For foreigners, what seems completely natural to Americans is frequently anything but.
Customs fluctuate from nation to nation, and visitors from other cultures are frequently baffled by the cultural contrasts. Every country has a few peculiar customs that they are accustomed to, whether they are customs from their everyday lives or from their culture as a whole.
Because they do things, say things, and eat things that other countries could not possible understand, the United States of America functions as the nation that never ceases to astonish the rest of the globe.
So whether you’re an American or not, sit back, unwind, and take it all in as we take you on a wild adventure through this enormous country. Who knows, maybe by the time it’s through you’ll be donning the red, white, and blue.
20. Football – They Call It ‘Soccer’!
It’s common knowledge that Americans refer to what most of the rest of the world views as football as “soccer.”
The common defense of calling football instead of soccer centers on the fact that “soccer” genuinely calls for the use of the foot. While in American “football,” the usage of feet actually has very little of an impact.
The fact that Americans refer to the most popular sport in the world as “soccer” rather than “football” like the rest of the world is sometimes used as an example of their cultural illiteracy.
So, if you’re American, calling it “soccer” is not incorrect.
19. Required Tip – Doesn’t It Sound Strange?
Everyone can understand how challenging a waiter or waitress’ work may be at times. It can’t be easy to work a job where everything you do is scrutinized and magnified, whether it’s due to long hours or people making fun of them.
Some contend that restaurants do not have the right to impose a minimum tip requirement despite this.
Most of the time, outside of North America, you have to offer exceptional service to be eligible for a tip. Unfortunately, in the United States, it appears as though it happens even if someone hasn’t particularly earned it, with 15% being thought of as a regular amount.
18. The Portions – Mount Everest Of Food
When you place a food order, you typically know what you will get. The typical portion size tends to be the same wherever you go, so it doesn’t matter if you order your usual at a different place or restaurant than the one you’re used to.
Unless you travel to the USA, that is.
Everything you eat seems to be a starter, main course, and dessert all in one since it appears that they have chosen every meal imaginable and raised the text size.
In actuality, this isn’t a terrible thing, but in the context of this list, it most definitely qualifies as “crazy.”
17. Patience Deficiency – ‘How Much Longer?’
As we all know, sometimes in life, obtaining the things you most desire requires a great deal of patience.
It doesn’t really matter if it’s a mental or physical wait because, as the proverb says, good things come to those who wait patiently. Even though that isn’t the actual saying, the sentiment is clear.
Unfortunately, Americans don’t appear to be able to maintain their composure when forced to do this by standing in lines for products. Americans consistently come across as being only a few seconds away from boiling over, but the rest of the world has mastered the art.
16. 24/7 Restaurants – Stick To Regular Hours
We’ll discuss more about fast food later, but for now, we’ll just mention it briefly because one of its main advantages is that the majority of these restaurants are open around-the-clock, every day of the week.
There is a set time when you are permitted to dine at typical restaurants, which is enjoyable, but not in America.
Three-course meals aren’t typically given in such a setting at that 4.30am, so it just feels a little bit out of the ordinary more than anything else. It may be groundbreaking or game-changing, but it’s unquestionably not normal.
15. What Are All Those Baseball Players Chewing?
Smoking is still a personal choice, despite the fact that most people think it’s a nasty habit.
Even if you disagree with it or don’t think it’s a very socially responsible course of action, only the individual taking the action can truly determine what is best for them.
But things start to seem a little strange when you consider chewing tobacco. This is considered as a substitute for actual cigarettes, which is a step in the right direction, although you could counter that vaping already fulfills this function.
By the way, chewing tobacco is used in other nations as well, although in the US it is primarily used, with 8.9% of high school students reporting to having tried it.
14. College Sports – Astonishing Commitment
Universities have sports teams that compete on a weekly basis in the UK and around Europe. Even though there are rarely crowds that above 100 individuals, it’s typically seen as a lighthearted activity that peers can support outside of class.
The numbers are astounding when compared to collegiate sports in America, particularly basketball and American football.
For each game they play, several college teams in the USA are able to draw an average of 100,000 spectators.
Some people even contend that the top four professional sports leagues are not nearly as significant to them as college athletics.
13. Creating Insane Flavors – A Sea Of Colors
There is no denying that Americans are skilled at experimenting with food and beverage flavors, with the “sweet” category being particularly lucrative for them. The US is constantly coming up with fresh and original concepts to market to the general public, and as consumers, the nation is typically eager to pay for them.
On the liquid side of things, Mountain Dew and Gatorade are two of the most prominent examples, but for the purposes of this piece, we’re going to concentrate on Oreos.
The following are just a few of the several Oreo flavors that have been offered in the United States over the years: Blueberry Pie, Fruit Punch, Spongebob, Limeade, Candy Cane, and Limeade.
12. Loving The Accent – “Say It Again!“
The focus of this post is primarily on the British, though anyone with a distinctive accent certainly qualifies.
Going to the States can make it simple to become overwhelmed by the size and grandeur of everything, and that sense is amplified once someone hears your accent.
They’ll ask you to repeat any particular phrase that you may have said while acting as though anyone with a foreign accent is a celebrity.
It’s a special experience that perhaps demonstrates how few Americans are able to visit other continents, including Europe. It is distinctive, eccentric, and humorous.
