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It is entirely normal to feel slightly out of your depth when going abroad—one of the main points of travel is to expose yourself to different cultures, customs, and ways of living. Not only does this broaden our knowledge about the world, but it can also make us value what we have at home far more once we’re back from our adventures.
One redditor recently asked their fellow internet users from Europe to share the biggest culture shocks that they experienced while visiting the United States, and they delivered. Scroll down to check out what surprised them the most on their travels, from just how B I G everything is to the (over)work culture and how friendly everyone seems.
We reached out to traveler and artist Dennis Irschara, who has been to 34 countries, to hear his thoughts about the United States. Read on to see what the traveler told Bored Panda.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I know it's popular to dunk on Americans, but honestly, for me, it was how friendly everyone was.
October 2 years ago
Random cashier exclaimed "Hey honey how are you!?'. I panicked, thinking she was mistaking me for her best friend.
Sue From Michigan 2 years ago
Lol. I was driving through Kentucky and stopped at a fast food drive through and had the lady at the window call me "baby girl", I'm in my 60s.
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Marika 2 years ago
Same! In Europe the news don't really show you the good side. Americans, no matter which party they vote for, are some of the nicest, friendliest people in the world.
Zelda Sterling 2 years ago
absolutely! just look at the comments right above you!
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Take me to dinner first 2 years ago
I once read something like this and americans were commenting "shhhh they're gonna find out we're not the worst!"
Pamela24 2 years ago
I've never been to the US but honestly even this though makes me uncomfortable. I'm an introvert, I don't like putting on persona for strangers, I just remain natural. But I might be wrong. :)
kansasmagic 2 years ago
As an American introvert, I get it! My default answer for any "how are you/how is your day going" type questions is a muttered "fine." Every once in a while I get a cashier who follows up with "just fine?" I'm not there for a chat, especially about my feelings! But I'm sure extraverted, outgoing, highly personable people are overrepresented in cashier etc positions.
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kath morgan 2 years ago
I find it a bit empty, people say “how are you” but aren’t actually asking.
Kharyss 2 years ago
I often wonder what they would do if you actually gave them an honest answer. Insincere customer service speak drives me crazy. But I just remind myself that it’s part of their job. I wouldn’t want anyone to get in trouble for not asking how I was.
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ThatRandomGuy 2 years ago
there actually are nice places in the US such as certain areas of Los Angeles, California and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Lil Miss Hobbit 2 years ago
I actually find this too. The deep south is almost too friendly, whereas the north can be cold (pun intended).
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QuanτumSpace2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣ 2 years ago
That’s a thing in the South mostly, and I should know bc I’ve been there
Traveler Dennis told Bored Panda that he's been to the States a couple of times, visiting Miami. "The biggest shock was how big everything was and how little public transport there was. Even in the big city you needed a car," he said.
"The 'big' part really left me speechless. I have never seen such huge amounts of literally anything, the stores, the cars," Dennis stressed just how huge everything really is in the US, compared to Europe.
"I was also very surprised at how hard it was to find good inexpensive food. It seemed to be just chains or overpriced dining experiences. Everything tasted fake as well or too good to be true. I have never eaten such delicious donuts! Of course, they were full of artificial stuff, but they tasted great!" he told Bored Panda.
RELATED:
#2
The homeless problem. I couldn't believe the extent of it, it made me really sad.
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
It's even more shocking if you compare it to 20 years ago. It used to be you had random drug addicts homeless in a certain area, now it's tent cities popping up all over the place filled with people who work, but can't afford housing.
Sean Sean 2 years ago
What's even more shocking now is that about 53% of the homeless in the USA have jobs.
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The Original Bruno 2 years ago
The economics of homelessness are shockingly simple: You restrict housing supply, housing costs artificially inflate, and you get homelessness. States like California are becoming serfdoms. It's not surprising therefore that California alone has fully one-half of America's chronically homeless. California politicians will tell you it's because of the climate, but California has ten times more homeless than the next two most populous states, Texas and Florida, both of which are also warm states.
New Everywhere 2 years ago
That along with the opioids that were pushed (first, legally, let's not forget) and allowed to turn into a full crisis that has now morphed into a terrifying number of fentanyl users (all avoidable)
Load More Replies... Lil Potato IS BACK!!!! 2 years ago
it is really sad. I like to keep bags of waterbottles, snacks, and products like toothbrushes, deoderant, ect in my car to hand out.
Lady Miss Pie 2 years ago
We CAN, but conservatives & the rich refuse not to. The rest of us want to help. Frankly, this is the most powerless I have ever felt politically. It’s an oligarchy now.
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DCwuk 2 years ago
No that different in the UK if only our government stopped wasting money on stupid enquiries about speed tickets and partygate, stopped immigration and got our country in order. We are in the 21st century for crying gout loud! Yet British citizens are going hungry and homeless.
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
When Ronald Reagan was governor of California in the late 60s he stopped all of the state's mental health outreach programs assuring voters that the "private sector" would pick up the slack. Of course they never did because there was no profit. When he was president he did the same thing at a national level. He is also responsible for the student debt crisis. An advisor pointed out that the nation's low cost education was leading to a large number of educated people who were likely too become critical of things like the trickle-down theory, he works with banks and lenders to create the disaster that has resulted. I could go one, there is so much more that he did that has led to the divisive state of my country that I'd just get furious if I listed them all.
ThatRandomGuy 2 years ago
I live in Los Angeles (born and raised) and yeah I agree, it's honestly extremely depressing
Xenia Harley 2 years ago
We still have a $7.25 minimum wage! It is ridiculous, and not a livable wage. Older people have to still work since they cannot live on social security alone. When 1% control the wealth, this is what you get. Very heartbreaking.
#3
Entering a store in Germany: opening the door to silence or a brief hello. Entering a store in the US: 'Hello! How are you today? What can I do for you?' Aaargh, can't you just ignore me like at home? That was way too much communication.
AngelWingsYT 2 years ago
Workers are trained n paid to be extremely helpful (and push deals n sales) in the US not being friendly is considered disrespectful n rude
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
Yes, but the REASON they are paid to be friendly is so they can help people find what they want and feel good about the experience.
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Lil Potato IS BACK!!!! 2 years ago
wow, we're hating america for being friendly and communicative.
kath morgan 2 years ago
I am a Brit working retail in the us and really struggle with their expectations of how proactive they want me to be engaging customers.
Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago
As a past retail worker with several years under my belt, trust me: we also didn't want to talk to you. We HAD to.
CHRISTY SMITH 2 years ago
Yeah, they’re not real happy about it either, but they want to keep their jobs.
CHRISTY SMITH 2 years ago (edited)
“ Workers are trained and paid poverty wages to put on that act.” There, all fixed.
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DiscoqueenJ 2 years ago
You can just simply say no thank you and go about your way. I'd much rather have them greet me than be silent (which feels rude.)
"I went to the Caribbean and planned a stopover to get my first experiences of the US. I want to take my time and travel around the country for a couple of months, so this was a good opportunity to get a feel," Dennis shared how he decided to visit the States in the first place.
Something else that the traveler found shocking in Miami was the number of homeless and people with substance abuse problems "roaming the city." This is something that he's seen elsewhere during his travels, too, but never on this scale.
"It made my heart ache how much they seemed to be left without any help. I did get chased by three of them in the night trying to rob me, so my sympathy was gone very soon," the traveler shared.
#4
My uncle from Ireland driving around Texas: "Is there some sort of national holiday going on that I don't know about? Why does everyone have a flag showing?" I had to explain about the flags.
Mrs Irish Mom 2 years ago
In Ireland the only time our flags go up is when Ireland are playing in the world cup
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Visit Boston and you may see more Irish flags than you do back home 😉
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blixten1982 2 years ago
Every time I go to the USA I keep forgetting where I am, I appreciate having the constant reminder when I'm down there.
FABULOUS1 2 years ago
The only people in America that overly use the flag are conservatives, others take them out during the holidays or a celebration.
Hey Kat 2 years ago
I would have to disagree with this... At least Iowa. We are considered a purple or swing state with the central area being predominantly blue and there are home and businesses in abundance that keep a flag out all year long.
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Michael Largey 2 years ago
Some people in other countries show their patriotism by trying to improve their country and making sacrifices to do so. Some people in America show their patriotism by flying flags.
whatever 2 years ago
Why the hell do people get so militant when people fly an American flag ? So effing' what ?
Jessie 2 years ago
Because it’s odd. In practically every other country people only have a flag out when it’s a really special day.
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Kimberly Litzkow 2 years ago
Pure American pride and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Many men fought hard and many died for our freedoms and rights. I love my flag. 🇺🇸
Jessie 2 years ago
You know, many people fought and died for their countries all over the world. It’s what memorial days are for, which are days that people in other countries hang out their flag. It just seems like the flag loses it’s meaning when it’s out all year.
