiquette expert, says that the American approach to customer service, in which the customer is always right, often receives a great deal of push back. In fact, Leighton argues, “very often, the customer is not right.”

Example: Italian restaurant

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Leighton uses an example of tourists in Italy that may, for example, ask for Parmesan cheese to be grated on a dish with fish. Restaurants will often deny the request as, in Italy, fish is not meant to be eaten with Parmesan cheese on top.

Third world

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Next on the list is referring to a country as "Third World." If you’re visiting a developing nation, referring to it as a ‘third-world country,’ can be considered quite rude.

Hierarchical term

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Third world is considered outdated and, according to Ngozi Erondu of Georgetown University, the term gives a hierarchical label between countries considered superior and those considered inferior.

History of colonization

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

This is particularly important when considering the history of colonization and the violence that was often inflicted by Western countries to non-Western countries for centuries.

Pretentious

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Every currency is real money. While US currency is accepted in many countries, referring to the US dollar as "real" can come off as pretentious and accusatory, as if other currencies are not as valuable or as "real."

Expenses

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Likewise, if you’re commenting on how expensive something is in another country in comparison to the US. These kinds of comments are best kept to yourself or exchanged with fellow travelers in a private setting.

What is authentic?

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

The search for an authentic travel experience or labeling something as authentic may be considered rude, as it may seem that you think you are slumming with the locals.

Exotic

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Same goes for the use of the word "exotic" when referring to a location or a people from a particular location. The word exotic is often considered condescending, according to Leighton.

Pick up the basics

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Demanding that people from another country speak your language as a visitor is considered rude and insensitive. Try to pick up a few words of a country’s native language before traveling so that you have the basics down to navigate basic greetings.

Customs

Mistakes happen, Common at home, rude elsewhere, The customer is always right, Common rule in the US, Over extending, Very often, the customer is not right, Example: Italian restaurant, Third world, Hierarchical term, History of colonization, Pretentious, Expenses, What is authentic?, Pick up the basics

Finally, it may be rude to express surprise that a certain custom that is seen as outdated in the US is still practiced in that particular place. Whether matters of tradition and customs are concerned, it’s important to be mindful of cultural differences.

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