It’s no secret—the rest of the world looks at how peculiar American culture can be and wonders if it’s even real.
‘Cause let’s face it—even if it looks fine for us, that doesn’t mean that having police patrol your school, paying for a ride to the hospital, and calling the toilet “restroom” when we all know very well there ain't nobody going there to have a rest shouldn’t raise a brow for others.
So this time, we are looking at what American things make our fellow non-American friends scratch their heads in simple, yet very spot-on questions below. Our dear American Pandas are also welcome to help separate what’s real, what’s rumors, and what only happens in movies in the comments! And after you're done with this post, check out our previous one with things Americans do that require an explanation for non-Americans.
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But taking off shoes and socks when you come in is nearly as good as taking off your bra.
We have them. They are usually part of the cheerleader squad or dance squad. It is a sports thing. We take sports very seriously.
Even though Americans and Europeans share many things, like commitment to democratic principles, a strategic alliance, and some of the highest standards in the world, there are still some very notable differences between them.
A 2016 study done by Pew Research Center was very revealing in that respect. First of all, it showed that Americans are more likely to believe they control their own destiny.
The research showed that a staggering 57% of Americans disagreed with the statement “Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside our control.” The percentage was higher than in any other European nations polled.
The second interesting thing the Pew poll showed is that “Americans prioritize individual liberty, while Europeans tend to value the role of the state to ensure no one in society is in need.”
When it comes to religion, it turned out that over half in the US (53%) say religion is extremely important in their life, which is nearly double the share with the same view in Poland.
In France, for example, only 14% consider religion a very important aspect of their lives.
No, microwaves are faster. Kettles take much longer in the US vs the UK eg, because of the the lower voltage/wattage.
Since European electricity is 240 volts, while North American electricity is 120 volts, British kettles will boil twice as fast as American ones.
Load More Replies...Glad I live in Australia with 240V. Kettle is quick to boil. I tried making a cup of boiled water in the microwave for my tea once and it tasted foul! Like the water was salty and it made the tea taste bland. Never again!
i guess it depends where your water comes from tho..
Load More Replies...I am actually surprised with how many people think majority of people use stove top kettles. Have they never heard of electric kettles? I don’t know anyone or seen anyone use a stove top kettle unless camping, everyone I know uses electric kettles which boils water super fast.
I have a stove top kettle and I love it, heats up my water super fast too.
Load More Replies...I do too. If i need really hot water, I put it in the microwave to heat it up because it can heat it to a temperature higher than what comes out of the faucet.
Load More Replies...This is probably in part due to the fact that American households only have 110volt outlets unlike the 200-240v a lot of other places. So their electric jugs are quite likely a lot slower.
I was just going to say that -- our 120V electric kettles top out out 1500 watts of power, so a 220V 3000W kettle heats water twice as fast. Plus many Americans just don't heat water for beverages all that often -- they use a dedicated coffee maker for coffee and that's the only hot beverage some people drink regularly.
Load More Replies...Seems to be a lot of kettle hate out there judging by the downvotes. Personally I prefer kettles because I drink a lot of tea.
i know some of you wont agree with this, but i really believe putting water in the microwave for a minute or two is way easier than boiling water in a kettle or in a pot. sorry if im wrong.
I don't see how it's easier than an electric kettle, which exists in the United States as well. To microwave water, you fill a container, put it into a cabinet, and press a button. To boil water with an electric kettle, you fill a container and press a button.
Load More Replies...I really want anyone to explain why heating water in the microwave is wrong. Seriously, you all have kittens when you see it, but what difference does it make how you heat your water for tea?
It's actually very scientific and all to do with how the water reacts with the tea leaves. Too hot or too cool makes a huge difference to the flavour. Water should be ideally around 93 to 97 degrees (teas vary of course) and by the time a kettle has boiled and you've gone to pick it up it is usually at the right temperature. I don't mind how people heat their water personally, but there are good reasons why microwaves don't do justice to tea.
