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34 Things That Americans Do And Only Realized They Are Actually Weird Once They Talked To Foreigners
Usually, when you grow up in a certain culture, you learn its customs and get accustomed to its lifestyle and all the things. And for a while, when you don't know any better, it's normal to assume that the whole world operates the same as your culture.
Then, you learn that sometimes the things you consider to be absolutely normal aren't normal at all somewhere else. Today, we'll focus on such revelations that American people had after talking to foreign folks. And let's just say, these are pretty entertaining examples.
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#1
Requiring cashiers to stand up.
It seemed normal when I lived in the US, but now that I'm in Spain and see cashiers sitting down I wonder why they can't in the US.
Wang Zhuang 7 months ago
Yes, how dare they be comfortable! Imagine them actually feeling better about doing their jobs. The audacity!
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#2
Employers having to approve sick time. Apparently in other countries, your doctor decides how long you have to take off and you employer just HAS to honor it.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago (edited)
In other countries, when you are sick, you just call in letting them know. And you have 3 days to recover from some light illness, like a cold. After 3 days, you need your doc's note. If it's serious lasting for months, your workplace will pay you 100% of your wage the first month, than kicks in the health-insurance, what takes over the pay. Edit: It's Germany.
If you’re from somewhere else besides the United States of America, throughout your life, you have probably noticed that the world is relatively America-centered. For instance, if you look up the statistics of something, you will often get results about the American population.
Let’s do a quick experiment. We came up with a random question – “How much bread do people eat?” – and added the word “statistics” when Googling it. And guess what? The first thing that popped up was statistics about bread consumption in the United States. To prove our point, you can do a little experiment on your own – maybe you can prove that only our search engine algorithm shows American results first.
#4
Figuring out your taxes. What do you owe? I don’t know. Does the government? Yes. Will they just tell you? No, go figure it out, but if you get it wrong you’re in trouble.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
That's insane. But I know, having your taxes (not the commercial ones) already deducted from your wage is sOcIaliSm, bruh!
#5
It was in the 1980's when I went on a one week vacation to Switzerland and realized that most of the world gets more than two week's vacation per year.
I recall the hotel manager asking me how long my stay would be and I bragged "I'm here for a week"! He asked where I was going after and I said "Back to work". He was shocked that I had so little free time. He was right.
Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that American culture is seeping its way into other cultures, and it’s been happening for a while now. In fact, there’s a whole term for it – Americanization.
Let’s take a look at cinema to grasp the lengths of Americanization. Since around the 1910s, American cinema (or simply said, Hollywood) has dominated the market. The majority of the top 50 highest-grossing films of all time have been fully or partially made in the United States or at least were financed by their production companies.
#8
The size of our meal portions.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
Insane. I always know, when we have american guests. They are always complaining about the "small" portions. Although, they very much like that we are working with fresh ingredients, not frozen ones.
#9
The over the top patriotism.
Of course, not everything is all because of cinema; there are plenty of other players too, like businesses and commercials. Brands like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Subway, Starbucks, Burger King, and KFC having places all around the world and being widely popular there shows how much soft power American culture can have.
These are just a few examples. Basically, people worldwide get easily exposed to American fashion, scenery, lifestyle, and customs, sometimes without even realizing they do. And that means Americanization has succeeded in its task.
#10
D**g testing. I've worked various jobs since 13 years old and never even heard about the concept, except for convicted fellons coming back from detention leave or something like that.
Then I work in US and my boss is like "Well obviously I'm gonna have to check your p**s before you can sort parcels".
#11
The amount of sugar that's in our food. Like ALL of our food has it in some capacity. I worked with foreign students every summer in hs and they always wondered why our food was so sweet. I didn't realize it until I traveled and ate at non-americanized places.
#12
I didn't notice how many flags Americans have around until I left America. Other countries don't have giant national flags at their car dealerships. .
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago (edited)
Last time I saw so many national flags, was before 1989 in eastern-european communist countries.
While we non-Americans notice Americanization, within the US, there’s a thing called Americentrism. People tend to assume that their American culture is more important than others and/or judge everything they encounter by its standards.
In today’s list, you’ll find plenty of examples of things that are kind of related to Americentrism. To be more specific, it’s full of things Americans thought were completely normal for everyone until they talked with someone from a foreign country.
#13
As a Dutch person, i personally find it strange that American infrastructure seems so far behind compared to other first world countries. As a rich country who claims to be the greatest in the world you would expect some more advanced planning and investments.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
Oh, they planned ... to destroy whole cities because car-companies wanted highways. (to simplify).
#14
Tipping is expected and often seen as part of a worker's salary, but in many other countries, service charges are included in the bill, and tipping isn't as common or even expected.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
It's so disgusting. To be at the mercy of strangers, when you have a full-time job, making good profit for your employer, who is nuclear-bombing your dignity. Are you really okay with this?
#15
When I moved to Japan, I was shocked that people would go to the doctor for a cold. To me it was normal to avoid the hospital at all costs unless there was something really serious going on.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
For a simple cold, I wouldn't also go to doctor in Europe. But just because, I can call in my workplace, to say I'm sick, and I have 3 days for recovering without a doc's note.
