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Here Are 30 Examples Of Non-American Things That Might Be A Culture Shock For Americans
Every country on the globe is different, so it’s only natural that the people, culture, or lifestyle will be different as well. Some things, however, can be so starkly distinct that they can come off as a cultural shock for foreigners.
When Reddit user DreamyBabyh asked non-Americans to share such things that are normal for them, but would shock most Americans, folks replied with gusto. From absolutely hilarious to simply wild, the answers will totally entertain you. We have compiled some of the best ones for your perusal, so just scroll down to check them out!
More info: Reddit
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#1
Hospitality staff don’t have to rely on tips in order to receive a survivable wage each month.
Oerff On Tour 5 months ago
Now that's a concept! Paying employees a livable wage? Revolutionary!
RELATED:
#3
If you get sick on your vacation, you go to the Dr and the company has to give you your days back.
As you scroll through the list, even non-Americans might be shocked by some of these things, as they are unique to specific countries. Honestly, traveling to a new country or culture can be a real rollercoaster. It’s totally normal to feel a bit off when you’re suddenly in a place that’s super different from what you’re used to.
You’re not calling the shots like you did back home, and that can be a little overwhelming. One minute you’re pumped and curious, and the next you might feel frustrated, homesick, or even a little scared. That mix of feelings? It’s what experts call culture shock, and it just means your brain’s adjusting to all the new stuff around you. Trust me, it’s totally normal, and it even gets better with time.
#4
When people die, we put up little posters - printed obituaries - on the walls of buildings all around town and close to places the person liked to frequent. They have a little picture of the person, their date of birth and death, and a message of mourning from the family.
Edit: I’m from Bulgaria.
#5
Boyfriends and girlfriends (or partners) sleeping together at each others houses from about age 14-15 yrs old. (Denmark here 🇩🇰). Parents would rather have this than kids sneaking around and getting into bad situations.
#6
Here in Germany our pharmacies only sell medicine no snacks makeup or random stuff. First time I visited the US I thought I was in the wrong store.
While these things can be surprising when you visit a country as a tourist, it can become quite challenging if you actually migrate to a whole different place. In fact, did you know that research has revealed there are 4 stages of culture shock? That’s true!
In the Honeymoon Phase, everything’s shiny and exciting in the beginning. You’re loving the adventure and soaking it all in. Then comes the Negotiation Phase, where the reality sinks in. The language trips you up, little stuff gets annoying, and you start missing home.
This is followed by the Adjustment Phase, where slowly but surely, you get the hang of things. You build routines, feel more chill, and things don’t throw you off as much. The last one is the Adaptation Phase, where eventually, you settle in for real. The culture still feels different, but it’s your kind of different now, and you start to own it.
#8
Police don't carry guns and can't shoot a person just because they felt afraid.
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
Was in London for New Year's Eve and was amazed at how non-threatening the police who were handling the crowds were. If someone was getting too rowdy, the people in the crowd would shut them down. The police trusted the crowd and the crowd trusted the police. As an American, this was astounding.
#9
Free Healthcare.
Scott Rackley 5 months ago (edited)
I just love all my fellow US citizens here criticizing. You argument boils down to "Poor people shouldn't have healthcare." My taxes pay to educate your d*****s kids, and I don't have any, yet I don't b***h about it.
Now that we know all the stages, think about one of the shocking things from the list. Do you think you could finally adapt to it once you got familiar with it? I certainly think I could. One of the entries that fascinated me the most is the “El gusanito” rollercoaster cart from Guayaquil, Ecuador.
While it might sound a little dangerous, I think I wouldn't mind giving it a spin at least once. What I would mind, though, is paying for using public toilets, as one entry mentions. However, contrary to what I think, apparently, these public toilets in Europe are run by private organizations, hence they charge people to maintain them.
#10
9 months of paid paternity leave, free preschool (including all meals), free healthcare, living wages (no matter what you do).
Edit for that one person: “free” means funded from taxes.
Gunný Petersen 5 months ago
No one complains about high taxes because we benefit from them regarding so much we get in exchange. Totally worth it.
#11
We actually got all the bad government officials, sacked , with a weeks protest.
Lyone Fein 5 months ago
All of them? Somehow I can’t help thinking of that song: Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
#12
No vaccines for the first two months of life.