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Being from The Netherlands: severely bike unfriendly roads/urban layouts. Everything is designed for car traffic mostly.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
SO much of BP seems to be about hating on Americans, but this is a legit critique. Even our public transit is unfriendly to bicyclists. Transit sucks for delivering people that last last several hundred feet; it's either excruciatingly slow, or unhelpful for mothers, shoppers, the elderly and the injured. Bike-friendly transit allow housing values to slide away from buslines, allowing the at least the elderly and the injured to live near lines, and the healthier, more active people to use it chiefly for internodal transport.
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
I agree. Food for thought though; the closest grocery store is over an hour away (by car) from me on a twisty mountain road. I wouldn’t ride my bike on that road even if it had a bike lane, & not just because I don’t have the time in the day to ride that far for food.
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Igor914624 2 years ago
The reason for being car biased in the US is due to the size. I live in Texas near DFW airport, and I drive to Circuit of the Americas in Austin for a day trip. That is 225 miles (359 Kilometers). In comparison, a trip from Eemshaven, NL to the F1 track at Zandvoort, NL is 152 miles (245 Kilometers). So what we do for an afternoon of watching racing is farther than a trip across the whole of the Netherlands at the longest distance. We have to be automobile centered due to the sheer size of the country. The United States grew up with automobiles, and everything here is geared to cars. I have been to Europe, and spent a lot of time walking because a car would have been completely worthless for the location. But European cities were built long before cars were available. Everything had to be within walking distance. The bicycle is a great choice in an old European city. But in the US, it is not really practical due to the sheer distances between locations.
October 2 years ago
People were yelling from their cars that I ought to wear a helmet while cycling
Pyla 2 years ago
Yeah, I follow several bike accounts on the topic and municipalities give very little concern to cyclists except on green belts and in urban areas. Drivers are getting worse than in the past. And finally, worst of all, drivers who kill cyclists get little punishment. Since there are often few witnesses a LOT seem to get away with "well he was wobbling in and out" and the truth is the road is to be SHARED. There is an entitlement of drivers to speed along and not slow down for peds, bikes, horses, etc.
Colin 2 years ago
If you live where you work it makes sense. I used to bike to my job back in Northern Ireland. However, North America seems to build "bedroom" communities where people live but there isn't the same level of employment. My wife works in Toronto. I do not. She has to drive to the train station because the bus that would take her runs every 2 hours. Train is every 30 minutes. I do not have a means of public transport to get to my job. I drive about 45kms to get there.
ThatRandomGuy 2 years ago
I hate it, I want it to be more about bikes like in The Netherlands.
Hans Georg 2 years ago
Although slowly changing, it is the same for Germany. The Netherlands rule in this aspect.
Sharon Ingram 2 years ago
I wish the USA could have better biking routes and ability to move about in other than a pleasure activity. European countries are so much smaller than the US many of the cities in the US are bigger than European countries! Riding a bicycle to work in ay San Antonio or Houston, New Orleans or San Francisco is suicidal. I love the towns and the way things are in Germany, being able to ride from town to town on special bike paths. It’s awesome. It’s possible in the states in small towns. Not in big cities. Shoot, we don’t have bus lines or trains in some large cities. We drive. With the population in the states I don’t see this changing on a huge scale. Plus, our temps in some places make it just untenable.
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
Ironically, it was bicyclists in the 1800s that demanded that more of the US roads be paved. There were millions of them and until after WW1, very few cars.
#6
Everyone calling me honey/love/sweetie. Those words/terms of endearment aren’t used that casually over here (Netherlands).
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
Come to the North East of England, you'll frequently be called Lover, which after 20 years still makes me giggle.
Kayjunmoon 2 years ago
In some places in England it’s ‘me duck’ as a term of friendliness
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Kim Steffen 2 years ago
When a southerner talks to you and says bless your heart, it's the nice Southern way of saying f*** you.
Azziza 2 years ago
No it isn't. 99% of the time it's meant sincerely as an empathetic statement.
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Kathleen McGann 2 years ago
Older ladies in NYC will certainly call you "hon". Absolutely!
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TeenieMeanie 2 years ago
I only accept this if Im drunk at Denny’s at 3am and these terms of endearment are said by a surly waitress.
Fire Singer 2 years ago
I realized this when I (from the US) went to Latvia. I smiled at everyone and they all looked at me like I'd lost my mind. They weren't unfriendly, just not as openly friendly as the US which was weird to me!
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
That’s predominantly in the south. It’s ironic everyone claims we have no culture then in the same breath complains about the culture. .. ummm. Isn’t experiencing & appreciating another culture the big brag y’all like to hold over American’s heads? You can’t have it both ways.
In our experience, probably the best thing that you can do while traveling is to develop an attitude where you embrace everything that comes your way. The good. The bad. And the ugly. Think of your trip as an adventure and a chance to see and experience many things that you otherwise might have stayed oblivious to.
And so, whether you’re traveling to the US or anywhere else in the world, remember to maintain a sense of wonder, instead of one of grumpy criticism. Travel isn’t supposed to be a competition about whose home country is ‘better.’ It’s about respecting each other’s differences while finding the small things that unite us, no matter what corner of the world we might call home.
It’s perfectly valid to marvel at mundane things as well. Not every culture shock needs to be something as grandiose as the redwoods. Things like how there seems to be air conditioning pretty much everywhere in the States, the massive range of Oreos at the local supermarket, or how you almost certainly need a car to get where you need to go can leave you thinking about how vastly different life in the States is from many parts in Europe on a day to day basis.
#7
When paying in restaurants they took my debit card away from me and took it away with the waiter. I thought that was really weird.
The waiters were also like obsessive at the table every 2 minutes “everyone okay? Can we get you another drink?” And then before I had even asked for the bill they brought it at the end of the meal, I wanted a pudding but I didn’t know what to do after they brought me the bill without me asking.
Also the meals and drink sizes were huge, the McDonald’s and coke tastes weird and off. All the food had like weird after tastes.
In the supermarket you have like a 100000 different versions of each food, like I had never seen so many different types of Oreo’s in my life.
Having to tip someone 20% for simply doing their job was annoying, like I ordered a pizza and the person yelled at me for not giving him a tip and I had no clue we were even meant to do that
Dizzie D 2 years ago
I used to live in the States and the one thing that always drove me crazy was tipping. It was just so uncomfortable to not know when to tip, who to tip or what amount was right. Waiters would glare at you if they thought they weren't tipped enough. Who gets to decide? The Customer or the waiter? Like if you think you had mediocre service why the pressure to tip more because the waiter thinks they deserve it? The whole system is so uncomfortable and makes no sense.
P.A. Yearsley 2 years ago
Tipping culture is out of control down here in the states. Like every place that sales a service has a tip screen. Bro I am not tipping you for making 1 latee get real.
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ConstantlyJon 2 years ago
Ok, so, waiter in the US here. I make my state's min wage per hour + keep my own tips. That's $2.13/hour, but I take home anywhere from $4-600/week working weekend evenings. A couple things here. 1) whoever yelled at you for no tip is unprofessional. When I get no tip, I curse you and your offspring, but under my breath in the back. 2) the service you received is kinda normal, but I also think you just had a bad waiter. They're supposed to start off with consistent service, and some people want to chat and it's good. Others do not. The waiter should have picked up on that and given more space between table visits. He also should have offered dessert and asked if you wanted the bill. 3) Most places in the US are going to take your card away. Many will give you a little book to put it in to be more discrete, but mine doesn't. If you're uncomfortable with it, you can always ask about taking it to a register yourself. It's not a problem to do so.
Ozymandias73 2 years ago
Well said and 100% agree with everything! I waited tables for a very long time in different restaurants. Me, being who I am and how I was raised, I always gave great service to my guests. Even to those whom didn't deserve it. Some places do have the pay at the table machines, but you have to sign up for their loyalty program. Your card is safe with the waiter and won't be away from you long. We/they just take it to the register, ring the bill, and bring it back.
Load More Replies... R 2 years ago
I would never ever let anyone handle my card. And leave me the f*k alone when I’m eating and don’t chase me away when I’m full of food by bringing the bill. Everything should be included in the prices food, staff, health care and the number on the bill is what I’m paying and it should cover everything. I’m not there to do the owners job. If they want servers, they can pay them too. And asking if I want another drink would make me paranoid, here sodas and everything is expensive add on to the bill.
NOLAHusker 2 years ago
Cool. Don’t eat out in the US. The payment system is different here, that’s all. Every country has its quirks. There is something in your country you think is really normal that people elsewhere would think is odd. The question is: how do you handle it? Do you rebel and screw over the working stuff because you don’t want to do something different, or do you adapt to the culture?
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Blue Chambers 2 years ago
I too find it odd that different places have different ways of doing things! So crazy right?
Norm Gilmore 2 years ago (edited)
They would have to rip my credit card out of my cold dead hands..
