ADVERTISEMENT

Going abroad almost always stuns you when you’re suddenly forced to adapt to an entirely new culture. Not to make it sound too simple but things are different elsewhere. [Gasp.] I know. But we tend to underestimate just how different life really is in other countries. And the experience can be truly jaw-dropping for some.

People who went to the United States reported back the weird and hilarious things that they noticed while there, in response to redditor Daleelab’s thread on r/AskEurope. The redditor from the Netherlands wanted to know what the biggest culture shocks were for their fellow site users. And, wow, did they respond in detail.

Their answers paint a very interesting (not to say comical) picture of the United States, from peculiar bathrooms and mega cars to huge drinks and friendly strangers. Check them out below and upvote the answers that made you smile or chuckle. American Pandas, let us know what you think in the comment section. And we can wait for all the Pandas who’ve been to the US to share their own culture shock moments.

The author of the thread, redditor Daleelab, revealed to Bored Panda more about their first trip to the Western United States back in 2014 that inspired their post in the first place. "I was 13 at the time. I presumed the US to be like Europe only bigger. Then when we arrived, it was nothing like Europe, especially the Netherlands. Somehow, I got reminded of that and I wanted to know other people’s experiences going to the US," they said.

#1

As a German the patriotism is very scarry. I worked in a camp for kids in the woods of North East and the first thing we did in the morning was to gather at the flag and sing the anthem. Every morning! I can't even remember when I sang the Germany anthem the last time?! One time the boys of my group, who were the oldest group in camp, randomly stud up after lunch and started singing the anthem again. All the kids joined in and after they were finished the chanted "USA USA..." And hit on the tables in rythm. I sat there with a guy from South Africa and we both were paralyzed. I guess for someone with a history that made it necessary to reflect critically on patriotism the American patriotism is super scary.

dubledo2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
pratap_wolverine avatar
TropicalPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we have national anthems and pledges recited in schools in India too everyday.. But that's about it!!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Police are the rudest and most aggressive I have experienced anywhere in the world (and I say this as someone who's dealt with some famously prickly regimes). I go up to ask directions and they put their hand on their gun. If I have more than a single question they are basically telling me to back off and move along. I always read about conflicts between American police and citizens; with that attitude, no wonder it's a problem.

crackanape , André Gustavo Stumpf Report

Add photo comments
POST
laurent_seve avatar
MrLoufoque
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was once in California for New Year's eve and had found a driver's license on the ground, so I approached nearby police officers to give it to them so they can get in touch with its owner. They were completely cordial and friendly, so I guess the whole thing is up to everyone's experience...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#3

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I witnessed a mother opening several packs of sugar and sprinkle it in their kids Coca Cola. I’m still speechless.

I also can’t comprehend how people think private health insurance is a threat to their freedom or that private prisons could be a good idea.

Lastly, the gap in the toilet doors. WHY

Luzi1 , Go to Artem Beliaikin's profile Artem Beliaikin Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WTF, there is already s**t loads of sugar in coke. I don't think that is a normal US thing, probably just some idiotic parent trying to give their kids diabetes. But correct me if I'm wrong though.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

According to the original poster, Daleelab, the biggest difference between the United States and the Netherlands that they found was how many Americans had an "utter obsession with 'patriotism.'" In the redditor's opinion, too much patriotism can lead to "dangerous nationalism."

They said: "I love the Netherlands and I’m happy to be privileged to live here and to be Dutch. But the nationalism in the US is blinding people to the huge faults in their country anyone could see if not for that nationalism. Another big difference is that almost everyone there is a Christian."

Another thing that Daleelab was shocked to see on their visit to the US was that "people would shoot the 'Welcome to [State]' signs." They also were surprised by the road signs: "Everything on the street was spelled out instead of it being symbols. It’s a sign that says 'one way' while a simple arrow would do fine in Europe."

In an interview with Yale News, Sterling Professor of Political Science, Ian Shapiro, said that the trust in politicians, parties, and democratic institutions has become eroded. The cause of this? The transfer of political power to the grassroots. As such, there has been a rise in divisive and populist politics in the US.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Many people are concerned about the damage Trump has inflicted on America’s political institutions. What they are missing is that Trump is a product of bad political institutions. The main infirmity is that the United States has very weak political parties. They are weak because they are subject to control by unrepresentative voters on their fringes and those who fund them,” Shapiro said.

#4

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Having to say the ”Pledge of allegiance“ every single day, not gonna lie I found that really strange because it kinda gave off North Korea vibes to me, that’s just something that would be unheard of in German schools

GalileoGaligeil , Brett Sayles Report

Add photo comments
POST
aaronw avatar
Aaron W
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American kids have always been taught to worship the flag and the anthem. If only they had been taught to respect democracy and justice instead of superficial symbols.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I saw more obese and morbidly obese people than I ever had seen before in my life. Literally, before I visited NYC, I think I only once or twice saw a morbidly obese person.

Taalnazi , Tony Alter Report

Add photo comments
POST
demi_zwaan avatar
Demi Zwaan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband was morbidly obese when we went to Blizzcon in 2010 (a convention for gamers). We saw people who needed TWO chairs to sit down. My husband looked tiny compared to a lot of people there. We went to Walmart (cheap store that sells everything) and they sold XL shirts that were bigger than our 5XL for the same price as M/L clothes here. Same with pants. He got multiple new outfits for normal prices that would've cost a fortune here, simply because 'XL' is quite normal in the US.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

The poverty. I had been to the US a lot, but always along the costal cities. Sure, I saw homeless people around LA and New York, but I’ve seen homeless people in Sweden too and figured it probably had to do with addiction or mental illness. Then a couple of years ago I decided to travel across the US. I started in Los Angeles, then Nevada and then just moved on throughout the southern parts of the country. There were places that looked like a third world country. Homes barely holding together, people with dirty clothes, just horrible horrible poverty that I’ve never ever seen in a developed country before.

