After my last post, one diligent reader pointed out I'd forgotten to mention one of the best parts of travelling abroad: being the unique foreigner amongst all the natives. We don't really think of our own culture as interesting until we're in amongst a different one, and people are asking us questions and acting all fascinated about stuff we take for granted. It feels good to be the centre of attention without even trying, and once you've got someone's attention, you can reel them in with the 'sexy accent' you never even knew you had until drunk, giggling members of the opposite sex were pointing it out to each other and making you say certain words over and over.
There are a few benefits to this little contextual boost in sex appeal. First, if you're on a working holiday, it can help you get a job (who cares if you're playing to a stereotype if it makes you fat stacks of cash). A friend of mine moved to England a couple of years ago and got work in a pub without the owner even asking about his work experience or testing him on pouring beers; it was just assumed he knew what he was doing, as an Aussie. Then, there's just the fact that being 'exotic' is seen as an asset when it comes to sales work; how many times have you walked into your favourite restaurant, boutique, gadget shop or convenience store and been greeted with a 'hello' that makes you automatically turn your head and actually look at your server?
Then, there's pulling. A recent-ish study by a polling company about the world's hottest accents also discovered that 60% of women have been seduced by someone on a sexy accent alone (The same company also surveyed for the quality of the lovin' from people with these accents, but really, once you've sealed the deal who cares?!). I would say my hotness quotient went up at least three points when I lived in Canada; I was picking up guys who were totally out of my league in looks and coolness. Friends and acquaintances have gone to work or study overseas and gleefully reported similar results via Facebook and constant twitpic streams of them with random hotties. I bet there's something psychological or biological behind it; maybe it's easier to keep someone interested when your voice sounds unusual to them, or maybe the sound of an attractive accent is some kind of biological signal of a sweet new set of genes to mix with one's own in the form of adorable bi-racial mocha babies. Whatever, I'm happy to accept the better customer service, special treatment, and extra attention from the menfolk.
Of course, not all people in the country you hit up for an adventure will even be able to tell where you're from. An adorable little gay cashier at Old Navy once asked me if I was "from, like, the South or something?". I LOL'd, 'cos I'm from the south of the entire world. It can also be pretty infuriating when people tell you you're not from where you're from, just because your accent doesn't match some terrible stereotype. People I know from Adelaide have told me that when they go abroad, they're mistaken for English people because of their neutral, non-nasally accents. Americans are especially bad at telling where you're from, and imitating your accent. Oh, and when people don't understand you unless you pronounce something with their accent- that also sucks.
So next time you're travelling, believe people when they act like they're attracted to you and interested in what you have to say (or keen to employ you), but don't abuse it and ruin the, er, reputation of your country(wo)men.
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