Cultures are a thing. And they’re all unique in their own ways.
Hence, it’s only normal that someone outside of a particular culture would find some things odd about it—or at the very least interesting.
AskReddit is at it again, asking non-Americans who had been to the US what they thought was the weirdest thing about America that Americans don’t realize it’s weird.
Bored Panda has recently covered this topic in another article, so be sure to check it out once you’re done with this one. And while you’re down there, why not vote and comment on the submissions you like the most!
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Tax. I find it annoying how in America tax is added after you check at the cashier. In Australia tax is included in the price, e.g if the price says $6.00 you pay $6. But in America if it costs $6.00 it's actually $6.07 or something. Idk I just have found it a nuisance.
Now that Thanksgiving and Christmas is over:
The weirdest thing is that Americans will ask what you are doing for thanksgiving. Are you going to your family etc... When you say no. They invite you to their home.
(I was a student, My family was thousands of miles away, and I'm happy that the local Cracker Barrel is open and looking forward to a meal there)
My Professor did that. Invited me to his home. I had a good time, but it was strange. I'm meeting his uncles and aunts. and one little girl threw a tantrum, I had to take her to calm her down etc...
It was weird. But also wonderful. In my country things like this would never happen. You don't bring a stranger to a family event.
But I'm thankful things like this happen here.
When I was younger I thought thanksgiving was what the Americans called Christmas Eve. It wasn’t til I was older that I found out Thanksgiving is like a month before. I do have a question for the Americans, do you eat the traditional turkey on Christmas Day as well as thanksgiving or vice versa etc?
How your medical ads show an old guy living life well because of X-drug. He has the best time, the wife is having the best time and it's all because of the drug making things better.
The end of the ad is full of warnings about how this happy drug can potentially kill you and your family, nuke your dog and make cats impotent.
Recap the cliff-hanger episode of life in Alaska before another ad break.
Unwatchable TV
How much power your employer has over you. They can fire you at will, dictate that you work overtime, mandate that you take a drug test at will... the power balance between employer and employee in NZ is very different...
Actually there are a lot of laws preventing such things from happening now
Flags. Everywhere. It’s not as if you’re likely to forget where you are!
The concept of pharmaceutical advertisements. Your doctor is supposed to recommend drugs to you, not the other way around.
Americans are super friendly to the point that I (Australian) thought it was sarcasm or fake.
Really? I find Australia is pretty friendly too. I walk along the street and most of the time people will say good morning/afternoon. You drive in the country and people will wave, you get greeted by checkout operators etc.
I went to seaworld with my mum when I was in my mid teens. Halfway through the show, the performer (Not the whale) asked everybody in the military to stand up and the whole crowd gave them a round of applause. They sat back down and the show continued as if nothing had happened. Couldn't imagine anything similar happening back in Blighty.
Edit: this was at Seaworld, Orlando not San Diego. Roughly 2003/4
Everything in America is huge. I don't just mean the people or portion sizes, because we all know about that- but the roads, the buildings, the ceilings, the space between everything... America is gigantic. It just feels larger than it does here. I'm Australian but I've been to Asia and size-wise it's similar to Australia, and I've seen Europeans say the same about America. Everything is bigger.
Free refills. Went to a restaurant with my dad (both German) and all of a sudden the waiter took away my drink with another perfectly good sipp in it and I must have looked pretty shocked. It was only then when my dad explained to me that you guys have free refills.
Legal drinking age at 21 it’s really weird especially at age 18 people consider u as an adult.
Yeah, most Americans don't really understand it either. You can be handed a weapon and told to kill someone in the military, but nooooo, pweese no drinky.
Complimenting strangers. When I visited the US I went to an amusement park and a girl complimented my glasses and that was my first time getting complimented and at the same amusement park a senior lady complimented my dad for having a beautiful family and a handsome son (lol me). I was really happy that day.