Not because we’re anti-vax, but because we expect moms and newborns will just stay in their homes for that time period.
Also, it’s illegal for daycares to take babies under 56 days of age because mothers cannot legally work until then.
Another appealing thing that someone mentioned was how you can get your days back if you fall sick during your vacation. While it happens in some European countries, Germany is the most famous for this super cool leave policy. I mean, who wouldn't want that?
Someone also spoke about the Prison Culture Festival in Japan that simply caught me off guard. As thrilling as it sounds, it does make you wonder how families take even their kids to these festivals where they roam amongst criminals? Sounds a little scary to me for sure!
#13
Japan.
"Shock" might be a bit too strong of a word but here are a few that tend to surprise Americans in my experience:
- Kids and parents bathing together until the kids are in their teens (also includes hot springs).
- Kids and parents all sleeping together in the same room/bed until the kids are in their teens.
- School is technically only compulsory until 9th grade (although almost everyone completes high school).
- No "carding" anywhere, ever, to buy alcohol (unless you look like a literal child).
- Staff at restaurants will NEVER stop by to ask you how things are going or if you need anything. You MUST flag them down or ring the bell at the table (but this is not considered rude at all - on the contrary it's considered rude for the staff to bother you if you haven't specifically asked them to).
- Women AND men (yes, you read that correctly) can take an entire YEAR of maternity/paternity leave.
- Japanese prisoners make food, furniture, and other goods that you can buy at "prison festivals" they hold outside the prisons themselves. These festivals have a variety of attractions and are popular with families and children.
- When you buy land/property you usually pay your down payment in person, in cash, in a sort of ritualised transaction with a lawyer and real estate agents present. It often takes place at the bank that is facilitating the overall sale.
- Much of what Americans refer to as "beer" is technically and legally not even considered beer in Japan because it's so diluted with additives and substitutes like corn, rice etc. (think the kind of watery beers you'd use for beer pong). They instead call these "happoshu" and they are considered second rate but also are cheaper and taxed less than "real" beer (ie. made with full wheat and hops).
Lots more but those are just a few fun ones :).
Nikki Sevven 5 months ago
Most of what Americans refer to as "beer," I, also an American, do not consider to be beer. It's more like beer-flavored seltzer.
#14
Leaving prams with babies outside the cafe while you go in for a coffee. In the winter.
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
That does sound completely insane to Americans. Many new parents don't even trust anyone to watch their babies for their first year!
#15
Bidets, these are common in a good amount of asian countries im pretty sure.
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
They're not in public restrooms yet, but Americans are finally warming up to bidets in their homes.
There are many other interesting things mentioned in the list, but alas, we can't talk about all of them. Instead, we want you to go through it and express which one fascinated you the most. Go on, feel free to jot down your thoughts in the comments and spare a few upvotes for your favorites. Also, if we have missed out on anything in our list, don't forget to mention it in the comments!
#16
We can have "snap elections", and not wait for 2 or 4 years of stupidity to play out.
#17
28 days annual leave.
Pa Pa Panda 5 months ago
Again depends on your employer in the US I get 5 weeks a year (Go union!)
#18
Sauna naked with friends.
Sauna naked with family.
Sauna naked with strangers.
Serena Myers 5 months ago
No sauna at all! Thanks, but no thanks, humidity makes me grumpy, but you do you.
#19
My family is from Ecuador, specifically Guayaquil, so I visit often. On Saturday nights, there is a rollercoaster cart that drives around town, drifting, doing donuts, going super fast while playing music. It’s the shape of a worm so they call it “El gusanito”. It picks people up like every other block and it costs 25 cents to ride. There are no limits to how many people get on per cart. I even saw a stray dog catch a ride once. It’s so unsafe but super fun. That would never happen in the states.
Serena Myers 5 months ago
TIL that there is somewhere called Guayaquil, but in my defence OP has probably never heard of Winfrith or Sturry either. Even so, BP broadens my horizons with every passing day.
#20
The maternity leave is f*****g bonkers, to the point where I've had colleagues that I didn't even meet due to them being out on maternity for like 3-4 years. Plus you accrue paid leave during this time at a rate of 1 month per year so you can extend it by almost half a year off.
