35 Aspects Of American Culture That Leave Non-Americans Perplexed

I also don’t understand that in America you are party centred, yet they still have to elect a candidate. Most other countries trust the party to put forward their best candidate, and will then vote accordingly. Not subject the people to months of campaigns just to elect one person who will then go on to another round of campaigning. What a waste of time and money.

But they dont want the society to benefit.

I know people say it's because tax laws vary area to area but in most countries prices vary from area to area, the same thing might cost more in a WH Smith in a train station that it does in the WH Smith down the road. Plus most chains print the shelf edge label in store, and have till systems that automatically calculate the tax so a software update would mean they can print shelf labels with the tax added just as easily as without. But if one store started doing it now customers might think they were more expensive than other stores and they'd lose business.

I get 8 weeks paid leave per year. 10 days is criminal

American here. I don't understand it either, that's why I don't belong to one

Yes very friendly warm and big hearted 🥰

You'll notice, though, that our country's liberals aren't walking around with Biden hats on or waving Biden flags. Because we're not part of an insane cult that believes up is down.

Same reason we have private health insurance. There's a massive industry out there making money off of people who find the whole process too complicated.

From the opposite end of the spectrum: I visited the UK and decided to catch a movie while I was over there; I ordered a Medium popcorn and drink. The cup was smaller than the palm of my hand, had no ice, and when I asked for salt for my popcorn they informed me that they don't do that there. :|

It's so very very much.

That also exists in Europe

When you are used to dd/mm/yyyy and you come across: 02/03/2023 on a website that uses American English but caters to UK customers. Is it dd/mm or mm/dd?

Being German I cringe so hard at all those displays of nationalism. Here, I side-eye people who fly the flag unless they are a government building or it's soccer world cup.

National parks of the US and the public library system are two of many great things about the US(for me).

America isn't called "the melting pot" for no reason. I am Native American, and my ancestors were told to comply and worst of all assimilate. The US government tried to commit genocide of Native Americans. My particular tribal family did not go on the Trail of Tears, and were labeled outlaws at their own peril. You're damn right I'm proud they stuck up for themselves. I'm proud of it because they tried to obliterate it.

The tipping culture needs to go.

My personal conspiracy theory is for liability (on the part of the facility). If someone is in distress, you can easily check on them. The US is the most litigious country on the planet.

See the one about the scummy lawyer billboards. There's your answer.

I don't think even Americans understand this

When in an area with little parking, valet parking is a godsend!

The climate varies widely across the US. Shoes may be for warmth in some areas. In the summer, my family roams around barefooted, indoors and out.

I wear shoes inside. I have congestive heart failure and lymphoedema, both of which cause swelling in the feet. If I don't wear proper shoes, my feet swell to where, standing up, my toes don't touch the floor.

I dunno, if you have dogs, the whole taking your shoes off is redundant

This is not uniquely American, unless it has changed recently many Australians wear their shoes in the house.

My dad wears his shoes indoors because he needs the extra arch support during the day. Dude's big and has completely collapsed arches.

Peoples feet are just as dirty.

Americans are real squeamish about feet. I remember growing up and my parents reacted to strangers taking shoes their shoes off as being overly familiar and ‘ew feet’. If it’s your own house, you probably take your shoes off (though my partner is Irish and him and his family always have shoes on)

I have cats. You NEVER go barefoot in a house with cats!

I can't stand wearing shoes indoors. I kick them off the minute I walk inside my house.

You will find that first and second generation immigrants, tend to find it a nasty habit as well. First generation, here and I WILL ask you to remove your shoes.

Why are you walking in so much junk that you have to take your shoes off just to go inside?

European here and I cannot understand shoelessness - floors are hard and have tables upon which I can stub my toe. Bathroom and Kitchen floors have water and crumbs on them which make your socks/feet wet and dirty. Shoes solve all these problems

Right? It's like they don't know about warm socks and slippers.

In my household shoes off at the door. Unless its urgent

I've been in more homes in France where they allow shoes inside than homes in the US.

In Europe basically you can go with shoes only about two first meters from the main door. The rest of an apartment is a no-go-zone for the shoes. Doesn't matter if it's winter or summer.

When you only leave the house to get to your car and drive everywhere, or maybe not even leave at all if you have a built-in garage, your shoes would be much cleaner and less problematic inside.

I agree.

Yeah it is totally disgusting

Anyone who comes to my house isn’t allowed past the hallway unless they take off their shoes…ANYONE. And I automatically take mine off as I enter anyones home. It’s the done thing in the UK.

I alway read that americans think it is ok, because there is no mud or rain outside... There are germs, and other particles you dont see, and you just take it all over your house. That is very very gross

I have had some great conversations with strangers. I have also learned a lot. For example, when I was young, I was buying my own groceries for the first time and had no idea how to pick out a cabbage. An elderly lady just up and told me how to do it. It worked!

Captive audience

Rugby is a much more exciting game.

Isn't one named for the Kaw people and the other the Quapaw people in different Algonquian languages? That is what I have heard anyway.

It's not an American thing. I went to university in Europe and I lived with 3 complete strangers. I was lucky because later all of us became very close friends.

The mile is a British imperial unit. We once belonged to Britain.