Bobby 2 years ago
Most of the time the only register is behind the bar or in the kitchen, 2 places that customers aren't allowed
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Donna Peluda 2 years ago
There is a balance between being attentive and badgering the client. Good waiters know how to do it. Personally I'm happy if the moment my beer runs is finished a friendly waiter come round and aske me if I could use another.
DippityDooDerp 2 years ago
As an American. I don't care how many people hate me for this. Tipping is based on service. Too many people think tipping is required. ITS NOT. It's the responsibility of the business to pay their employees. If I tip, it's because you did your job (at the minimum). If I don't tip, it's because you were rude, disrespectful and didn't do the minimum your job requires. Don't take it out on a customer just because you had a bad day or a previous customer didn't tip.
Ponyo (they/them) 2 years ago
the weird taste has to do with the suspiciously cheap ingredients that come together to make suspiciously expensive food
#8
Military fetish. I knew it existed but just wasn't prepared for how pervasive it was. Any kind of public event there were announcements asking veterans to stand up and be applauded. Not special military events. The two that come to mind were the Grand Ol' Opry and a Labour Day thing in Washington DC, but there were other occasions.
I was in the (British) Army Reserve andso kept joking to my wife that I would stand up too and we had a laugh about it . Like "imagine actually lapping this stuff up, lol."
People wearing an army uniform in public. Weird. (And I was told I mustn't do that off-duty when I was a reservist.)
People wearing baseball caps with like "USS Eagle. Operation Iraqi Freedom." And medal ribbons on it or something. Never ever seen a British soldier or ex-soldier wearing something that indicated military service just while they're going about their civilian life. People who have been in or are in the American military seem to define their *life* by it, even in their civilian affairs/day-to-day life.
In a Bass Pro shop and other places there were all kinds of s****y themed wall "art" like clocks and random ornaments and s**t that said like "LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE."
A (chain of?) Military fetish themed BBQ restaurant with like uniforms and medals on the wall and stuff.
Compared to any place I've ever been that whole thing is what stands out as the MOST weird and uniquely American. Nowhere else does anything like that.
R Dennis 2 years ago
They don't worship the military... the way they treat veterans and send soldiers into unwinnable and meaningless situations... fetishism fits.
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Duane Ringlein 2 years ago
I'm a military retiree, I have hats and t-shirts that say this, I don't wear camo except for my old field jacket which is my outside working jacket in cool weather, I don't want special favors for my service just the acknowledgement of it. A lot that dress like that never served. And no I'm not right wing.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I'm not right wing either. Thank you for your service. I didn't fight, so I really appreciate those of you who have fought for me. I think you DESERVE recognition and when I think of the sad situation that a lot of our veterans are in, well, it purely breaks my heart.
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Tamra 2 years ago
It's salesmanship. In order to spend hundreds of BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars on the military every year, you gotta convince the masses it's worth it.
Con O Cuinn 2 years ago
Reminds me of something that Jim Jefferies said about doing gigs for the troops in Afghanistan. If you asked the Americans why they joined up and you got clichéd answers like "to defend freedom" or "to serve the country I love", etc. When British squaddies were asked they said things like "well I didn't pay enough attention in school".
Christy Means-Stephens 2 years ago
Not going to disagree,! But the same time, perhaps not surprising the British are a little spiky about American military? 😂
Dak Janiels 2 years ago (edited)
This is likely more true than admitted. The US had to fight to BE a country, and then fought with itself to again remain a country. Also, and yes I get this may be triggering, but the US kinda helped save entire countries within the last century (and yes, caused plenty of issues several times as well), but overall SOME pride should be understandable. -I'm not a right OR left winger, but I served.
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The Original Bruno 2 years ago
This sorta kicked in after the Vietnam war. Many Americans disapproved of the war, but a small, vocal minority unleashed hatred on veterans. In reaction against such hatred, families of veterans and patriots in general rallied around the notion of honoring the veterans. My Dad was in the Korean war, "the forgotten war" which was only a few years after WWII. I know a lot of Korean veterans including him now wear hats, coats, etc., that serve to say that they exist too.
Coyote Osborne 2 years ago
What really irritates me is all the wannabes that wear military costume stuff, that didn't even serve in the military. They think being in a right-wing club that hates other citizens equates to being a "warrior" or a "soldier". Most soldiers, and all warriors I've ever known have wanted nothing more than to not be in wars.
Moonchi 2 years ago
I think the allied forces of WW2 would thank the U.S military, what does it matter if people are proud of their service? Those people are here to protect us.
Jessie 2 years ago
The allied forces don’t thank the American forces because they were literally all in it together. Everyone played an equal part.
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Jared Gasper 2 years ago
I served, and many people I met celebrated their military service because, A. It was probably the only thing they did with their life and, B. They needed to compensate for the fact that none of pue foreign interventions since [maybe] Kosovo were justified.
#9
Toilets with not enough privacy.
What’s with the big gaps around the doors and rest of the cubicle?
juice 2 years ago
it's to discourage drug use or having sex in the stalls, since it would be obvious to anyone outside. i also think it's to make you uncomfortable in general so you get in and get out faster, making it "more efficient"
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Mary Kelly 2 years ago
i see this one all the time....nobody comes right up to the gap and looks in at you....nobody is interested...and, many of the commentors come from countries with nude beaches...i don't get it
Clearly sunny 2 years ago
Because laying around naked and defecating are two very different things.
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Jennifer Mayfield 2 years ago
My manager peaked in between the crack one day and I had no clue how to respond. She was looking for an employee who sits in there for a couple hours a day. Ummmm…who does that!?
freakingbee is going offline 2 years ago
the worst part is being able to see through the door in the crack where it closes because if you can see through it when you're in the stall that means people outside can see you too.
Lisa Lilla 2 years ago
I gladly accept the gaps considering there actually are FREE and fairly clean public toilets literally everywhere! Try a walking tour of Europe, esp Stockholm…. Hard to find, filthy or forbidden.
Before you pack your bags, it’s incredibly helpful to do some background research about where you’re traveling. Google some facts, read some forums, talk to some friends who’ve visited the States before. Ideally, you want to start your trip without (m)any assumptions (positive or otherwise). You also want to steer clear of hype because it can leave a very sour taste in your mouth if your experience is nothing like what you’ve seen in the movies.
Paris Syndrome, when you’re disappointed by your trip because you had very high expectations for your trip, isn’t limited to just the French capital. It can happen everywhere you go. Usually, the more popular a destination is, the more hyped up the tourists can get, only to get let down.
For instance, as we’ve covered on Bored Panda previously, Los Angeles can be quite different from what people have seen on the silver screen and on Netflix. It’s a very crowded place, massive in size, and Hollywood itself can be a headache: it’s not as glamorous as on TV. Instead of waddling about, hoping you’ll run into a celebrity, you could go on a professional studio tour. Again, the advice of those who have traveled somewhere before you is absolutely invaluable! And it can help mitigate the worst that culture shocks have to offer.
#10
THAT EVERYTHING IS SO BIG.
Cars, food portions, tips, roads, people, attitudes.
Always fun tho.
Suzy Creamcheese 2 years ago
If you think cars are big now, you should have been here in the '70s.
robin aldrich 2 years ago (edited)
You left out HAIR...in the eighties, lol!!!! Oh wait that probably applied in the fifties and sixties too didn't it?
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Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
Always shocked by the comments about our cars and roads being big. Have you BEEN to the US?? I mean, it takes a whole day just to drive from one end of a state to the other. Can't do that comfortably in a smartcar or Mini Cooper!!
yellowphantom 2 years ago
This is an excellent point when applied to people who regularly drive these distances. However, in urban areas, many people drive pick up trucks and large SUVs, mostly sitting at stop lights, and never actually have to carry anything or any other people. It is a "look" for some.
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#11
The food. This was 2001 and I'm from the UK/France. I'd never seen refillable drinks before. I couldn't believe you could just have as much soda as you wanted and no one was going to think you were stealing. When we ate dinner, entire loaves of bread and a ramakin of butter. Supermarkets packed so high and wide. Turkey drumsticks the size of a t-rex. I was bowled over.
Coyote Osborne 2 years ago
I think the plan is, first we sell you a 4,000 calorie fast food meal and chicken wings the size of baseball bats covered in sugar sauce with corn syrup and sugar, then we sell you weight loss products and expensive healthcare for your blocked arteries and colon.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
Ramekin. Learned a new word. It's a small dish used for single-serving size portions of food that allows food to be baked or torched and then served without transferring from one dish to another. And yes, restaurants do use them for serving condiments like butter or sauces.