Load More Replies...Yes. How else do you do it? I am not buying another appliance, especially one that is so much slower to occasionally heat up water.
Boiling water is a task that happens multiple times a day in the UK to make hot drinks, typically tea. So it makes much more sense to have an electric kettle.
Load More Replies...Depends on how it's being used. Pressed coffee should be brewed around 205F - a stove and a thermometer is easier for me. Pouring water from a kettle - much better for tea. But berating people ("Americans") for microwaving water period is just pretentious nonsense. It works, it's efficient, and it's called science.
Some folks do, but I stick to using a kettle. Microwaved water/beverages tastes weird.
I'm at a loss as to why someone would question something that is a personal preference. It's not wromg or stupid to use a microwave.
Why is this a bad thing? The BEST thing about it, is even if you forget it the water will not boil away which, if you do it on the stove, results in a ruined stove and a ruined pot. The microwave, instead, will just beep at you incessantly.
Since electric kettles have come out, stovetop kettles aren’t very common. I don’t think I have ever seen someone use a stovetop kettle except when camping.
Load More Replies...We used to ... until we got a water cooler with a cold and hot side
How else would you heat up water? I mean, you could use a tea kettle, but that would take much longer
Why not? It's fast and easy. Why dirty a pan to just heat up a cup of water for instant coffee?
Instead of using a pan you could use an actual electric kettle. It can hold up to 2Litres of water and boils in approx 2 minutes. We use the water for cooking pasta, cup of soup mixes, coffees, tea, 2 minute noodles, boiling potatoes instead of waiting for the saucepan of water to heat up etc.
Load More Replies...OMG heating up water in the microwave! I mean.. the thought! Using something created to heat liquids.. to heat liquids? CRAZY!!!!
Why not???! If you just need one cup it is faster than the stovetop, and roughly the same as an e kettle
Guilty, but personally I prefer to use friction to bring my water to a boil.
Americans, tend to drink coffee rather than tea. Coffee should be made with hot, but not boiling water, so a microwave will probably heat up a cup of water to the right temperature easier than a kettle. Tea needs boiling water, so a kettle works better. You should take care when microwaving water as it can cause it to be super heated, putting a spoon into super heated water may cause it to go boom!
Yes. So much faster and you don't need to take out a big pot. You can just put a mug or something smaller in the microwave.
Those electric tea kettles that heat water quickly in the UK never caught on in the US. Yes, poop it in microwave. Don't worry, it won't ruin the flavour of the water.
Guilty of heating up tea in the microwave when I make and forget about it and it gets cold - central Europe ;p
Funny story, my mother once let my brother and I put a hotdog into the microwave without poking holes into it first on the condition that we cleaned up the mess. It was so worth it to 14 year old me lol.
Done this too out of laziness. Also cooked ramen in a microwave and an electric kettle.
We use an electric kettle because using the stove creates too much heat in the house during the summer months. The electric kettle also works much faster.
yeah how else would you do it, besides the stove which takes a lot longer
An electric kettle, that is what everyone I know uses. The only time I ever see a stovetop kettle is when I go camping.
Load More Replies...I have a kettle, but it's fancy looking and it was kind of expensive. Most people don't have one. When I went to New Zealand nine years ago it was eye opening to see that every hotel, hostel, and host I stayed with seemed to have a cheap (but perfectly functional) kettle in their kitchen. They also seemed to use hot water more often than we do in the US. I was there in mid to late spring and more than one host offered me a hot water bottle to take to bed. I've never seen that here, but I also don't sleep in a lot of other people's homes here so maybe everyone here has one but never talks about it.
For the people using it to make tea, how long would it take to microwave enough water for a pot?
Depends on the wattage of the microwave, cup size/volume of water, how cool or warm the water is already (eg comes out the tap warmer in the summer or some people might have it in a filter jug in the fridge). Too many variables.
