Member-only story
10 American Comforts That Make Locals Think We’ve Lost It
From Air Conditioning to Giant Drinks, Here’s What Screams “Yank” Louder Than Your Passport.
Non-Members can read this article for free by clicking this link.
You don’t realize how American you are until you order an iced coffee in January in Tbilisi and the barista looks at you like you’ve just asked for a snow cone in a blizzard.
It happened to me one morning, bundled in a heavy coat, ordering what I thought was a simple comfort from home.
The barista glanced at the window, where frost clung to the glass, then back at me with that polite Georgian expression that clearly said, “You poor, confused foreigner.”
That’s when it hit me.
My definition of normal wasn’t universal. It was imported.
It’s funny how the things that feel so natural back home instantly make you stand out abroad.
- Asking for ice.
- Drinking coffee on the go.
- Wearing gym clothes when you’re not actually in a gym.
They’re tiny cultural giveaways, the kind that quietly shout tourist even before you open your mouth.