MrOaiki Report

Add photo comments
POST
aaronw avatar
Aaron W
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They adore capitalism though. Sure we have no decent education or healthcare, no food or clothes, but as long as the corporations are making bank we are good.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

The Dutch redditor who created the thread in the first place shared their own experience with going to America for the very first time.

“I went to the US in 2014. We landed in San Francisco and had to rent a car. We thought, ‘We're in America, let's rent a big car.’ So we rented a ‘big’ car. Then we joined the I101 and we were the smallest car on the road... So with our redefined car, we went to the Golden Gate Bridge but we were hungry,” they wrote.

#7

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them When I was a young child I went on holiday to Florida. I remember going to a museum and seeing a ‘non guns’ sign at the entrance. My mum has to explain to young me that in the US people regularly carried guns around, which blew my mind. Still does today.

Squidco-2658 , R Report

#8

The prices. Deals were extreme. Like you would get 12 donuts for the price of 2.5 single ones. I didnt want to overpay for a single donut, but i couldnt eat 12. So i didnt bought anything.

Healthy stuff was 2x-3× the price Im used to. Unhealthy stuff was half the price.

BrunoBraunbart Report

Add photo comments
POST
diem_khanhgmx_net avatar
Happy_Pandalover
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah, healthy food is usually more expensive in almost any industrial country. but the price gaps are alot biggere in the us. it makes people with low income buy unhealthy food - exactly what the food industry wants us to do :(... that‘s a problem everywhere though

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

How hard it is to walk in smaller cities. Everything is designed around cars. Want to go to the mall across the street? There’s a 6 lane road, good luck crossing that! If you somehow manage to do it, you still have to cross a gigantic parking lot that is like 10% full.

superpauloportas Report

Add photo comments
POST
katri-in-nz avatar
Aroha
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend from Finland moved to the States and tried to keep up the habit of walking everywhere. She was regularly stopped by the police, or even worse, very dodgy men would stop their car and offer her a ride. Also some nice people stopped as they thought she needed help! I walk 10km per day, I could not imagine being tied to a car...

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

“So we stopped at a diner. My brother ordered a burger and a small 7 Up. He got a liter of 7 Up. He wasn't even halfway and the waitress came to ask if he'd like a free refill (!). To quantify the bigness would be an insult of the bigly bigness that is the American lifestyle. Certainly a shock for me,” the redditor shared their experience and just how huge everything seemed once they arrived on the West Coast.

#10

Everything is sugary and sweet. I swear even bread was sugary instead of salty.

napaszmek Report

Add photo comments
POST
wandiledludlu avatar
Sum Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read an article sometime back that the Irish supreme court ruled that subway bread is too sweet to be classified as bread.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Any time I’m in the States I’m always shocked by the amount of homeless people. Especially in San Francisco and Los Angeless.

orangebikini , Sandra Cohen-Rose Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even worse, (mentally) ill homeless people. The lack of universal healthcare and homelessness seem to be closely connected.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Obligatory (not-really-but-yes-totally-obligatory) tipping

Panceltic , Tzuhsun Hsu Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_power888 avatar
Samantha Power
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very obligatory, when I lived there an English friend of ours didn't tip well enough and the waiter followed him out into the street and asked if his service was poor. Can't imagine that happening in England. Friends would carry a tip calculator which would show exactly how much to leave.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Plenty of people have heard a lot about American culture without having delved into the culture firsthand because of how prolific movies, TV shows, books, video games, and other forms of media from the US are. So it’s only natural that some individuals have a skewed understanding of how things in American society work, basing a lot of their knowledge on stereotypes.

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

I went to Miami for a day when I was 11. I was just so shocked and disgusted by the slums, the country acts like they’re so far ahead but their poverty is indescribable. Every country has their poor and underdeveloped areas, but wow man. Miami gave my system a shock.

myownfreemind Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many people have poorly paying jobs, or they are unemployed, or they live on government assistance (which is not enough to live on). Also, this is usually rental housing owned by slumlords who don't keep the property up. I've lived in some awful places, but I'm at a nice place now.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them People wear shoes inside their homes. So strange.

Tballz9 , tdr28 Report

#15

Extremely sad to see people freak out about having to get medical attention and/or illness at work. Also going through the trouble of verifying my travel insurance indeed cover me in the states. I have been less concerned going into literal war zones.

LeBronzeFlamez Report

Add photo comments
POST
tracy_willis123 avatar
Tracy Willis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My jaw dropped when I first found out you have to pay for an ambulance in the US. Living in the UK we take it for granted that any medical care is free (well we do pay in taxes but way less than the US pay for one procedure)

View more commentsArrow down menu

But in reality, the United States is such a huge country that it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that even Americans can experience culture shock. Somebody going from the West Coast to the East Coast or from Texas to Minnesota might encounter a host of differences. Though one doesn’t have to travel far: just going to a metropolis or visiting the countryside is enough to show you that the way that you live might not be the norm elsewhere.

#16

All the waste and no concern for the environment. It really irks me.

And how the 'greed is good' mantra has taught many people how they shouldn't give a sh*t about others.

