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No two places are alike, and even countries that seem similar can feel very different once you actually go there. However, when Isabel Semb went to the United States, she noticed more cultural differences than she had imagined, including aspects of public place design and various social norms.

So, the Norwegian — who is dating an American — decided to share her experiences with others. She started a series on her TikTok account, listing the things that surprised her most and inviting people to discuss them.

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    #5

    A blonde woman walks on a path, asking, "No one walks??". This highlights things normal to Americans.

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    fly on the wall
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get a kick out of watching people circle the parking lot looking for a spot close to the door of the gym, pool, rec- center

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    #8

    A woman with wide eyes questions high college costs in the US, discussing things normal only to Americans.

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    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Keep em poor n stupid, so we can exploit them. MAGA motto.

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    #9

    A young woman questions why US food, even bread, seems sweet, highlighting things normal only to Americans.

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    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Add iction to cheap filler ingredients cos the quality is do appalling

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    #11

    Woman compares US and European toilets. She wonders why US toilets have high water. Things normal to Americans.

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    Mark Alexander
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since we don't have bidets we have to rely on splashing.

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    #12

    A young woman in a store, with the question "Why do you write the month BEFORE the date?" on her forehead, questioning things normal to Americans.

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    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The same reason they dont use 'military time'?

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    #14

    A carpeted US bathroom with a toilet and shower, highlighting something completely normal to Americans.

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    Otto Katz
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People in the 60s, 70s did. I don't think they do that anymore.

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    #15

    A smiling woman in a field with autumn trees, text asks about two political parties. Seems normal to Americans.

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    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have quite a few, it's just that the big two get all the attention.

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

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    #19

    A young blonde woman reacts with surprise to something completely normal to Americans: "People still pay with checks??"

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    Gold Monkey
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some, but not all. Older people are much more likely to use checks than younger people.

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    #21

    A blonde woman discusses Fahrenheit/miles/inches. Text states: I don’t even bother learning it, why do you have to be different? Normal to Americans.

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    Ye Olde Dirty Grumpy
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because pirates sank our set of measures in Jeffersons time, and France had problems

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    #23

    A woman in a yellow sweatshirt at a sports medicine facility, with text asking why Americans sing the national anthem so much.

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    NightOwlPanda
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Performative patriotism. Like all the flags everywhere.

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    #24

    Car rearview mirror reflects a sunset over palm trees at a drive-through, questioning things normal only to Americans.

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    Kelly Scott
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For someone like me who has mobility problems, a drive-thru is a godsend.

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    #25

    A woman in googly-eye glasses sharing a funny experience about things normal only to Americans, asking about a toilet.

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    Victor
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Toilet, restroom, bathroom, loo, water closet, the head, shítter, lavatory, powder room, men’s room, ladies room, little girls room, little boys room, cràpper…

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    #26

    A person in a denim jacket dabs, frustrated by a multiple-choice exam, highlighting things normal only to Americans.

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    Gold Monkey
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Easier to grade. Easier to pass, too. But I agree that multiple choice is lazy and not a good way to assess knowledge.

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    #28

    Smiling woman asks "Why do Americans put ice in EVERYTHING?". US-shaped ice trays, a drink with mini American flags, and a denim jacket. Only to Americans.

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    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cheap filler. Much less drink if you fill the cup with ice. Rip off.

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    #29

    A young man puzzled by cheap US gas prices at a Loves station, highlighting things normal to Americans.

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The USA has blown up another country's oil pipeline, stolen supertankers from another country, blockaded another country's tankers, organised a coup, imposed sanctions on oil, wrecked an economy, set fire to oil wells and a refinery, and blown up a supertanker. (Thats all I know about, I haven't been tracking). All to keep the oil price for other countries artificially high.

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    #30

    A girl stands in a parking lot with text asking, "Why do you call football 'soccer'?". A normal thing, but only to Americans.

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    Victor
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A”socc”iation football. Abbreviated to soccer. Coined by the Brits. Soccer is used by Canada, Australia, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, Philippines…

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    #31

    Night scene with a thatch-roof bar and trees draped in lights. Text asks, "Why do people say 'how are you' and just keep walking." Normal in the US.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Same as UK people acknowledging others with 'Alright?' Doesn't mean you want an answer, just means 'I see you'

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    #33

    A woman on a mountain hike holds a sign showing $5 fast food meals, highlighting things normal to Americans.

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    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cheap filler ingredients covered in sugar and batter appeal to human taste buds. Appealing to base human tastes ripping people off with poor quality. The obesity epidemic writ large. A worldwide issue.