Philly Bobcat 2 years ago (edited)
Like the "savaday" (usually pronounced save-a-day) the 3x6x2" "boat" that they'll put fries in. 7070pc_595...fe3895.jpg 
Janet Wheat 2 years ago
As a country of immigrants whose ancestors came from where feast or famine was common, our genetics want us to store fat for the starving times. Except for food deserts in many extremely poor or urban areas food is more than plentiful. We grow fatter preparing for famine that doesn't come. Sadly the US has many areas poorer than most third world. countries.
whatever 2 years ago
The U.S isn't even anywhere near the top of the worldwide obesity list (#14 for males, #30 for females)
Load More Replies... robin aldrich 2 years ago
Yeah we do everything excessively... And we're just realizing that's probably not good for our health.
Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
We have such huge portions because our food rocks-not like some places in Europe (UK I am talking to YOU).
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
I disagree, thinking of USA's chlorine-treated chicken; high-fructose corn syrup in many foods; cows fed hormonal products to increase milk supply (affecting dairy products) and other practices that are not allowed in the European Union and elsewhere. As a Canadian I will not buy certain food items from the USA.
Load More Replies... #12
Not necessarily related to the country, but more to the people itself. Americans are by far the most social people I have come across in my travels. It seems like they have mastered the art of small talk with strangers. This has been mostly positive for me as it is really easy to be featured in their social groups. Kind of the opposite is the case in my country (The Netherlands). It has helped me understand why American immigrants in my country struggle with being happy.
Erik Ivan 2 years ago
My old dad (north Sweden) is a master of getting people to talk to him. I have no idea how he does it, but total strangers have long and deep conversations with him just because he said hej.
Janet Wheat 2 years ago
my loved one has never met a stranger. He finds new best friends in airport lines
Load More Replies... Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago
I'm gathering from this thread that I obviously am not really as introverted as pointed out to me, I just need to go live in the Netherlands.
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
America became America due to immigrants. It was beneficial to survival if you were friendly/sociable. Otherwise trying to survive in a land that was more isolated wilderness than generational European society was difficult at best. Everyone had to start from zero. Kindness paid off. It became part of the national ideology. Basic survival & psychology.
Lil Miss Hobbit 2 years ago
At the same time, as an introvert working customer service, the small talk can be overwhelming.🤣 It's an art.
A. Starhawk Hunt 2 years ago
Netherlands 🇳🇱 showing us how TO LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE! Hope that’s the right flag.
Johnnynatfan 2 years ago
I have heard this about the Netherlands. I have always been interested in living there but knowing this I think I would struggle emotionally
#13
As someone who grew up there, returning now always gives me culture shock. The worst is probably when I go to Florida to visit my sister. The radio is nothing but pay day loan advertisements. Even my son listening to them says, "that sounds like a scam." Just the amount of blatant and obvious predation on consumers is jarring and it didn't used to be that bad.
Wintermute 2 years ago
When I was growing up in the 80s we weren't allowed to watch anything with blasphemy, sex or violence. The top thing I restrict my children from seeing now is advertisements. I suffered waaaaaay more from corporate marketing than I ever did from action movies.
Charlotte Leaver 2 years ago
WOW I live in Costa Rica, when a young 30 years old I was hired for CS and it was a F pay day loan. They should be illegal!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its awful, imposible to play with all the interest they added. I lasted one week.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
When you said "culture shock", we knew that "Florida" would not be far behind.
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
Most places still have non-commercial radio stations, frequently associated with universities. They tend to be small and have a limited range but they are almost all available over the net with apps like TuneIn.
#14
56 flavours of donuts in a gas station in the middle of nowhere. 56! I counted!
kansasmagic 2 years ago
I doubt I could visit three or four local donut shops and come up with 56 different flavors amongst them. Some of those "gas stations in the middle of nowhere" have weird gimmicks to entice people to stop, like "50 types of jerky" or "the world's largest thermometer."
kitteh floof lover 2 years ago
on the other hand, when i, an american, was in england, out in the countryside of the cotswolds, we stopped at a gas station, and they had krispy kreme donuts with nutella filling, something we can't get here in america. i was so envious, as nutella is my favorite food group!
stupidMonkey 2 years ago (edited)
We gotta feed all of our cops something 🤷🏻 edit: please don't arrest this monkey
#15
The work till you drop culture.
There have been people who are proud of the fact they don't see their families or miss occassionas because they work for 'the company'..
I used to work for a grocery store and it was close to a cult.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
We don't like this either but we are too busy working to find time to complain😉
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
And getting paid so little that we have no choice.
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René Sauer 2 years ago
In Germany retirement age was once 65. A couple years ago they raised it to 67. Honestly, when my time comes I fully expect them to have raised the retirement age to 75 or something.
Philly Bobcat 2 years ago
Here in the US, they're working (they being the repubs) on raising it to like 75 or something.
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Ash Conner 2 years ago
We have to work like this or we can't afford bills. Many companies take advantage of people.
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
Who’s proud of this? Maybe you mistook sarcasm for pride? Where on earth did you work, because nobody enjoys this. I can’t think of a single person I have ever met that bragged about this & I have lived all over the US. As far as I know everyone hates it but life is expensive & pay is absolutely disgraceful.
Hans Georg 2 years ago
They still seem to believe that hard work pays off. Maybe in the past it worked, but not today.
Celtic Pirate Queen 2 years ago (edited)
I've been pretty lucky for the most part (but I refuse to work retail). I've always made it clear that I was there to do a job, not be an indentured servant, and I don't work overtime or on weekends. Never really been an issue, except once when the owner asked if I could come in at 6:00am for a meeting that had nothing to do with me. I pointed that out - I'm the bookkeeper, not a service tech, so NO I will not be here at 6:00am. He grumbled a bit, but I stood my ground.
Pepe Silvia 2 years ago
Sounds like Japan. Or how about Saudi Arabia where you can be a literal slave? In America input = output and I've never met anyone who wasn't willing to grind it out that wasn't rewarded in the long run.
Johnnynatfan 2 years ago
This attitude is starting to change thank god. It was mostly baby boomers who did this
#16
I Lived in America for a year when I was around 8, and foolish me didn’t understand the tax system.
I remember my mother giving me money to go to the store to get ice cream, and being really confused/upset when the cashier told me my $3 was not enough despite that being its labelled price.
I remember thinking to myself how stupid the cashier must be that she couldn’t read the label properly.
R 2 years ago
As an adult I can totally understand. The price on the label should be what one pay
Sue From Michigan 2 years ago
It depends on the state unfortunately. Here in Michigan groceries aren't taxed.
Jared Robinson 2 years ago
I agree should be illegal in america it's false advertising in my opinion
cogadh 2 years ago
It's just understood by the population that prices do not include sales tax, never have. A lot of that is because there is no national sales tax at all and every state (and sometimes cities) have different tax rates and laws. What is taxed in one state is not necesarily taxed in another. Pretty much the only things you can count on being taxed almost everywhere are gas, cigarettes and alcohol.
Load More Replies... Shadowfall The Explorer 2 years ago
As an American I sooooo agree with this. Stupid not to just include it on the price.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Hehe if you think that's bad try filing income taxes here especially if you own a small business. Our tax code is insanely overcomplicated predominately due to the lobbyists running the country.
#17
It's been almost a decade so things might have changed, but I have a few: Positive: it's very easy to connect to complete strangers, up to the point me and my wife got invited to a pick-up beach volleyball game after we met some people in a bar. Was great fun! Negative: price on fresh vegetables in a grocery store was just staggering, I completely understood why poor families would buy take away instead of freshly cooked meals. Negative: the amount of "normal" looking homeless people in San Francisco was just insane.
robin aldrich 2 years ago
I recently read about the San Francisco real estate market....If a house is listed say at $900,000 (already out of reach for a LOT of people) you offer MORE. You don't offer less you don't even offer the asking price. You offer more than the asking price!!!! that floored me.
Bruce Horton 2 years ago
Looking at real estate in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. is not particularly valid. The average price/income ratio in the U.S. (4.5) is one of the lowest in the world, far better than every European country; U.K. 8.3, France 11.8, Germany 10.3
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Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
Read my above post about how Ronald Reagan created the homeless problem we have today.
Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
San Francisco is much much worse post-Covid after defunding the police and allowing drug addicts and vagrants to live anywhere they want. Complete waste of a city.
Pepe Silvia 2 years ago
San Francisco is a leftist communist hellhole. It's a model for reasons to rebuke the left.
#18
- pretty much zero public transport
- the bars are all so...clean? Every bar I went to was like a fully air-conditioned sports bar, with the tvs and everything. Where I live, the more lived-in, the better the pub.
- everything is sweet. The beer was sweet, the bread, the traditional, home-cooked meals, the f*****g cheese
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
American food companies realised how addictive sugar was decades ago and just started putting sugar in everything.
The Scout 2 years ago
If only it was sugar. Turns out that HFCS can actually be even more addictive...
Load More Replies... NOLAHusker 2 years ago
This poster didn’t go to the right bars, that’s all. Stay out of suburbia and go urban or rural.
Wintermute 2 years ago
Yeah, in the top 100 words you'd use to describe the saloons and honky-tonks I grew up in "clean" isn't even on the list.
