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The United States of America is the land of the free and full of opportunities. It is one of the largest economies in the world and it has always amassed people for the life one can create there. But, like every country, it has its own way of functioning and the people living there have their own culture. And if you are also attracted to this country and would like to travel to the United States or you are planning of moving there, you should expect to encounter things you‘ve never seen before or things done differently to what you are used to.

A few days ago, Reddit user Ymij asked people to share some things Americans don‘t realize exist only in the United States. And people had a lot to say. The post got more than 10k answers and Bored Panda gathered a list of some of the most upvoted responses.

More info: Reddit

#1

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group GoFundMe being an acceptable replacement for a health care system

GTrav44 , gofundme Report

#2

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Literally being too poor to go to the doctor, but have too much income for any kind of assistance

kaden123drake , Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja Report

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

THIS! I remember a time that my dad had gotten laid off and my mum was dealing with health issues. They were simply down on their luck and filed for food stamps. Due to their Canadian pension they only qualified for $18 in food stamps a month and made too much to have health insurance, just adding to the health issues.

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#3

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Tipping as a wage subsidy. Many countries don’t have tipping and those that do generally tip a small amount for good service.

Also displayed prices not including taxes or other fees.

Impossible-Buy-4090 , Wikimedia Commons Report

#4

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Pronouncing corruption as "lobbying"

GSLaaitie , RJA1988 Report

#5

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Assuming that everyone on the internet is American until proven otherwise.

Officer_Cat_Fancy_ , Steven Martin Report

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

Everything in American-English too rather than British-English. things that are translated from almost any other language into American-English rather than British-English regardless of the subject matter

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#6

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group The pledge of allegiance. If you tell people here that in America they make kids stand up and recite some prayer to a flag every single morning, they'll look at you like you just grew a third arm.

emissaryofwinds , USAG- Humphreys Report

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

We’d call that indoctrination in the UK. I remember speaking with an elderly Italian man who was a child when Mussolini came to power. He told me they were forced to do similar things at school.

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#7

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group I want to say for-profit prison systems.

These things are f***** up. If the state doesn't keep up the prisoner quota they gotta pay a fine to the company they owns the prison.

So this basically makes them try to keep existing prisoners

downtimeredditor , Molly Haggerty Report

#8

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Gender reveal parties

jemariebearimy , highlander411 Report

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#9

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group People who angrily DO NOT WANT healthcare.

spammmmmmmmy , Presidencia de la República Mexicana Report

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

It's so much more than that. It's not that they dont want healthcare, they dont want to pay for SOMEONE ELSE'S healthcare.

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#10

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Having the restaurant take your credit card - in most countries it's considered impolite to disappear with the card as they might write the digits down to charge extra later. Therefore they normally bring a portable terminal to your table so you can keep the card in eyesight and have the (optional) tip actually charged when the card is run and not added after the fact.

Broadmin , Unknown Report

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

Most places use chip-and-pin where they *have* to take the card at the table since you need to enter your PIN. USA credit card banks decided Americans aren't smart enough for chip-and-pin, so we just have chip and an archaic signature.

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#11

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group The Imperial System, Fahrenheits, massive ad breaks. I swear i watched US Television once and i nearly had time to go take a s*** before the adbreak ended. And i'm one of those people that play on their phone while on the throne

Pyanez11 , ilovebutter Report

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#12

I am from Europe and I have never seen in supermarkets scooters for people that are so obese they can't walk by themselves.

indigo-wolf Report

#13

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Medical debt

CIA_grade_LSD , Grant Source Report

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

Add "who is paying their debt while also stopping treatment because they can't continue accruing more debt"

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#14

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Waiting like 8 weeks after your elections till the new guy comes in to power is pretty f****** weird

Snoo61123 , GPA Photo Archive Report

#15

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Massive gaps on all sides of toilet cubicle doors, like why even bother with a door at all when people can see through so easily

digitalelise , Victoria_Borodinova Report

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

i know- you can literally stare someone in the face while they are going to the bathroom

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#16

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Flags. Everywhere

psyk738178 , WTF Colorado Report

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

How else can they keep up the illusion that they live in a country worth celebrating?