ImFinePleaseThanks Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in the States, and I am shocked and outraged by all the littering. Why, just why? The waste of water is awful. Huge lawns that need to be watered every day. I've seen sprinklers watering sidewalks, and being run even when it is raining.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

The loudspeaker announcements about how much we love the soldiers. What the hell? It sounds so fascist.

crackanape Report

Add photo comments
POST
73toppsmann avatar
Anthony Mann
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Soldier, it always made me feel uncomfortable, when people said things like that, or looked at you like you were a hero. It was my profession, and one that I chose, so to be treated like a rock star made me feel very weird and conspicuous. I sometimes felt like it was over compensation for how Vietnam Vets were treated when they came home.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

In hotel rooms: We didn't watch a lot of TV, but when we did, I was very taken aback by the amount of commercials. I watched Cartoon Network as a kid and I remember the screen faded to black and immediately back to whatever I watched like every 10 minutes maybe (usually during an exciting part, for dramatic effect). I realized those blackouts were meant for commercials, but my home country didn't do that.

And also commercials for booze. And just in general the intensity of them. Some were hilarious though.

thelotiononitsskin Report

Add photo comments
POST
demi_zwaan avatar
Demi Zwaan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the ads for medication. So weird! Ask your doctor about this medicine! Uhm, no? My doc tells me what I need, not the other way around...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Like other countries, the US is multifaceted. You’re as likely to find someone who’s willing to give you the shirt off their backs as someone who’s rude to you. Incredibly wealthy and startlingly poor? Check. Socially backwards (which can mean drastically different things depending on your point of view, of course) while also incredibly progressive/traditional? Double-check. It’s a country of contrasts. Like most (if not all) nations are.

#19

Said it before, and I’ll say it again. The gaps in toilet stalls.

I’d heard of them before I visited but they still shocked me. Literally like 2cm of space between the partitions, for literally zero reason at all. People can look right into the stall. Goodbye privacy! Why? Whyyyyyy? Baffling.

Rottenox Report

Add photo comments
POST
anitai25_1 avatar
TV Junkie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up in the US and can confirm that this is incredibly awkward. You never get used to it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

How religious the US is. Pretty much everyone attended a church and the churches were a big part of everyone's life. Weekly attendance was a thing. One of my teachers was very progressive (gay democrat philosophy phd literature teacher in a Bush worshipping area) and he was asked by his students about which church he attended. I felt that was weird thing to ask in the first place.

JoeAppleby Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathrynbaylis_2 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just wait a generation or so. Church membership is dwindling at a pretty good pace, so the old Holy Rollers will go the way of the dinosaurs soon enough.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

So many overweight people. I'll see more alarmingly obese people in 15 minutes in an American airport than in a year living in Amsterdam

crackanape Report

Add photo comments
POST
sonja-szabrotska avatar
Sonja
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, but Amsterdam is absolutely opposite in this matter. I had to ask, if they have any fat/obese people there, because I have seen none (a Dutch person, not a tourist).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Nonetheless, there are certain features that make America, well, America. Founded on the ideas of liberty and justice for all, the United States very much values freedom of thought and expression, as well as the drive and ambition to succeed. After all, the pilgrims who were some of the first colonists escaped England because they were persecuted for their religion.

#22

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I went to the US in 2014. We landed in San Francisco and had to rent a car. We thought: "we're in america, let's rent a big car" So we rented a "big" car. Then we joined the I101 and we were the smallest car on the road... So with our redefined car we went to the Golden Gate Bridge but we were hungry. So we stopped at a diner. My brother ordered a burger and a small 7up. He got a liter of 7up. He wasn't even halfway and the waitress came to ask if he'd like a free refill (!). To quantify the bigness would be an insult of the bigly bigness that is american lifestyle. Certainly a shock for me.

daleelab , Willis Lam Report

Add photo comments
POST
ileanaskyaviles avatar
Ileana Sky Aviles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I gain 25lbs! Everytime I go I prepare for weight gain. Resturant portions can be shared between 2 people per plate! But oh so delicious!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The prices not including tax so you never know how much you're gonna pay because you can't multiply by 1.08875 in your head

Panceltic , Dan Keck Report

Add photo comments
POST
popapach avatar
troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sooo annoying! And if you are in a restaurant is plus tax plus tip! Ugh!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Swiss are famous for the love of cheese and putting cheese on and in things, but America takes that to another level...even if the cheese is less good tasting. They think they have Swiss cheese, but what they call Swiss like a really sh*t version of Ementaller cheese. They are surprised that we have like 400+ kinds of cheese, none of which we call Swiss.

Tballz9 , Ioan Sameli Report

Add photo comments
POST
si-riemenschneider avatar
Cupcake168
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Emmental is an area in Switzerland and the cheese they make there is called „Emmentaler“ (single L). It’s a trademark and a quality feature. Only the Origin Emmentaler is allowed to be named so. But obviously that’s only in Europe like that. US-Chesse has as much in common with Emmentaler as Trump with a Trumpet. Both can be made out of milk (Emmentaler MUST be made out of Milk) - both makes noises. that’s it.

View more commentsArrow down menu

However, that’s not to say that there’s no conformity in the US. Quite the opposite. It’s a very human part of our nature to seek out those who think like us, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that in America speaking out (especially on polarizing topics) isn’t always met with respectful listening.

#25

The amount of "fakeness" from people in the service industry: waiters, receptionists, bar staff, store employees etc

Everyone greets you with a fixed totally artificial smile, they speak in standard scripts, everything will be "their pleasure" and they will do it "for you". You just feel they are acting out a part but actually not listening to what you say and they certainly never do any of the things they promise. You just wish (a) they would start acting like human beings rather than pre-programmed service bots and (b) they would treat you like an actual human being rather than a visiting emperor.

prustage Report

Add photo comments
POST
mandygora03 avatar
BorPand8
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The scripts and the big smiles are usually required by their employers, so it's not really their fault.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Flags. EVERYWHERE.

