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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.

#1

Questions-For-Americans

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Ceredwyn Ealanta
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But taking off shoes and socks when you come in is nearly as good as taking off your bra.

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#3

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GirlFriday
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have them. They are usually part of the cheerleader squad or dance squad. It is a sports thing. We take sports very seriously.

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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.

#6

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Brendan
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An affective way to make the 'popular' kids feel even more popular.

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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.”

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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.

#8

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How else would you call them? Students wouldn't use the teachers first name.

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#9

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GirlFriday
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#10

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GirlFriday
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#11

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giraffescupcakesandlove
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#12

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Potter
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, and there are usually one or two questions where you have to read something and write a few pages for it.

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#13

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Kat Hoth
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, and sometimes mail does get stolen even though it's a federal offense.

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#14

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#18

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's so unusual with this? I'm Austrian and my children's friends never used my first name.

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#22

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#24

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think children all over the world have to feel "slightly suicidal" to do this.

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#25

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80 Van
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, we call eye doctors “Optometrists,” and we call Opticians “Opticians.”

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#29

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Bill
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

most countries do because it has been a part of military training for centuries. They want inshape youth for military service.

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Miss Cris
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know any country wich use it. It looks so dangerous. And also not all countries see physical education or gym as a war or soldiers training. In Europe for example school goals are the opposite.

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Jake B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this question! I always asked why? I mean why? I have no upper body strength.

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Better watch your language bud
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In one of the schools I went to in the UK we had an obstacle course with ropes and bars, and when the teachers took the course out for P.E we would all get so excited

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Sarah Stalder
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was just thinking about that. I usually quit barely up it. Didn't care. I'd rather be sitting down reading. Jogging-HATED it. They were so brutal back then.

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leah
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We didn't do the rope climb. Our PE teacher made us do the pegboard.

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ZenitaBonita
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved rope climbing! Am not sure if they still do it, but it was part of my gym class in the Netherlands in the early 2000's

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Jessica
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they either stopped doing that or it just didn't happen where I live

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Randomcthulu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you had tried this at my school it would've been an epic fail. I do remember this big peg board looking thing in junior high, you were supposed to "climb" it using a large peg in either hand, never saw anyone use it, I just remember the class asking our coach what it was for.

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Leslie Burleson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I doubt they do it anymore because of liability issues. But when I was little I'd climb to the school ceiling and ring that bell. You can do it at a lot of gyms now. My daughter's competitive cheer squad does it during conditioning

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Valerie G.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I graduated in 1969, back then you needed a PE credit, and climbing that damn rope was one of things you needed to be able to do, not only climb it but touch the ceiling.

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Lisa Holman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't remember this. It's probably true, and I probably failed once again in a gym class endeavor.

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Jesse
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a rope, but both ends were tied to the ceiling so nobody could weaponize it. We never used it because they took all the ladders out of the school too; for the same reason.

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Gipsy Kings fan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never had to do it in girls' P.E. (1960s - 70s). It's possible that the boys did it, but I don't think so, because I never saw a rope hanging anywhere in any of my schools. We did, however, have to walk on a balance beam, and do a dangerous Filipino dance involving two long thick bamboo poles held on each end by a girl. To music, we had to jump in and out of them while the girls on the end would pound them IN out out, IN out out. As far as I know, no one's ankles were ever smashed in the process.

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b l a n c
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

okay i have been wondering this forever because i've never seen it done anywhere else before, what's the point of it? why do they do it?

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Maurettis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not so weird, several schools abandoned this practice since PE is the most underrated subject

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Devon W
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah and the rope burns can be as brutal as the rest of the class

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Bridgette Helms
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They do and I always get so pissed when my kids come home with burns on their hands and legs. I don't know why they make them so painful things that hurt them.

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Shell O
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter does it in PE, she loves it. She is 8 and we are in England

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Kimberley Thomas
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank god my HS never did. I would have failed due to no upper arm strength

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Heather Pobicki
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never had to. Went to catholic school and was terrified to go to public high school thinking we would have to do this, thank god we didn't and the locker room wasn't what movies made it look like.

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Louise Stange-Wahl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was fun! Except when a classmate ended up getting concussion when the rope broke loose from the ceiling.

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lara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but not all of us can actually do it. I never could just like I always busted a blood vessel when I had to "serve" the ball in volleyball.

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Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a rope. I could never get up it. I don't have the upper body strength.

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Eric Mac Fadden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes we even had a ball. And almost there are no gymnasiums to do it, we have air open courts.

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Rabbit Carrot
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had to in our primary and secondary in the UK. Man pulling the equipment out from the side was the highlight of the week.

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Hiker Chick
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, in Minnesota in the 70's and 80's. Not sure if they still do the ropes.

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Xan A. Du
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, good times...Our (fat, btw) gym teacher would have the fittest person in the class climb to the top in near record-time and ring the bell. He'd then look to the bleachers for his first victim. He couldn't climb it himself, but he loved to shame everyone.

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Danieletc
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I did, maybe the kidz these days are using Minecraft ropes, IDK.

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#30

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