The United States is relatively unique in its culture and function. From our fast-paced lives to our habits, customs, and even laws, American life differs from the rest of the world. Here are 23 things considered ‘normal’ or common in the US that other countries find weird.
Paying Additional Sale Taxes
In the United States, customers usually have to pay an additional sales tax when they purchase items from a store. This practice is uncommon in many other parts of the world where prices are fixed and final, with no additional taxes.
Hanging Flags Everywhere
Americans love to show their patriotism, often seen through the abundance of flags in front of houses, businesses, and even cars. While this is an everyday sight in the US, other countries do not share the same enthusiasm for flying national flags.
Advertising Prescription Drugs
The US is among the few nations where prescription drugs are advertised directly to consumers through television, radio, and print media. This practice is uncommon in many other countries, as promoting medications directly to consumers can encourage overmedication and addiction.
Super-Sized Portions at Restaurants
Americans often eat larger portion sizes than people in other countries. Depending on the restaurant, a meal could contain two or more servings – much more than someone would typically eat in a single sitting in many other cultures. This can lead to unintended health consequences like obesity and diabetes.
Using Checks as a Payment Method
Although alternative payment systems like credit cards and digital wallets have gained popularity, checks remain a prevalent payment method in the US. However, it is worth noting that in several other countries, checks are limited due to security concerns or inadequate infrastructure for check processing.
Keeping Guns at Home
Gun ownership is common in the United States, and many Americans keep firearms in their homes. This practice is uncommon or unheard of in many parts of Europe, where tighter regulations restrict gun laws. Also, countries with stricter gun laws are more successful in preventing violent crimes and homicides involving firearms.
Making Everything Fast-paced
Life in the US is fast-paced, with a heavy emphasis on productivity and efficiency. Americans tend to move quickly through tasks, have jam-packed schedules, and value their time more than anything else. While other countries may share similar values towards productivity, the intensity of the American way of living is quite different from most other cultures.
Having Different Laws in Each State
Another unique aspect of the US is that each state has its laws and regulations. This system means that what a state’s law permits may be prohibited in another state, making things tricky for those traveling across borders. In comparison, other countries usually have more uniform laws throughout the nation or region.
Date Format Beginning With the Month
Unlike most of the world, Americans use a date format that starts with the month, followed by the day and year. This format deviates from the usual convention where dates are written with the day first, followed by the month and year.
Using Imperial Measurements
The United States uses the imperial system of measurements, which measures distance and weight in feet, inches, pounds, and gallons. This measurement system can cause a lot of confusion for international travelers who are more familiar with the metric system.
Money With the Same Color
The US uses paper money with the same color for different denominations, making it difficult for foreigners to tell them apart from afar. In contrast, many other nations have distinct colors and sizes for each denomination, which makes it easier to differentiate between bills.
Making Tips Mandatory
Tipping is commonplace in the US, and some restaurants include it as a mandatory part of the bill. However, this isn’t a thing in other countries where tipping is a choice or not a thing at all. Moreover, some places might find it rude to tip too much because it suggests the service wasn’t up to par.
Driving on the Right Side of the Road
In the US, drivers are to stay on the right side of the road. This rule is the opposite in many countries where citizens drive on the left side instead. As a result, international travelers must be extra careful when navigating across different nations’ roads.
Using Fahrenheit Instead of Celsius to Measure Temperature
The US uses the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature, whereas most countries use the Celsius scale. This discrepancy can be confusing for travelers who are used to different temperature readings and units of measurement.
Wearing Shoes Indoors
In many parts of the world, taking off your shoes before entering a house is polite. But in the United States, this practice is uncommon, and people tend to keep their shoes on indoors, even in someone’s home. Shoes are treated as an extension of one’s style and not viewed as a potential source of dirt or contamination.
Eating Fast Food Most of the Time
Americans have a reputation for eating fast food frequently, and it’s not unusual to see citizens indulging in burgers and fries several times a week. On the other hand, foreigners do not share the same enthusiasm for junk food, as they prefer to make their meals from scratch with fresh ingredients.
Having Different Time Zones
The US spans different time zones, which can be challenging to track. This difference is incredibly confusing for international travelers, as they must adjust their watches and other devices to the local time of each state or region they’re visiting.
Giant Gaps in Between Bathroom Stalls
Another cultural difference in the US is that bathroom stalls often have wide gaps between them. This setup might be conducive for people who use wheelchairs or are bigger but can be off-putting to those who prefer private stalls that offer more coverage from prying eyes.
Pharmacies Sell so Many Things Apart From Medicine
The breadth of items found in American pharmacies differs greatly from those in other countries. Here, pharmacies sell everything from cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs to candy and toys. This convenience allows customers to get whatever they need all under one roof.
Little Vacation Time
Compared to other nations, the United States has relatively little vacation time. The average annual leave in the US is just ten days, with some employees receiving only 7 or 8. This system contrasts sharply with countries like France and Germany, which offer around 30 days of paid leave per year.
Giving Credit Cards to Servers at Restaurants
In the US, credit cards are often given directly to restaurant servers, who then walk away with them for a short period. This practice is weird to foreigners who would rather have the servers bring them a portable machine to input their information without handing over their cards.
Taking Left Over Food From Restaurant
In the US, it is acceptable to take leftover food from restaurants, and some places even offer doggy bags for customers who want to bring their meal home. With this kind of flexibility and convenience, it’s no wonder the US is so popular with visitors; yet this practice sometimes baffles visitors.
Going Into Debt to Go to College
In the US, many college students finance their education with loans. This debt is viewed as a necessary step to attaining higher education but can be a burden for those who struggle to pay it off after graduation. In contrast, some countries offer free or heavily subsidized tuition to ensure citizens can access quality education regardless of their financial situation.
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