WATCH: How to Be an Annoying American in Mexico — and Beyond
What do Americans do in Latin America that’s irksome and cringeworthy? We asked superbloggers from Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela for their respective opinions on what not to do while abroad:
1. Stereotype a city for an entire country
“They go to places like Cancun or Tijuana, and then they think that that’s Mexico.” — David Ochoa B., Byte Podcast.
2. Lack knowledge and respect
“A lot of [Americans] think Rio is the capital of Brazil. In fact, it is Brasilia. Also, there’s a sense that anything goes during Carnaval. But no matter what time of year it is, there are boundaries that must be respected.” — Pedro Andrade, Pedro Andrade TV
3. Pretend you’re an amigo
“They start ‘Mexicanizing’ and using words like mamita, let’s go for tequilas, hey que paso cabron. … They are like a bad soap opera called ‘El Gingro.’” — Hector Trejo, Bully
Related: 6 Ways to P*ss Off a Mexican
Photo: Thinkstock
4. Move without rhythm
“The way gringos dance salsa at clubs. Oh, my God, so funny… They don’t coordinate their movements because we have the swing, and they don’t know how to do it so they start like robots, and that’s pretty funny for us.” — Paula Galindo, Pautips
5. Assume the worst
“Being surprised or amazed that we can speak English. When we tell them we are fans of this or that American sitcom or TV show, they often act like it is a major miracle that we have cable here [in Venezuela].” — Jennifer Barreto-Leyva, Revista Belleza XL
6. Swear obsessively
“Americans always want to learn bad words in Spanish. That’s the first thing they always ask. I’ve met people from other countries, and they don’t insist on that.” — Mafer Santana, UnaTalMafer
7. Be cheap
“Americans order tap water to save literally $1 in a restaurant. In Argentina, there is no such thing as tap water; everyone orders still or sparkling. When you’re in South America, don’t call yourself ‘American.’ Everyone is American in South America. Instead, say,‘I’m from the United States.’” — Vanessa Camozzi, DC on Heels
8. Look obvious
“One of the things we always said when living in Latin America is ‘mira la pinta de gringo’ — that is, you can spot an American a mile away, mostly because they are wearing sneakers and a baseball cap.” — Cristina Ramirez, Triathlon Mami
Related: How to P*ss Off Someone From Los Angeles
Hey buddy, you’re not going to find any dinosaurs here. It’s OK to dress casually. (Photo: Thinkstock)
9. Dress like a tourist
“One of the most annoying things that Americans do in Peru is that they dress up like they’re going to a safari. So you’re in the mall, and you see Americans with green hats, beige shorts, and shirts walking like they’re going to find dinosaurs, or I don’t know, like they were in Jurassic Park.” — Katy Esquivel, What the Chic
10. Insist on speaking English
“I think when Americans go to Brazil, they never try to speak in Portuguese with us. When Brazilians go to America, we always try to talk in English with them.” — Mauricio Oliveria, Trilhas e Aventuras
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