The portion sizes. The price of petrol is ridiculous.

Shogim Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Texas, you also see Texas flags and symbols EVERYWHERE. When I lived in Colorado, you only saw flags on public buildings, like City Hall, the Post Office, etc. And the American flag was displayed with the state flag. In Texas you will see the Texas flag displayed alone.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them So many whackos around. People just standing in the middle of the pavement with a huge "Jesus is coming" sign or similar

Panceltic , frankieleon Report

Add photo comments
POST
bzap724 avatar
Mz Phit
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, so they visited Tucson! (JK Old Pueblo, but you know it's true)

View more commentsArrow down menu

Friendly yet fierce, incredibly individualistic but still very tribal. That’s the US for you, representing some of the best and some of the worst qualities of the human experience. But what do you think, dear Pandas? What’s your experience with America and Americans been like?

#28

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them My experience was that Americans act or seem to be more friendly and personal. But it always feels like they don’t actually mean it. Don‘t get me wrong, I met great people in the US. But Europeans, especially Germans, seem to be more reserved at first or second contact.

BHJK90 , Cherrydeck Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_power888 avatar
Samantha Power
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought that. I did live in NYC for a while, not so friendly there, but good people once you get to know them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them How divided everything is. There are only extremes, no in between. I thought this was mostly the case on the internet.

On the drive from the in Florida airport I saw an "the NRA is a terrorist organization" billboard right next to one advertising semi automatic (assault) rifles.

I was also surprised how many churches there were in rural Florida. Most seemed to have advertising unlike anything here in Europe. Some seemed to wage war against each other.

_eg0_ , Fibonacci Blue Report

#30

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Educational system sucks and is made to print money and throw the youth under the debt bus. Professions that don't make any sense to spend years in uni for (nurse for example) instead of doing an apprenticeship course.

iwysashes1 , COD Newsroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
giovannat1979 avatar
Giovanna
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, I dont think nurses dont need to study for their job! It's a university degree in Italy too, and for a good reason

View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Extremely dirty and old public infrastructure - NY subway feels unsafe to use at times, some of the stations look like they're collapsing any minute now

Panceltic , Enrique Vázquez Report

Add photo comments
POST
yt avatar
Y T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and also that the stations all look the same so you really have to be alert for when to get off.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

How difficult it actually is/how much knowledge is required just to not get fat

zazollo Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too much availability of junk food and fast food. Ridiculously huge servings in restaurants. You always need a take home box for leftovers.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them To be honest, the flag salut in school. I could not comprehend it. I had flashbacks to videos seen in history class.... Made me feel super uncomfortable.

radleafdog , Paul L Dineen Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great opportunity to waste time that could be used to learn, play or do anything else...saluting a piece of textile is just strange if you set aside the symbolic pathos of it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Extreme friendliness to you when you're a customer. Too much in my opinion, it made me feel uneasy

Panceltic , ELEVATE Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_power888 avatar
Samantha Power
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always remember that. Often I hadn't even had a bite of my food and the the waitress/waiter would be asking how I was enjoying it and chatting when I wanted to eat. It can be a bit overwhelming.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

The sheer distance between everything and the fact that most americans consider an 8 hour drive no big deal

nobody0110101 Report

Add photo comments
POST
amunetbarrywood avatar
Kristal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, 8 hours can be done in a day, no problem :) I enjoy road trips though.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

On the first night of my first trip to the USA we ended up in a restaurant where pretty much all the customers openly carried handguns. That was quite shock.

voskem Report

#37

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The water level in the toilets, I walked into 3 different cubicles in JFK that where all seemingly blocked, until I realised that in the states the water level in the toilets is much higher, like half the bowl, where as here in Europe theres just a bit of water at the bottom.

fruity_brown_sauce , Corey Balazowich Report

#38

Homeless and drugs ins the street, it is incredible.
I feel like this is a deeply splitted society, either you serve or you are served. Or you die in the street.

dansmabenz Report

#39

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Strangers talked to me for no reason. I could be walking on the street and a total stranger would come up to me and say "nice jacket" or something similar.

DogsReadingBooks , Davidlohr Bueso Report

#40

I went for the first time in 1999, to Washington DC, it was the first time I had ever seen truly obese people, I grew up in Ireland and yes we had some overweight people but nothing comparable.

AB-G Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathrynhatfield avatar
KatHat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ireland has healthcare. And a reasonable minimum wage, meaning fewer people working 2 or more jobs and more time to shop and cook. Not saying it's paradise but comparisons don't help if you don't look at the details. It can be very very difficult and expensive to live healthily in the US.

toastieboi avatar
Toastie Boi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i'm in america and i just wanna leave. I see people in target whenever i go there literally 2-4 times wider than they are tall. i don't wanna be in a place where im sterotyped as being a 10 ton gun loving lunatic

alexdureich avatar
Michigan Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you insist on throwing your weight around to get your way....well. you have to pack on them pounds. plus...have you seen how we eat?

pincriske avatar
Clearly sunny
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Are there really that many obese people over there? Sounds so bizarre, and alittle too cliche American USA.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

Went to Florida for 3 weeks. Asked for directions to a certain mall at the hotel. They said it's 2 miles up the road. I ask for the closest sidewalk (as they are far from standard) that could take me there and they look at me like I'm an idiot.

Receptionist: You can't walk there, its 2 miles! Me: Yes, and the sun is shining, what's the problem? Receptionist: But it's really far! Me: You said it was 2 miles, which means 3,2km to me, or did I get the conversion wrong? Receptionist: I dont know kilometers but I know it's too far to walk to the mall! Me: Okay. I'll try it and I'll tell you if it killed me.

