I notcied a really strange trend amongst American exchange students at my university who came for summer courses

I notcied a really strange trend amongst American exchange students at my university who came for summer courses.

Nearly all of them, and I'm not exagerating here, wear at all times some piece of clothing that has either an American flag on it (by far the most common), some reference to the USA on it (eg I saw a guy wearing a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA tshirt) or less commonly something referring to their state.

And I don't mean this is just one or two, there are literally hundreds of Americans who were at my uni, all of whom were wearing some reference to the United States.

I was really perturbed by this, and I told my friend, and I said like 'its so weird, i mean if it were one or two I wouldn't even notice but it's literally all of them' and my friend said 'I sort of wish british people were more like that' and i said 'nah but its creepy, i mean it would really make me scared if everyone was wearing flag clothing'

anyway back to the point why? and why all of them? how is the american group think this powerful? I've never seen another nationality do this with such consistency

Canadians do that here. Every canuck at my university has either a canadian flag in their window or a leaf flag patch on their backpack.

i mean i didn't see canucks doing it here

why woudl you want to constantly broadcast your nationality though?

interesting

I'm from the US and I don't see people wearing very much US flag stuff, however, I am from California and pretty much everyone has some form of clothing with the California flag on it, and I know if I went and stayed in another country I'd probably want to wear a Cali hat or somehting now and then just for fun/to remind me of home

maybe no-name states just do that for the same reason but with the US flag since most state flags are shit

I've noticed Canadians doing that here and in Europe, I thought they didn't want to be mistaken for Americans.

>I know if I went and stayed in another country I'd probably want to wear a Cali hat or somehting now and then just for fun/to remind me of home

but you don't even look at the hat you're wearing, you're not reminding yourself of home, you're just telling everyone where you're from? I doubt there is a lack of reminders of America in any Western country, why would you all wear america/state themed clothes?

>canadians think they're any more liked than americans

I think it's less about a personal statements as much as it is about american clothiers making the american flag a common thing on their products. Over here I've seen a lot of union flag motiffs on clothing, but it's clearly not because people are British, but because it was fashionable for a short while (past couple of summers).

When young people go abroad, they're often given something by their family or friends that represents their home somewhat. They'll include it when they pack and wont have many other clothes because of space limitations.

It helps us notice each other too.

Outside of Sup Forums we're pretty well liked.

Whilst I see your point and agree that I also have clothes with american flags on them, (Ralph Lauren shirts and so on).

However the ubiquity amongst american sounding people, made me think it's not pure coincidence but a concerted and knowing inclusion in the clothing of the americans abroad.

I mean one guy was literally wearing a shirt that said 'United States of America'

nigga i see girls wearing shirts with the uk flag all day, it's just a fashion thing, in the us is also becoming popular wearing shirts with the chinese and russian flag

Perhaps its a post 11.09 thing? Cant compare it with a university in the 90s of course. But if there is a country with an extreme sense of nationalism and the amount of students it would be the usa.
On my university there are more chinese and indian students. But I dont see they flags.

>we're pretty well liked.

you're like SLIGHTLY less fat and stupid americans.
when i go abroad, i just wear normal clothes, I don't especially pack an England t-shirt to go to go to italy or something.

Let's widen the thread
>country-references on your clothing
yes or no?

>having to wear a shirt to represent your country

When I travel I don't wear a shirt.

I don't get how canadians can be proud of their nation. Proud enough to get it tattoed onto them.

you're entire nationality is just being 'not america' and yet 99% of your population lives 10 minutes drive from america. Your country is demarcated from america by nothing but literally a straight line through the land. How can you feel any national identity and be crass enough to tattoo a fucking leaf onto your body.

>I mean one guy was literally wearing a shirt that said 'United States of America'
Yeah, that's different, I agree.

>However the ubiquity amongst american sounding people, made me think it's not pure coincidence but a concerted and knowing inclusion in the clothing of the americans abroad.
It's because Americans are very much *into* building themselves an identity, both individual and of groups they belong to (geographical, societal, ethnic). I dated an American for some time so i was in contact with them a bit more and I'd say it's less about patriotism and more about trying to build an image of themselves.

Not that I think it's bad, they're wonderful people, but it's a personality quirk not very common among Europeans (from my experiences, at least not the non-poor ones).

I'd ask how you feel pride in your country, but based on your flag I don't know which of the three it is.

sick burn
>I'd say it's less about patriotism and more about trying to build an image of themselves
what do you mean? like they want people to know that they're americans?

Britain is an American colony

I read somewhere that Americans put Canadian flags on their clothes when abroad so they get better service.

>what do you mean? like they want people to know that they're americans?
Yes, in a sea of British people being "the American" sets them apart, makes them feel like they're not just a face in the crowd, but an individual.

If you wear clothes like that you only belong in snackbars anyway.

I've heard this, but I'm almost certain it's bullshit.