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The USA exists in more than just one place. It shows up in music, movies, headlines, and everyday conversations around the world. That kind of presence builds expectations, whether we mean to or not.
But what you imagine doesn’t always line up with what you see on the ground. These Redditors shared what threw them off during their time in the States, and their stories range from funny to flat-out bizarre. Scroll on and check out the moments that stuck with them.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The working homeless. People who work full time and live out their cars. The lack of social parachute is disgusting for such a rich country. It doesn't care about the people but the rich buggers who own it.
And the idiots vote for it to continue and get worse.
RELATED:
#2
Had always been told "America is the Greatest country in the world" and as a young man was contemplating moving there.
Went and was shocked at the amount of homeless, D**g addicts on the street, people with stories about how their lives fell apart due to medical debt. The fact that things i took for granted in my country "6 weeks government mandated vacation" and free healthcare was not a thing.
And that is before i met people at the college i was studying at that had friends, or had themselves seen school shootings or knew people who died in them.
To me, America felt like a 3rd world country it was like walking into an open prison where tripping on the sidewalk could "lock you up" in debt for life.
A place where my host family told me not to leave after a certain time due to fear that if i wandered the wrong neighborhood a gang could accost me and potentially hurt me.
I was shook to my core and gained a huge apreciation for my home country, a place where the only homeless people i had seen had been so because they completely refuse to interact with society, where no one had to worry if a knee operation or their education would shackle them with debt for life.
I left my home country wanting to move, and came home apreciating all i had so much more. My country has its own problems but by god i am so much more free than i thought.
Sapna Sarfare 8 months ago
Third world countries are more conscious about making laws. There will be people who are s**t but laws are there.
#3
Americans do monuments really, really well. Was awed by the size of Arlington cemetery but sickened by the pride the tour guide had in announcing it was almost full and they’d be opening up another section soon (this was 2015 with troops still in Afghanistan). Also struck by the hypocrisy of Americans thanking vets for their service while ignoring the number of maimed and homeless ex-military I saw begging in different parts of the country.
Bored Panda got in touch with Liv, who sparked the conversation on Reddit, to learn what inspired her curiosity about people’s culture shocks in the US.
“I saw a similar post a while back explaining their experience coming to the US from a different country, so I thought it would be interesting to hear perspectives from all around the world,” she told us.
Originally from Canada, Liv spent about three years living and studying in the States, giving her some firsthand experience with the local culture. And in her view, some of the common stereotypes do hold up.
“There is definitely a big difference in portion sizes and more additives in food. This would add to the obesity problem in the US.”
As for the stereotype that Americans aren’t as smart, Liv thinks it’s not so black and white. “That really depends on what school you go to. I went to a private school there and I think I had a good education. When I came back to Canada, I don't think I struggled more than my peers.”
#4
'Yes, America has its problems, but it is still the best country in the world!"
"Oh! Have you ever traveled abroad?"
'Why would I? This is the best country in the world!"
I've had this conversation more than once in the U.S.
Rose the Cook 8 months ago
My father about Australia although he had never been anywhere else. His reasoning; "The government says so."
#5
Tipping culture was very intimidating especially coming from a south east asian country.
skol_vikings_88:
It's getting bad at this point, even for us Americans. We're now getting asked to tip cashiers for doing nothing out of the ordinary, it's getting ridiculous.
Like I told my wife, if I have to stand up to order, I'm not tipping anything, and no amount of social pressure is going to change my mind on that.
Ahnjunwan 8 months ago
I do not really understand why you guys not just stop it? If nobody would tip anymore, waiters would look for different jobs, nobody would do it anymore, restaurants would be forced to pay people properly. Does not work in the real world, i know....
XenoMurph 8 months ago
Unions and strikes, like the rest of the world did 100 yrs ago.
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Thorsten Massow 8 months ago
It's not the tipping culture, it's the "don't pay your employees enough" culture. And the bosses and corporations are to blame.
Roland Nijveld 8 months ago
And by tipping you keep enabling it and it won't stop
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Random User 8 months ago
I've even gotten automated tipping prompts on self-checkouts, self-serve car washes, and self-serve gas stations. It's getting ridiculous.