It brightens my day when randoms compliment me too. Just yesterday someone complimented my son and said he has such beautiful eyes. Best compliment I ever got was a woman telling me that I’ve got this and I am doing a good job even though I was a sobbing mess because my son was being difficult in the middle of the footpath.
Waste. Especially of food.
I've seen half of a large pizza thrown in the garbage, simple as that. Broke something? Don't even bother fixing it, just throw it into the bin and buy another.
I once went to a show in Broadway, they had special themed cups for the Phantom of the Opera show that you could purchase. They were made of glass. Some of the theater bought it, consumed it, and just left it there. They didn't even bother taking it home as a souvenir. They saw it, had the urge to buy it, and just did it.
That's something insane for me.
I’d of collected all their unwanted ones, bought them home washed them up and be very proud of myself 🤣
On behalf of my wife “what’s up with the gaps in the toilet stall doors and no bidet?”
That stall door question is actually pretty good, I don’t know the answer.
In Germany "How are you?" is an actual question and you generally only ask it, if you know the other person. It was super hard to explain to my mum that the answer is always "fine, thank you" and that cashiers don't really care about how you actually feel, when we visited the US in 08.
yeah we just say "good". If we don't then they get alarmed... only is they know us tho
Some European told me that it’s crazy how restaurants are loud and busy and how people eat quick and leave. For him it was normal to sit around and talk for an hour or more after eating in a restaurant.
I would hate to be rushed whilst eating my meal. It’s completely normal to sit down and chat whilst having you meal, we take our time and socialise.
So do we. Not all Americans do this, and trust me, not all of us like to rush.
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I think it depends on the restaurant and the people. I’ve been to some that will rush you out the door even if you’re wanting to take your time. Most will generally leave you be as long as you don’t decide to camp out for the day. Some people are just there for lunch and have to get back to work within a set time, or need to run errands/get stuff done after dinner.
Former server here, and we absolutely hate when people linger, especially if the restaurant is on a wait. Now if you are ordering drinks different story. That is money out of the servers pocket. No wait, no worries. And lingering after the restaurant is closed, that is just rude! We can't give you anything else, go talk out in the parking lot if it is nice out. I once had to ask people to leave, I was like the last bus is coming and it is the last one. I wasn't taking a bus, but I had to be at my other job early the next morning.
It really depends on the time of day, even the day of the week. During the work week, people will only have 45 minutes to an hour for lunch & they have to rush back to the office. I know in Europe, the culture allows for a 2+ hour midday meal, but then they also will work later afterwards - in the U.S., the work day generally ends at 5 p.m. In the evenings and on weekends, we have more free time & can enjoy the meal & the company of others, so we can take more time over a meal.
I worked in many restaurants and the boss makes you rush people out. It's called "turnover." Why have one party take up a table for an hour when you could move six parties through it back-to-back during the same time?
My wife arrived from Holland in Houston, nd was at the airport picked up by a cousin and his wife. They went to a stake restaurant, where the waitress placed a kind of alarm clock on their table. Her cousin explained that they were allowed a 45 minutes stay, and that every five minutes more was an extra dollar on the bill. Quite the opposite happened in another restaurant, where after ordering a similar alarm clock appeared, but with another purpose: If the order was not brought within seven minutes, the waitress had to pay the bill herself. It is quite different from theEuropean restaurant culture. You go to a restaurant primarily for a nice evening out, not just to be fed.
It is because in Europe we don't eat in restaurants every week so when we do, we enjoy it as much as we can.
As an American, one thing that strikes me is when a waitress apologizes for the food being slow to come out. I usually hadn't even noticed because I'm just running my mouth. I'll check my watch and it will have been like 10 minutes. Really? I also think for a lot of Americans the dinner is only part of the night. They may be planning to take in a movie or concert or sporting event afterwards, so they expect to be out of there by a certain time. I am retired now, and never in a hurry so I notice this stuff.
I think this is a function of how often Americans eat out. It's not even a special occasion for most of us.