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Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
Yes, everything here has too much sugar. If you’re looking for pub level grime you need to go to a run down tiny BAR bar on the outskirts of town, but the food seldom tastes good. Sports “bars” are restaurants trying to be edgy. Sadly, there are no English quality pubs here. It’s just not going to happen. Everything is too new or so old you wouldn’t want to eat there. And, bars here are for drinking & locals, not eating as you pass through. (I do miss the pubs! 😩)
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
Before 1950 almost every city and town had decent public transportation systems. They were mostly privately owned and starting in 1948 were systematically bought up by Ford, Firestone, General Motors, Standard Oil and their ilk and allowed, by slowing repairs and no longer investing in their infrastructure, to be run into the ground so that people would have an incentive to buy automobiles.
#19
On a first gas station in New York state after crossing border with Canada, I started pushing my car for fun. Just to check if I am able to move it. Imiedialetly some man in an old pick up truck stopped next to me and asked if I need help. It was mind blowing to me because in my country even if I would wave to people asking for help I would wait at least an hour for somebody who would willing to help me.
The Accidental Cat Thief 2 years ago
I don't think the person that stopped to help is the weird one in this scenario. Just sayin...
Con O Cuinn 2 years ago
In Ireland, this would be the norm too. I've definitely done it a few times and I definitely wouldn't be considered special for doing so.
Susan Reid Smith 2 years ago
We explore the deserts of California a lot. If someone is having problems, we offer to help. How can we in good conscience do anything else?
New Everywhere 2 years ago
I'm American but errm, there's someone having a really hard time with this list. Can you tell? 🤣🤣
Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
Wait, I thought having overly friendly residents was a BAD thing???
cogadh 2 years ago (edited)
I believe it comes from this country's "pioneer history". The nation never would have survived and expanded without neighbor helping neighbor to simply survive and that attitude became part of the culture. We may be a hot mess of a country in general, but when someone really needs help, someone is always there to lend a hand.
#20
I hate, with a flaming passion, those fake hot dogs. I believe they're called water dogs. The ones that taste like plastic. When I went to New York City, we got one of those, and it was disgusting. It tastes like nothing. Why not just use pork sausages like the rest of the world? It has a weird chewy outer skin, and then the squishy 'meat' on the inside. And why is it a beige/pink color? Two bucks for a hot dog that tastes like my local landfill. I have eaten Lego bricks more tasty.
Becky Samuel 2 years ago
Those horrible slimy things that come out of a vat of water rather than coming off a grill.
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Outstanding Scarecrow 2 years ago
Well at least these hot dogs come out easier than Lego bricks :D
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Still no fun to step on when your kid leaves them all over the floor though.
Load More Replies... Ozymandias73 2 years ago
Wow, you go to another country and don't like the food so they must "fix" it by doing what another country does. Cultural differences definitely not the forte of OP. Side note: There are so many different types/flavors of hot dogs here. Some taste far better than others and some I avoid like the plague.
Pepe Silvia 2 years ago
Sounds like you got scammed with crappy low quality food. Probably sold to you by a foreigner too.
#21
I was prepared for taxes not being included in price tags and the tipping stuff etc. I was not prepared for the "I love Jesus"/ "Jesus loves me" people with megaphones, banners, t-shirts and flyers walking around everywhere.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
We don't like those wakkos either. Though they can be fun to heckle if your bored and need a giggle. I know, I know. I shouldn't feed the wildlife but some times I just can't help myself.
A. Starhawk Hunt 2 years ago
It’s more like tapping on the glass……. Joey, your goldfish
Load More Replies... Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
For those who haven't been to the US and reading this: The religious folks are NOT everywhere, that is a ghastly exaggeration.
AngelWingsYT 2 years ago
Things ppl in the us prade about: religion, politics, the flag I know other countries typically only fly their flag on important buildings but US? Every other building every other house even cars
Michael Largey 2 years ago
Ironically, when Jesus was on earth, he was particularly clear about not being wild about these sort of people.
Chuckle Berry 2 years ago
As American, that drives me nuts The ones that push it the most also push the constitution and that it was written with Christianity as the base Yet whe the notion of the first amendment states freedom of religion, head pop
Susan Reid Smith 2 years ago
It isn't freedom of religion, it is freedom from a national religion.
Load More Replies... Nikole 2 years ago (edited)
I’m an American and went to Disneyworld in February. There were so many Jesus themed shirts and ball caps… It was weird. But, Florida, so…
Sherry Marie Golden 2 years ago
I guess as long as the merchandise isn't Jesus themed it's lauded. Right?
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#22
Everything is loud. All the time. The TV ads, the billboards, the radio, the air conditioning. Everyone is trying to get heard in a country where being #1 is the only acceptable goal. It's a loudness war to get to your brain, and it's exhausting.
kansasmagic 2 years ago
If you go to Times Square, yeah. But try the Great Plains or Four Corners area. Silence for miles!
Kimberly Alison 2 years ago
All of these comments depend so much on where you live in the United States. Where I live, it isn’t like this at all. I’m very sensitive to noise and light so big cities are hard for me. Americans in the American experience is its diverse as it is probably anywhere else.
gerard julien 2 years ago
" In 2020, about 82.66 percent of the total population in the United States lived in cities and urban areas. "
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
I’m guessing you didn’t make it out of the city. Being #1 is a goal? I must have missed that day in class. - Public places are going to be loud. (On that note maybe skip the Latin American countries because they make us look positively tame in terms of volume). But not every place/thing here is loud. It’s unfortunate you didn’t like your visit, but not “everything” here is loud. (Though I will admit tv ads are insanely loud.. but who watches regular tv here anymore? Is that still a thing?) It’s like visiting London & saying everything in England is loud. Turn off the tv & visit some of the more wide open places.
#23
Everybody smiling to one another, as a polish person i just can't understand that. Everybody is expected to smile to you even if they are sad.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
A smile is how we politely acknowledge someone we've made eye contact with. However, NOBODY likes those guys that tell random women to smile.
R Dennis 2 years ago (edited)
I smile because I like to smile. It isn't hard or uncomfortable. I have also randomly had long conversations with people I had never met before and will never see again because of my friendliness. It's hard to hate people when you actually spend time meeting people outside your tiny bubbles. Also, I came across many fake smiles while I was in Europe - definitely came and went like a mask, so not only "American" to fake smile.
Ash Conner 2 years ago
You don't have to smile back. Are you guys really complaining about a positive thing?
Ozymandias73 2 years ago
It's like a disease. Even if the US does something good, have to hate them for it. It's ridiculous.
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Jared Robinson 2 years ago
This is why everyone thinks people in eastern europe are just going to kidnap rape and murder them.
Auntriarch 2 years ago
I smile at everyone but I'm from a small town. If I go to the city people look at me like I'm loopy
LemmeProcrastinateThis 2 years ago
Haha! I travel to Poland every two years, and I'm so not used to locking eye contact without a smile.
#24
Adverts (commercials). We generally don’t have medical or adversarial (mentioning competitors directly) adverts, at least in the UK
My kids picked up on this when we went to the cinema and there was a Samsung advert directly trashing Apple. They were like “what the hell was THAT?”
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Even as Americans, we think advertising prescription medicines is weird.
MaximumKarmaSaint 2 years ago
Same, especially when they show the people in the ad all happy while the list all those possibly lethal symptoms.
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porgsarecool 2 years ago
May cause aids black death bronchitis cholera coronavirus Ebola gonorrhea Hiv leprosy malaria smallpox shingles syphilis tetanus skin cancer brain cancer tuberculosis chicken pox lice and to this list if you want to
Nikole 2 years ago
Excessive growth of body hair, Lupus, an intense tingling sensation
Load More Replies... two-sided llama 2 years ago
you should she T-mobile vs Verizon or really T-mobile s******g on Verizon and Verizon ocassionaly being like shut the f**k up
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
American here. My disdain & untethered hatred for commercials here borders on obsessive. I haven’t watched regular tv in over a decade, nor do I listen to the radio. (I listen to Spotify). Most people I know do the same thing because adverts here are out of control. 5 minutes of show, 30 minutes of adverts. Don’t reward bad behavior! Find a streaming service or go for a hike. 😉
Mental Liberals 2 years ago
big pharma pushing their murderous products! Profits Before People!!
#25
I moved to America for 3 years when I was 18. The first time I walked into Walmart there was a very tall man with a gun and a knife strapped to his belt. It definitely took me by surprise and at first made me feel a little uneasy.
Pepe Silvia 2 years ago
And I guarantee anyone in that region looking to murder people will scratch that Walmart of their list of targets. They'll go find a school or movie theater where the guns are banned.
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gerard julien 2 years ago
"2014 : Available in bright blues and hot pinks, rifles for kids sell in their thousands in America. They look like toys – but they’re lethal.
