physiscal/verbal hostility cause they think you are american

I have heard from others to watch my back when I go to the UK. The fact we sound so much like an American and that American travelers are now toting our Canadian flag patch and a tim hortons cup for their protection they are giving us a bad rep. A friends cousin who traveled to the UK had his trip cut short because 4 "blokes" curbstomped him knocking out 7 teeth because they "assumed" he was an American.

Also heard of Canadian tourists getting escorted out of restaurants and stores as the owner thought they were yanks. I am currently conditioning my body to sprint and run long distances should a mob of blokes want to teach me a lesson for having the same voice as an American.

This isn't just the UK, I was chased by a mob of 7 guys while in Melbourne Australia because they thought I was an American. Luckily I had rollerblades on or I could of been dead.

Is the UK seriously this violent and full of hate towards Americans?
To the Canadians who traveled there RECENTLY, what kind of verbal/physical confrontations did you experience from a mistaken identity?

I was in London last Feb. Everyone I met was for the most part very pleasant and nice. I even met a group of hardcore football fans from Manchester who took me around to some local pubs and were very nice and protective. They did tell me to be careful though on my own - I was fully on aware and on guard that I did stick out as a tourist.

Guess it is different being a British/Canuck girl

On a side note London has a lot of tourists so it is perhaps more tolerant than other parts of the UK.

Hi,

I've lived in the UK for almost 7 years and I've never heard such rubbish in my life. I say some english words now (hence the rubbish) but I sound completely Canadian, haven't lost my accent at all.

People always say "where in America are you from", they're not completely wrong I am from "North America," but I just smile polietly and say "i'm from Canada" and they always feel terrible for making the mistake.

I've never been abused here for my accent, nor anywhere else I've been. The best part is when I complain in a store or something I know they are thinking "bloody American" and I just love to let them think that. You get the best of both!

I personally think you've been fed some serious dribble!

What were you doing to be chased by people?????

When I was in Ibiza, I got mistaken for being American a couple of times when I didn't have anything Canadian on me. I told them "no, I'm not American" (and expressed my true feeling for the Americans) and at one point someone (from England) said to me "ohhh you Canadians and your French! Do you speak French??" haha the fact that people think I speak French makes me laugh. I did laugh and said no....

When in Berlin I also didn't have any problems....but I did have a little flag pin on my coat the entire time. What I think confused people was that I was travelling with someone from London so the cross between our accents threw people for a little loop (which was fun).

ok don't understand where you got your info from, I am originally from the UK now living in Canada for nearly 20 years. I go back every 2 years, first off the Brits are pretty smart and know the differance between someone from the US and Canada!!

I am a Canadian who has lived in London for 3 years (back in Toronto now) and I can tell you that Canadians and Americans generally have no concerns at all - more than a Brit anyway.

I think it is possible the Brits may identify more quickly with Canadians (being that we are a former British colony) but physical/verbal hostility? - never saw any evidence of that. In fact I think London is remarkable for a big city in how safe it feels.

There are definitely Americans with Canadian flags though. As for the Timmies Mugs - your average Brit would have no idea about what Timmies is.

Hey!

I lived here in 2009 for a few months, now living here for a few years in London. What I've learned is that you have to be clear about not being an American. I used to get (almost as soon as I opened my mouth) "oh you`re American" but once you explain the difference (some think it's the same thing...sadly) I also find it works saying, in a light Canadian way..."a Canadian being called an American is like an English person being called Scottish (or Irish). Yes it's north american but two VERY different places." I tell people my hometown (Montreal) usually an American who's pretending to be Canadian haven't done their research and say some random place that they clearly know nothing about. There is no reason to be scared to come over when you've got nothing to hide. And most of the time people can tell the general difference in our ways. Hope that helps you a bit?
Em xx

The only time I ever really encountered anything like that in my 17 odd years was this woman who, after finding out I was Canadian told me that had I been American she would have spit on me before launching into an anti-American tirade.
Now, I am not doubting what your friend said but London (like most places) do have their fair share of hooligans and could just be a case of wrong place wrong time drunks looking for a fight with anyone.
I mean, I lived in a small town and avoided London when I could but even in London I found I was alright.

Lived in Cardiff from 1999-2003 never saw any of that. Most of the time people said, "Oh you are American?"
I said no obviously explaining.

Then the next phrase was honestly most of the time, "What on earth (or fill in the blank curse word) are you doing here?" Some had a real milk and honey ideas about our country.