General Anaesthesia 8 months ago
"Would you like to tip your ATM? 10% 15% 25%"
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WubiDubi 8 months ago
Mandatory service charges rolling into the UK. Real Greek, Rosa's Thai, the boycott list grows. I am happy to tip cash or card based on how good the service was, but not pay a service charge for just two people. It used to be 6 people or more. Pay staff properly. Ban zero hours contracts already.
Sapna Sarfare 8 months ago
In India, we have something called service charge but it is optional.. Also tipping is optional..
Heras buddy 8 months ago
Ahbjunwan, if we do this then the employees will go homeless and hungry till the point comes where owners will charge. Especially the big chains.
Chrissie Anit 8 months ago
I heard that the waiters/waitresses themselves don't want the system to change because they could potentially make more money with minimum wage and tips than with a good wage without tips.
Bored Sailor 8 months ago
Not talking about tipping itself but the machines you pay on. Those machines are remote update by the pay service supporting them and not always based on the service location, so the tip option goes out to all machines regardless of the location, i.e. self serve, server, grocary store, same software.
Lee451 Henderson 8 months ago
Subway asks you to tip their "sandwich artists" who are theoretically paid a living wage.
#6
The amount of poverty and homelessness for "the land of opportunities".
And also the sheer amount of plastic waste, everything is in plastic. You want a to-go coffee? Oh here, let me stick a pointless plastic piece on-top of the coffee cup lid.
On the other side, the land is beautiful, the national parks are amazing!
Recently, the relationship between the US and Canada has been facing some tension, with the US administration pushing the idea of closer integration and many Canadians pushing back. From boycotting American products to canceling trips, the reaction has been strong.
“I am definitely not a fan of the '51st state' idea,” Liv admitted, echoing the frustration of many fellow Canadians. “I personally like having free healthcare, and I don't want to spend a fortune on maintaining my health and go into debt. Canada has also provided a lot of support for the US, so the treatment right now is really frustrating.”
#7
Just how un-walkable everywhere was.
momohatch:
Yes! As an American I usually only vacation in pedestrian friendly places. I love a walkable downtown. I don’t want to have to use a car to get around.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 8 months ago
Somehow we are so broken that many of our cities are unwalkable. I'm looking at you Vegas...
#8
How many ads there were on TV regarding healthcare and the need to sue someone.
fossilCreature:
I have type two diabetes, but I manage it well. It's a little pill with a big story to tell...
This s**t needs to be banned. it is in some countries.... reason why I avoid tv. The most soulless ads with the most generic people and music. it's awful. This is what hell is.
Llama_Shaman:
Military ads at the airport. S**t was like being in Starship Troopers.
#9
The huge side gap in stalls of public restrooms. I don’t want to make eye contact with strangers while my pants are down.
#10
The “Me first” “Main character” mindset. It was everywhere. No one had consideration for those around them, everyone seemed so self involved, selfish, and only out for themselves. Everything from not watching where they walk and blatantly stepping in front on moving “foot traffic”, rushing to get off planes when asked to stay seated so a few passengers can make their connections, making unreasonable demands of service staff, I could go on.
After experiencing it firsthand, I understood how Trump got voted in. There doesn’t seem to be a “for the greater good” vibe, just a “what’s in it for me” vibe.
TotallyNOTAFox 8 months ago
"Don't ask what you can do for society but what society can do for you"
#11
Elderly people working. We had a waitress at a hotel who looked like she was in her eighties. It made me sad that she had to keep working.
#12
Look to your left? US flag.
Look to the right? US flag.
Car park? Huge US flag.
Car dealership? More flags than cars.
I always thought that bit in Spiderman was over the top but flaaaags! 😂.
#13
The fact that not having a car means you are screwed.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 8 months ago
Haven't driven one for almost 20 years. But Portland is different.
#14
Not exactly shocking, but makes you nervous that they can carry a gun on them anywhere. Want American snacks from Walmart? Careful, there could be a shooting
The day before my family and I visited Mall of America there was a shooting in a shoe store. Outside the mall there’s stickers claiming “no guns allowed”.
