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Americans have long been exporting their pop culture to the world. With TV shows and movies being among the most consumed global American exports, it's no surprise that US actors and directors are recognized all around the globe. However, for all of us non-Americans out there, sometimes the silver screens get us all dazed and confused. Do American people really drink from those red plastic cups at parties? Do they really wear shoes inside their houses? Is homecoming really such a big thing as movies make it out to be?

But we're gonna need a true expert's opinion on the matter—our Bored Panda readers living in the US! So scroll down below to read all the questions that people had about the things they saw on TV and feel free to share your answers!

#1

221Lauren Report

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

Living in a college town I can attest that yes they do. It's all anyone talks about, and the traffic jams are awful. High school football here is just as bad.

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#2

euricawithhope Report

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

Its the easiest reference for us and a football field is 100yards or 300 feet or 91.44 meters.

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#3

PaigeImogenxx Report

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

We say goodbye, or something like it. It's an idiosyncrasy of script writing, not Americans.

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#6

kaya_lorne Report

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

When my relatives from Ireland come to visit, they love to play with the garbage disposal. Even the people in their 60's think it is hilarious. They refer to it as "the murder sink".

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#7

XXXX_G0LD Report

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#9

disposablefilms Report

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

When I was in school, it was hard boiled eggs. Now they have high-tech baby dolls called Baby Think About it. It is a Life Skills class that teaches you how to be an adult.

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#12

benallenwf Report

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

The "funeral" is usually in a church and then a burial service graveside.

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#14

RiverrunStately Report

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is especially true in small towns. The largest parking lot in town is the local teen hangout

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#15

sam_pIant Report

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

Yes, Homecoming is really big here in the US. Celebrating at high school and university.

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#18

KatieBelsey Report

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

Because Americans have been sold the lie (mostly by Nestle, thank you!) that bottled water is better than tap water in some way. In truth most of the bottled water IS tap water.

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#22

todorokidokie Report

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

We do call them Kleenex all the time probably because that brand is what we used.

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#24

ThandekaMsane Report

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

I think that is to avoid accidental advertising? I'd think that in most (industrialized) countries, the typical bags offered by stores have the store logo all over them...

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#25

tobesostyles Report

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

I guess it depends. My family and friends only do photoshoots for weddings, 18th birthdays (girls), 21st birthdays (boys), or someone's first birthday.

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#26

danaokeke Report

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

Chicken and waffles is a religious experience. I live in the Midwest and some of the best chicken and waffles in the world is right here in Indianapolis at Maxine's Chicken and Waffles. Another awesome place is in Harlem (where chicken and waffles was invented).

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#27

foreverqal Report

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

The US has many cultures within a culture. People in different parts of the country call the same things by different names, so it may depend on where in the US you are.

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

In my country, hot cocoa is an instant drink, like SwissMiss, made for camping, skiing or such, but hot chocolate is made from scratch, from milk and dark chocolate, usually made for Christmas.

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

Interesting - other way around in mine. Cocoa is made with hot milk and hot chocolate is the instant stuff with water.

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

Yes, it’s called hot cocoa all the time. It’s written on the box too.

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

I think that depends on where you live. Like a colloquial name. Like in some parts of the US say soda, while others say pop. I always grew up saying hot chocolate btw

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

Most confusing thing to me when I was in the States (Louisianna) and someone would ask if I want Cola or Coke. That was the go to word for any kind of soda. It was so confusing. Also, the actual Coca Cola tastes different than it does in SA

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

Maybe regional? Cause down here it's hot chocolate, but my sister-in-law says cocoa, and she's from New England.

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

Why define cocoa as 'hot' is my question. If you're having cocoa (as opposed to hot chocolate which isn't pure cocoa) then it's always hot.

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

Hot chocolate is made with melted chocolate and milk, and hot cocoa is cocoa powder, milk, and sugar.

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

i'm 60, and i still dont know the difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa.

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

I call it hot chocolate, not hot cocoa but sometimes if I feel like being fancy I will call it hot cocoa

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

I it's made with cocoa, then it's hot cocoa - if it's made with chocolate powder, or the chocolate syrup - it's hot chocolate.