11. Fast Food Fans
After mentioning that we would move on to fast food, here we are.
Despite the existence of long-standing franchises like McDonald’s and Burger King, Americans tend to take things to a whole new level. They pushed fast food franchises more than most other brands, through sponsorship agreements and nonstop ads.
Many visitors opt to eat their first meal at one of these locations after landing because it has come to be linked with the nation.
With these enormous burgers and fries, you may apply the adage “Everything Is Bigger In Texas” to the entire United States of America.
10. Different Phrases – It’s A Pavement!
The English language is a lovely thing and it should be respected, but because it is spoken in so many different nations, there are a few different dialects that frequently cause confusion. Although some words’ spellings have a tendency to confuse people, the major cause of the argument is found in particular sentences.
As an illustration, Australians refer to footpaths and Americans use sidewalks in place of pavement. Americans say chips instead of crisps. They use the term trunk rather than a car boot.
Many people find that to be completely incomprehensible, but it’s actually pretty normal, and foreigners who are unfamiliar with the phrases merely find it absurd.
9. Red Light – Stop, Look, Listen
No, this is not where Pitbull’s song “Greenlight” begins.
The traffic light system has been in place for many years, but not every country that uses it truly extends the courtesy of obeying it. Many countries will decide to treat it as a binding legislation, while others appear to view it more as a recommendation.
Foreigners who have traveled to the United States have observed that doing so is more of a choice than a mandate.
More than any other country in the world, many drivers appear to mistakenly interpret a red light as a signal to proceed rather than to stop. In the vast part of the nation, turning right is permitted even when the light is red. Then what purpose does a light serve?
10. Really Strong Patriotism!
Even though they don’t always feel like they should, everyone wants to serve their country in whatever manner they can. Most of the time, showing patriotism is a very subtle gesture; outside of major athletic events, just clues and signals are made.
However, 95% of Americans are incredibly proud of their country and won’t hesitate to express it to you.
The United States of America is brimming over with patriotic citizens from head to toe, whether it is through the parade of flags on every corner or the art of tourism.
7. Deep Fried Foods – Beyond Comprehension
There have been many entries on this list that are related to food and drink, but there is a solid reason for that. Whether you love it or hate it, America is a center for the subgenre, and you can’t ignore what they’ve done for the business.
Deep-fried dishes, which appear to be available everywhere in the country, are another excellent example.
Even Mars bars have started to become fried, which is something that most people find difficult to understand.
It’s strange and unique, and long may that theme persist.
6. World Champions – The Only Sheriff In Town
In America, all it takes to be referred to as a “global champion” in your particular sport is to win the national championship. Given that they are the only nation competing, that has always been considered strange.
Even though the Americans would likely win easily if other countries were included to the leagues, it isn’t the issue at hand.
5. “Bro” – Please Stop, I’m Not Your Brother
The term “lad” is frequently used in Britain to describe someone who enjoys activities like drinking, laughing with his friends, and generally acting a little bit rogue.
A “bro” is the term used to describe the American equivalent.
Beyond the description, however, many American men use the term frequently in everyday speech. Even if they aren’t using it to refer to their actual brothers, it is a descriptive way to talk about their close friends or family members. A typical greeting for someone you’ve never met before who is plainly not your brother is “Sup bro?”
Quite odd when you give it some thought. Although it looks like a minor incident, it is clearly noteworthy.
4. Houses For Fraternities – A Waste Of Resources
In the majority of university societies, choosing a host for an event in their residence hall or other lodging is standard procedure. This makes sense because everyone is assigned a location to go to on any given night of the week.
In America, fraternities and sororities receive complete houses to utilize as meeting spaces and residences. The fact that these children are allowed to do whatever they want has long perplexed a significant segment of the worldwide populace.
More power to them because, let’s face it, a lot of people in the rest of the globe are envious of their chance.
3. Bumper Stickers – We Can’t Read That Fast
Bumper stickers are something that everyone uses to show their support for a cause. It can be boring to drive for hours on end, but occasionally it’s intriguing to learn something new about the person or people in front of you.
The Americans take things to an entirely new level.
Many vehicles on the road are covered in bumper stickers, and many people find it quite difficult to read even nine or ten of them, let alone all of them.
Obviously, the stickers are not being used to make points for their own advantage.
2. Commercial Obsession – It’s A Tide Ad
People typically use the commercial breaks that occur during television programs to prepare food or use the restroom.
However, in America, they are frequently the most exciting part of the entire program you are watching, particularly if you are a non-football fan watching the Super Bowl.
Companies shell out millions of dollars for a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl, which demonstrates just how important these marketing strategies are in comparison to those used in other nations. The majority of ads are succinct and to the point, yet they accomplish the job.
Oh, and this is a Tide advertisement in case you got the reference.
1. Attire – Boundaries Required
This will naturally sound a little absurd, especially since a few other nations have already adopted it, but it undoubtedly originated in the United States.
Naturally, we all enjoy dozing off in our pajamas, and we also appreciate donning gym attire after a particularly satisfying workout.
However, some people find it strange to wear those types of clothing in daily life, such as when going to the grocery store. It’s possibly one of the many factors that make the United States so unique from the rest of the globe, and perhaps—just perhaps—we all need to start accepting that.