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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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Ceredwyn Ealanta 5 years ago
But taking off shoes and socks when you come in is nearly as good as taking off your bra.
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#3
GirlFriday 5 years ago
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.
#5
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.
#7
#8
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
How else would you call them? Students wouldn't use the teachers first name.
#9
GirlFriday 5 years ago
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.
#10
GirlFriday 5 years ago
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.
#11
giraffescupcakesandlove 5 years ago
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.
#12
Potter 5 years ago
Yes, and there are usually one or two questions where you have to read something and write a few pages for it.
Big Blue Cat 5 years ago
I literally can't remember having even one multiple choice questions during my school years. But I'm from North Europe and we needed to know the answer.
My O My 5 years ago
We always had to answer in complete sentences - with some teachers even in math
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Jo Choto 5 years ago
There are tests called SATs. These are the tests that determine whether somebody will get into university or not. The vast majority of those SAT tests are in multiple choice format. From the American perspective this serves two purposes. 1/ The tests can be graded by a machine, not a person, saving a lot of time and money. 2/ The results are very standardized. If the answer is either right or wrong, there is no possibility of favoritism or bias in the marking.
AndyR 5 years ago
But presumably don't test sustained writing/analysis skills?
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ClaireM 5 years ago
Oh my gosh yes, I studied in the US when I was younger at a state university (I'm British) I was so confused when we had our first test and the professor asked if everyone had a pencil. I was an adult, I brought pens, I hadn't used a pencil since I was a kid. I had to borrow one. I was then even more shocked that it was to fill in a multiple choice grid!
lara 5 years ago
When I was teaching I NEVER gave out multiple choice, fill in the blank or "matching." You did ID's [who or what and why it was important] and two essays. It was impossible, back then, to cheat on my tests. They tried, but they couldn't because I never gave out the same test, ever. Used once, thrown away.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
In my experience? No. There are many sections on most tests. True-False. Multiple choice. Essay. Etc.
Tired-Panda 5 years ago
We had multiple choice tests in England, especially verbal, and non-verbal reasoning for your 11+. I don't think we had multiple choice for our SATs though.
Susan Reid Smith 5 years ago
Multiple Choice tests filled out with a certain type of pencil on a certain form can be sent through a machine to be read and marked.
Vladimíra Matejová 4 years ago
what i was wondering about these multiple choice tests... do you really write them in pencil as in the movies? dont you use pen?
Petra Schaap 5 years ago
I had a lot of them in Highschool in Holland. Easy so when you didnt learn at least you didnt have to make up answers.
Maria Hermida 5 years ago
Do you think America is the centre of the f*****g Universe?
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Scott Johnson 5 years ago
It's been a while but when I took the SAT (college entrance exam) it was entirely multiple choice and filled in on a scantron card (pencil bubbles).
jknbt jknbt 5 years ago
easier to grade... they never give teachers enough office hours to grade fat essay tests
#18
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
What's so unusual with this? I'm Austrian and my children's friends never used my first name.
#24
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
I think children all over the world have to feel "slightly suicidal" to do this.
#27
#31
GirlFriday 5 years ago
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.
#32
#34
spirit wolf 5 years ago
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.
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What do you think ?
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
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.
Lynda Momalo 5 years ago
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.
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Daria Z 5 years ago
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!
Luna Lovegood 5 years ago
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.
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Cassie 5 years ago
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.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
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!
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CWF 4 years ago
Some people yeah but hopefully they just die off. Natural selection
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CatWoman312 5 years ago
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
Deborah Chapman 5 years ago
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?
Miss Cris 5 years ago (edited)
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... Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
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
CWF 4 years ago
I mean America deserves to be ridiculed ngl (for the record I am in fact an American)
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Drive Bee 5 years ago
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.
Peko 5 years ago
Maybe they're asked by people to whom these things are neither normal, everyday, or ordinary.
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Matthew Smith 5 years ago
My only question is why did American's vote for a bell end like Trump?
Jim Ellington 5 years ago
Because the other end of the bell was Hillary Clinton.
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Beeps 5 years ago
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.
Jessica A 5 years ago
Ok, 2 questions: 1. Is this going to be posted every week? and 2. Are any Americans answering these questions?