It depends on the restaurant in the USA. Most big chain restaurants are eat and run places, but if you go to finer restaurants, 2, 3 and 4 hour meals are not uncommon.
LOL I admit as an American it drove me batty the first few times I went to an upscale event in Europe with 4-5 courses, free-flowing wine (water but no pop) and each course lasted about an hour...I like to sit and socialize but the 4-5 hours for a meal drove me nuts at first.
Sometimes I will go out to a restaurant with friends and we stay as long as we want. People leave when they’re finished. Of course if it’s busy and people are waiting the restaurant would “like” to refill the table - but I don’t take that personally I leave when I’m finished and want to leave.
It's the time between courses. Usually as not everyone is served at once there has to be a break between course at least for this reason, but also to allow you to digest it. I have also been to restaurants where they serve out the next course immediately and you're out when you're done..
Honestly I don't think most American eating styles are much different than anyone else's - it depends on the person, their day, and the time they have free to dedicate to lingering over a meal. Sometimes we have yjr time and the inclination and sometimes we don't. I personally would love to always have the time available to socialize over food.
Mostly chain restaurants tho. Find you a nice mom & pop restaurant and you get treated like family. Went to a local Italian place for our anniversary and it was so laid back and quiet. I loved that they didn't show up with the check until we asked for it. A lot of chain restaurants don't even wait to see if you want dessert first, they just slap it down to push the table.
Lots of people talk after a meal. We enjoy dessert, coffee, and chatting.
We arent rushed by wait staff. We are just not that interested in sitting around in a restaurant after we have eaten.
In Denmark you normally "own" the table about 2hours when eating at a restaurent. Takes time to enjoy the meal and talk...
Normal for Aus too....in good restaurants....if people actually like one another....
Wait wait wait... so eating in America is quick? It takes 45 minutes to get the food, an hour and a half to eat it... is it just me or does this already seem like too much silence to fill?
In Germany it's normal to stay seated after you ate, chat and socialize, order a Cappuccino or a Schnapps, chat some more, order a dessert etc.
It's because the longer you sit there, the less tips your server makes on more parties. Shitty system, but there's a strong reason.
Just an hour? Ha! In Europe we arrive at the restaurant at 7 or 8 and leave by midnight... take our time, have nice drinks, nice talk and quality time. It is really a night out, not just to eat. Ohhh how I miss that now... I hope the restaurants are allowed to open soon! (Once the numbers get better again, of course...)
That’s something I really miss about traveling / working in Europe.
That's pretty much what me and my family do--we decided what to order, we order it, we talk, we get food, we talk and eat, we finish, we talk some more, we pay, and the we out B)
There used to be a magazine "Food Arts". It was for the trade and I was subscribed to it because we owned a rental store that serviced a great many caterers. One month there was an article about how to keep diners from "lingering" and number one was to make the restaurant really noisy. I was in a new Vietnamese restaurant. Tile floors, tile walls, tables and chairs were "modern" tubular steel and heavy plastic, and a huge tv blaring. It was so noisy because people were not "talking" they were screeching. We have never been back, even though the food was pretty good.
In the US, waiters/waitresses are paid by tips, not wages (its just the facts). So if you are siting around and chatting for an hour in a restaurant after you eat, you are costing your waiter/waitress money they need.
This. Dining out in Europe is an event to be enjoyed. Here it’s sit/eat/get out.
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It is because waitresses depend on tips. If you sit there for hours, they can't flip their tables. Say you are working the lunch shift, and have 5 tables in your section. If all the tables stay through lunch time then you are only getting 5 tips. This is why restaurant workers should be paid a reasonable wage instead $2.13 per hour plus tips.
You could say the same for a pub or bar, as soon as you don't want any more food or drink you are considered loitering. It's practical if you consider only profits, but the time that countless people spend together feeling leisurely and relaxed, is priceless.
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In Europe eating a meal in a restaurant *is* for socialising, not just for ramming in the food while some underpaid server frantically refills your drinks in fear of losing their tip.