In May last year, a two-year-old girl was shot dead by her five-year-old brother with a small rifle made specifically for children. The accidental shooting happened in Cumberland County, Kentucky, when the boy was playing with a gun purchased from a company in Pennsylvania called Keystone Sporting Arms, which, in 2008, produced around 80,000 rifles for children." guns-for-k...de6b59.jpg 
Drinking my Covfefe 2 years ago (edited)
As a female who lives by herself on a huge farm I got a handgun right next to my bed. My place got broken into and won't take any chances. I got my conceal and carry also. You take classes that help you learn and respect a gun. But I emphasize the word "conceal" I don't like it when they have it in sight. That makes me wonder about that person.
Tim Nicebutdim 2 years ago
I went to the sporting goods counter in a Walmart because my gf wanted a new leather man. At the counter was a guy and his 10ish son arguing withe the salesman, why don't you have human targets? How is my son supposed to know where to shoot a human? Those circular targets are useless, etc, etc
#26
Some of them would eat dessert for breakfast - things like pancakes, syrup, fruit, sweet waffles etc
troufaki13 2 years ago
I eat sweet things for breakfast too, and I'm not American. Bread with jam and butter or tahini with honey, bougatsa (type of phyllo pastry with custard cream filling) and probably more that I can't think of right now 🤤🤤🤤
Kharyss 2 years ago
Must admit that a nice flakey pain au chocolat with a cup of strong coffee goes down well in the morning. But for preference I’d go with the savoury charcuterie, cheeses, sun warmed tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and peppers of the Mediterranean. Maybe a little fruit or local honey with unsalted butter on fresh crusty warm bread to finish.
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Epsilon 2 years ago
Hold on, help me here international Pandas. Pancakes are supposed to be desserts!?
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
In general, they are considered acceptable as both dessert and breakfast in Australia, but they would only be breakfast on a weekend and only occasionally.
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Ephemeral Mochi 2 years ago
You can pry my plate of souffle pancakes from my cold dead hands (once I learn how to actually make souffle pancakes)
Bruce Horton 2 years ago
I pretty sure I've seen toast and jam in every European city where I've had the pleasure of eating breakfast.
Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 2 years ago
Actually, as far as they are concerned, they are eating breakfast food for breakfast--what you are describing are not at all considered desserts.
#27
Kids on a leash in parks. Omg i was not ready for that.
Eevi 2 years ago
I have to say as a kindergarten teacher from Finland, that the item in that picture is not a leash. We use it all the time at our job for children around 2-3, because it is easier to hold on to the rope than to hold friends hand. After age of 3 or so they hold hands in lines and before age of 2 or so they hold teachers hand, sit on a cart or hold on the cart. And obviously the rope is only when moving from place to place, not when we are learning or playing in park / woods. :)
Kharyss 2 years ago
My parents used one on me as a child. Apparently I was a runner! Honestly don’t see a problem with this if the environment is dangerous or busy. Wouldn’t use them in a park or play area though.
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Julie Snelling 2 years ago
I don't think there is a anything wrong with this it's better than having the child run off. You can literally take your eyes off them for a second and they are gone.
robin aldrich 2 years ago
I used to think it looked weird but then you read about kids running off and disappearing, getting kidnapped, running off to the street getting hit by a car. So now I'm thinking for safety maybe it's not so bad.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Well they made it illegal to put a ball on chain on the lil buggers. We have to keep track of em somehow.
Philly Bobcat 2 years ago (edited)
Just don't ask if they bite! LOL! Seriously... young ones can outrun you in a flash! Like mice, those little feet can haul serious a*s and in a large city with traffic as it is... it's no joke.
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
those are not that common in the u.s., but some kids are runners, and sometimes it's helpful...
Jenny Mason 2 years ago
I always walked my kids on reins and I'm from the UK. My kids are now 35, 34 and 25 and I never lost sight of any of them when we were out and about..
Sherry Marie Golden 2 years ago
They used to called "leading strings" and were used in many parts Europe centuries ago.
#28
Honestly two things that stuck me, lack of walkability and repetitive buildings or grid layouts
Philly Bobcat 2 years ago
Pittsburgh is a cool city, like Philly, if you know where to go! Oh, and go Steelers, Go Birds! (yeah, I'm a fan of both and hopefully will get to see them play each other in a superbowl someday! LOL!)
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 2 years ago
European cities evolved over centuries. Many America cities - like Washington DC or Indianapolis - were quite systematically planned in advance.
Load More Replies... The Original Bruno 2 years ago
I remember telling someone that was driving, "see, where I'm from, if you wanted to get from Bristol to Newton, there'd be a road called Bristol-Newton Road.... wait! Stop! There's Bristol-Newton Road!" Predictable is good when you're driving. Frankly, the view down a straight urban avenue always rocks. But I will say that the urban core of European cities are prettier because old buildings are always way prettier than buildings which were designed by architects who figured their buildings would be vaporized in a nuclear blast or torn down in 20 years anyway.
Gypsy Lee 2 years ago
As an American I fully support this comment! I hate the cookie cutter muggle neighborhoods & lack of sidewalks & bike lanes in most new areas. I think I’ve spent too much time in England & Europe to not appreciate a freaking sidewalk or, heaven forbid, a train/bus that actually takes you somewhere. (Though Seattle is figuring it out. NYC is pretty good with trains as well.)
Johnnynatfan 2 years ago
Our country was definitely built for cars. Owning a car is a huge pet of American culture. Having been to Europe myself and being married to a European it’s unfortunate that we don’t have better public transportation and walkable cities. But I still love a good road trip
Skara Brae 2 years ago
Think about the grid layout as a convenient way to skip the boring areas faster.
#29
you guys have air conditioning in your house????? i was astonished
Michael Largey 2 years ago
Yep, we have air conditioning in our houses. Experiments showed it had little effect when on the patio or in the back yard.
A. Starhawk Hunt 2 years ago
You forgot to mention that AC in cars isn’t efficient at all when the windows are down.
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Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Depending where in the country you live, it's a necessity. There's no shortage of places that get into the triple digits (Fahrenheit) in summer, and that's not even factoring in humidity making it feel even hotter.
René Sauer 2 years ago
Because in most countries in europe, expect in the south, we get maybe 6-8 weeks a year were it would be needed. And energy cost is almost three times higher here then in the US. So we rather endure that short time instead of waste money on it.
Load More Replies... NOLAHusker 2 years ago
It’s going to be 95F with 80% humidity here next week. Hell yes I have AC. Otherwise, my house would smell and feel like a wet fart.
Jess 2 years ago
We have dual in Australia it can blowout ice cold air or hot air isn't that a normal thing?
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
It is for us, but we live in places that get so hot they combust. Your part of the world is even hotter than mine and I melt in the summer. From what I understand though, it's not common for other countries to have a/c.
Load More Replies... Coyote Osborne 2 years ago
I have lived in several places in the US where if you don't have air-conditioning, your house will be 120+ degrees in summer. Often, this is in places where, when the house was built, you could make it comfortable by adjusting which windows were open, but that was 12 million tons of concrete put up and trees cut down ago. Additionally, more and more of us rent, rather than own our homes, and landlords have no interest in spending money on properly insulating the properties just to reduce our power usage or increase our comfort. So you either put up with possibly killing heat or cold, or you run HVAC all the time and stay broke.
Igor914624 2 years ago
Here in Texas we have Air conditioning. It is almost mandatory. We have had days with a high temp of 115F (46C). It would be almost impossible to live here without it. We even make jokes about placing Ice cubes on a shrine to Willis H. Carrier (the inventor of AC).
#30
Mine is going to sound really dumb, but just the way I was treated when in a shop buying clothes. Hello on the way in, always someone trying to help, and then they actually asked me if someone helpe med when I went to pay for my stuff.
In Spain you walk in, buy what you want and most of the time you're lucky if the cashier is nice enough to say hello (in all fairness they get paid a s****y wage and have to deal with lot's of idiots).
The rest of the stuff (I was in New York) didn't shock me much. The tipping situation is certainly different, but I was expecting that.
Qia Munther 2 years ago
Us workers often are paid comission of salen to get a decent wage- thats why they are so overbearingly helpful in shops
Sasha Rich 2 years ago
Not true at all, most people in stores don't make a commission. It's rude to ignore a customer and, honestly, just weird AF to act like the person who just walked into your store doesn't exist - acknowledge them by saying hello, ask if they need help, etc.
Load More Replies... Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
They asked about someone helping you because they get a commission on sales!
AngelWingsYT 2 years ago
US workers are paid s****y too mostly n are trained to be nice EVEN to s****y customers for low pay.
Winnie the Moo 2 years ago
I like it the European way. But a hello and goobye is mandatory imo!
