The Subtle Behaviors That Reveal You’re American Abroad

At many American restaurants, water appears almost as soon as the guests sit down. It is free, frequently refilled, and so automatic that people may not even remember asking for it. Abroad, the server might instead wait for the table to order still or sparkling bottled water. Free tap water may be available, but it often has to be requested clearly, and in some establishments it is not a customary part of service at all. France offers a useful example: asking for a carafe of tap water is more specific than simply ordering “water,” which may result in a bottle on the bill.