As you will see, this collection includes things like having your country’s flag seemingly all around, date arrangement, amounts of sugar in food, and so on. We won’t spoil more – you’ll see for yourself.
Well, there’s a reason why people say that meeting people from other cultures is important for an individual’s personal development – it opens up a whole different world, one you wouldn’t be able to grasp without learning about it firsthand. This list is full of instances where this proved to be right.
So, enjoy it, upvote, and if you have any similar examples yourself, leave them in the comments!
#16
The way we arrange our dates. Month, day, year. Most of the rest of the world arranges it day, month, year.
Jack Tripper 7 months ago
I honestly miss the military date system. Yes, it's day month year, but the month is a 3 letter abbreviation to avoid confusion. So today is 22APR2025. Longer, but harder to mix up.
#17
Having a garbage disposal in the sink.
Susan 7 months ago
I love my garbage disposal. I don't use it all the time but when I do it's very convenient. Produce scraps go in the compost, of course. But the disposal if good for tiny bits of meat or sauced items still on the plate when you rinse it off. If you scrape those in the garbage then your garbage will start to stink and attract bugs very quickly during the summer months.
#18
Medicine ads. Got so used to filtering put the side effects not realizing how absurd it sounds until I saw a post about it years ago.
#20
Leaning! I visited Italy and asked someone how they knew I was American and they said it’s because Americans are always finding something to lean on.
#21
Not having a electric kettle for making hot water. We like the inefficient stovetop method.
Wang Zhuang 7 months ago
I've never had much use for one because I don't consume hot drinks often. My apartment in Beijing came with one, but I rarely use it.
#22
I learned that root beer is something a lot of people from other countries don't like.
Wang Zhuang 7 months ago
More for me, I love it. Depending on the brand, of course. Goes great with vanilla ice cream, too.
#23
Plainclothes cops and speed traps. My friend from abroad said “how can you ask them for help if they don’t identify themselves??” And I was like oh you sweet summer lamb that’s not what cops are for!
Mel in Georgia 7 months ago
Was in London for New Year's Eve and was amazed by how non-threatening the police were when handling the crowds. They didn't even carry guns!
#24
DIY auto repair is a common hobby in the US and completely foreign to Indians. I had a co-worker who immigrated to New Jersey from India and he was so enthralled by the idea, he ended up with like 10 cars in his backyard and works on them every weekend.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 7 months ago
I'm not sure this one is that odd. I'm a Brit and I'll do what repairs I can on our family cars, although I'm not terribly good.
#27
We wash and subsequently have to refrigerate our eggs.
Wang Zhuang 7 months ago
As an American, I have never washed my eggs, nor have I ever seen anyone do it. Refrigerate, yes, but wash? Why?
#28
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Edit for response: comments seem to be in line with my experience. Subset of Brits like em too, and some South American representation. Apparently Colombia is a big peanut butter exporter but their home consumption is low.
I lived and worked in continental Europe for several years and it was definitely seen as weird there.
#29
Free refills.
#30
Smiling at everyone. It's basic politeness here but in other places it's seen as strange.
Phred 7 months ago
Not fake with me. I work in a hospital. My colleagues deal with horrible situations, patients may be having the worst day of their lives, visitors may be seeing friends and relatives for the last time. I'm not a clinician and there's little I can do to help them, but if I can brighten their day with a cheery smile, at least I have done something.
#31
Eating tons of cinnamon. Was hanging out with a french au pair, who commented about " Americans and their cinnamon "
I thought everyone loved cinnamon. Lol.
#33
The fact that the Halloween holiday is sooo popular here with both kids and adults. .
Multa Nocte 7 months ago
I live in a small village (approx. 1000) in southwest France. Our local chateau (which you would call a big castle in the US) has a lovely Halloween celebration each year and approximately 1000 children come trick or treating ("Bonbon ou sort!") through town. Last year I was allowed to be the person who passed out candy at one of the local wine bars and I have honestly never had so much fun. Many of the parents dress up as well.
#34
Having set start and end times for parties. Like “you’re invited to celebrate little Steve from 3-5 pm on x day”. In most Latin countries it’s “come celebrate from 3 to whenever everyone leaves (which could be 3 am even for a kids party).
Add to that only inviting 1 child to a kids party. In most Latin countries if you invite 1 child you can assume their whole family will assist. Like most parents will not just drop off their kid and leave, they’ll stay for the party along with any siblings the kid may have.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
As an introvert, I appreciate any event having a specified end time.
What do you think ?
marcelo D. 7 months ago
sometimes they try, with Europe (cause some people believe Europe is a country...)
Load More Replies...
Johnnynatfan 7 months ago
Again another list about the United States and how we are weird. Try something original BP.
marcelo D. 7 months ago
sometimes they try, with Europe (cause some people believe Europe is a country...)
Load More Replies... Johnnynatfan 7 months ago
Again another list about the United States and how we are weird. Try something original BP.
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