Had a nice stroll and came back after a nice day out and about, she looked absolutely astounded

thewinberg Report

Add photo comments
POST
suehazlewood avatar
Sue Hazlewood
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I walked back to my hotel in Las Vegas and was aware I was being followed so crossed the road (The Strip) to where there were more people. Got to my hotel and was in the reception area and the guy following me came in. He came up to me and asked if I was okay, I said yes why? Because he had never seen anyone walk so far before. It was only a km or two.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

The size of drinks in fast food restaurants is crazy, we were in Florida driving from Miami to Orlando and we stopped on the way to eat in Wendy's, I got a medium Coke and when it came I was shocked, it was literally the size of a bucket, it just goes to show why the obesity problem is so bad in the US.

AdamFinnegan03 Report

Add photo comments
POST
bryguy369 avatar
bryguy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yesss! I did the same thing at Wendy's there as well, the medium is insanely massive! I didn't even get to see the "large" cups or fries but the medium fries seemed like something you'd order for the table to share anywhere else. Order a small anything at Wendys and it'll be similar to the large or XL options you are used to.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

A single coffee is like a liter and yet there's barely any coffee in it.

nemoxori Report

Add photo comments
POST
lunanik avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most places in the US serve coffee that's reminiscent of dish water. It's weak, bitter, and acidic. More like coffee-flavored water than actual coffee.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

The weirdest thing for me were houses. They were, like huge, even in middle class people, with a huge front yard no one used but had to be perfect and tiny tiny backyard for the family. It was just a waste of space for me: you buy a land and use only a small part on it. Why a so big front yard?

Iseult-benoit Report

Add photo comments
POST
pickass avatar
Nela Rothenbach
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is always something I don't understand. Huge front yards and front porches....If I owned a house I'd want a big garden and a deck behind the house.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

The streets were generally wayyy more dirty and filthy than they are in Europe, and the amount of homeless people were downright depressing. Also the sizes of everything you ordered from restaurants were completely unhuman lol. Also the inefficiency was surprising, you could easily spend half an hour queueing in shops or supermarkets, even though there weren't even that many costumers

Hyonokokoro Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most homeless people suffer from mental illness and/or substance abuse. It's a disgrace that our country does not provide the help that they need. It may be difficult for them to apply for help. There are long waiting lists, and a ton of paperwork.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Teens addressing adults by their first name. When the school bus driver invited my 16-yo self to "just call him Dave" I had no idea what to do with myself. It just wouldn't go through my throat.

Also, the over-the-top-friendliness in the service sector towards total strangers. Yeah, no wonder American's think we're gloomy and depressing, lol. The first time a shop assistant exclaimed "Hi!! How are you today??" looking as if the sun has just come into the store I had a minor panic attack because I thought we had met, she knew me and I was the asshole who forgot her. People criticize the American "fake friendliness" and the obligatory "fine" but I quite liked it if it wasn't turned up to 11, made everything seem smoother.

Agamar13 , Max Fischer Report

Add photo comments
POST
khairunisaasyikinnoordin avatar
nanashi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

man, every fibre of Asian in me will refuse to address someone older than me with their first name only. I don't think I can do it lol

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them My wife was shocked by all the open space, and how we horizontally fill much of it up with low, hastily built buildings. Strip malls and such. "It's like you have more space than you know what to do with." And it's true!

She was also astonished that you can drive through dozens, sometimes even hundreds of miles of wild empty nothingness, with nothing but the road you're driving on to indicate you're still in civilization.

ColossusOfChoads , daryl_mitchell Report

Add photo comments
POST
nathanpogorzala avatar
Nathan Pogorzala
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We haven’t even scratched the surface. The open land where there are no people within miles and miles is my favorite part of America.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

I knew the public transit was pretty bad in most cities, but I didn't realize to what extent. I went to Orlando FL and stayed in the suburbs (not even that far out though) and the nearest public transport stop for getting to the city center was almost a 2h walk

pinedeer Report

Add photo comments
POST
pauldavis avatar
Paul Davis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cities used to have more public transportation but auto industry executives started bribing politicians in key roles in city governments to get rid of it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them In general, low price seems to be favored over high quality. An American will buy a 10 USD shovel a dozen times in his life.

Tballz9 , Ryan McFarland Report

Add photo comments
POST
lorelaidewrell_1 avatar
Lorelai Dewrell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its not because we want too trust me we want nice things that last but we have no money and we cant afford the nice ones sometimes

View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The size of food. And not just portions but like the size of chicken breasts in a supermarket and things like that.

FreeAndFair , Konrad Summers Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_power888 avatar
Samantha Power
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huge portions everywhere especially in diners (do miss them though) often one meal was enough for one or two more. When I moved back to England it took me a year to adjust to English portions (often very small).

View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#51

The sheer amount of advertising and open display of patriotism felt very odd to me.

wurstsemmeln Report

#52

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The country is vast and covers many different climates and biomes, yet it is also shockingly the same. One can be at the Wal-Mart in Juneau Alaska or Portland Maine and see the same products. The plazas contain the same stores, with only some regional variation. It is really weird how similar the feel of it all is...even when the people and landscape are different.