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

hmm. I know some people are going to find your comment offensive but. as an American. lowkey laughed at this. 😂 things are definitely... things aren't going great here!

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

In Turkey they have Turkish flags everywhere. I even saw one big enough to cover the entire side of a building!

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

Not only that, but in the Turkish part of Nicosia (Cyprus), there is a massive Turkish flag emblazoned on the hillside so that is visible from the Greek part. Talk about rubbing it in.

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

Its something called Pride I know its a new concept for you. See thousands have died for us to be in this country and live free so we show respect by putting up a simple flag.

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

Most places with national pride display their flag. There is nothing crazy about it. In Spain, they not only fly the national flag, but the regional flag.

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

This is actually not just America.... but whatever your truly dumbass self likes to believe... Denmark displays theirs everywhere, so does Norway, Sweden, Finland... Great Britain's Union Jack is literally everywhere... France as well... And then there is the European Union flag... which is also EVERYWHERE... But of course, when you are used to it... you don't notice it as much. Just another part of the landscape that you fail to notice and try to act like you don't do the same thing. Pathetic.

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

untrue, the UK's flags are mostly in government based buildings. The country flags are very rarely seen unless it's supporting the team in sport. Why? Because the English and by proxy Union Jack is basically seen as racist. In America, most houses going down streets have flags to show their pride to their country. That is not the case of other countries.

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

I remember the rise of the flag nationalism like yesterday. Shortly after the intelligence failures of September, 11, 2001, commercials started showing the following- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-BNO1jNnFY

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

You are a total fool. Our country was attacked. The flag was flown to honor those that died in that attack. It was flown to show solidarity among Americans. You are an uninformed ASS.

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

Flag flying is popular in some other countries, so it's not just an American phenomena, but what seems worse is that flying the American flag has come to be associated with the MAGA movement. My sister is a military veteran (and gay), and she's stopped flying the flag except on certain holidays because flag flying has some to mean something complete different than pride in the USA. And she gets visibly angry at how many people violate the flag code when they fly the flag. She's gone into more than one business to complain about their flag display.

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

It's so they know which country they live in, otherwise they have no clue.

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Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in america, and I got hate from a coworker for saying I wasn't proud to live in america, because I'm not, how can we be proud of what this nation has become

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

i'm American and i hate this too. i would rather drape my house in rainbow flags XD

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

In Canada, the flags come out on national holidays or fly in front of more official buildings (government buildings and schools for example). The odd person might put one in the window of their home, but they could just as well have another flag that represents a group they belong to or want to support (such as LGBTQ+ or Franco-Ontarians).

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

Here we only have them on national holidays(National day, birthday of someone in the royal family, etc.)

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

well... I mean....they look nice....kinda pretty, for a flag. besides patriotism has gotten our country a long way throughout history. its most of the reason we won the revolution. that, and france.

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

It is never a bad thing to be proud of where you live. America is politically messed up sometimes but still has a history to be celebrated. The flag has been part of that history for over 200 years

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

Partially reassurance of being "free"/ "democracy",barely valid there anymore sadly

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

Also the flags are generally too large for the flag posts (ratio out of balance)

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

Unpopular opinion, but uh, I don't see anything wrong with showing pride in ones country

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

I think that's fine what I do think is weird is people wearing the flag, especially underwear.

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

Where I live anyway it's law that every classroom must have a US flag displayed in full view.

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

My wife is American and cannot see my point on this. Walk down a street in Spain or Portugal and count flags, maybe one?

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

It seems those that fly the flag on a regular basis are the ones most prone to vote against rights for EVERYONE

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

this. in the last 4 years the american flag has been the replacement for the confederate flag- and yes, I am an american... it is really sad actually- that now when I see those screaming "MERICA is GREAT" yaaaaaa-hooooo! are usually the ones that make America so poor. ok- ill wait for it now- im sure I am going to get some negative feedback for this one- and I will go ahead and assume for those that have something not nice to say about what I just said- are directly the persons I am talking about.