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    #34

    A woman smiling with the Washington Monument behind her, comparing public transport to a school bus. A normal thing in the US.

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    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    22 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cities like Los Angeles used to have excellent public transportation systems. They were bought up and destroyed by - guess who? - the oil and auto industries.

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    #35

    Meme showing a blonde woman beside a painting of a toddler driving, captioned Why can you drive at 16? - only to Americans.

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    Jared C
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because in most of the US getting around anywhere requires a vehicle. Other than in large urban areas there is no public mass transit infrastructure.

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    #36

    A young woman asks about free soda refills, a common thing in the US, near the Washington Monument, discussing things only Americans find normal.

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    Jared C
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fizzy drinks are one of the highest profit products sold. Actual cost is just a couple cents.

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    #37

    A young blonde woman in a car, wondering about US traffic laws like turning right on red, things normal to Americans.

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    Mark Alexander
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's generally safe, saves fuel, and allows traffic to flow better.

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    #39

    Two young people smile on a beach at sunset, showing things that seem normal only to Americans, like friendly strangers.

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    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is one of the good things to be fair, Scottish ppl are like this too.

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    #41

    Blonde woman in front of trees, posing with her tongue out. Text asks about huge gallons, a thing normal to Americans.

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    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tori, when the food is real and fresh, you NEED to go every other day or it will go bad, food that will last till the end of time is not the flex u think it is. your foods are poisons.

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    #42

    A young woman smiling in a museum with a large space shuttle. Text asks about long breaks. Things that seem normal to Americans.

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    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who gets a month at Christmas? Our kids get two weeks. And summertime off is because our society used to all be farmers. They needed their kids to help in the fields. They need to abolish that and move to an all year school year.

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    #43

    Person in a car, playing on a laptop with pizza, text says Why are there SO many bad drivers? Not complaining tho, a normal thing only to Americans.

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    Surly Scot
    Community Member
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    DMV hands out licenses like candy. I lied that at 37yrs old I'd been driving on a british license my whole life, but I lost it and need an American license (lie, never driven in my life). My driving test was 3 right hand turns around the block and back into the parking lot, handed a shiny new license. No f*cking way you'd get away with that in the UK.

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    #44

    Young woman asking a question about school grades and birthdays in the US, highlighting things that seem normal only to Americans.

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    Heffalump
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I didn't know the US does this, but as a Virgo (to avoid giving more accurate birthdate info online, not because I believe in that) in the UK, I was always the youngest in my class, and when you are pre-teen, a 6 month developmental delay behind the class average is a _huge_ disadvantage that really persists in harming your educational outcomes.

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    #45

    A Target store, an example of things normal to Americans. Text: "Why are all the buildings Just big boxes?"

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    G A
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And other countries aren't? Plenty in the UK.

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    #46

    A person holding an enormous Ross shopping bag, highlighting that things seem normal but only to Americans.

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    Tobi Ornot
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can use it as a shelter after you paid the bill.

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    #48

    Close-up of a person's eyes and mouth with a text overlay: Why are your political parties a donkey and an elephant?? A common question from those not Americans.

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    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thomas Nast, cartoonist, created those symbols. Also created our version of Santa Claus.

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    #49

    A person crying with text: NO cheese slicer... HOW do you cut cheese?? A relatable meme for things normal to Americans.

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    Kira Okah
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    With a kㅤnife? I know that I am a Brit but...yeah, with a kㅤnife.

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    #52

    A woman holding a Lay's chips bag, looking bewildered by its large size. This seems normal to Americans.

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    Victor
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very small, small, medium, large, family size. We have all the sizes.

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    #55

    A young woman smiling, holding a diagram explaining AM and PM, illustrating a normal thing to Americans.

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    Roman Arendt
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @tori Ohno: Counting past 12 all up to 24 confuses you? And Norwegians for example might like a word. So would maybe Alaskans... 😉

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    #56

    A smiling woman in a sports jersey with a stadium background. She reflects on "things in the US" that seem normal.

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    Victor
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Baseball season is 8 months. Basketball and hockey are 8 months. Football is 6 months.

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    #58

    A squirrel eating on a brick wall, with text asking Why are there squirrels everywhere? This is normal for Americans.

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    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You don't have small wild animals in your country? How sad.

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    #59

    A young woman making a peace sign, addressing the American experience of different school classes. Things Americans find normal.

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    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What? I need clarification on what information you're looking for.

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