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33 Folks Reveal The Things That Happen In Their Country That Would Give Outsiders A Cultural Shock
Our world is very diverse, which makes it an extremely interesting place. Everywhere, people have different beliefs, customs, lifestyles and all the other things. Yet, despite diversity being a reason behind our interestingness, it can cause some misunderstandings too.
For instance, you might do certain things that seem completely normal to you, but someone, let's say, from abroad, might see them as something that is not common. So, today, let's take a look at specific examples of such things happening, as shared by various people online. Let's dive in, shall we?
More info: Reddit
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#1
Germany:
Sundays are for silence. No mowing lawns, no working outside, no loud parties, no annoying anoyne with your choices.
Sundays. Are. For. Silence.
And it's the best thing ever.
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#2
Leaving your car unlocked so people can escape polar bears.
Karl der Große 7 months ago
This is fine indeed, until those clever bears figure out how to open your car door.
#3
Quiet talking. Especially people from America (north and south) told me this.
Here in Switzerland, it is considered rude to disturb others, so you'll talk in a volume that does not bother others. Especially in public transport. And don't you _dare_ to talk in a cinema.
If you’re an avid traveler, it’s likely that at least once in your life you’ve experienced a culture shock. It’s an experience a person feels when they come to a place that is different from their own, where they witness a deviation from what they consider “normal.” Technically, culture shocks are more common with people who stay in a country for a longer period, but they can happen to short-term visitors as well.
In today’s list, you’ll find quite a few examples of things that people usually view as normal, but they realize that for a person from somewhere else with different customs, they might be rather weird.
#4
Dad's taking care of their kids.
Heard of foreigners asking, "What's the deal with all the gay nannies?"
Apparently, it's easier to assume that men taking care of kids have to be paid for it and gay than to assume that dads are actually parenting.
Edit to add country: Sweden, and to specify dads taking care of their own babies. It is very common for dads to take parental leave.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
I can't fcking believe, that are so arrogant arseholes asking that question.
#5
Idk about the rest of the world, but I think americans will get shocked that in Brasil not only the vote is mandatory, but you need to prove your identity with an official ID and your digital fingerprints before you do it. We vote through a machine and it only works after it validates your digital.
Luke Branwen 7 months ago
I think voting, at least in major elections, should be mandatory everywhere. Fash sympathizers are never the majority, just the most eager to vote. This would solve it.
#6
Finland: naked in the sauna. But what if it's in a public pool? Naked. Changing cubicle? Nope, communal space and communal showers. Naked. There are even signs next to the public sauna doors with [a picture of a swimming costume and an X over the top]
In fact, if you go to the Yrjönkatu public pool in Helsinki, you can be naked *in the swimming pool* during dedicated times. Certainly, at most private homes or cottages, you'll be naked in the sauna possibly in mixed gender company, and naked into the frozen lake to swim too.
It's just human bodies. We all have them.
For instance, in Germany, Sundays are for silence, where it’s frowned upon to do anything that causes too much sound. It includes any noisy housework, like vacuuming or lawn mowing. And it’s not just a simple understanding – if your neighbors deem you too loud, you can even get fined for it.
While viewing Sunday as the so-called “rest day” isn’t so uncommon in Christianity-focused countries, not all of them take this as seriously as Germany. So, for a newcomer in this country, it might cause a little cultural shock.
#8
Specific to my state, but iguanas falling from trees in the winter.
MotherofGuineaPigs 7 months ago
My dad called them Mexican squirrels (he vacationed in Mexico afe times)
#9
I’m from Appalachia and something that always makes outsiders curious is the way we wave to people on the road, even if we don’t know them. It’s just a short acknowledgement, a light lifting of the fingers from the steering wheel. It’s literally just a sign of respect to your neighbors on the road.
Interestingly, these shocks usually have 4 stages. The first one is dubbed “the honeymoon stage.” That’s when a person is thrilled to be in a new place and sees it as an adventure. That’s usually what short-term tourists only experience. But for some of them, or for those who stay a little longer, a second stage awaits.
This one is called “the frustration stage.” It’s when a person starts becoming irritated and disoriented as the initial glee wears off. This can bring fatigue, homesickness, and even depression due to misunderstanding people’s actions, language, customs, and other things. This is the most prevalent when there’s a language barrier involved.