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

Yes, it's a cheesy christmas movie type. It appears instantly and is only sipped, never really drunk.

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

cocoa. It's cocoa. I have never said hot chocolate what even. It's hot cocoa

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

Its all where you are from. Some say cocoa some say chocolate. Some say pop others call it soda and others are stupid that call everything coke.

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

I have always called it hot chocolate because we make it with melted chocolate bars and milk. Cocoa is a powder and tastes terrible.

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

Depends on where you live in the country. Is it Soda? Or Pop? Or Soda Pop? Or, if in Texas is everything "Coke"?

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

"Hot cocoa" is weird. It's only said on ads for hot chocolate.

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

well, both terms are used interchangeably (and incorrectly) in the u.s...both terms are used to indicate a beverage that is prepared by mixing (or using a mix of) cocoa powder, sugar, and powdered milk with hot water or hot milk...my understanding that hot chocolate in europe is prepared by melting chocolate shavings in hot milk...that is not what american moms are serving to cold kids during winter...and, you forgot the best part...the marshmallows on top

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

It goes by both. My wife's first language is not English, so we say hot chocolate for clarity

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

Hallmark makes money for every time they say cocoa so it's just in the movies. We call it warm chocolate milk.

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

Hot cocoa is better than hot chocolate. It’s like good Arabica coffee vs cheap Robusta.

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DKS 001
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as an american: "hot chocolate" ... it is what it is and it is delish

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

Well first off there is no chocolate in the drink..its coco powder

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Zoe
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

No it's a real thing. Cuz what do you do when you have a really hot piece of chocolate, ya know? Potato, potato, tomato, tomato. I think that Americans can call it whatever they please.

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

Because we don't use actual chocolate, we use the fake stuff called cocoa

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

it's regional...coastal US calls it cocoa, in the Midwest & South, it's chocolate

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

I have never in my life called hot chocolate "hot cocoa" but now I feel I must. Quest time!

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

Yeah, hot cocoa. That's even what it say on the label of some brands, e.g. Hershey's.

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hot cocoa and hot chocolate are very different where I live. Cocoa is extremely bitter and is mainly used in cooking whilst hot chocolate is sweetened and often has milk powder added too.

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

I've heard it both ways. It's usually made with cocoa powder, so I suppose hot, milky cocoa would be more accurate, but pretty silly. Why is hot chocolate a better description?

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

Different products. Cocoa powder is bitter and doesn't have other ingredients. You make it with hot milk and add sugar or sweeteners unless you like the bitter taste. Hot chocolate is usually a prepared mix that you just add boiling water to as it has milk powder and sweeteners included. That's how I'm used to it anyway!

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

I think this might be a regional thing. I grew up in the PNW and we called it "hot chocolate".

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

For myself, if someone offers cocoa I assume it is a hot drink. But generally I think it's just hot chocolate.

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

They're two different things, though people (incorrectly) refer to them interchangeably. Hot cocoa is made from hot water and cocoa powder. Hot chocolate is made from melted chocolate and hot milk (or chocolate syrup, or straight up chocolate milk).

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

We do call it hot cocoa, because we make it with cocoa powder. https://www.amazon.com/HERSHEYS-Hersheys-Natural-Unsweetened-Cocoa/dp/B00FNH6QCQ/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=cocoa+powder&qid=1586899179&sr=8-14

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#28

Fkatiee Report

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April Simnel
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's ground meat with binders like egg and breadcrumbs, and can also have minced onions and peppers (capsicum), and seasonings that's all mixed together and baked in a loaf pan in the oven. Most people make it with just ground beef, but when I was little in the 70s, in our home it was made with ground beef, pork, and veal, and we had it maybe once a month with homemade mashed potatoes and brown gravy, and a green vegetable. I don't eat meatloaf now. It's not horrible, it's just not my first choice for comfort food.

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#30

aIIexx_ Report

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

In the big cities, all you need to do is raise your arm on a busy street. I've lived in NYC almost 30 years now, and no one yells "TAXI!" here. I grew up in a smaller town, though, and in the smaller places, you pretty much have to call a taxi in advance. I never flagged a cab until I moved to NYC.

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Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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