Jrog 8 months ago
It's ridiculous observing people carrying in the southern states. Bud, you are a 300 lbs blob of fat. Those camo pants are not doing you any favor, and the extender on your gun holster speaks volumes... You probably are not physically fit enough to raise an eyebrow, let alone weights. Everyone can see you are a jelly pudding cosplaying as Rambo, are we supposed to be scared of you? What are you going to do in case of an emergency, fumble your tiny hand in your fat rolls to retrieve your gun?
#15
I’m always shocked at how little Americans know about history or events beyond their own borders.
#16
Something that surprised me was how many people with unchecked mental illness were on the streets. It just felt like a huge amount of people who've fallen through the cracks and not received the support they need. Been to 5 states and several cities and NYC was particularly bad for this and it was pretty heartbreaking.
Jrog 8 months ago (edited)
While on a business trip, one of our local foremen (who also volunteers with charity organizations) explained me why NYC has a high concentration of loonies and homeless. First, sheer population size plays a role; even if the ratio is average, the absolute number of affected individuals is higher, and they tend to congregate in the city center, making them more visible. Second, since the 1970s, NYC has invested heavily in facilities for the homeless, offering easier access to food banks, shelters, and sanitation services. As a result, the city attracts individuals seeking aid from less supportive areas, both independently and through questionable state programs that bus people from the Midwest and South to places like NYC and California
#18
Canadian here. I’ve never craved vegetables more than when i came back from a road trip in the US. It’s not so bad in big cities, but on the road i could hardly find anything healthy to eat.
#19
As both a tourist and an immigrant (now a naturalized citizen) I will never not find the level of racial segregation alarming.
Look up a data visualisation of most cities based on the % of people from minority backgrounds and you'll see concentrated populations, often in areas annexed off from other areas by highways. And there's usually a shocking lack of amenities and infrastructure in those areas too. Plus fewer parks, sidewalks, trees and I could honestly keep going.
I was especially shocked when I found out that school funding is significantly influenced by the property taxes paid by people in the catchment for that school.
It seems completely unconscionable.
Thorsten Massow 8 months ago
In any civilized country you would think, funding the public schools in the poorest areas better than those in the richer areas would be a good idea to induce equality and reduce crime rates.
#21
How pleasant and welcoming almost everyone was. I found the majority of people I interacted with to be friendly, polite, interested in where I came from when they heard an accent etc. I’m afraid I had allowed myself to believe that all this c**p we see online reflects the reality in US for most people, which it absolutely doesn’t. People in USA were getting along with their days and along with each other pretty well from what I see.
Bob Jones 8 months ago
I travelled all over the USA in the mid 2000s and visited a lot if out of the way small towns. The people were all amazingly friendly and hospitable to me... because I am a white male. That would change very quickly if I said anything remotely contradictory or even made a joke about their religion, politics or completely insular world view
#22
The weird uncanny valley vibe from customer service and wait staff. The overly enthusiastic act just creeped me out because it felt so fake.
Alex_butler:
Most waiters and waitresses that I’m friends with genuinely are just like that. They actually enjoy serving and want people to have a good time. Can see how that could be overwhelming if you’re not from here though.
Wang Zhuang 8 months ago
Many are genuinely nice (as they should be, doing customer service work), but they really turn on the charm because they're hoping you give them a nice tip.
#23
Random people will stop and talk to you. I'm used to a friendly nod or a "good morning" but in America they're open to conversations with strangers.
#24
The sheer size of portions made me question if I was in a buffet or a restaurant.
#25
I only went to New York, but there were two things that really struck me.
The subway looked so underfunded; the stations were dirty, the trains were broken, and it definitely didn't feel as safe as the London underground or other similar sized metros.
The thing that really surprised me was the number of people clearly having mental health issues just left to fend for themselves. I know other countries aren't perfect when it comes to looking after these people, but in NYC there were so many!
