30 Non-Americans Who Tweeted Their Confusion About America
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.
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.
A lot of houses do not have fireplaces so they are special. Also wood is expensive so if you do have a fireplace you often save wood for special occasions.
Most modern homes do not come with a fireplace, so it's kind of cool when one does.
Here in Nevada we don’t need anymore heat but I do love fireplaces
Depends on the context. If away from home and they don't normally have access to a fireplace, some go wild for them.
Reminds me a program from Norwegian public tv channel which make your tv into a fireplace
They're just awesome. Who doesn't love snuggling up next to the fireplace
Depends where you live. In Texas where I live now.... it is not such a big deal because is hot most of the time. A winter snowy afternoon by the fireplace drinking apple cider watching movies was the best up North in Ohio.
It's nice to have in the winter. We don't have one, but I wish we did.
As a fellow Iowan, I am freezing cold 75% of the year and love a good fireplace to give me hyperthermia.
I don't know about fireplaces in the house, but firepits in back yards are a big thing where I live. And barbecues have a culture of their own, as well.
Yeah, not a problem for me and we have a huge fireplace that is kind of the centerpiece of the house. The insurance is more than reasonable and I live in EQ territory near a flood plane, so ...
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The weird part is that someone would give a rat's ass 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.
Rule the world. Good joke.
You'd think if someone watches a person heat their water in the microwave, they'd go, hey that looks easier than what I'm doing, and try it.
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yeah, americans basically rule the world. that's why everybody knows about everything happening in america first before most other things. america is just a big influencer country so we see more american things that anything else
American movies and TV shows are widely seen around the world, which is why they wonder if certain things they see are real or not.
That's because the ability to act in ridiculous ways can be found everywhere, but nobody outside of the states see it as something to be proud of
BP is obsessed with America, Instagram vs real life, and Disney princesses.
And cats, but nobody get tired of those and for good reason.
And also with illustrations about modern society problems.
We have had most of these questions before as well. I know we might not see as much of other countries different cultures but all the more reason to share about questions and answers about them. Please Bored Panda do a different country to the US!
Lucas Good response!
U mad? Boiling water for tea in the microwave is fucking weird
Frankenfrog haha
The price of being famous. Or infamous.
I think Bored Panda is pretty western culture centric, nothing wrong with that, it's just the states is perhaps the biggest influence on western culture.
sorlag110 haha
Because the whole world sees Americans microwaving water on TV and in movies. If my culture aimed to entertain the whole world, I would at least make sure that the characters in my movies don't do absolutely ridiculous and unhealthy things like, for example, microwaving water. It serves no point whatsoever in the movie plot and looks silly.
Excuse me, what is unhealthy about microwaving water? It's heated. And setting a kettle to boil never does much for any plot I ever saw. I happen to have a kettle ready to put on the boil at any given moment, but there are many who heat water in the microwave for a quick cuppa.
I would venture to say not very many homes have a kettle to boil water unless they are tea drinkers. We are a coffee culture for the most part. I microwaved waved water yesterday for a rare cup of tea.
Deborah Chapman love
half of those things are also done in europe and south america.....
i thought so too, it's not just americans. it happens most places. like the pb & j, and prom
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.
If you believe t.v. English boarding schools are even worse and it's taken for granted.
Never mind movies, there's enough in the news about that. But boarding schools everywhere tend to have the same problems.
It used to be that way, but luckily nowadays our social tiers are topped SJWs and LGBTQIA activists. Strangely enough, the switch from physical bullying to psychological bullying has not really reduced the number of suicides or school shootings. That said, when I was a youth long ago, bullies of all types were soon ganged up on by people who refused to take the abuse anymore, and quite often by brave individuals who stood up for themselves.
Jim Ellington good
It's a movie thing. Bullying exists somewhat but most groups leave each other alone. My kids just finished high school, and similar to when I was in school, you didn't really interact with popular kids unless you were in their group, and they didn't pay attention to non popular kids.
Are you implying that this is just an American thing? That's just nonsense, humans are the same everywhere and bullying is universal.
Tv is not reality
No, it's for real. Not in every school, of course, but it does happen.
Michael Capriola Jr. good
A senior bullying a first grader would be ridiculous. An 18-year old vs a 7-year old? No.
Movies exaggerate it quite a bit.
its not sorry to say
It's not!
Yes. It's common in all cultures. There will be cliques. THere will be Alphas. There will be victims. Is it as "bad" as the movies? Probably not *everywhere*, all the time, but... Yeah. It's real.
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!
Wait.... do Americans really think Covid19 is not real?
only in Florida
Republicans, yes. And texas...
Look who we elected for president. Sadly, we Americans love a good bully.
J JAM -
Im not American but I find this post so rude and idiotic.
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
CatWoman312 yes
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. ;)
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 fuck? No. Aussies are cool and can call shit whatever they want
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.
