Is wearing Canadian apparel a good idea when out of the country?

[tyedyeto]

My s/o may be working in South America for several months. He's thinking about getting a few t-shirts and ball caps that have Canadian logos/flags on them.

Could this help one from being an American 'target'?

[MiniMandaRuth]

1. My friends sister went to Europe for a week....

She did an experiment.

One day, she wore a t-shirt with the American flag on it. She got some weird stares, people weren't as friendly... You know, just stuff.

Then she wore a t-shirt with the Canadian-flag on it. She was treated better and even asked about herself kindly.

She said she also felt safer while in the Canadian shirt.

[yvr girl]

2. It's not very Canadian to wear a huge Canadian flag

on T-shirt. :D

[tyedyeto]

3. How about a small one?

:shrug:

Edited to add: Or maybe hockey stuff. (BTW, my s/o is a big hockey fan)
:-)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. I never had problems in Europe, but it could be different in South America

My experience in Europe was a lot of people that said they didn't really have problems with Americans (provided they weren't being "ugly Americans") but rather with our government. Whenever someone asked me about something political, I made certain that it was obvious I wasn't on the side of the Shrub (pretty easy for me to do).

Actually, when I was in Dublin, Ireland I kept getting stopped by American tourists asking me for directions. I do look "black Irish" but I guess I really do fit in easily with my surroundings. It happened to me once in England, but quite a few times in Ireland.

OT=Obvious Tourist

OT: Excuse me, but do you know where ----- is?
Me: No, I've only been here two days.
OT: You're an American!
Me: Yeah.
OT: But you look Irish!
Me: Yeah, I know. (continue on my way)