Jrog 8 months ago (edited)
people with mental health, I addressed in another comment. The metro thing deserves a discussion, though. The NYC metro system is the most expensive and highest budget metro system in the world, by far. Compared to the London Tube and the Paris Metro, that handle about the same number of passenger per year, are all in the 400km ballpark for track length, their operating budget is almost tenfold the competitors. Construction cost per km is about twice the Paris metro, and 8 TIMES the London Tube, but NYC metro has been historically marred by design flaws and severe maintenance issues. Aging infrastructure and lack of long-term planning or investments by MTA led to some stretches being over 100 years old and lacking alternative routes. Signaling system dates back to the end of WW2, and has not been upgraded to modern systems, and different track stretches have different turn and speed specs.
#26
I don't know how else to explain it but literally everything there is too much.
The customer service, the portions, the buildings, the cars, the way so many people act, just everything. Too big. Over the top. They do everything to excess. It's too much. I couldn't stand it.
Hemminsleifwa E 8 months ago
A blind man is unafraid to travel and experience new things around the world. Eventually, his travels take him to Texas. When he gets to his hotel room, he feels the bed. “Wow, this bed is huge!” “EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas!” says the bellhop cheerfully. The man heads downstairs to the bar, settles into a huge barstool and orders a beer. A mug is placed between his hands. “Wow, these drinks are enormous!” The bartender disclaims: “EVERYTHING is big in Texas!” After downing a few, the blind man asks where the bathroom is. “Second door to the right,” says the bartender. The blind man heads for the bathroom but accidentally enters the third door, which leads to the swimming pool, and the poor guy falls right in. The few swimmers there were shocked when a man suddenly popped his head up from under the water flailing his arms and screaming, “Don’t flush, DON'T FLUSH!!!!!”
#27
As a solo female traveler that only visited major cities on the east coast, it was that everywhere I went, most people acted friendly but there seemed to be an underlying sense of anxiety and caution. It's hard to explain but it was as if fear and worry was built into their worldview in a way I haven't seen before.
#28
Seeing a sign on a restaurant, the first time I was ever there, stating that it was a "gun free zone". Live in Canada, have lived in the far North close to the Arctic Circle, in large inner cities, in small rural farm communities, we certainly have our share of guns here, but to see something like this needing to be stated was....unsettling to say the least.
#29
I was shocked at the state of your roads. They were f*****g s**t. The shameless amount of food waste was sickening.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 8 months ago
Back in the 90s, I worked at Pizza Hut and I'd throw out a 50g (about 100L) garbage can of overproved dough about once a week.
#30
So much sugar in everything. I wasn’t able to drink the sweet tea as it tasted sweeter than our cordial without water added.
Thorsten Massow 8 months ago
It's not only the real sugar, when they switched to high fructose corn sirup, it just became worse...
#31
How absolutely obese they are.
Thorsten Massow 8 months ago
Eating healthy is expensive and most Americans are too poor to afford it...
#32
I honestly thought the front door opening up right in the living room was just a trope for TV shows because of the studio audience and such. No, turns out many American homes are designed this way. Blew my mind. You'd never find a single home or apartment without some kind of entrance hall, foyer or mudroom where I'm from.
#33
How big it is. Theoretically, I knew that it’s big, but my husband and I did a road trip from SF through Yosemite via Tioga Pass and down through Death Valley to Las Vegas. It was amaaazing how much scenery we saw and I was flabbergasted with the changing of the landscape. From Las Vegas we drove to LA and then flew to NY. It was wild, esp for a first timer from SE Asia. Such a thrilling and awe-inspiring experience.
Geoffrey Scott 8 months ago
We generally travel at night. Miss a lot of scenery, but the only ones on the road are us and some truck drivers. I WILL say the area near the Va/NC border on 77 is beautiful, looking 10 miles across the valley to the east, especially at sunrise.
#34
Probably not my ‘biggest shock’, but something that hasn’t been mentioned that I can see:
The amount of billboards along roads. A ludicrous amount. And sooo many of them are for personal injury lawyers (and by that, I mean there are an insufferable amount of Morgan&Morgan billboards).
#36
I'm surprised nobody said this yet, and maybe it's a bit cliché, but the socioeconomic race divide was absolutely stunning to see, different than what I could have imagined.