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American that just traveled overseas. I went to a great bookstore in Edinburgh and the cashier asked if I wanted to sign up for a rewards membership. This led to a conversation about how their CEO or something just took over Barnes and Noble in the States. I stated the closest B&N to me is an hour away, and the other cashier jumped in, saying how easy it is to forget how far apart things are in the States. He was just kind of baffled and said it often blows his mind. I moved 13 hours away from my hometown and I still manage to be in the same country, which seems like a foreign concept for most Europeans. When, in reality, I could have moved even further away and still been in the US.
You can drive for few days to a week in Australia and still be in the same country. Our country is about the size of the US. It will take approx 60 hours (without stopping) to drive from one side of Australia to the other.
Clearly the fact that there are people to put your groceries in a bag for you, I’ve never been so stressed and uncomfortable that while I was watching this young girl taking care of my groceries
This is not common in my area of the US. You bag your own while the cashier glares at you.
Not necessarily weird but I've been here five years and I still can't get used to people replying to "thank you" with "uh huh". To me it sounds/feels like I'm thanking them and their response is "yes that is correct, you should thank me".
Knowing me, I’d think they didn’t hear me correctly and say it again 🙈🙆🏼♀️
For context: I'm from The Netherlands. The weirdest thing for me was a drive through liquor store. And a drive through ATM. In fact, it was the realization that Americans do everything by car.
My wife went to Philadelphia for work about ten years ago and wanted to walk from the hotel to the Target store across the street. People thought she was crazy.
Well take into consideration that it’s Philadelphia, we do weird crazy stuff all the time. A man stole an ambulance, got shot at by cops, got tazed, and at last, arrested.
Someone from my country who lives in USA told me that without a car you are crippled in America.
Edit: this is just an observation, not criticism.
The point of that person was that a car in US is a necessity, not a luxury or extravagance or a status symbol or sth.
And a lot of people buy second hand or used cars coz they are cheaper.
Most of America's infrastructure was built for or with the expectation that people would be using cars.
Car dealerships have huge flags. I don’t get why you’d have a flag the size of ten RVs.
So many roads don’t have street lights.
Not weird, but portion sizes are also huge. I struggled with finishing my food sometimes.
With the portion size thing (which is one of the things people tend to find odd about the US) a lot of us like the larger portions because we can bring home the leftovers to eat on busy days where there isn't much time to make supper.
For me as British bloke who only travelled for 6 weeks in the US:
Your public transport is largely poor but everything is built for cars and your cars are big.
You advertise not businesses but personalities a lot. So it’s not that KGH Estate Agents will well your property but MARY HUGHTON WILL PERSONALLY SELL YOUR HOUSE (with a big picture of her face).
Random people will talk to you. I’m a Londoner so it is different up north in the UK but especially when I got to the southern states people were so happy to talk to random strangers.
You guys actually sit at the bar in bars. When we go to a pub/bar, we’ll go with friends and rarely interact outside of that group really. You guys jump up at that bar and just start chatting.
Where homelessness is visible it’s bloody awful. San Francisco was horrible for this, me and my (now) wife ended up making a load of extra spag bowl to give to the homeless people outside our hostel because it was shocking to us.
If I think of anymore I’ll add them but it’s Christmas Day and I should probably talk to my family.
In the south a lot of people are very polite, wE nOrThErNErS call it southern hospitality, idk if anybody else calls it that but we do.
Canadian here, canadas fast food restaurants have signs that fairly normal height, just enough to get the point across while not being obnoxious, cross over to the usa and within 5 seconds of leaving customs you can see fast food signs hundreds of feet in the air on giant poles. 2 - 3 times taller than here in Canada, why!? also finding peanut butter and jelly swirled into the same jar was shocking.
When we were flying between cities, I found it weird to look out of the side of the plane and see towns midflight. In Australia, once you leave the city's airspace the landscape is completely barren until you arrive at your destination.