Load More Replies...Only when I want to make tea, which I'll later cool down with ice and keep in a huge pitcher in the fridge. And on the next day I mix it with lemonade
Yes and it drives me INSANE. I strictly use my kettle on stove. I teach my kids to as well. Learn some damn patience! (Not America's strong suit)
I don't, but I know people do. It's not the only way everyone heats up water though. Most people I know have a kettle for boiling water that they use mostly.
that is gross! But some here thinks it makes no difference.
Load More Replies...I don't evens the microwave anymore. I just run a cycle on my Keurig without a pod in it. Instant hot water. No waiting. (Of course the only time I usually need hot water is when I'm making tea or coffee, so it's just easier to put a coffee or tea pod in.
They sell electric kettles in walmart but most Americans don't know what they are.
Load More Replies...If someone handed me a cup of tea that had been microwaved, I'd 'accidentally' drop it. Disgusting habit.
And I suppose you buy free-range paint, and organic concrete too. It literally makes zero difference how the water came to be hot.
Load More Replies...American here. I no longer have a microwave. I remember years ago when using the microwave to heat water for a cup of tea, that the water would develop a film or foam on top after adding the tea bag. Thad never happened when boiling water.
That could have been calcium separating out and floating perhaps? My local water tends to do that foam/film because it contained a lot of it. Mostly harmless but kind of yuck. With kettles it tends to deposit on the heat plate while boiling I think.
Load More Replies...How else would you call them? Students wouldn't use the teachers first name.
Some schools are more strict than others and require them. My schools didn't require them. We just excused ourselves and went to the restroom when needed.
No. They don't - at least the schools that I went to and my nieces and nephews don't (they are ages 4 - 17). In the past, students were made to recite the "pledge of allegiance" each morning, but I think this is something that has fallen by the wayside.
Some schools don't allow it, but at the schools I went to we were allowed to. It was fun! You can put magnets, quotes, pictures of loved ones.
What's so unusual with this? I'm Austrian and my children's friends never used my first name.
I think children all over the world have to feel "slightly suicidal" to do this.
The term "20/20" and similar fractions (such as 20/40, 20/60, etc.) are visual acuity measurements. They also are called Snellen fractions, named after Herman Snellen, the Dutch ophthalmologist who developed this measurement system in 1862.
I went to school in other countries aswell and boy did I write lines in detention. This is definitely not just an American thing. Yes, I was an exemplary student.
The weird part is that someone would give a rat's a*s about Americans microwaving water or how they eat bacon. Apparently no one has the same questions about Russians, Chinese, or even Lithuanians. Give it a rest Panda.
I think it's becase more people around the globe see American movies or TV shows than they see movies made by Russians, Chinese, or Lithuanians.
Load More Replies...Do Americans actually have that violent bullying culture at schools, with football players and cheer leaders on the social top and geeks on the bottom? Or senior students bullying first-graders? Please, tell me it's all a movie thing!
It's not as openly expressed as in movies, but unfortunately yes. Bullying is a huge problem. Most schools "anti-bullying programs" are some posters and maybe a talk about how bullying is bad every month or so. I remember in seventh grade I was just the kid everyone hated for no reason. It got pretty bad and I was already dealing with some stuff that comes with growing up, but I know the bullying was a huge part of it. I know of lots of other kids who have had to deal with bullying too. It's really sad, but the whole social cliques and bullying thing is very real.
Load More Replies...I think some of these have to do with a word meaning different things in different countries. Jelly in Europe, for example, I'm pretty sure is what we in the US would call Jello (which is a brand name of gelatin that caught on as the general term for that item). So, yea, we don't eat peanut butter and gelatin. Our jelly is a spread closer to jam but made from fruit juice instead of the fruit.
My jam (I am American) is made with the fruit. Jelly is made without seeds. Gelatin is Jell-O, or an additive to fancy desserts... So I figure we should call it "Fruit Goop" as my sister did!
Load More Replies...Some people yeah but hopefully they just die off. Natural selection
Load More Replies...I couldn’t finish I think they chose the stupidest people they could find to ask questions about American culture. Some of these questions are flat out idiotic
Yup, we really do all of that stuff. At least some of us do all of that stuff. The mom shut up thing varies from person to person. I didn't do it but my son unfortunately did. Question: what's the problem?