Tballz9 , Mike Mozart Report

Add photo comments
POST
diem_khanhgmx_net avatar
Happy_Pandalover
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think it‘s fascinating how big and how different heach state is. I‘s like many little countries in one. Different climates, different cultures. But it‘s pretty common that supermarket chains will have the exact same look and products. Same in Europe. Each Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour etc. is the same in every country

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#53

The size of the portions was the most obvious culture shock, we were there with my mum and my then teenage brother who ate a lot. But on the second day we stopped ordering three portions and asked for two with an extra plate because we were absolutely unable to finish them.

curly_nerd Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_power888 avatar
Samantha Power
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to visit a famous diner in NJ. Even before the meal was served you were given hot cheese bread, a huge bowl of crudites, and a large bowl of soup. Then there was a huge meal followed by a huge slice of pie or cake.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#54

The need to do math at 2 AM in the morning while drunk to settle the bill. I don't want to stiff anybody for their earnings, but sales tax really adds to the confusion

Skaftetryne77 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#55

A/C. I visited New York in the summer, going from the hot streets and subway stations to the freezing indoors was a shock in its own right.

griselde Report

#56

I havent been to an American airport that didnt suck. Also the queue to get through customs is a joke.

howunoriginal2019 Report

#57

The tap water tasted like pool water, that's how much chlorine there was in it. If it hadn't been for the fact that the water from a drinking fountain tasted the same, I'd have thought that it wasn't drinkable.

mcweaa217 Report

#58

That there seemed to be no normal restaurants like we have in Europe. It was either fast food or an expensive restaurant where you have to make a reservation.

kleinph Report

Add photo comments
POST
lunanik avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure where you visited, but in my area, there are loads of small, locally-owned restaurants. In my small city alone, there's a Puerto Rican restaurant, a noodle shop, several Chinese restaurants, several Italian restaurants, etc. All casual dining and affordable.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

The blatant every day racism.

Like, I knew Americans were racist but it was just soo blatant and disgusting.

X0AN Report

Add photo comments
POST
diem_khanhgmx_net avatar
Happy_Pandalover
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

racism is a bad thing, no matter which place. i‘ve travelled alot and sadly people can be blatanly racist everywhere.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them All my USA visits were for business purpose so I can only tell how insanely toxic is US working environment.

also as someone born and grown behind iron curtain, young stupid me idealised USA as country of freedom not as a country where people like to all aspects of their lives to be dictated and policed. The number of arrests in the US every year is something completely absurd to me.

and one more thing, I was told I should follow some urinal etiquette which means use every second one for no reason but I don't know if that was real or some sort of joke against me.

Heebicka , Alex Kotliarskyi Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a urinal etiquette here in Australia too, unless there isn't that option. I don't know why I know this lol.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#61

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I was a 17yo french guy visiting California, I was mostly annoyed by how much people wanted to hug for no reason.

Chibraltar_ , Ricardo Moraleida Report

Add photo comments
POST
mysteryegg avatar
Mystery Egg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find it so rude to just ignore someone's personal boundaries like that. I hug people I am intimate with. Nobody else. Ever.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

For a car centric country I found the roads to be bad (California / Nevada / Arizona). Even the worst countries in Europe are reasonable compared to there. The first trip in the rental car I thought the car was broken, but it was the highway.

Poijke Report

Add photo comments
POST
talovich avatar
Yugan Talovich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember driving from Long Island into NYC with a friend. The road surface was so bad that we joked it was defense against tanks.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#63

The vehicles are really big and most people are driving the kind of heavy truck/van mashups that normally I only see for the king's motorcade or something. How can they afford all that fuel?

crackanape Report

#64

I went there for a semester and had to attend a bunch of sexual harassment education classes before classes started. Seemed like a way bigger cultural problem than in Europe.

pgomes95 Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately, it IS a big problem. I can't understand why some men think women owe them something. Women are people, not toys.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#65

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Americans are shockingly open and friendly. It is terrifying at first. The generally are lovely, but I can see why they think we are cold. It took me years to understand things like small talk between strangers. Many times when I first arrived I thought people might be mentally ill, cult members, or trying to set me up for a crime. lol.

Tballz9 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#66

I was in San Francisco with my family a few years ago. At some point we stopped in a Hard Rock Cafe and I ordered what I thought would be a small brownie, and I got probably a dozen of brownies mashed into the biggest cup I’ve ever seen, along with a load of ice cream and chocolate on top; even by sharing it with everyone we didn’t finished it, and it was the same everywhere.

The size of the meals over there is ridiculous. Also the distance you can travel before finding any sign of life freaked me out a bit at first.

M_arse Report

Add photo comments
POST
#67

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Americans are very aggressive drivers. Courtesy for fellow motorists seems to not exist. Everyone everywhere goes considerably over the posted speed limit, even when police are present. I never figured out what the rush was or the reason for the "me first" attitude when driving. Perfectly friendly people turn into raving lunatics behind the wheel.

Tballz9 , Open Grid Scheduler Report

Add photo comments
POST
badulesia-granieri avatar
Badulesia
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure that this aggressive behavior is exclusive to US. Visit France ... :(

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#68

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Paying with a 5 dollar note and getting my change back in notes. It's weird to me that 1 dollar notes even exist.

Brainwheeze , Karolina Grabowska Karolina Grabowska Report

Add photo comments
POST
pauldavis avatar
Paul Davis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our government talks about issuing dollar coins to save the money it takes constantly printing new bills, but then fails to follow through by requiring vending devices all take them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#69

For me a very strange thing was that in the USA people share pizzas, I was with a group of US friends and they looked at me very strangely because I ordered my personal pizza, then I realized that everybody share their And it’s not common, since In Italy everybody have their own (only in rare circumstances like when ‘meters of pizza’ are purchased) I seemed rude but you know, I want my own pizzas ! Also tips, I needed 5-7 days to realize that it’s rude to pay ‘just’ the normal amounts in a restaurant

ItalianDudee Report

#70

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them We've been several times, but my first experience was when I was 15 and transiting through Houston to get back to the UK from visiting Mexico.

I think it was just the scale of everything that stuck with me at the time. We never left the airport, but the scale of the airport, the sheer size of everything (including the people I'm sorry to say) was enormous.