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

I fly my flag on major holidays, like 4th of July, Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) and Veterans Day (formerly Armistance Day)

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

Did your dumbass happen to visit on one of the several holidays we put the flags out for? Besides... If the British couldn't make us take them down... you certainly don't stand a chance.

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

YES i lived in Europe for a while so we didn’t put up flags but when I moved to th US we the only ones in the street without one

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

I don't know how many times I have watched a tv series or a movie where someone will go back into a place to 'rescue' the American flag even when they are under fire. And again, the action of throwing a flag on the ground is 'gasp, horror, shock'. It's a piece of material, it is easy to replace, it is not worth dying for to just to rescue it.

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CatWoman312
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really don’t think this is a big deal. So what we love our country?

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

It's because some people here forget that we live in America, so we have to constantly be reminded..

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WiTchY_WoMaN
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Yikes I don't know why I got down voted. I was just making a joke. If I upset someone I'm sorry

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

I don't personally see why that's a big deal to fly a flag, free country, you can do it or don't. Why is that a problem or "weird". Just my opinion, and yes I've lived in a different country (USAF Veteran) -

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

Once again we taught that it’s respectful although it seems like a bit much

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

The more flags, patriotic red white and blue clothing and flag stickers on the pick up truck the smaller the mind

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

Also when I was young the only time you saw flags was flag day 6/14 and July 4th

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

Yes, we have problems in our country. It's run by humans, and humans make mistakes. Some are unforgivable. However, I can find a lot of reasons to be proud of America. I don't have to pretend. It's a shame that you do.

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#17

This may be a shot in the dark but product prices not including tax when they’re displayed? Like if something says it’s $10 and you only have $10, what’s with the surprise tax at the till?

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#18

Your toxic grind working culture. I find that Americans define their entire personality around their profession. It all feels so shallow and hollow way of living. Like I work so I can do the things I enjoy ( pre covid) I don't work because it defines me as a person.

vietcong420 Report

#19

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Absurdly long election campaigns. In most countries I've been to election campaigns last a month or two, in the US they seem to go for a full year.

BerserkBoulderer , Unknown Report

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

we get sooo many ads too; they're literally everywhere and most of them are attack ads with questionable information

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#20

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group College sports, people do not care about nor have college sports like we do here.

UnusualLight0 , Unknown Report

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

it's disgusting the amount of money my school spends on sports, and we're not even remotely a sporty school

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#21

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Food portion sizes... In EU you get food portions you can finish and are generally calculated to be pretty much fill/satisfy you over the entire meal.

When I go to the US I can fill myself up with half of the appetizer

Drumah , Wikimedia Commons Report

#22

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Unused vacation days

Banana_Gorilla , Unknown Report

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

Yeah in my country, if you don't take your minimum of 5 weeks of holiday per year, it will be scheduled for you. Literally your manager will force you to relax :D.

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#23

The use of the words junior, sophomore and senior in school. I don't think I have ever heard these outside of an American TV show or movie.

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

Yeah it is pretty weird. Why not just say 9th, 10th , 11th, and 12 grade? Seems much more simple. I am going to be in high school next year and I am Indian but I live in America. I am used to saying junior, sophomore, etc. but my mom finds it really confusing. This seems so unnecessary.

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#24

I can't speak for the whole world, but having elections on a weekday seems crazy to me. We do it in the weekend so that people are off work anyway.

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#25

A single pool of paid time off that you use for both vacation and sick leave. Therefore having to forego vacation to keep a bank of leave just in case you get ill.

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

This is a bad policy because everyone comes to work sick so they can still take vacation days.

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#26

People constantly thanking god for every day occurrences

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#27

Those commercials featuring some sort of drug or medication. With the typical closing where the narrator states "Side effects includes blah blah blah...Discuss with your doctor about blah blah blah"

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#28

Tipping, most other places actually pay their waiters/waitresses and tippings just for extremely good service or rounding up.

Undisclosed-Fruit Report

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

Already noted. Pay everyone a living working wage (NOT $7.50/hr). Do away with tipping.

