5 tips to celebrate 4th of July “the expat way”

Victoria Borisch from the great state of Wisconsin, is a PR at Internations and a collaborator for the Huffington Post. She has spent the past five years exploring the untamed beauty of the Republic of Georgia, becoming a whisky drinker in Scotland, practicing a new language in Russia, eating her weight’s worth of lángos in Hungary and enjoying the beer gardens in Germany. She is currently based in Munich and she is providing us with 5 ways to celebrate the 4th of July as an American Living Abroad.

Independence Day is here and while millions of Americans are preparing by purchasing copious amounts of fireworks and picking out their best patriotic ensemble to wear to the block party, those who are living abroad are wondering how to escape the feeling of being left out on this special day.

American expats are also faced with the conundrum of wanting to celebrate and be patriotic without being culturally insensitive. Almost everyone that I have met abroad has some kind of opinion or perception, good or bad, about the United States, so it is important to keep your surroundings in mind when you want to express your national pride. I can guarantee that your neighbors will not appreciate you running up and down the streets chanting “USA, USA, USA”. So how do we celebrate the 4th of July abroad without being “that obnoxious American”?

Here are five possible ways that Americans can celebrate the United States’ birthday while they are away from home:

1. Have a BBQ
Hosting a BBQ is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July with your friends. If you were back home in America, it is probably what you would be doing anyway.

2. Watch Patriotic Movies
If you prefer a quieter alternative, inviting friends over to binge watch your favorite American films is a great option.

3. Go to an American-Themed Bar or Restaurant
Many cities around the world have at least one American-themed bar or restaurant.

4. Attend a 4th of July Event
Attending an organized 4th of July event is a great chance to party with your fellow Americans.

5. Share and Make New Traditions
Living abroad is a great opportunity to not only share your traditions, but to learn about the traditions of others and make new traditions. You may not be able to see that spectacular fireworks show you used to watch with your friends back at home, but why not do something different with your friends in your new home and start a new tradition?