And I lived in London at the time, which has a huge mix of cultures and class divide as well, but this was so different. So much more systemic if you know what I mean?
I went to Washington DC for work, I decided to stay in an Airbnb in a residential area. And every day I took the bus from the nice white neighborhood through a "slum" of poc neighbourhoods with visible poverty and signs of systematic neglect (I spare you the details).
Then arrived in central DC in my nice white office, where the only poc people are the staff like cafeteria workers and cleaners.
#37
The race disparity. Public transport was very not white. Any fast food place had poc behind the counter. The most blatant was the zoo. All the workers and guides were white and then the security staff at the gate were all poc. Stores too, clerk white security guy black. I knew it would be bad but I didn’t expect it to be so glaring.
#38
How dirty the Hollywood Walk of Fame is… on TV it looked so neat.
ScreamingDizzBuster:
This is even referenced symbolically at the beginning and end of The Substance.
#39
That it’s a foreign country. That might sound weird but you think you know America because you see so much of it on tv/music/cinema and because we share a language but it’s not until you go there you realise that it’s truly a foreign country, with all sorts of customs and habits you’re unfamiliar with.
Many visitors notice nuances that differ greatly between the US and its neighboring countries, highlighting cultural and social distinctions.
For those curious about cross-border relationships and interactions shaped by unique geographic and political boundaries, exploring the dynamics of couples navigating international borders offers insight into personal stories shaped by these divides.
#41
Walking past a Hooters and seeing a 12 year old boy having a birthday party with two adult women in their tiny outfits present him with a cake. He was surrounded by male family members. I was horrified.
paul tress 8 months ago
i find the idea abhorrent, didnt take off in the uk as i believe we are a little more civilised
#42
Drive in banks
Drive in pharmacies
We have drive in fast food joints but you guys weaponized the concept.
#44
I went grocery shopping in Florida, and there were rows and rows of processed foods (specifically frozen pizzas that came with chocolate chip cookies) vs. the little section of produce. The rows of sugary cereal and all kind of junk blew my mind, and not in a good way.
lovemy suffolk 8 months ago
The key to successful shopping in a US grocery store is to stick to the perimeter. Don't even bother going down the aisles for the most part.
#45
I landed at JFK. Shortly before that we were over a residential area, and I was shocked by how it was just horizon to horizon same size house lots in a grid pattern, not broken up by apartment buildings, or parks, or shopping areas...just houses and houses and houses...and more houses...
Jrog 8 months ago (edited)
This construction pattern is commonly called "suburbia", and has been studied a lot as a cause for a swath of social problems and psychological negative effects. It's been proven it is a major cause for social isolation, from the lack of defined city centers where communal spaces are typically located. This in turn leads to a steep reduction in availability of interaction and socializing opportunities. The monotone constructions style and layout has been linked to decrease in mental stimulation among adult and children, and as the root cause for some forms of juvenile depression, that can find an outlet in criminal behaviors. This often combines with economic and even racial segregation, creating -especially in lower classes- a fertile ground for loneliness, elevated anxiety, sense of alienation, reduced self-efficacy, all effects connected to a bunch of parasocial issues.
#46
When the waiter takes your card from you and walks away with it to use the machine to pay
The waiter coming over and asking every 10 mins how the food is and being overly friendly
How loud people talk. Literally everyone can hear their conversation.
Tipping culture. Don’t even get me started on that.
Walking into an establishment and seeing a “no firearms beyond this point” sign on the door
In some shops we were shocked to see snacks locked inside a glass cupboard so we needed to ring the bell and ask a member of staff to unlock it just so we could get a Reese’s bar of chocolate.
But all in all I loved the US each time I visited. The people are very friendly and I will definitely be back again!
#47
Certain areas are considered no go zones due to poverty. As an Aussie visiting my exes family in illinois (outside chicago) close to the Wisconsin border. They told us to avoid certain towns and bars, it was certainly overtly racist but I saw it more as a social-economic thing but they didn't and blamed the people living there not the conditions that led to it.
#48
There was how sweet the supermarket bread was but the bread from normal bakers was great. Coke tasted weird due to using HFCS and not cane sugar.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 8 months ago
Coke doesn't taste different, it feels different. HFCS always feels slimy to me. It coats my tongue like cough syrup.