The size of the walkways, even the toilets were bigger. I was hungry so bought a slice of pizza, and I swear it was the size of a dinner-plate (although on reflection probably not).

I've gotten used to it over repeated trips and it doesn't phase me anymore - but the US certainly takes 'bigger is better' to the extreme.

gouplesblog , I am R. Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#71

The taxi driver asking me, a student driving to a cheap ass motel to stay over the night and earning 1/10 of his salary, to give him a tip after paying $40 for a taxi drive 15 minutes away from the airport.

OdiousRant Report

Add photo comments
POST
moconnell avatar
M O'Connell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In some cities, cab drivers have to pay a special fee (read: bribe) to be able to pick people up at the taxi stands at the airport.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

The friendliness and openness of people. Visited the south and everyone talked, some invited me over. The curiosity and enthusiasm of people overwhelmed me haha.

Dutchcloggie1 Report

#73

Went to Chicago and was brought to a deep dish pizza place. We ordered a starter, it was breaded chicken and a gigantic portion of fries. Couldn't believe it. Barely made it through a slice of the pizza. My friend boxed up the leftovers, put them in the fridge. On Friday her and her husband would eat all the leftovers from the week.

decojdj Report

Add photo comments
POST
katri-in-nz avatar
Aroha
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, cold pizza for breakfast is better than hot fresh pizza! :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#74

Tipping is so annoying and I hate the fake friendliness that waiters put on. Americans are already nice enough, we shouldn't have to pay them to pretend to be even nicer

crackanape Report

Add photo comments
POST
heatheratwood avatar
Heather Atwood
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TIPS stands for To Insure Proper Service and over across the pond, it started out as something you did BEFORE you ordered and that determined how much service you wanted (refills, quicker service etc). Most waitstaff only make $5-7/hour before tips, so it is important to them!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#75

Imperial measurement system. For a whole month I had to google convert everything to metric. A year later, I joined the military and most American Vehicles in our army were are using imperial measurement system and to this day this is something that annoys me

Constantine__G Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_p_barnett avatar
Steve Barnett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a UK citizen I’ve grown up with imperial/metric measurements. The UK has a mixture of both. Speed limit? In miles. Liquids? In litres. Inches, feet, centimetres or metres? Yep, we use both. We’re are still kinda stuck in that transition phase of really not knowing which one to use. It’s haphazard.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#76

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The feeling that everyone is out to squeeze you for just one more dollar. Granted, I've mostly visited touristy cities (NYC, Miami, LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas), so it might be different in more rural/less touristy areas, but it was all sorts of small things which built up to this feeling, and it made me more wary when I encountered people who seemed friendly, because I'd automatically assume they just wanted money from me. And pretty much everything came with a prize tag. So weird to drive into a national park and paying at a booth to enter.

kwowo , Adrian Scottow Report

Add photo comments
POST
qialhe avatar
Riani Kivela
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is less in rural areas. Right after I moved back to a small town in the Midwest after living in Washington DC, I was surprised when a guy at the grocery store started talking to me just to tell me the product I was looking at was on sale for $3 cheaper at a different nearby store. Had to reset my brain to get used to that again.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#77

When you're sitting down in a diner, somebody will constantly top up your glass with icy water. I mean thanks but it was December!

Panceltic Report

#78

In clubs, partying, women would come up to you and start a conversation. Happened 0 times in 15 years of adulthood in Europe. Happened several times a night every time I was out in California.

LXXXVI Report

#79

Distance. No, you can't drive from NY to Florida for the weekend. A flight to California lasts about as long as your flight from Europe.

phoenixchimera Report

#80

My biggest shock was how small the statue of liberty was because when I saw it on TV I thought it would look completely different. Also beaches in California are not filled with models that will make you feel like you are in heaven. Of course dress code in Walmart or shops in general and morbid obesity. Also seeing an automatic rifle being carried by someone.

ShyHumorous Report

Add photo comments
POST
catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Visit peopleofwalmart.com. I'm afraid that someday I will see myself on there.😂

View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#81

I experienced the biggest culture shock when my uncle and I went to get money at a drive through ATM. That's when I realized that Americans truly do anything with their cars

Nico_Th_ Report

#82

One thing that still seems to surprise me on every trip is the amount of open space once you leave the cities. Drive an hour from any city and you're pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

voskem Report

Add photo comments
POST
aaronw avatar
Aaron W
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol try Australia. If you leave the cities without taking water, you die.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#83

Fat wildlife everywhere was sad, junk food pouring out of bins.
Amazing nature but cafes everywhere. Getting donuts at the top of pikes peak. Employee says 'we had to get a special donut fryer because of the altitude, they won't cook properly in a regular one'. Why get a special fryer though?!

decojdj Report

Add photo comments
POST
mornabibbw avatar
Morna Bibbw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg!! My mom's friend ran the gift shop on Pikes Peak for years.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#84

I am 30 years old,look older. Went to a pub after work, dressed smart as your average office worker. Still got asked for an ID when I ordered a beer. Felt so awkward.

