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Growing up in a European country and never witnessing what it's like to go to an American school, watching American high school comedies, to me, has always been a pretty surreal experience. I'm sure that most of you fellow non-Americans reading this article could relate to me on this.

There are so many things about American schools that have always seemed utterly fascinating to me. For instance, you get letter grades instead of number ones, schools have swimming pools inside them, there's a club for almost anything, you have to get a hall pass to go to the bathroom during class, and lunch meals are usually pretty bizarre. The list goes on. With that being said, Bored Panda invites you to look through this list of tweets from non-American Twitter users in which they share things that they find the strangest about American schools. Feel free to explain to us the things we don't understand or add your own in the comment section!

#1

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

scultator Report

GC
Community Member
4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t ever know what A levels etc. are. One of these days I need to look it up.

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    #2

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    morosexuaI Report

    konnarw1
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    mine starts at 8:00 till 3:00

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    #3

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    bieberexhale Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, but the cheerleaders were just normal students, not stuck up and they didn't wear their uniforms in class.

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    #4

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    chromaticaution Report

    Jamziee
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, because if you're in the hall without one, then you MUST be commiting murder (Sarcasm lads)

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    #5

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    hilaryagro Report

    Charlotte A.
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Sweden it starts in august and ends in june. Nothing odd about it, to me.

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    #6

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    ShadyFennec Report

    #8

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    Nonisbitch Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They used to have E as a failing grade, but people thought it meant Excellent, so they changed it to an F.

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    #9

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    kirstyclyne Report

    GlassHalfWay
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, even a snowboard & skiing club in the Midwest.

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    #10

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    Iivingxproof Report

    ramen noodle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    huge, loud, head-ache inducing cafeterias.

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    #12

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    argentdols Report

    Aunt Messy
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Canadian here. They don't close schools in Canada unless it's been colder than -40C for three days in a row.

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    #13

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    wintersfalcvn Report

    Imtiredandiwannagotobed
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because we put all our budget into our announcements and lockers

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    #14

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    insatiate0 Report

    GlassHalfWay
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because a gallon would be too heavy on the lunch tray.

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    #15

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    lisaislovesick Report

    #16

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    http_taehyungs Report

    Brett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish I had school lunch that good

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    #18

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    CryinInATaxi Report

    Eva Bryson
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, teachers want you in class to learn, not loitering in the bathroom.

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    #19

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    alienrat Report

    SimplySarcastic40
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yep...at least in the suburbs because most of us start driving at 16

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    #20

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    _smell_ya_later Report

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    #21

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    sapphicnile Report

    The Zooble
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be very honest, I'm English and I usually do page count rather than word count

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    #22

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    LazarusRags Report

    konnarw1
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah i wondered this and are the woman stale or something lol

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    #24

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    livculture Report

    #25

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    bollobas Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So we aren't "distracted". Even rooms with windows usually had the blinds closed.

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    #26

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    unsaidalex Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not really. We have nearby schools we compete against in sports, but any rivalry is very light-hearted.

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    #27

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    prostrider Report

    SimplySarcastic40
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we had an apple machine...for $0.20 you got an apple.

    Amy Pattie
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Australian here, we had a vending machine. Snacks happen.

    II️ovecatsandogs
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish my school had a vending machine no snacks for us. ☹️

    Tequila4Two
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also seen them in Europe, this is not so strange. Mostly filled with snacks and sodas.

    Petra Schaap
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    other question, where the F are you from, that you're suprised by this?

    Phoebe Carter
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably the UK, only colleges and sixth forms get vending machines here

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    Jamziee
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes but they don't have good food and the good drinks (Soda, etc.) Are replaced with gatorate and such and when it's lunch you can't even bring it into class with you

    HyacinthTheRainWing
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My school in Canada has two, and one has chips, candy, and fizzy water, and the other has juice and water.

    Layla Holston
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    our food vending machines had the food taken out the year before I started. I was looking forward to the food. but our drink machines have zero sugar and diet and caffeine free sodas and waters and stuff.

    Carly Romer
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My high school did. We had the standard vending machine and a slushie machine… 😅

    Rebecca Demirtaş
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup. We had several. For soft drinks and candy.

    Zara Morgan
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had vending machines in our school in London (U.K.) - I was there 1999-2006.

    Cybele Spanjaard
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not here as far as I know the tuck shop has the food and only open lunch hours

    Nightshade1972
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hated cafeteria food, so that's how I ate lunch. Can of Coke from one vending machine, a couple of candy bars from another vending machine. There were even a couple of vending machines on campus that'd dispense things like pens, pencils, erasers, protractors, etc. Still had to pay for the school supplies, of course, but it came in handy if your pen ran out of ink during a test or something.

    mom24boys
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we had vending machines with hot foods like burritos, corn dogs, tater tot potatoes, soup and cold ones with soda, milk, salad, fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks and even freezer ones with ice cream bars, pop cycles and ice cream cups. This was back in the mid to late 1970s.

    Susan Mercurio
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep. And contrary to popular opinion, they used to sell junk food.

    Susan Egan
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Only the high school in our town.

    Doris Bennett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most of the unhealthy snack machines were removed.

    Sara Mccracken
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I fought the vending machines with coke and Pepsi as it send a bad message to the children about a healthy snack. Head Master said "just tell your kids not to drink it then"... for this I paid a fortune in Private school fees ( not my choice!) They got athletic funding from coke and Pepsi... really great priorities...They only changed it after all the public ( free) schools banned it.