They're not problems. It's just curiosity when in other places people do different things. Not worse or better, just different. Also it's interesting to learn that something you do in a way can be done diferent. For example, I also keep my medecins in the bathroom and never wondered why (Oh!). Wanting to know about another person or culture is wanting to love it. ;)
Load More Replies...I really don't get the endless fascination here with American behavior. You can play this both ways. Do Australians really call ketchup "tomato sauce?" Apparently so. Do Americans give a f**k? No. Aussies are cool and can call s**t whatever they want
I mean America deserves to be ridiculed ngl (for the record I am in fact an American)
Load More Replies...I really don't get most of these questions, they are just normal everyday things, not anything hard to imagine or out of the ordinary.
Maybe they're asked by people to whom these things are neither normal, everyday, or ordinary.
Load More Replies...My only question is why did American's vote for a bell end like Trump?
Because the other end of the bell was Hillary Clinton.
Load More Replies...I have one: do Americans really live in dilapidated or unfinished houses? In the movies or on TV you so often see them living in houses that either have the stud walls exposed, or, if they move into another house, the wallpaper will be peeling off the walls, and they just leave it like that through the entire movie or season.
As a foreign exchange student I was completely weirded out by how american high school movies were actually mostly accurate: students are openly ranked by "popularity", the sports coach doubling as history teacher, the cop car circleing the school, the hysteria around prom queen, teenagers going to jail or wearing electronic bracelets, the cafeteria seating by castes (jocks, nerds, mean girls... the lowest rung even ate on the floor, even though there were available seats 0o), sports and clubs being more important than actual classes, the motivational posters everywhere... everything was real. Only the crazy parties were not :-(
Oh I beg to differ! Lol! Not so much now but in the 90s..we rocked the house!
Load More Replies...Ok, 2 questions: 1. Is this going to be posted every week? and 2. Are any Americans answering these questions?
This is my first time seeing and yes, I am answering some
Load More Replies...One thing I've seen many non-Americans ask is if we really have 2-3 months of summer break. The answer is yes.
Well, the schoolchildren do, adults get maybe a week off.
Load More Replies...Canadian here. Most of these are true for us as well. Not all, but many.
Ok as an American: 1: Some of my friends have no-shoes houses, but generally people can wear shoes in the house. 2: Yeah some people eat peanut butter and jelly but it's not as common as it is in media (also it's not allowed in some schools because of nut allergy rules) 3: Yeah, mostly high schools and colleges but school mascots are common. 4: Yes. One time I accidentally put my retainer in the garbage disposal. 5: Yeah cereal is a good quick breakfast 6: Yep, not in all schools but it's very common 7: I don't think people do this but I'm not sure, my house has a tap that dispenses hot water so we don't need to 8: Not in my school (I go to a private school) but in lots of schools. 9: Again, not in my school but it's pretty common 10: Not at my school but yeah that happens, Girl Scouts also has the pledge of allegiance 11: Of course how else can I be ✨ fabulous ✨ 12: Yep, sometimes but not always. I'm running out of space so ill make a second comment
22: Some people dip the crust in ranch but I don't know anyone who puts ranch on pizza that would be disgusting 23: I don't think so, I sure don't but I'm not an adult yet so. 24: Only the rude ones. 25: Yes they're doctors that do doctor things with your eyes. Doctors for your eyes. Eye doctors. 26: Yes 27: A lot of American homes don't have fireplaces, and if they do, it's a fake gas one, so real fireplaces are kind of exciting. 28: Yeah some people do, it kind of sounds stupid 29: Most schools do that, I'm not sure why 30: Yes? what do you guys say?
Load More Replies...I think I’m just weird because I don’t do most of these things... or they’re just in movies- no idea mates.
