To hate being recognised as a Brit when I'm abroad before I've even spoken?

[Hammy02]

I'm not ashamed to be British but I'm aware of how the typical Brit is often perceived by Europeans (boozers, overweight & un-chic) so I ain't a happy bunny when I'm spotted immediately. I am not overweight, nor a heavy drinker and dress well so what is it that makes me stand out as a Brit abroad?

We've never been mistaken for Brits, but have been mistaken for locals in Spain and Israel. When in Germany, I've been told I speak German with a French accent

Good post HardCheese

Slightly off-topic, but related, is the way in which immigrants to a country pick up the mannerisms and body language as well as the clothing styles of the country they've moved to. You can stand in Casablanca airport watching the arrivals and guess whether the Moroccan families coming home for the summer have just arrived from France, Italy, Belgium or the UK, and it's not just from the logos on their shopping bags.

I think queuing whilst abroad makes someone instantly recognisable as being British

Bingo.

Also women's hairstyles are a giveaway.

I'm often presumed to be Italian, even when I'm in the UK. I have blue eyes, brunette hair and a tanned complexion, and I guess I dress v smartly. I'm half Irish, and my Irish family has olive skin and almost black eyes. They do not have the stereotypical 'Irish' complexion, but neither do a lot of Irish people. I think Irish people hold themselves differently to British people; they are generally more gregarious IMO. (Obs this is a generalisation).

Ouch at the 'vague smiling', that is my normal look I have in most social situations (e.g. school gates, at work when having coffee). I realise it marks me out as vaguely deranged English person now. In my husband's culture, people are not very smiley, he has been told he no longer 'fits in' due to his general smiliness (picked up from me).

Male British visitors are easily spotted at the airport here. They are the ones who have been to Abercrombie and Fitch or Hollister and have squashed their over 40 year old body into a t-shirt designed for a 18 year old.

I am Irish but of the dark hair, eyes and olive skin variety. DH comes from Egypt but his family were originally from Poland. I am always the one who gets mistaken for a local when abroad and DH is usually taken for a Brit.

I agree with the ugly and unhealthy look. Brits tend to be very pale (and sunburnt), bad teeth, bad hair and nervous. They also walk like they have something to be ashamed of and wear "holiday" clothes. Honestly - if you wouldn't wear it at home, don't wear it on holiday!

like what bruffin said:

(^I have dark colouring and usually get mistaken for greek/italian/french or whatever country I am in.

DS on the other hand often gets mistaken for german, he is't blonde but has grey eyes and black hair, but is very tall^)

I am always chuffed to be mistaken for a local in southern europe, dark hair/eyes, no 'holiday' clothes

It does seem a shame that we can't be proud to be 'british' but thats how it is and is partly due to the perception of 'brits abroad' which is what a lot of people see.

Dutch and Scandinavian people just look so damned healthy, why is that?

It's not just the tall and blonde thing, all my dutch friends are small and dark, but they still just look really glowing with health.

I recently spent some time at a French campsite where everyone was either English or Dutch and boy you could really tell them apart.

Myself, I'm American but usually mistaken for Irish, I think because I have an unusual (not-American-sounding) accent and am friendly without being too loud or clueless

Nine times out of ten people abroad, e.g. waiters etc don't presume I'm a Brit. Never quite worked out why.

When I went to visit a Spanish friend his mum remarked that I didn't look very English - she seemed disappointed about it too!

Out of the UK or Australia I am always mistaken for Italian! I have no idea why!! I have browny/red hair and pale freakly skin. However, in Italy, I am ALWAYS spoken to in Italian, have had to show my passport to prove my non-italianness etc! My mother and aunt have exactly that same happen to them!

Red faced, middle aged men with Tattoos- you can spot British workies a mile away.

Actually, OP I don't see why you should feel ashamed of people realising you're British.

You're not antisocial and even if you were fat and badly-dressed, what has that got to do with anyone else?

And even if you do carry a WH Smiths bag off the plane, so what?

Different nationalities have their characteristics which may be delightful or infuriating. And right now I'm thinking of a singularly unattractive and unhealthy-looking Norwegian but luckily for me he's gay.

I think British people are far too self-effacing on this matter. But that's part of our charm

Thanks to the person who told me about the Dutch! :)

I'm not tall and at that time didn't have blonde hair. I do get told quite a lot that I have a healthy complextion though. Maybe that has something to do with it?

Also, my Mothers side is German so I possibly don't have totally typical British bone structure.... I have no idea!

Only if you're a spy.

HTH

After having spent a holiday in a place invaded by loud Italians of the worst kind, I really wish I could be mistaken for an English woman (but I can't because I have a wonderful tan )

I'm glad you said that Franca. I spend a lot of time in various bits of Italy with Italian friends. I also live in a place in London that's popular with Italian tourists.

I love my friends dearly and defend the right of anyone nice to go on holiday.

But blimey. Italians can be a bit wearing at times.

Everyone assumes I am American, until I open my mouth, then they think I am English.

I have no idea why this is.

But everywhere other than the UK most peoples attitude towards me changes for the better when they find out I am Australian, don't really understand that either as IMO Aussies are a PITA.

very rarely get taken for British, especially Scottish which I am as i don't look like what folk think 'typically scottish' is, husband as well so we tend to blend in more. Helps that when folk try to guess they always ask if you're 'english' and i can just smile and say 'nope' and walk on.

It's the damn St. Georges flag Tshirt that gets me identified lol

was flying from Dalaman recently and i think one flight going to Doncaster was just so British and not in a good way. Sounds awful but we sat watching in the airport and thought "God, we are an ugly, badly dressed, overweight, tattoo'd bunch, is that what we look like to others?'' . Got on our flight to Gatwick and generally it was like a totally different race - know it sounds snobbish but the difference was very noticable apart from us who obviously lowered the tone (desperately trying not to sound so snobbish and failing miserably).