BlueEmpathy Report

Add photo comments
POST
danwest avatar
Pappy West
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, saw a sign behind a bartender once that said "I would card my own mother." The bartenders are not stupid, they are trained to avoid liability by asking everyone, regardless of their obvious age. If a patron leaves a bar intoxicated and kills someone with their car, the bartender or server is often prosecuted or sued, along with the perpetrator. It also depends on the state, but here in beautiful Tennessee I get carded buying beer at the grocery...and I'm 71 y-o. It's just avoidance of liability in the most litigious society on the planet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#85

Depends on what state. In California i was surprised at how many homeless there were and that we couldn't drink the tap water. In Tennessee i was surprised how involved parents were in their kids lives. Even after turning 18 they are still considered kids as long as they live with their parents. It's like "as long as you live under our roof you will follow our rules". I also noticed how present the cops are everywhere

more9898 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#86

The open and friendly mentality of the people. People were always helpful and polite. Being a 15 y.o. teenager and called "sir" by the people felt very good :D

Everydaysceptical Report

Add photo comments
POST
#87

There's this fast food chain, called Sonic. It's basically a drive-in restaurant. Looks like a gas station, where you order from screens where the gas pumps would be. You get your order delivered to your car, where you eat it. It's not a drive through, you stay in the parking lot, you just don't need to leave your car for a single moment.

birotriss Report

Add photo comments
POST
mornabibbw avatar
Morna Bibbw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's more of a nostalgia thing. Drive up restaurants were really a thing in the 50s and 60s. I remember going to a few when I was a little kid in the early seventies. And sometimes they would wear roller skates when delivering your food.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#88

How strangely old fashioned the lorries/trucks looked compared to European ones. Very strange to see them chugging around NYC with their massive bonnets.

thelaurasaurus Report

Add photo comments
POST
stevewilson_3 avatar
Steve Wilson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

European trucks are all cab-overs due to length restrictions for the entire vehicle. The US loosened those restrictions years ago so bonnets are back as the standard here. European roads, narrower than those in the US & with more extreme turns, still require using cab-overs with short wheel bases.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#89

On our last trip to the US, our car rental didn't have the car we had pre-booked available anymore.

They asked if a brand new Dodge Viper would be ok.

YES, IT IS VERY MUCH OKAY, said we, with the excitement of the innocent.

...and then we had to drive at speed limits of 60 and 70mph (~95 and 110Kph), on loooong straight streches of open road 😢.

Why. Why deposit such a toy unto our hands if you're not allowed to drive faster than a dying slug. WHY

SerChonk Report

#90

The thing I found really weird about dating was that people would have the "conversation". So you could just being dating/having-sex with multiple people, but until you had the "conversation" there was no indication of monogamy. This was in the early 2000s so perhaps things have changed.

I found the American attitude to sex much less romantic in some ways, which had it's positive and negative aspects. Of course, this is generalising over a huge country from a very small sample.

strahlungsfluss Report

Add photo comments
POST
yt avatar
Y T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I feel it's weird to date several people at the same time and that's totally fine with everybody until you decide to "be exclusive". I don't want the dude I'm dating dating ten other women. Just figure out fast if you like this person or not, if you don't just find someone else to date.

View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#91

Our waitress in the 230-FIFTH Bar in Manhattan INSULTED us ("jerks!") when we declined to tip her because the service was really bad. She actually came running after us ("Guys, you forgot the tip!"), when my friend turned around and told her: "30 minutes no service: no tip". I've never seen a waiter/waitress being pissed, but she was so pissed and had us almost thrown out after calling us names.

CeterumCenseo85 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lunanik avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're a terrible server, you don't deserve to be tipped, though. Ignoring your customers for 30 minutes is being a terrible server.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#92

I was not shocked but surprised how dirty the public buildings (like airport) were and how low-quality (doors, floors, windows) everything in buildings (including plumbing and electric installations in private buildings). Sizes in general weren't as large as i had expected, especially cars were much smaller than I thought.

ncendium Report

Add photo comments
POST
computer5t avatar
dev mehta
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nowadays, cars in North America are probably same size as in Europe

View more commentsArrow down menu
#93

I guess just how grey and industrial everything looked and felt. All those buildings towering over me like that was just so intimidating. I mean, I have seen it all in movies and shows of course, but those just can't convey exactly how it feels to actually be there.

ItsAPandaGirl Report

Add photo comments
POST
noemiehoutekie-nda avatar
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me where were you? Most of America is incredibly beautiful. For example, take trip from Flagstaff Arizona to Phoenix. It’s gorgeous.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#94

How massive the roads were and the fact that lane discipline does not exist. Ordinary roads with six lanes which is basically a motorway in the UK. The lack of roundabouts and everything built on a grid means you have to stop at a four way junction every couple of hundred metres. People waiting when the lights have turned green. In UK, if it’s green you go.

PasDeTout Report

Add photo comments
POST
spork-1984 avatar
Spork420
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Occasionally these roundabout things pop up somewhere, and we Americans loathe these things.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#95

Next time went to Nashville, entirely different story. Biggest difference I noticed was traffic and transportation. So many cars, huuuge parking lots everywhere, virtually impossible to get anywhere on foot or by bus. And the hotel was something that could never happen in Europe either.

BrickJoke Report

Add photo comments
POST
#96

ACs protruding from every single house, with special protection metal grids mounted around them.

ColourlessGreenIdeas Report

Add photo comments
POST
73toppsmann avatar
Anthony Mann
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only the high crime areas have those metal bars. A lot of houses and apartments in the US have central air and heat.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#97

How large/big everything is. Wide roads, enormous interchanges, food/drink portion sizes (!), cars bigger than tractors at home

Panceltic Report

Add photo comments
POST
#98

Bagged milk. Who puts milks in bags?! I knew that the canadians did it, but apparently the cheese eating Wisconsinites are part of this madness as well!

HuntingRunner Report

Add photo comments
POST
keremina avatar
Kira
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, we Russians here put milk (not all of it though) in bags (not our weirdest quality ;-)), along with other dairy products, like kefir or sour cream... Here one can even buy a jug-like plastic thingy to store one's opened milk bag in upright position and prevent it from spilling all over one's fridge)

View more commentsArrow down menu