    Susan Thomas
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some do. There was much debate over the lack of value on the snacks offered so many have been removed.

    Klaus Hargreeves
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes but the one at my school only sells baked chips grain bars and sparkling water

    Ivana
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, money money money, MONEY. The home of capitalism to the extreme.

    Carol Lewis
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lunch lady here. Not in any of the schools I have worked in. Santa Cruz Ca. We try, on the budget we are given to serve healthier food. We have fresh fruit and vegetables, different kinds of salad etc. Not perfect but we really try.

    Cami
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    my high school has a vending machine called Sebastien not even kidding

    Candice Lewis
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes. We had soda vending and snacks.

    Emily Smith
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep. They sure do. To satisfy those munchie cravings between class and a cheap option is someone forgot a lunch from home and didn't have enough for a school meal.

    TheDemonUnderYourBed
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, all around the school with sodas and chips, a concessions stand with candy open day long, and coffee in the cafeteria.

    similarly
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Back in the 80s, my high school had soda and snacks in the vending machines. A few years later, they licensed the cafeteria meals out to fast food restaurants, so they had McDonalds and Pizza Hut in the cafeteria, but I think that didn't last long.

    SAF saf
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, my middle school even had vending machines.

    Citizen Josie
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And is a convenience specially if it has healthy options.

    Seth Linn
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    School food is disgusting and costs the same as a bag of chips and a drink anyways.

    CatWoman312
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don’t understand why what’s weird

    Lsai Aeon
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had the best vending machines in my Middle and High Schools. Chocolate, Chips (crisps) Candy, Soda. At that point most of us stopped going to the cafeteria, course I graduated high school in 1997 so...

    Jean H.
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes they do and they use to be filled with nothing but junk food. School are finally moving towards more healthy options. ( pre-Covid.) Schools get them for free and usually get a portion of the money raised in them

    A Jones
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, there were some by the cafeteria in my high school and 2nd academy I went too during HS.

    Peter Shen
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they are all broken and scams

    elia 84631
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had them in my small private high school

    Blackheart
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some students must be at school after hours and in need of something to eat or drink. This includes band students, athletes, etc.

    Slippy The Banana
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We do, and it’s saved me a couple of times from school lunch :D

    Sabienn
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My secondary school (middle school and high school are kind of the same thing here in Holland) did, both of the buildings had them. One for drinks and one for candy. And one of the buildings also had one for cups of soup.

    Rissie
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dutch schools have them too.

    Sportsgal
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup, with all kinds of unhealthy foods. My middle school had a whole convenience store type setup...

    Whawhawhatsis
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My son's high school had a Coke machine. I was outraged! No kid needs to get sugared up in the middle of the school day instead of eating a healthy lunch!

    JessG
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Got news for you, high school kids will find a way to eat and drink what they want. Most teenage boys eat and drink garbage anyway. As an older person, I’m jealous and I wish my body could still handle that crap, lol

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    X Æ Archangel-12 Musk
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have 30 throughout our campus, they’re all marked in a map 😂

    sylvantic
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah, we do! it's nice! we also have a student store where you can get ice cream for a dollar.

    John Topper
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most if them do, and the simple answer as to why is capitalism. It helps supplement the schools budget.

    Amarédesse Gemtree, SLYTHERIN
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have one (not in america, and only one) but the stuff in it is crap.

    Demetri
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably NOW, vending machines are normal. But in the 60's--no. I recall a self-serve soda fountain, which was a BIG DEAL during my first three years. BUT a new school opened in 1973 and my class was the first to graduate from it. There was ONE vending machine for chips, cookies, soda and water in the cafeteria.

    ArtistinResidence
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Our students are allowed to use the vending machines after lunch and not before. Many of our students stay after school so vending machines provide them with snacks. They have healthy snacks like pretzels and fruit juices and crackers and peanut butter.

    Gwenda Christenson
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes - because school lunch sucks -- and also the school makes money off of them - which they use to support activities that we (as students) do

    Powercat
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was only one vending machine situated in the cafeteria that sold juice bottles.

    Roadkill The Brave
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had vending machines that had a lot of junk food, then the be healthy stuff hit and all our snack vanished with healthier options.

    Xenia Granados
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They took our out cause it wasn't "healthy". I don't understand how an apple or a bag of carrots isn't healthy. The sweetest thing in there was a energy bar. But I think they took it out cause of funding

    jewel cat
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we do. its mostly drinks though. and they are always super crowded. you also get stared at if you get to much change

    Anarchy (they/them)
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My high school had a snack machine and at least one drink machine in each building. And in middle school we had a snack and drink machine in the lunch room

    AIDAN SIVITS
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine has energy drinks and snacks

    Powercat
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Selling energy drinks in a school? Wow...

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    Biana Vacker
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we do have some at our school, but we only have a drink machine with water and other stuff and it pretty much never works.

    Erin Kavik
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My British school had vending machines...

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, in high school, but we were forced to only have diet soda, because it was "healthier". Really sucked if you're allergic to fake sugar : (

    von Funnyname
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We definitely had soda machines that we all learned how to break into and/or scam

    JessG
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And then you all get mad when they take the machines away. Bad kids think it’s cool to ruin privileges for everyone else.

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    #28

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    hemsbucky Report

    Brett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The high school I’m going to does

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    #29

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    aidansarson7 Report

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    #31

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    00lisa0 Report

    konnarw1
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah sorry but you should move to america.(JK)

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    #32

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    ThaumPenguin Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Candy was usually a very tiny part, if it was there at all. But it was the most exciting part!

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