#49
That VAT isn't included in anything you buy, and making me do maths to work out how much i should tip.
#50
Canadian so expected similarities in general but here's what's different:
Hospital and pharmaceutical commercials are commonplace.
Hwys are littered with very tall and obtrusive chain restaurant signs and billboards (laws where I live prevent these).
Fireworks and Jesus billboards.
Debit and credit machines are not as widespread as I expected.
Flying into the US is never smooth due to customs (other places are not so intense).
Nea 8 months ago (edited)
As an Indian, I am very nervous when travelimg to the West generally. Everywhere else, my anxieties turn out to be without reson. USA scares the s**t out of me every time. Officers are Too cold and totally unwelcoming even when I visit usually for academic conferences.
#51
How dirty it was. Trash everywhere. All over the streets and some highways
Also the food portions are HUGE compared to Canada’s. And it’s super salty too. Not necessarily seasoned but salt overtakes any flavour.
The bad drivers.
#52
No one knows anything about my home country but I know everything about theirs 😭.
Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
What is your home country? Statements like this are a bit frustrating. And how do you know "everything" about the U.S. except the stereotypes you accuse American of only knowing about your country? Hell, I don't think any American knows "everything" about America.
#53
I didn’t believe that all New Yorkers actually dressed that cool. I thought it was just something TV exaggerated until I finally visited and realized that, yeah, every single one of them really is that effortlessly cool.
From casual and effortless to bold and unique, everyone had a distinct sense of style and each outfit felt like a personal expression of who they were.
Very different to what you see in my city.
#55
How much weight I gained in 1 week! Your food is pumped with absolute c**p.
Random User 8 months ago
Moreover, healthy food is more expensive. It just feels like a plot to get more people into medical debt.
#56
In one road trip across the US, I encountered much of what other commenters have said, but one surprising thing was this: if you can think of a way to staple a bed to the back of a vehicle, the Americans do it. So many different ways to have a vacation driving around with a caravan, a popup top on the back of a pickup, a winnebago, so on and so forth. They do like their driving vacations, and are creative about how.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
My van has a pop-up top with a bed in it. I've never used it for camping or even used it at all XD (It's a Volkswagen Eurovan with the Westfalia package.) However, my van also has a table in the center portion, and I've taken many a lunch break in my van, eating alone at my table, with all the curtains pulled, in glorious solitude XD When I worked retail, my co-workers used to come knock on the van and be like "Pleeeeease can we come in and sit down too?" XD
#57
Visited New York years ago from London and it was one of the best places I’ve ever been to. Everyone was wonderful, kind and polite. Every person called us sir/ma’am, opened doors for me in and my husband. We went when Donald Trump had just gotten into power and I was nervous being foreign but I didn’t have to be. We saw the thanksgiving Macy’s parade and met two different groups of people, who were talking about their political views very politely.
I don’t even want to start on all the amazing food we ate. From delicious soul food in Harlem, to the best steak I’ve ever had (I forget the name of the place).
As a whole I’d love to go back to the USA and visit other places and it’s on my bucket list.
nottheactualphoto 8 months ago
Thank you for your your kind and positive recollection. Like so many other cities (London?) it's huge and varied and would take a lifetime or three to explore. Yes, I grew up in NYC.
#58
I'm Canadian, grew up very close to the border.
The thing that has always "shocked" me is how much more affordable (even with the exchange rate taken into consideration) clothes a 30-minutes drive away. Like, I once bought a sweater at Macy's (which, granted, was on sale) only to be shopping at The Bay a couple of months later and come across the exact same sweater at 3x the price.
Jrog 8 months ago
As an European, it used to be true in the past, it's not anymore. Levi's, Ralph Laurent, DKNY, Nike, and even some European brands were cheaper. Now, everything is wildly more expensive, and quality is generally worse. The Levi's you buy in Europe are generally made in Turkey, Pakistan and Poland, while the American ones are made in Mexico, Bangladesh and China. There is a stark difference in the quality of seams and the weight of the fabric.