Pepe Silvia 2 years ago
That's because in socialist countries people don't care enough to put in effort to be on their top game. In America it's put up or shut up, and if you won't put it the effort then someone else will.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Hehe try going to a big box hardware store. You can hike a mile just to try and find an employee to pull something down from the top shelf of the 15 foot (~5 meter) tall rack.
yellowphantom 2 years ago
I have found shopping in New York City to be like the above Spain experience. They act like you are bothering them by being in their store. With the current labor shortages, the rest of the US has becoming more like that. Good luck getting anyone to help you find something.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago (edited)
This culture is sadly disappearing. A good "old-school" department store used to have people come over immediately to help you find what you needed, see if you needed sizing, etc. Now you get someone shrug that they don't know English and make you wait ten minutes for someone who does, only to be told, "Men's shirts are over there." Those middle-aged women called "Karen" are often not seeking SPECIAL treatment, but the sort of treatment that used to be standard. Something not in stock? We'll get it to you next week, and yes, you'll still pay today's sale prices. See something you like but didn't bring cash? We'll keep it here behind the counter for you. And yeah, before regional warehouses and just-in-time deliveries, the back of the store was like a warehouse, so there were three of each item on the shelves, easy to get, and if those were sold out, there was the remainder of the entire season's order in the back.
RedCorvette 2 years ago
What’s with all these people complaining about service people being nice. Would you rather they be rude?
#31
Root beer. I always wondered what that was. I was not prepared to sip on carbonated mouthwash. Why on earth is it called beer?
robin aldrich 2 years ago
YAAAASSSSS.....root beer float! of course The different brands do taste different.
Load More Replies... Tim 2 years ago
Beer: because it was at one time a naturally fermented drink made using sasparilla root and sugar.
actaeon cross 2 years ago
Sarsaparilla sodas are like better versions of root beer if you can find them
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 2 years ago
Hires Root Beer! Hard to find these days. (It's competitor bought it out and suppresses production.)
#32
The price difference. First time I went to NYC I was living like a god damn king off my normal average wage. Last time I went it was basically an exchange like for like with currency.
But the big thing on ever trip, Americans are for the most part really really nice people and friendly.
Hollerfloozy 2 years ago
They keep saying how nice we are, they must not have met any republicans.
Kitti B. 2 years ago
Are you Norwegian? Because I've only heard Norwegians say "I was living like a god damn king" while they were on vacation somewhere expensive.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
Odd. I've ALWAYS heard it to mean, "stuff was so cheap I could buy it all."
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#33
I feel like Americans are so easy to talk to strangers, it doesn't happen too much in Europe
Aileen Grist 2 years ago
I'm in the UK and I talk to everybody - so if you're in Eastbourne and see a fat woman in a wheelchair smiling and saying hi - let's chat. lol
robin aldrich 2 years ago
I found the English and Scottish friendly when I visited there. But now I wonder what they thought of me just babbling away at them.
#34
Having expected much less formality in the USA, I was pleasantly shocked to find elements of courtesy and good manners that are no longer common in the UK. The use of the terms ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’m’ between equals is a delightfully civilised exchange to hear and to experience, and one which implies a hierarchical relationship here in the UK, rather than one of mutual respect as in the USA. I also love the elements of eighteenth century grammar and syntax which have survived in American English. The word ‘gotten’ has long since fallen out of use in British English.
Five Years 2 years ago
Fortunately we are always minting new language like oft as in She done run oft. OFT oft.
Wintermute 2 years ago
My favorite is "I am going to" > "I'm going to"> "I'm gonna"> "I'ma"
Load More Replies... Jared Robinson 2 years ago
And in America you don't go to prison for calling yourself Sir, just because some ding bat old f**k said you couldn't use it. Yes I'm talking about your tyrannical monarchy. F**k the UK
Lil Miss Hobbit 2 years ago
I LOVE this! I have been in the US for a year and am still not used to being called "Ma'am" and "Miss" and all the other polite things.
#35
I "visited" for 5 years. The one moment that really sticks out above all others, was getting passed by a row of big yellow schoolbusses. Just like in the Simpsons. I grew up in the UK, and schoolbusses were a) rare, and b) just busses. The same busses you'd see anywhere else. And I mean exactly the same - after 9am they'd go back to doing their day jobs. They either set their sign on the front to read 'school', or they'd have a yellow placard in the window, with two kids on it. Big yellow schoolbusses with flashing lights, a pop-out stop sign, and a flat a**e .. just like off the telly. But in real life. Just cruising down the street like it was normal.
Leah Brown 2 years ago
"Like it was normal." News flash... to us, it IS normal. Especially in the suburbs and rural areas where public transportation is basically nonexistent.
MaximumKarmaSaint 2 years ago
Our school buses are numbered with 4 digits, meaning that we have at least 3 thousands of buses. (The highest number I've seen 3819.)
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 2 years ago (edited)
School buses are bright yellow to alert drivers that there are special safety situations present. It also helps very young students recognize whe the school bus has arrived.
Jared Robinson 2 years ago
You do know that the buses came first and then they were on the show right that's how tv works.
Skara Brae 2 years ago
It is illegal to pass a school bus when its safety lights are flashing. It's not the same for regular buses.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Hehe and believe it or not most of those just drive back to the district dispatch yard and park while school is in session and then drive back to the school at the end of the day. I've never given any thought to how inefficient that is.
Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
OK so we are insulted for lack of public transport and then we are weird because we have to transport kids to their schools in large vehicles that are easily identified as carrying students and then we have the gall to have flashing lights and a stop sign to keep idiots in cars from running over little kids? Gotcha.
#36
Seeing guns just hanging there like casual groceries in WalMart
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Funny story. I worked as a driver for Walmart for a short time and had to watch a training video on what to do in an active shooter situation. They had a guy picking up a keyboard as a last ditch self defense weapon and the entire time I was thinking; "Nope! I'm heading straight for sporting goods"
Jared Robinson 2 years ago
And if guns were the problem there would be a lot more deaths. People are the problem. Idiots.
Ghostfish 2 years ago
Yes, the people that make these guns readily available, and people like you that defend that. You're the biggest problems for sure. But if your guns get taken away then it's easy to ignore you.
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#37
Everyone driving on left lane and in consequence, people overtaking on the right lane (driving culture seems to be very bad and I'm from Poland) people leaving trolleys all over the mall parkings people leaving clothes/shoes randomly in shops after trying on No one is walking like we do (normally) very old people still working Everything is far away and you need to drive by car there (hardly seen any public communication) everyone super nice and smiling a lot of random small talks (nice) 😀 (Still in US )
robin aldrich 2 years ago
Not a defense but commenting : Yeah we all drive-in the left lane because no one wants to admit. We're pokey and should drive in the right lane. Most of us are too lazy to put trolleys and clothes and shoes back where they belong...It's rude.....older people still working because retirement requires money .....and yeah we need more public transport. Maybe less driving in the car.
Hollerfloozy 2 years ago
Most consider leaving carts/trolleys everywhere rude. Doesnt stop them from doing it, but most of us try. I see no reason why we need to actively make someones job harder.
Jared Robinson 2 years ago
Walking like we do normally? what the f**k do you mean? if you are walking different than everyone else obviously you are the abnormal one.
Skara Brae 2 years ago
Left lane driving: many states have rules like "keep right, except to pass," but the police don't enforce it.
#38
Every traffic light left-turn had a dedicated "you can go now" light-sequence! I loved that.
But then also these "be polite"-4-way stop crossing where you gotta trust the other guys that they abide to the "you reached this crossing first. Damn that was WEIRD.
I LOVE Dragstrips. So comfy, so simple, so homestyle-nice and 98% nice people.
Sooooo much space, not just corn fields, but in cities (except LA, f**k you, for that traffic!) there is so much space on the roads, so much parking, wide this wide that, was a treat. Nothing is close to each other and supertight like European big cities.
But f**k your tax on everything and then monster tips expected everywhere. I gave a 5 usd tip every time i got served food at a table, no more no less, it was confusing for the rest with f*****g math everywhere.
I loved the basically free gas (European so anything under $10/gallon is "free" to me, especially $2.80 in AZ!), cause it meant I could go explore 500 miles for fun and not think "f**k me burning money, lets gets a plane or google photos of that place instead".
Food is more simple, it can be hard to really find fine dining restaurants but there are some pearls in between and even in "s**t cities" such as Tucson and Phoenix and non-gaming Vegas I found good places to eat by searching for "foodie", "artisan" or "cooking from scratch". Even tried a Jewish restaurant in Phoenix, cause why not, best f*****g Reuben sandwich I ever paid for! ... And then 84 sour cucumbers as snacks for free, that bit was odd, but hey, when in erh Phoenix do whatever.
Skara Brae 2 years ago
Phoenix has lots of boring restaurants that cater to the winter "snowbird" visitors, who are usually from cold, northern states and Canada; that is, places not known for interesting food. However, with a casual glance at restaurants in google maps, it is easy to find good food. For example, there are many good asian restaurants in the southeast suburbs.