That’s because the further you go inland the more un-inhabitable and barren it becomes.
Ranch; it is somehow both delicious and revolting. And changes which with every mouthful.
Never tasted it. What’s it taste like. I haven’t seen it in the UK . I probably wouldn’t buy it either way 🙈
European here, to me what was surreal was how openly they talk about guns and how many they have at home.
Also I took an uber for what 5-10 mins to get back to the hotel and the lady driving me super casually told me about how when she was a child in the compton area, she'd be playing outside, lie to the ground when there was a drive by then just continue playing
The rituals for paying after food.
Call server ask for bill Wait Server brings bill, put card down Wait Server takes care and bill away Wait Server brings back copy, you add tip Get up and leave.
In NZ Finish meal, go to front of the restaurant and pay then leave (no tip)
In most places in Australia (SA) you go to the counter, order your meal and pay it as well as your drinks then you sit down and wait for your drinks and food to be served, eat and then leave. Also no tip.
Neon signs for a f!@#$%^ funeral home will always stand out.
Ads in general actually, it is so hard to go anywhere without having something in obnoxiously large text trying to get your attention. Whether it be on the road, on tv, on the internet, and hell even in people’s phones.
Is America the only place that has pop-up ads on websites and apps??
Note: this post originally had 34 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Why does BP keep making posts about how different America is? We realize we're weird, we don't need six posts a month to prove it. How about some more INTERESTING articles.
So people do things differently in different countries. Wow.
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I was hoping to see some for other countries. The US isn't the only country with its own nuances that seem strange to outsiders.
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Can we have a thread where people post what they find weird about their *own* countries? England, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, Thailand, Belize, whatever? Please? That'd be awy more interesting, to me.
If you start with what's weird in England we could be here a while (I'm English).
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Parading toddlers around in padded bikini tops and make up is the weirdest thing about the US.
Oh goodie. Another Americans Are Weird post. I'm American. Yeah. We're weird. SO ARE YOU! WE'RE ALL WEIRD!!!! I'll be the first one to call out the US for the ridiculous things we do. But seriously. Enough US bashing. All you're doing is creating an even bigger divide, when we NEED EACH OTHER. It's shameful. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
Part of the reason for the mono-culture that is the US is that the US is freakin' HUGE and only has two countries bordering it. Most of us can't afford to travel and experience other cultures, so we don't think we're weird. Having been abroad, I see it, but lots of people don't.
Bathroom stall gaps! Portion sizes! Drug commercials! Patriotism! These have been done to death, both here and weekly on Buzzfeed.
You forgot, "We don't have to tip!! Just pay your servers!"
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Often cashiers ask “how are you doing today sir/madam?” without expecting an answer from you. Mind that it isn’t a real question, but a greeting gesture for you. If you reply them “thank you” or “fine, and you?”, you shouldn’t expect an answer too. That’s not rude.
I am an American, I will never understand "Credit". My credit score is more important than my reputation? That's dumb.
This article annoyed me!!!! It was filled with stereotypes and things that are the same in other countries!!!
Do you think that articles about other countries are not full of stereotypes? )) I was annoyed reading one about mine, but it made me to comment it. So boredpanda got its readers 🙄
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From a lot of these "America is different from all other countries ever" posts, the underlying feeling I get is that people in other countries than America don't really want to get to know anyone new, that meeting new people is somehow discouraged. According to the replies I've read, they don't want to talk or even sit near new people in bars, or on the street, or in stores, or while running errands, or while... So, how DO people in countries other than America meet new people?
I find it funny how many people are complaining about the repeats. You do know that by opening and commenting on the article you are actively telling them to make more.
"We at bp love diversity,respect all people and everyone is beautiful...".Also bp, "fck USA,the sign in front of McDonald's is too big and we suck,we are offended because the sign is too big and we'll tell you about it in every second post.Did we make it clear that we love everyone and everything?And yes,fck the USA,people are fiendly,fck that,we are offended because everyone is friendly.We love everything except for fiendly people,big signs and big roads,fck roads too".