Articles in the past, with the same topic, as stupid as they are, at least had interesting questions, but this is just c**p
Sorry I find most of these if not all really stupid. Yes we Americans do different things that other countries dont do, and its made to sound like what people do in England, China or any other country is not strange to us. Like eating something called spotted d**k, at least in America most of us know not to put a d**k with spots on it in our mouths. These are always just so rude
America doesn't have roll on deodorant. That spun me out when I visited...
Do american really have no pin codes or biometrics linked to their money. Like anyone can just take your card and go buy a house.
At least half of these are not even close to being typical American things, and that's my opinion as a non-American.
Well..as an american..they are all yes for the majority of us!😂
Load More Replies...Also, I know that American school year begins in mid August like the Northern European countries because of the climate and tο us in the early September
Ahhh good. Its been a few days since we made fun of Americans. I was starting to think the world started to care about other s**t. I'm so glad we have post #12,789,566 being snarky about us.
Do Americans really comment to answer year-old questions that are reposted from another website?
Truth Monster & Kat Hoth~ Thank you! Nice to see the Panda Spirit revitalized!
There are rude people everywhere -- it's not polite to talk with food in your mouth, of course, but some people do.
Load More Replies...The weird part is that someone would give a rat's a*s about Americans microwaving water or how they eat bacon. Apparently no one has the same questions about Russians, Chinese, or even Lithuanians. Give it a rest Panda.
I think it's becase more people around the globe see American movies or TV shows than they see movies made by Russians, Chinese, or Lithuanians.
Load More Replies...Do Americans actually have that violent bullying culture at schools, with football players and cheer leaders on the social top and geeks on the bottom? Or senior students bullying first-graders? Please, tell me it's all a movie thing!
It's not as openly expressed as in movies, but unfortunately yes. Bullying is a huge problem. Most schools "anti-bullying programs" are some posters and maybe a talk about how bullying is bad every month or so. I remember in seventh grade I was just the kid everyone hated for no reason. It got pretty bad and I was already dealing with some stuff that comes with growing up, but I know the bullying was a huge part of it. I know of lots of other kids who have had to deal with bullying too. It's really sad, but the whole social cliques and bullying thing is very real.
Load More Replies...I think some of these have to do with a word meaning different things in different countries. Jelly in Europe, for example, I'm pretty sure is what we in the US would call Jello (which is a brand name of gelatin that caught on as the general term for that item). So, yea, we don't eat peanut butter and gelatin. Our jelly is a spread closer to jam but made from fruit juice instead of the fruit.
My jam (I am American) is made with the fruit. Jelly is made without seeds. Gelatin is Jell-O, or an additive to fancy desserts... So I figure we should call it "Fruit Goop" as my sister did!
Load More Replies...Some people yeah but hopefully they just die off. Natural selection
Load More Replies...I couldn’t finish I think they chose the stupidest people they could find to ask questions about American culture. Some of these questions are flat out idiotic
Yup, we really do all of that stuff. At least some of us do all of that stuff. The mom shut up thing varies from person to person. I didn't do it but my son unfortunately did. Question: what's the problem?
They're not problems. It's just curiosity when in other places people do different things. Not worse or better, just different. Also it's interesting to learn that something you do in a way can be done diferent. For example, I also keep my medecins in the bathroom and never wondered why (Oh!). Wanting to know about another person or culture is wanting to love it. ;)
Load More Replies...I really don't get the endless fascination here with American behavior. You can play this both ways. Do Australians really call ketchup "tomato sauce?" Apparently so. Do Americans give a f**k? No. Aussies are cool and can call s**t whatever they want
I mean America deserves to be ridiculed ngl (for the record I am in fact an American)
Load More Replies...I really don't get most of these questions, they are just normal everyday things, not anything hard to imagine or out of the ordinary.
Maybe they're asked by people to whom these things are neither normal, everyday, or ordinary.
Load More Replies...My only question is why did American's vote for a bell end like Trump?
Because the other end of the bell was Hillary Clinton.
