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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

Questions-For-Americans

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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

Questions-For-Americans

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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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#15

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Les🐝an
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My lab partner lit the science classroom on fire. I love chemistry

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ebony1k124 touch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mine burnt my hand with the end of a hot test tube. I still have the round scar 28 years later.

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

My physics lab partner died two months before graduation due to some kind of genetic blood disorder. He could explain things in a way that made them easier to understand, something the teacher couldn't do. I was lost without him and at the worst possible time when we were heading into finals.

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

Dogs ARE a man's best friend. I never go anywhere without my Lab partner.

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

You have two people running an experiment together. You study the topic, design the experiment, run the experiment, record the data, analyze the data, and reach conclusions about the data. You then (hopefully both!) write up the whole thing. So, y'know... You do science with them.

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

It's the permanent nature of it that surprise us. We'd do the same things but with whomever we happened to sit next to that day.

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

My lab partner almost caused me to pass out. We were dissecting a frog. She poked an internal organ w/ her scalpel & it burst. I felt it hit me in the face. She yelled, "Ewww, that got in my mouth!". Suddenly, I was in a black tunnel, swaying back and forth. I snapped back before falling over, though.

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

I get grey fizzy vision before I pass out... A friend of mine insisted everything went yellow. I know that's not the main point but I find the differences interesting.

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

Yes. It's the teacher's way of forcing us introverts into socializing. Work together and you must communicate or you may blow each other up.

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

my lab partner threw vitreous humor at me when we were dissecting a cow eye. she is now one of my closest friends.

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

"What do they do with them" lol. I'm not American but in my school we had partners for practical stuff in science or biology class because there would never be enough equipment for every student to work alone.

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

You work as a team. This is probably because of not having enough equipment to go around.

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

My lab partner let me do most of the dissecting in my anatomy class. I was very okay with this. I'm a total nerd when it comes to anatomy. I find the entire subject to be extremely fascinating. I sorta wrecked the curve in my college anatomy class and my classmates were super annoyed with me. I tried to make it up by forcing my introverted butt to go to their study group. That's where I learned I kind of enjoy teaching.

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

Mine lit my hair on fire. I stabbed him with a pencil.

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

In some places. It has its roots in limited supplies and limited budgets but the practice persists.

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

As I recall, we needed lab partners in Biology (1970s) because the school couldn't afford an embalmed frog (to dissect) for every person in the class. 🤢 🤮

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

Sure do! And if you're lucky, you'll get one that's actually a 100 year old sparkly vampire who can actually act when given material that isn't pure sh#t.

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

my lab partner sat in class EATING her chapstick and then throwing it up in the lab sink O.o Im in Canada

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

In chemistry (Scotland) we had lab groups of two or three. I was up the front with another lad because nobody else would work with us - too dangerous. We both frequently set our hair on fire and once we accidentally made so much nylon the school had to phone the council to get it disposed of.

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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

i've always been weirded out by this too! i've never been in a school where we had a 'lab'. just the science class room, and we often use the art room for biology when we're using microscopes, but we just go in groups cause there's not enough microscopes for everybody

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

It happens during school, especially the ones with labs...

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

Lab partners are a real thing and they are the people that you have to work with and they always like to mess stuff up

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

My "lab partner" told me that they only way she passed biology was nicking my answers. When I was bumped up to an honors class, she failed...just too nice I am.

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

Yes. You work on group projects together. It teaches team work and collaboration.

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

Yes, and in my case, hoped to make out with her.

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#18

Questions-For-Americans

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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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#30

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Note: this post originally had 34 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.