#59
The size of the cars, suburbs without sidewalks, getting shouted at for jaywalking because we didn't know that was a thing.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
Jaywalking is now completely legal in my state. It is TERRIFYING. People just run across major busy streets because they know they won't get ticketed for jaywalking. I live in Southern California - our average city streets are as big as highways in other states, and there are TONS of cars driving very, very fast. And yes, our pedestrian fatality rate has gone up quite a bit ever since jaywalking became legal :(
#60
How GOOD the food is in large cities. Literally everything I had was ridiculously delicious and huge portions, I’d 100% be 300lbs if I lived there.
Jrog 8 months ago (edited)
It's "delicious" because they add a shitton of sugar, fat, cream and butter to anything. A 2016 USDA study reported that 92% of single-serve restaurant offerings exceeds the recommended calories for the average person for a single meal. The average restaurant serving has over 1200 calories, with American-style restaurants averaging over 1400. another study highlighted how 50% of restaurant offerings are deemed of "little to no nutritional quality" (goes up to 70% for fast food places). The remaing 49,9% were still high in unhealthy fats or sugar, with LESS THAN 1 MEAL OVER 1000 being of ideal nutritional quality. Breakfast items were the most egregious in their unhealthiness, and over 10% of Americans consume their breakfast in fast food places.
#62
The driving in NYC scared me. Everything was going so fast, the GPS couldn’t keep up. I wasn’t even the driver lol.
#63
Honestly? Water level in the toilets, like wtf. That s**t's disgusting, in this case may be literally so. The first time I went for numero dos I was just sitting there hoping it wouldn't splash up.
Random User 8 months ago
But it helps with odor control, and prevents stains. Yes, I know you could use a brush, but why not reduce the need for that in the first place?
#64
How attractive the girls are.
What do you think ?
Tucker Cahooter 8 months ago
I'm not American but it's really time that this article subject is canned. There's nothing here that hasn't been said a million times before.
Bartlet for world domination 8 months ago
"If you can think of a way to staple a bed to the back of a vehicle, the Americans do it" - currently at #61 - that one was new to me.
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WubiDubi 8 months ago
That would involve more Reddit copying, BP prefer recycling. There is some great content on Reddit about differences and expereinces in other countries.
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Johnnynatfan 8 months ago
How many f*****g times is BP going to do this list? Its the same s**t over and over again. Its tiresome and lazy
XenoMurph 8 months ago
Lets switch this to criticising unrestrained capitalism rather than US bashing again. Many of these problems are about capitalism's effects on people. Of course.... guns are terrible.
WubiDubi 8 months ago
50% bashing. Most of the bashing was against corps and poverty, which is fine.
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Christos Arvanitis 8 months ago
Wow! It's been a few weeks since the EXACT SAME content. Also, news flash- people from other countries find other countries different than their home country.
ScootyPuffJr 8 months ago (edited)
I'm a US special ed. teacher struggling with the latest regime's hellscape and having constant battles with our healthcare system. I didn't vote for these clowns. I start my mornings with meetings regarding what to do if ICE raids our school. I come to this site for a bit of levity while we're all fighting for our lives over here. But no, just keep kicking us in the nuts repeatedly with these redundant lists that are neither helpful nor entertaining.
Jessica Senia 8 months ago
And now I'm even more depressed about having to live here. Thanks, BP.
Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
1. Generalizations. America is vast and varied. 2. It would help to know where you are from.
Alex Carter 7 months ago (edited)
This story comes across as completely biased. Yes, the U.S. has its flaws—just like every other country. No place is perfect or a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. If someone doesn’t like where they are, they’re free to seek out a place that suits them better. That said, the U.S. has undeniably made a significant impact globally—whether through its movies and TV, advancements in technology, or cultural influence. I’m Danish and I'm currently living and working in China, and one thing I genuinely appreciate about the U.S. is the freedom to express myself and be who I am without fear of censorship. And yes, you do in fact get the right to "vote" in the US. It's a word my fellow coworkers don't even know the meaning of.