Marie Dahme 2 years ago
27 years in Phoenix. thought i’d never miss it. i only miss the winters and Filiberto’s! lol
Nicole Weymann 2 years ago
I did google it first, but that didn't help, so: What are dragstrips? (comfy, 98 % nice people and homestyle nice are not words I'd use for a short, straight racing track)
madbakes 2 years ago
Yeah, there's usually a bunch of bleachers and no shade at a drag strip. Drag clubs? I don't know what dude was trying to say.
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#39
How nice people where I went to NYC last month y'all call them rude how my first thought was how tf are people depressed here
robin aldrich 2 years ago
You mean no one told you "forget about it?" (in thick New Yawk Accent)
MaximumKarmaSaint 2 years ago
Being someone who doesn't live in one of the most famous states, I think that's something that only happens in the big states (Texas, California, Florida, etc.).
Load More Replies... #40
how wide the streets are. like in the middle of nowhere suburbia. took like 30 to 45 secs just to cross them on foot. I guess that was my mistake. going on foot.
Annik Perrot 2 years ago
In LA, there was that lovely restaurant right across our hotel but darn, crossing that four-lanes-each-way monster of a street was a sobering experience!
#41
How big the cars are. Free refills for half litre sodas even for breakfast. How supermarkets with nutritious food are rarely ever in walking distance if you’re in a city.
#42
how hard everything is. i tried getting some sim cards. paid 150$ for two sim cards, neither worked, spent hours on the phone with Comcast, they offered me a 5$ refund. cannot walk anywhere. crossing the roads is a challenge. got a parking ticket because I failed to decode a sign. tried to pay it, they were adamant that i pay it, bit only accepted US address when paying, (i owe Boston 240$. buying something at the shop? surprise tax at the end, eating out? how much do you think the waiter/delivery person deserves for their service? and i was just visiting. cannot imagine living there
Jared Robinson 2 years ago
None of these things are difficult you simply didn't take the time to understand them. crosswalk you push a button the light comes on you walk.
Johnnynatfan 2 years ago
Right this person was visiting a foreign country and was “shocked” it was not like their home.
Load More Replies... Michelle Reynolds 2 years ago
When I was in Europe, I had to pee in a hole in the ground (literally) in a bathroom. If you don't like it, don't come! I'm going to the UK next year and I know there will be differences, but I am going there to embrace the differences, not make it like the US!
PeePeePooPoo 2 years ago
Downvote for the "homework" comment. Maybe if you did things like all the other normal countries are doing them, there would be no need for one to do "homework" before visiting. And yes, coming from a country which states the full price on the label, doesn't require 20% tip or being yelled at or trash talked, these things are not "pretty easy", they're complicated and considered absolutely unecessary. I believe I can say that the rest of the world agrees.
Load More Replies... What do you think ?
Phobrek 2 years ago
I found myself wishing more people would mention where they went here in the US... some issues are nation-wide, but many of these are applicable more to particular areas. I get the idea that a lot of people don't realize how big and varied the US is.
FABULOUS1 2 years ago
Thank you! There is such a big difference in every state you go to in the US. Texas, California, Florida, New York and all others are not the same at all. You would have to be in a very rural area of California to see a great deal of American flags otherwise you see this more in more Southern states.
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troufaki13 2 years ago
For me it's the fact that the banknotes are all the same color and size
Julie Snelling 2 years ago
Yeah I've always wondered about that what do blind people do?
Load More Replies... FABULOUS1 2 years ago
I understand the culture shock when people visit the US, I also wonder what people expected when they visit another country. The fact that being overly friendly is mentioned multiple times only leaves me wondering how people are treated elsewhere. Also grouping the entire country up as one is laughable, no state and its culture is like the other. I've lived in 5 different states and non of them are the same. In the end, I guess you shouldn't visit the US, we are overly friendly, we like big things and large meals and everything else that was mentioned. Please don't come to California, we are overly crowded with enough tourists and Disneyland is overpriced.
Laura Kaye 2 years ago
I went to England recently, ordered at a Subway with my friend and the food taker literally paused what he was doing to stare at me incredulously when I said "Thank you." Apparently service workers are treated like s**t over there.
Load More Replies... Wilf 2 years ago
For me it is the massive disparity between metropolitan areas and rural. Visit a modern American city and you are in any other first world country. But most small towns are like stepping into a 3rd world country. Sure here in the UK there's a big disparity between town and rural, but when I was in the USA it struck me as like two different nations.
Sherry Marie Golden 2 years ago
How many small towns did you actually visit?
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DBear 2 years ago
I wonder how many Europeans were surprised to discover that we don't regularly start wars and kill each other because of religious differences or ethnic backgrounds.
John G 2 years ago
What do you consider regularly? Granted our wars are about oil and done in other countries.
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Brobro McDuderson 2 years ago
BOOYAH, 2 anti-US posts in one week. Lucky! Lemme guess 1st, then read it: bathroom stall gaps, taxes, friendliness (which somehow someone will make this negative), healthcare, public transit, healthcare, politics. EDIT: Shocker. How many times you gonna run the same recycled c**p BP? You guys got a serious US fetish.
Lil Potato IS BACK!!!! 2 years ago
things i counted that people hate america for: 1. being friendly 2. respecting veterans 3. good customer service 4. having different food culture. 5. smiling 6. having AC indoors 7. freedom of religion 8. having clean bars and restraunts 9. large portion sizes. 10. people doing their job. 11. any sort of slightly different change in any way whatsoever from europe. i do appreciate the good ones though
Yoyo 2 years ago
Uuum this thread is about what people found different with the US.
Load More Replies... Laura Kaye 2 years ago
Not all Americans say we are the best country.... Many Americans recognize our healthcare system is s**t, our work culture sucks, our cost of living is atrocious and we recognize that many in our own societies are toxic MoFos. That said, I DID have an argument with my father about this subject. So you're not entirely wrong either lol.
Load More Replies... Phobrek 2 years ago
I found myself wishing more people would mention where they went here in the US... some issues are nation-wide, but many of these are applicable more to particular areas. I get the idea that a lot of people don't realize how big and varied the US is.
FABULOUS1 2 years ago
Thank you! There is such a big difference in every state you go to in the US. Texas, California, Florida, New York and all others are not the same at all. You would have to be in a very rural area of California to see a great deal of American flags otherwise you see this more in more Southern states.
Load More Replies... troufaki13 2 years ago
For me it's the fact that the banknotes are all the same color and size
Julie Snelling 2 years ago
Yeah I've always wondered about that what do blind people do?
Load More Replies... FABULOUS1 2 years ago
I understand the culture shock when people visit the US, I also wonder what people expected when they visit another country. The fact that being overly friendly is mentioned multiple times only leaves me wondering how people are treated elsewhere. Also grouping the entire country up as one is laughable, no state and its culture is like the other. I've lived in 5 different states and non of them are the same. In the end, I guess you shouldn't visit the US, we are overly friendly, we like big things and large meals and everything else that was mentioned. Please don't come to California, we are overly crowded with enough tourists and Disneyland is overpriced.
Laura Kaye 2 years ago
I went to England recently, ordered at a Subway with my friend and the food taker literally paused what he was doing to stare at me incredulously when I said "Thank you." Apparently service workers are treated like s**t over there.
Load More Replies... Wilf 2 years ago
For me it is the massive disparity between metropolitan areas and rural. Visit a modern American city and you are in any other first world country. But most small towns are like stepping into a 3rd world country. Sure here in the UK there's a big disparity between town and rural, but when I was in the USA it struck me as like two different nations.
Sherry Marie Golden 2 years ago
How many small towns did you actually visit?
Load More Replies... DBear 2 years ago
I wonder how many Europeans were surprised to discover that we don't regularly start wars and kill each other because of religious differences or ethnic backgrounds.
John G 2 years ago
What do you consider regularly? Granted our wars are about oil and done in other countries.
Load More Replies... Brobro McDuderson 2 years ago
BOOYAH, 2 anti-US posts in one week. Lucky! Lemme guess 1st, then read it: bathroom stall gaps, taxes, friendliness (which somehow someone will make this negative), healthcare, public transit, healthcare, politics. EDIT: Shocker. How many times you gonna run the same recycled c**p BP? You guys got a serious US fetish.
Lil Potato IS BACK!!!! 2 years ago
things i counted that people hate america for: 1. being friendly 2. respecting veterans 3. good customer service 4. having different food culture. 5. smiling 6. having AC indoors 7. freedom of religion 8. having clean bars and restraunts 9. large portion sizes. 10. people doing their job. 11. any sort of slightly different change in any way whatsoever from europe. i do appreciate the good ones though
Yoyo 2 years ago
Uuum this thread is about what people found different with the US.
Load More Replies... Laura Kaye 2 years ago
Not all Americans say we are the best country.... Many Americans recognize our healthcare system is s**t, our work culture sucks, our cost of living is atrocious and we recognize that many in our own societies are toxic MoFos. That said, I DID have an argument with my father about this subject. So you're not entirely wrong either lol.
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