Marilyn Bojanowski 5 years ago
This is my first time seeing and yes, I am answering some
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giraffescupcakesandlove 5 years ago
One thing I've seen many non-Americans ask is if we really have 2-3 months of summer break. The answer is yes.
K.Kobayashi 5 years ago
Well, the schoolchildren do, adults get maybe a week off.
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Shelley McKinney 4 years ago
Canadian here. Most of these are true for us as well. Not all, but many.
CWF 4 years ago
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
CWF 4 years ago
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?
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Kaya Morris 5 years ago
I think I’m just weird because I don’t do most of these things... or they’re just in movies- no idea mates.
Jason Doakes 5 years ago
Articles in the past, with the same topic, as stupid as they are, at least had interesting questions, but this is just c**p
FABULOUS1 5 years ago
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
Rainclouds Radio 5 years ago
America doesn't have roll on deodorant. That spun me out when I visited...
guy greej 5 years ago
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.
Noez 🇸🇪 5 years ago
At least half of these are not even close to being typical American things, and that's my opinion as a non-American.
SaraFromHell 5 years ago
Well..as an american..they are all yes for the majority of us!😂
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elia 84631 5 years ago
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
Rebecca Page 5 years ago
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.
Jack Nimble 5 years ago
Do Americans really comment to answer year-old questions that are reposted from another website?
Eagle Girl 5 years ago
Truth Monster & Kat Hoth~ Thank you! Nice to see the Panda Spirit revitalized!
Lynda Momalo 5 years ago
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... Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
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.
Lynda Momalo 5 years ago
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... Daria Z 5 years ago
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!
Luna Lovegood 5 years ago
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... Cassie 5 years ago
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.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
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... CWF 4 years ago
Some people yeah but hopefully they just die off. Natural selection
Load More Replies... CatWoman312 5 years ago
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
Deborah Chapman 5 years ago
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?
Miss Cris 5 years ago (edited)
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... Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
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
CWF 4 years ago
I mean America deserves to be ridiculed ngl (for the record I am in fact an American)
Load More Replies... Drive Bee 5 years ago
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.
Peko 5 years ago
Maybe they're asked by people to whom these things are neither normal, everyday, or ordinary.
Load More Replies... Matthew Smith 5 years ago
My only question is why did American's vote for a bell end like Trump?
Jim Ellington 5 years ago
Because the other end of the bell was Hillary Clinton.
Load More Replies... Beeps 5 years ago
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.
Jessica A 5 years ago
Ok, 2 questions: 1. Is this going to be posted every week? and 2. Are any Americans answering these questions?
Marilyn Bojanowski 5 years ago
This is my first time seeing and yes, I am answering some
Load More Replies... giraffescupcakesandlove 5 years ago
One thing I've seen many non-Americans ask is if we really have 2-3 months of summer break. The answer is yes.
K.Kobayashi 5 years ago
Well, the schoolchildren do, adults get maybe a week off.
Load More Replies... Shelley McKinney 4 years ago
Canadian here. Most of these are true for us as well. Not all, but many.
CWF 4 years ago
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
CWF 4 years ago
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... Kaya Morris 5 years ago
I think I’m just weird because I don’t do most of these things... or they’re just in movies- no idea mates.
Jason Doakes 5 years ago
Articles in the past, with the same topic, as stupid as they are, at least had interesting questions, but this is just c**p
FABULOUS1 5 years ago
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
Rainclouds Radio 5 years ago
America doesn't have roll on deodorant. That spun me out when I visited...
guy greej 5 years ago
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.
Noez 🇸🇪 5 years ago
At least half of these are not even close to being typical American things, and that's my opinion as a non-American.
SaraFromHell 5 years ago
Well..as an american..they are all yes for the majority of us!😂
Load More Replies... elia 84631 5 years ago
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
Rebecca Page 5 years ago
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.
Jack Nimble 5 years ago
Do Americans really comment to answer year-old questions that are reposted from another website?
Eagle Girl 5 years ago
Truth Monster & Kat Hoth~ Thank you! Nice to see the Panda Spirit revitalized!
Lynda Momalo 5 years ago
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...
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