#10
Putting babies alone outside in their strollers under the winter so they can nap.
#11
A woman can breastfeed anywhere and anytime. No worries about covering up. Be it public transport, a restaurant, wherever. Baby can even take a rest and the n****e hangs out.
We just don't consider feeding your baby as sexual. I know it's shocking to people from the western world but it's equally shocking to us that some people, somewhere consider something as basic as feeding babies, sexual and will refuse a baby's basic needs in public because of this.
Insignificant loser 7 months ago (edited)
When I was at an artist market in Atlanta, a woman was breastfeeding her baby, and one of my friends saw it and started to s*******e it, and I got SO MAD. On the bright side, some of my other friends shut her down about it real quick, so it didn't really escalate. I just wish people wouldn't s*******e normal bodily functions :(
#12
Only in America do we treat healthcare like ordering from a mystery menu. You get the treatment first and find out the price never. Hope you enjoyed that $7,000 band-aid 😭.
MotherofGuineaPigs 7 months ago
I challenged a hospitals ER charges. I sat in the regular chair, used nothing in the room. They took it all off except for the x-ray and toe splint.
Luckily, after these bad days, the sun usually rises and “the adaptation stage” comes. As the name suggests, it’s when a person starts feeling more at home with their new surroundings. While they might not be able to wrap their head around every single cultural cue, they’re starting to become more familiar with an increasing number of them, which helps the adaptation.
#13
In Spain I would say that one of the things is the dinner/lunch times. For many people it is too late.
Brian Droste 7 months ago
I wouldn't be able to eat a big meal or even a normal meal later in the evening. I would be to full to able to sleep.
#14
Women can’t legally take the surname of their husband when they get married. There birth surname needs to be used for everything « legal ».
#15
Amount of well cared for stray cats and dogs. They are part of our daily life, we take care of them as members of our society. You already know where I don’t have to tell you.
GirlFriday 7 months ago
Is this Greece? Because my step-daughter went to Greece and sent us pictures of all of the village cats she met. She said they were all fed and well taken care of.
Then, “the acceptance stage” starts. That’s when most misunderstandings get resolved, and if there are still any, they don’t bother a person too much, as they take it as an inevitable part of their life.
As we said in the beginning, our world is diverse and we all have different understandings of what is conventional and not. When we get face-to-face with these differences, it’s normal that it takes a little time to get used to, as long as it leads to acceptance and a celebration of our diversity, not hatred.
What thing from your country would seem odd to newcomers? Share with us in the comments!
#16
In the USA we celebrate a day called Groundhog’s Day where grown men wear top hats and pull rodents out in order to have them predict the weather….
GirlFriday 7 months ago
Not everyone "celebrates" Groundhog Day. It is a fun little ceremony they do in a few places - sort of like a town festival. It isn't like we all get the day off work and have cookouts.
#17
Netherlands. First Monday of the month at 12pm. It’s not an air raid but it sure sounds like it.
Mobey Drunk 7 months ago
In my home city, it's on the first Wednesday. It's used as a tornado siren. Though, it sounds very similar to a bomb raid.
#18
The Midwest Goodbye.
Its a long process initiated by a knee slap and a "welp I s'pose." It has been known to last hours and if you navigate it incorrectly you'll be labeled as rude until the day you die.
God speed trying to navigate that one!
GirlFriday 7 months ago
Ha! As someone who grew up in the Midwest, but with Irish grandparents and heritage, I have mastered the Midwest Irish Goodbye. That is where I slap my knee, say "welp" and then just disappear.
#19
Vietnam- crossing the road.
varwenea 7 months ago
Vietnam, especially the multi lanes busy street, are impossible to cross. No lights, no crosswalks, locals just walk on the busy streets, and the scooters, cars just swerve around them. The smaller streets are doable, but there was a big street that I just said - heck no, and turned around.
#20
Usa- Tipping. The idea that your meal costs $20 but you’re expected to leave an extra $5 just because someone brought it to you? That throws a lot of visitors off real fast.
Phil Green 7 months ago
Only because business owners are too cheap to pay their staff. So feudal, medieval.