Gun violence is very rare, I'd go as far as to say non-existent for the average civvie. I've handled guns because I ran with shady crowds, but for a normal person if they don't go to a gun range the only time they'll see a gun is on a police officer or arny personnel.
Nikki Sevven 5 months ago
For the last one, it depends on where in the US you live. I live in Massachusetts and have never witnessed gun violence in 60 years. We have quite strict gun control laws.
#21
Euthanasia.
Not that it's incredibly common, but it's very much supported and uncontroversial that it's legal.
#22
I lived in Spain for a few years as an American. One of the biggest differences was the fact that their whole family lives together indefinitely.
In a home the size that would fit a starter family in America, they have their grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. and they all take care of each other.
As someone who was forced to move out at 18, that fascinated me.
Lyone Fein 5 months ago
I think there are a lot of cultures where this is the case. And I always find it so ironic that people here in the US talk up “family values” so much!
#24
If I go for a walk along the canal today, there's a high chance I'll see naked people and I'll almost certainly see topless people of both sexes.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
In America, there are people who are of both sexes, but they are rarely seen topless.
#25
Walking around in public in bare feet. Very common to see supermarket shoppers and such with no shoes on, and no it’s not a class thing, all kinds of people do it. Not beating the hobbit allegations I guess.
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
Kiwis and Aussies! In the US, it's "no shirt, no shoes, no service!"
#26
Nakedness in general. I was at Lake Como once and a guy just dropped this pants on the side walk, put on his swim trunks and jumped in the lake. I actually admired that confidence.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
Genuine question. If public nudity was acceptable there, why did he even need swim trunks?
#27
This really only occurs in Ontario and Quebec, but the whole bagged milk thing seems to really f***k them out.
Kristiina Männiste 5 months ago
We have bagged milk in Estonia- it is usually a little bit cheaper than the milk in cartons. Another useless bit of info- during the 80-90-ies, whet there really was very little in stores, people would cut up the milk and similar sour cream and kefir packages to ribbons and crotchet them into waterproof rugs. Looked ugly as heck but actually felt ok underfoot
#28
Having to pay for public restrooms.
#29
A man walking along a street with a massive machete is no cause for alarm and wouldn't even get an eye raise...
Uncle Panda 5 months ago
"If you see a guy running at you with a machete, you only have to worry if he stops." Unsolicited advice by someone who had been there. Still no idea why she told me, though.
#30
American in the UK here. I was shocked to find DIY tooth repair and filling kits in drugstores. The waiting lists to see a dentist are so long that people have to take matters into their own hands.
What do you think ?
Lousha 5 months ago
Well, there are some who should be in Europe as well.
Load More Replies...
Ace 5 months ago (edited)
SHAKEN, Not Shook, in the title. I've noticed this mis-conjugation of the past tense quite a lot recently, usually within posts copied from reddit or wherever, but would hope that BP can make an effort to use correct English.... I shake, I shook, I have shaken. I was shaken.
Lyone Fein 5 months ago
Many of these sound quite civilized……. I’m sure it’s true about every country, though. There are things that someone from that one country would find strange and shocking if they were to go traveling to various other places all over the world. Why single out America so often?
Lousha 5 months ago
Indeed, a lot of these are "shocking" to other Europeans as well. Like the Danes leaving their kids in front of a coffee shop in their prams. You would NOT even dream of doing that in Hungary.
Load More Replies... Lousha 5 months ago
Well, there are some who should be in Europe as well.
Load More Replies... Ace 5 months ago (edited)
SHAKEN, Not Shook, in the title. I've noticed this mis-conjugation of the past tense quite a lot recently, usually within posts copied from reddit or wherever, but would hope that BP can make an effort to use correct English.... I shake, I shook, I have shaken. I was shaken.
Lyone Fein 5 months ago
Many of these sound quite civilized……. I’m sure it’s true about every country, though. There are things that someone from that one country would find strange and shocking if they were to go traveling to various other places all over the world. Why single out America so often?
Lousha 5 months ago
Indeed, a lot of these are "shocking" to other Europeans as well. Like the Danes leaving their kids in front of a coffee shop in their prams. You would NOT even dream of doing that in Hungary.
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