Load More Replies...I have one: do Americans really live in dilapidated or unfinished houses? In the movies or on TV you so often see them living in houses that either have the stud walls exposed, or, if they move into another house, the wallpaper will be peeling off the walls, and they just leave it like that through the entire movie or season.
As a foreign exchange student I was completely weirded out by how american high school movies were actually mostly accurate: students are openly ranked by "popularity", the sports coach doubling as history teacher, the cop car circleing the school, the hysteria around prom queen, teenagers going to jail or wearing electronic bracelets, the cafeteria seating by castes (jocks, nerds, mean girls... the lowest rung even ate on the floor, even though there were available seats 0o), sports and clubs being more important than actual classes, the motivational posters everywhere... everything was real. Only the crazy parties were not :-(
Oh I beg to differ! Lol! Not so much now but in the 90s..we rocked the house!
Load More Replies...Ok, 2 questions: 1. Is this going to be posted every week? and 2. Are any Americans answering these questions?
This is my first time seeing and yes, I am answering some
Load More Replies...One thing I've seen many non-Americans ask is if we really have 2-3 months of summer break. The answer is yes.
Well, the schoolchildren do, adults get maybe a week off.
Load More Replies...Canadian here. Most of these are true for us as well. Not all, but many.
Ok as an American: 1: Some of my friends have no-shoes houses, but generally people can wear shoes in the house. 2: Yeah some people eat peanut butter and jelly but it's not as common as it is in media (also it's not allowed in some schools because of nut allergy rules) 3: Yeah, mostly high schools and colleges but school mascots are common. 4: Yes. One time I accidentally put my retainer in the garbage disposal. 5: Yeah cereal is a good quick breakfast 6: Yep, not in all schools but it's very common 7: I don't think people do this but I'm not sure, my house has a tap that dispenses hot water so we don't need to 8: Not in my school (I go to a private school) but in lots of schools. 9: Again, not in my school but it's pretty common 10: Not at my school but yeah that happens, Girl Scouts also has the pledge of allegiance 11: Of course how else can I be ✨ fabulous ✨ 12: Yep, sometimes but not always. I'm running out of space so ill make a second comment
22: Some people dip the crust in ranch but I don't know anyone who puts ranch on pizza that would be disgusting 23: I don't think so, I sure don't but I'm not an adult yet so. 24: Only the rude ones. 25: Yes they're doctors that do doctor things with your eyes. Doctors for your eyes. Eye doctors. 26: Yes 27: A lot of American homes don't have fireplaces, and if they do, it's a fake gas one, so real fireplaces are kind of exciting. 28: Yeah some people do, it kind of sounds stupid 29: Most schools do that, I'm not sure why 30: Yes? what do you guys say?
Load More Replies...I think I’m just weird because I don’t do most of these things... or they’re just in movies- no idea mates.
Articles in the past, with the same topic, as stupid as they are, at least had interesting questions, but this is just c**p
Sorry I find most of these if not all really stupid. Yes we Americans do different things that other countries dont do, and its made to sound like what people do in England, China or any other country is not strange to us. Like eating something called spotted d**k, at least in America most of us know not to put a d**k with spots on it in our mouths. These are always just so rude
America doesn't have roll on deodorant. That spun me out when I visited...
Do american really have no pin codes or biometrics linked to their money. Like anyone can just take your card and go buy a house.
At least half of these are not even close to being typical American things, and that's my opinion as a non-American.
Well..as an american..they are all yes for the majority of us!😂
Load More Replies...Also, I know that American school year begins in mid August like the Northern European countries because of the climate and tο us in the early September
Ahhh good. Its been a few days since we made fun of Americans. I was starting to think the world started to care about other s**t. I'm so glad we have post #12,789,566 being snarky about us.
Do Americans really comment to answer year-old questions that are reposted from another website?
Truth Monster & Kat Hoth~ Thank you! Nice to see the Panda Spirit revitalized!
There are rude people everywhere -- it's not polite to talk with food in your mouth, of course, but some people do.
Load More Replies...