An observation... So... In the US, the main businesses that keeps the economy going are pharmaceutical, automotive (cars), property and food & beverage?
Why is the rest of the world so pathetically obsessed with this stupid s**t
I'm not. I read it because I'm very bored as I'm not feeling very well but these posts don't even have anything new in them. Like many others I'd rather see weird s**t from other countries - and for us all to just be interested and not judgemental.
Load More Replies... It’s sometimes a bi-weekly thing. I’ve seen enough ‘America bad’ posts on this site to last me a lifetime.
Load More Replies... Why does BP keep making posts about how different America is? We realize we're weird, we don't need six posts a month to prove it. How about some more INTERESTING articles.
So people do things differently in different countries. Wow.
Load More Replies... I was hoping to see some for other countries. The US isn't the only country with its own nuances that seem strange to outsiders.
Load More Replies... Can we have a thread where people post what they find weird about their *own* countries? England, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, Thailand, Belize, whatever? Please? That'd be awy more interesting, to me.
If you start with what's weird in England we could be here a while (I'm English).
Load More Replies... Parading toddlers around in padded bikini tops and make up is the weirdest thing about the US.
Oh goodie. Another Americans Are Weird post. I'm American. Yeah. We're weird. SO ARE YOU! WE'RE ALL WEIRD!!!! I'll be the first one to call out the US for the ridiculous things we do. But seriously. Enough US bashing. All you're doing is creating an even bigger divide, when we NEED EACH OTHER. It's shameful. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
Part of the reason for the mono-culture that is the US is that the US is freakin' HUGE and only has two countries bordering it. Most of us can't afford to travel and experience other cultures, so we don't think we're weird. Having been abroad, I see it, but lots of people don't.
Bathroom stall gaps! Portion sizes! Drug commercials! Patriotism! These have been done to death, both here and weekly on Buzzfeed.
You forgot, "We don't have to tip!! Just pay your servers!"
Load More Replies... Often cashiers ask “how are you doing today sir/madam?” without expecting an answer from you. Mind that it isn’t a real question, but a greeting gesture for you. If you reply them “thank you” or “fine, and you?”, you shouldn’t expect an answer too. That’s not rude.
I am an American, I will never understand "Credit". My credit score is more important than my reputation? That's dumb.
This article annoyed me!!!! It was filled with stereotypes and things that are the same in other countries!!!
Do you think that articles about other countries are not full of stereotypes? )) I was annoyed reading one about mine, but it made me to comment it. So boredpanda got its readers 🙄
Load More Replies... From a lot of these "America is different from all other countries ever" posts, the underlying feeling I get is that people in other countries than America don't really want to get to know anyone new, that meeting new people is somehow discouraged. According to the replies I've read, they don't want to talk or even sit near new people in bars, or on the street, or in stores, or while running errands, or while... So, how DO people in countries other than America meet new people?
I find it funny how many people are complaining about the repeats. You do know that by opening and commenting on the article you are actively telling them to make more.
"We at bp love diversity,respect all people and everyone is beautiful...".Also bp, "fck USA,the sign in front of McDonald's is too big and we suck,we are offended because the sign is too big and we'll tell you about it in every second post.Did we make it clear that we love everyone and everything?And yes,fck the USA,people are fiendly,fck that,we are offended because everyone is friendly.We love everything except for fiendly people,big signs and big roads,fck roads too".
An observation... So... In the US, the main businesses that keeps the economy going are pharmaceutical, automotive (cars), property and food & beverage?
Why is the rest of the world so pathetically obsessed with this stupid s**t
I'm not. I read it because I'm very bored as I'm not feeling very well but these posts don't even have anything new in them. Like many others I'd rather see weird s**t from other countries - and for us all to just be interested and not judgemental.
Load More Replies... It’s sometimes a bi-weekly thing. I’ve seen enough ‘America bad’ posts on this site to last me a lifetime.
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