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.
This is a good question. It mostly has to do with how Obama was as a president. We tend to swing from liberal to conservative and back again in election years.
No. Our electoral college did..a whole other bunch of b.s..
Matthew Smith love
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.
No. If someone were to do that, it would be odd.
Not at all! I'm american. I live in maine. It's common to see folk living in half fallen houses..stud walls..we have to heat our places and it's very expensive. This dude was born with privilege. I wasn't..not were most everyone I knew...
Some poor have to. Americans are either wealthy or very poor.
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!
All normal things!
I really expected some top notch questions on this thread. Most of these are just a dig for Americans. And a lot of them happen all over the world.
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
Second here...
Marilyn Bojanowski haha
I tried, but a lot of mine were deleted. APparently, telling what Americans do is only allowed if BP agrees it's what Americans do? Ironic that I grew up just as much in another culture, and another country. *sigh*
That is... concerning.
Jessica A what
Very Interesting! Thanks for the replies All!
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.
I feel very qualified to answer these questions, because I lived in the USA for over 20 years, but I have also lived on several other continents, and I am well versed in the strange way of Americans! :o)
All yes
I think I’m just weird because I don’t do most of these things... or they’re just in movies- no idea mates.
Most of these questions were pretty stupid
Articles in the past, with the same topic, as stupid as they are, at least had interesting questions, but this is just crap
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 dick, at least in America most of us know not to put a dick 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...
Yeah we do!🤣 It's just not as common as stick.
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.
No. We do
No. There's a considerable amount of security in using a card. We use pin codes and biometrics when visiting a bank.
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!😂
This must be the 20th version of the same post. Enough already.
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 shit. I'm so glad we have post #12,789,566 being snarky about us.
Rebecca Page -
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!
most of them asking these questions are dum b americ unts only
I Just read it on BuzzFeed
This is just stupid.
Andy Pants lol
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Do Americans ever finish a mouth full of food before speaking? Doesn't seem to happen on TV or movies.
There are rude people everywhere -- it's not polite to talk with food in your mouth, of course, but some people do.
Half n half. Lol
The weird part is that someone would give a rat's ass 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.
Rule the world. Good joke.
You'd think if someone watches a person heat their water in the microwave, they'd go, hey that looks easier than what I'm doing, and try it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
yeah, americans basically rule the world. that's why everybody knows about everything happening in america first before most other things. america is just a big influencer country so we see more american things that anything else
American movies and TV shows are widely seen around the world, which is why they wonder if certain things they see are real or not.
That's because the ability to act in ridiculous ways can be found everywhere, but nobody outside of the states see it as something to be proud of
BP is obsessed with America, Instagram vs real life, and Disney princesses.
And cats, but nobody get tired of those and for good reason.
And also with illustrations about modern society problems.
We have had most of these questions before as well. I know we might not see as much of other countries different cultures but all the more reason to share about questions and answers about them. Please Bored Panda do a different country to the US!
Lucas Good response!
U mad? Boiling water for tea in the microwave is fucking weird
Frankenfrog haha
The price of being famous. Or infamous.
I think Bored Panda is pretty western culture centric, nothing wrong with that, it's just the states is perhaps the biggest influence on western culture.
sorlag110 haha
Because the whole world sees Americans microwaving water on TV and in movies. If my culture aimed to entertain the whole world, I would at least make sure that the characters in my movies don't do absolutely ridiculous and unhealthy things like, for example, microwaving water. It serves no point whatsoever in the movie plot and looks silly.
Excuse me, what is unhealthy about microwaving water? It's heated. And setting a kettle to boil never does much for any plot I ever saw. I happen to have a kettle ready to put on the boil at any given moment, but there are many who heat water in the microwave for a quick cuppa.
I would venture to say not very many homes have a kettle to boil water unless they are tea drinkers. We are a coffee culture for the most part. I microwaved waved water yesterday for a rare cup of tea.
Deborah Chapman love
half of those things are also done in europe and south america.....
i thought so too, it's not just americans. it happens most places. like the pb & j, and prom
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.
If you believe t.v. English boarding schools are even worse and it's taken for granted.
Never mind movies, there's enough in the news about that. But boarding schools everywhere tend to have the same problems.
It used to be that way, but luckily nowadays our social tiers are topped SJWs and LGBTQIA activists. Strangely enough, the switch from physical bullying to psychological bullying has not really reduced the number of suicides or school shootings. That said, when I was a youth long ago, bullies of all types were soon ganged up on by people who refused to take the abuse anymore, and quite often by brave individuals who stood up for themselves.
Jim Ellington good
It's a movie thing. Bullying exists somewhat but most groups leave each other alone. My kids just finished high school, and similar to when I was in school, you didn't really interact with popular kids unless you were in their group, and they didn't pay attention to non popular kids.