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#29

Having to drive everywhere. I'm 27-years-old, not from the US and never learnt to drive. I've also never felt like I needed it.

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#30

It's pretty funny watching Americans moan over their super-cheap petrol prices. "But we drive everywhere, cars are fundamental to our society". Yep, same here in Australia, too. Your fuel is still incredibly cheap.

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

I live in Canada and one of my friends did a cross-country drive via the USA to take advantage of cheaper gas.

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#31

Garbage disposal units in sinks. I've been to nearly 20 countries, and I've never seen one.

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

One of the primary concerns of using garbage disposals is that it puts excess strain on local wastewater treatment centers. All of the food solids in the wastewater must be filtered out. Those solids are used to create fertilizer or are sent to landfills.

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#32

Longer ad breaks in the Muppet Show.

The UK version had two minutes of extra content in every episode due to restrictions on the amount of ads you could play on British TV.

That's 240 minutes of extra Muppet content that most Americans never saw.

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Fred and George Weasley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the UK has limited ad amounts. theyre regulated, so you can only have 12 minutes of ads per hour. obviously in the US im guessing its not the same

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#33

Playing the national anthem before sporting events. There may be a handful of other countries that do, but in much of the world it's only played for international matches.

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

I still dont understand why its played. Its a sporting event, a game, nothing more. Im a baseball fan & i can care less about it being played. I want to watch the game.

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#34

Your identity politics used to be just in America, then it spilled out like a burst sewage pipe.

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#35

Red solo cups. My european cousins asked me if parties in the us really had those red cups.

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angie but who cares
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yuppp they taste better for some reason just like a grilled cheese tastes better cut

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#36

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Bumper stickers. They’re a lot less common in Europe anyway, not sure about the rest of the world.

Random_Machiavelli , dalliedee Report

#37

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Nearly everything about their high schools

Unfair-Act-4499 , Wikimedia Commons Report

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

That's a bit vague. High schools have lessons across the world, are populated with hormonal teens across the world, have school meals across the world - there's certainly a difference in quality here, but it's not a weird American thing. So, everything else...?

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#38

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Free refills at restaurants

milwaukeeminnesota , James Petts Report

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SimplySarcastic40
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

one of the things i missed living 9 years abroad was this right here...i drink a lot of water. only water, but a lot of it and having to ask for refills of water and getting side-eye was something i never got used to.

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#39

Stores like Wal-Mart where you can buy everything that are open all the time. Groceries, alcohol, plants, medicine, tires, toys...

The first time I went to Germany on a work trip it was a bank holiday and everything was closed.

I live in Jerusalem now and there is a separate store for everything.

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

I'm in the bible belt. Alcohol can be bought 24/6 here (no sales on Sunday) at Walmart but the actual pharmacy is not open at night.

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#41

Graham Crackers.

Remember when I picked up a friend's mother and her friend at the airport, fresh from the US. One of them was like 'They don't have Graham crackers here?' I'm like nah mate we have crackers for everyone.

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#42

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Parking lot size. I’ve been to about 20 different countries, all over the place, and I have never seen a standard Walmart sized parking lot anywhere out of America.

Upstairs_Cow , Walmart Report

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

You can also thank our tragic shadow of a public transportation system and how far we're spread out. In may instances, driving (and therefore parking) is the only option.

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#43

Buscuits and gravy. This conjures up images of having a plate of cookies smothered in a sauce made from the the meat juices of a roast.

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#44

I wanna say jaywalking. Like, in Europe, you can pretty much cross a road wherever you want but when I visited America there seemed to be this weird sense you were being judged if you walked out into an empty road. Maybe just me idk.

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

There is some sort of debate whether jaywalking is or isn’t frowned upon in Germany - many people believe that the Germans are sticklers for traffic etiquette when it comes to walking across a street on a red light, and, indeed, Germans will stand even when it would be safe to cross - for the sake of setting the right example for any nearby children. So, it might be the same everywhere.

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#45

It always surprises me when someone from another country has never heard of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

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

We say "peanut butter and jelly" but it really is jam and that has always bothered me. Jam spreads way better than jelly.

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Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.