Alex Carter 7 months ago
This story comes across as completely biased. Yes, the U.S. has its flaws—just like every other country. No place is perfect or a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. If someone doesn’t like where they are, they’re free to seek out a place that suits them better. That said, the U.S. has undeniably made a significant impact globally—whether through its movies and TV, advancements in technology, or cultural influence. I’m currently living and working in China, and one thing I genuinely appreciate about the U.S. is the freedom to express myself and be who I am without fear of censorship.
Lê Ngôi Trần 8 months ago
This is a fascinating and really insightful collection! It's so important to see how US culture is perceived from the outside. Some of these points are eye-opening, even for Americans. Great compilation of diverse perspectives.
G A 8 months ago
Dont be ridiculous. It was an American style restaurant. They didn't serve American food. They had to abide by UK health laws. That's like saying you can judge all US food by McDonalds.
Load More Replies...
Bartlet for world domination 8 months ago
Beware, BrunoVI is full of shіt.
Load More Replies... Tucker Cahooter 8 months ago
I'm not American but it's really time that this article subject is canned. There's nothing here that hasn't been said a million times before.
Bartlet for world domination 8 months ago
"If you can think of a way to staple a bed to the back of a vehicle, the Americans do it" - currently at #61 - that one was new to me.
Load More Replies... WubiDubi 8 months ago
That would involve more Reddit copying, BP prefer recycling. There is some great content on Reddit about differences and expereinces in other countries.
Load More Replies... Johnnynatfan 8 months ago
How many f*****g times is BP going to do this list? Its the same s**t over and over again. Its tiresome and lazy
XenoMurph 8 months ago
Lets switch this to criticising unrestrained capitalism rather than US bashing again. Many of these problems are about capitalism's effects on people. Of course.... guns are terrible.
WubiDubi 8 months ago
50% bashing. Most of the bashing was against corps and poverty, which is fine.
Load More Replies... Christos Arvanitis 8 months ago
Wow! It's been a few weeks since the EXACT SAME content. Also, news flash- people from other countries find other countries different than their home country.
ScootyPuffJr 8 months ago (edited)
I'm a US special ed. teacher struggling with the latest regime's hellscape and having constant battles with our healthcare system. I didn't vote for these clowns. I start my mornings with meetings regarding what to do if ICE raids our school. I come to this site for a bit of levity while we're all fighting for our lives over here. But no, just keep kicking us in the nuts repeatedly with these redundant lists that are neither helpful nor entertaining.
Jessica Senia 8 months ago
And now I'm even more depressed about having to live here. Thanks, BP.
Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
1. Generalizations. America is vast and varied. 2. It would help to know where you are from.
Alex Carter 7 months ago (edited)
This story comes across as completely biased. Yes, the U.S. has its flaws—just like every other country. No place is perfect or a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. If someone doesn’t like where they are, they’re free to seek out a place that suits them better. That said, the U.S. has undeniably made a significant impact globally—whether through its movies and TV, advancements in technology, or cultural influence. I’m Danish and I'm currently living and working in China, and one thing I genuinely appreciate about the U.S. is the freedom to express myself and be who I am without fear of censorship. And yes, you do in fact get the right to "vote" in the US. It's a word my fellow coworkers don't even know the meaning of.
Alex Carter 7 months ago
This story comes across as completely biased. Yes, the U.S. has its flaws—just like every other country. No place is perfect or a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. If someone doesn’t like where they are, they’re free to seek out a place that suits them better. That said, the U.S. has undeniably made a significant impact globally—whether through its movies and TV, advancements in technology, or cultural influence. I’m currently living and working in China, and one thing I genuinely appreciate about the U.S. is the freedom to express myself and be who I am without fear of censorship.
Lê Ngôi Trần 8 months ago
This is a fascinating and really insightful collection! It's so important to see how US culture is perceived from the outside. Some of these points are eye-opening, even for Americans. Great compilation of diverse perspectives.
G A 8 months ago
Dont be ridiculous. It was an American style restaurant. They didn't serve American food. They had to abide by UK health laws. That's like saying you can judge all US food by McDonalds.
Load More Replies... Bartlet for world domination 8 months ago
Beware, BrunoVI is full of shіt.
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