#21
Going to the shops in barefeet is pretty common and normal.
New Zealand.
Piwakawaka 7 months ago
Yep. Barefoot kiwi here. I'm a teacher and my shoes come off in my classroom, and often elsewhere in my block too. Shops in bare feet are only a big deal to some - usually those not born in NZ. I sometimes get places and realise I don't have shoes with me.
#22
We have multiple levels on our the bushfire risk scale.
"Very high" is in the middle. The final level is "catastrophic".
Tucker Cahooter 7 months ago
Australia in case you couldn't guess. I think the newer bushfire signs now dispense with "Low" so "Moderate" is the first level
#23
Two words: Swooping Season.
Not unique to our country but I’m not sure it’s as prevalent anywhere else 😂.
#25
Identifying someone based on apparence or pretty much everything is socially acceptable. For example if you ask someone "hey, who is Mark and where I can find him?" it's totally normal to get explanations like "the fat guy over there" "the skinny dude" "the priest looking one with big beard" same goes for women "that skinny lady over there" "the fat woman with red shirt" etc.
Fellfromthemoon 7 months ago
Sounds normal. Those words were invented to describe people, not to judge them.
#26
Tying cask wine to a washing line lmao.
Huddo's sister 7 months ago (edited)
G**n of fortune! BTW Australia of course, hanging on a classic Hill's Hoist.
#27
Building a major city riiiight next to an active volcano.
Lee Gilliland 7 months ago
The major problem here being volcanoes are exceptionally fertile and in warm countries can support three crops a year.
#28
Mate 🧉 culture. People cannot comprehend how casually Argentines and Uruguayans will share their drink and the ONE SINGULAR STRAW we drink it from with strangers.
soledad martinez sintes 7 months ago
I only want to add, that the picture is not 🧉 mate. When we drink the mate is used only one straw. Mate is like a hot tea and if you drink it cool it's called terere. Very healthy and much better than coffee.
#29
Earthquakes, hobbit holes, the word ‘chur’ and super kind hospitality.
#31
Drop Bears.
#32
Korea -
My wife and I have left her Chanel bag, laptops, phones and wallets on the tables and no one would takes it at the cafes or restaurants.
That said we had our umbrella stolen by some punk kid who confused his with ours and his mom argued with us. Had my bike stolen too. So Umbrellas and bikes get stolen a lot. lol
Also real soju, not the stuff you find in other countries that are weak and fruity, will f*ck you up so hard and fast before you realize it.
#33
Germany- envy is the highest form of compliment.
Saying phrases like "I'm happy for you" or "good for you" are automatically perceived as sarcastic.
What do you think ?
T'Mar of Vulcan 7 months ago
In South Africa you make eye contact with everyone when you walk around in public. When I went to London I found it strange that nobody did that - I wonder how they manage to walk around and not bump into each other if they don't even look up. Also, for any transaction/conversation with someone, you have to say hello and ask how they are. It's considered rude if you don't. But if they ask and you're honest ("How are you?" "Not so good today; I have a headache."), they will be empathetic towards you ("Oh, no! I hope you feel better!" or, "I'm so sorry! Feel better!"). This is why South Africans have a reputation for being friendly.
Mrs.C 7 months ago
I'm all here for the honesty when asked how I am. It throws people when I tell them I'm not doing well.
Load More Replies...
PenguinEmp 7 months ago
In my country we allow abortions and its free. Americans are in shock. We also don't sell guns.
T'Mar of Vulcan 7 months ago
In South Africa you make eye contact with everyone when you walk around in public. When I went to London I found it strange that nobody did that - I wonder how they manage to walk around and not bump into each other if they don't even look up. Also, for any transaction/conversation with someone, you have to say hello and ask how they are. It's considered rude if you don't. But if they ask and you're honest ("How are you?" "Not so good today; I have a headache."), they will be empathetic towards you ("Oh, no! I hope you feel better!" or, "I'm so sorry! Feel better!"). This is why South Africans have a reputation for being friendly.
Mrs.C 7 months ago
I'm all here for the honesty when asked how I am. It throws people when I tell them I'm not doing well.
Load More Replies... PenguinEmp 7 months ago
In my country we allow abortions and its free. Americans are in shock. We also don't sell guns.
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