When everyone around you does things a certain way, you start to view it as normal and “the way things are done.” However, visitors stepping inside the bubble wonder at the habits and customs developed a world away.
American Culture Shock
Americans tend to see our way of doing things as the right way, but travelers from other regions wonder at our practices.
Here, visitors to the US share the aspects of American culture that leave them scratching their heads in confusion.
Discover the biggest American culture shocks we all think are normal.
Small Talk
Visitors constantly rank our penchant for small talk as one of their biggest American culture shock moments.
We’re a friendly bunch. We’ll strike up conversations with strangers while standing in checkout lines, riding the train, or at the table next to us in a restaurant.
It’s not that foreigners aren’t friendly, it’s just that a lot of cultures don’t engage in small talk with strangers, and find our openness a little strange.
Friendliness
The small talk is just a small part of the American culture shock. The warm, real, positive friendliness travelers experience is even more surprising.
Americans will talk your ear off if you let them, but they’ll also help you find your way when lost and give you tips on the best places to visit. Some of us will even invite you to our homes – and actually mean it!
We missed the lessons on stranger danger and, like golden retrievers, want to be friends with everyone.
Casual Debt
Most Americans are in debt. We have car notes and mortgages, and rely on credit cards to pay for daily expenses.
The financial system in some other countries doesn’t allow folks to take on such substantial debt. One user stated that they must have at least a 25% down payment to purchase a home in their area, a practice that’s impossible in nearly every US metro.
On the positive side, easy access to debt makes homeownership easier in the United States than in some other countries.
Bigger is Better
“Why does everything have to be bigger?” asked one user, implying that the penchant for largeness was one of the biggest American culture shock moments.
Americans go big with everything. We have massive McMansion houses and giant pickup trucks that take up two parking spaces. Even our SUVs and sedans are big compared to European cars.
But we also go big with food. Our massive serving sizes could feed a family, and our love for super-sized soft drinks seems too much for foreign visitors.
Little Vacation Time
Americans dream of working a job that offers a two-week yearly vacation, to the horror of our European friends. They can’t wrap their heads around the paltry few days off Americans strive for.
“Two weeks seems so wild for me,” expressed one user. “We have 28 days of mandatory vacation per year,” they added.
At least Americans are starting to agree on this. Most of us agree that the lack of paid time off is one of the worst things about the US.
Flags Everywhere
Americans love their country. We wave flags on everything from our cars to our homes, and even wear t-shirts showcasing our love of the good ole US of A.
And it’s not even our own flags half the time. We wave flags representing our heritage, our favorite sports teams, and even our very identities.
Foreign visitors find our obsessive patriotism and love of flag-waving a little weird. You’ll rarely see such casual displays in other countries.
Maternity Leave
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The lack of vacation time is bad enough, but folks from other countries are horrified to find that American mothers have no mandated maternity leave.
One Canadian user said they couldn’t imagine going back to work just 6 weeks postpartum. To their shock, many Americans shared that most mothers don’t even get that. Some have to return to work immediately after giving birth, because they can’t afford to take any time off.
Rich Televangelists
Users from other countries can’t understand why Americans give millions of dollars to televangelists who hoard the cash and live a life of luxury.
One American tried to explain it, using their own family as an example. “They teach that if you give your money to the church (and to them), god will bless you with prosperity, and you’ll be rich,” they said, adding that their parents regularly donated but are still poor.
Others said that most Americans also see through the scam, and only a tiny percentage fall for it.
Baseline Education
A Canadian Redditor expressed shock at the low educational standards in the US. Although they admitted that plenty of intelligent people live in the States, they were shocked that many didn’t seem to have basic knowledge.
Americans blamed the infamous “No Child Left Behind Act,” which epically failed at what politicians promised. Rather than ensuring equal opportunity for all children and creating a culture that values knowledge, it prohibited teachers from failing poor performers and tied school funding to test scores, forcing teachers to teach to the test rather than teach to instill knowledge and understanding.
Others blame a propaganda network that thrives on fear, which tells poor, uneducated Americans that knowledge is elitism, science is evil, and universities want to steal their children.
The result is a massive divide between the educated and uneducated in the country.
School Mascots
Americans are peppy, embracing school spirit and our favorite “home team.”
One European user found America’s obsession with mascots, rallies, and school sports confusing.
“Where I live, we just have teams and just play matches against people,” they said. “In America, it’s all like “GO EASTTOWN EAGLES!!! OOGACHACKA!” and there would be some person in a cheapo eagle suit spinning a basketball on his fingers or something.”
We love to make a production of our sporting events. It adds a bit of flair and entertainment, making it fun for the whole family.
Zero Tolerance Rules
Some users expressed confusion at America’s zero-tolerance policies in schools. Although designed to stop bullying, they often result in harsh punishments for victims who stand up for themselves.
Many said the rule has unintended consequences. Kids who usually try to get away or stop a fight to avoid getting in trouble will go all out since they will get the same punishment regardless of what they do.
It also gives groups of bullies opportunities to gang up on kids they don’t like. If three bullies each start a fight, the same kid will have three fights on their record, risking expulsion.
Many users said the backward rule only allows schools to say they did something to address bullying, but it doesn’t fix any problems.
Politician Worship
Americans worship political leaders like they worship favored celebrities. We get flags showcasing our “team” and defend every action and decision they make, regardless of how horrible.
“Looking at the US from the outside, it seems like idolizing presidents is a typical American thing,” said one user.
Redditors from other countries said they generally hate politicians instead of worshipping them. “I think hating politicians might be the norm, at least in Europe,” offered one.
Tipping
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America’s tipping culture is wild to foreigners. Most Europeans rarely even tip in restaurants, so being asked to tip an additional 20% on retail transactions is especially flummoxing.
But in Europe, most servers get paid a living wage. They can’t fathom that we’d pay employees a measly $2 an hour and hope the customers make up the difference.
Even Americans think tipping culture has gone too far.
“It drives me insane, and my kids think I’m a major boomer,” said one. ”Almost everywhere you go, they present you with the opportunity to tip, like there’s no service being rendered other than what you’re paying for, and they still flip the screen around and ask if you want to pay at 10 or 15 or 20% tip.”
Healthcare
Redditors from across the globe express bewilderment at America’s overly expensive and confusing healthcare system.
An American user living abroad highlighted the differences. “I had a five-day hospital stay back home in the US, and my bill was over $10000. I had another five-day stay in the country I live in now, and my total bill was about $300.”
To be fair, many Americans agreed that our healthcare system isn’t working and needs restructuring. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough political will to make the drastic changes necessary.
Insurance Tied to Employment
Foreigners who hope to work in the US are shocked to discover that healthcare is tied to employment. The system is baffling enough as it is, but the fact that you lose coverage if you quit your job is unfathomable.
Most people from other countries think the single-payer system is much better.
Sales Tax
It’s common in the States for sales tax to be excluded from the price tag. American shoppers know they will pay more than the listed price at the register, but the practice confuses those from other countries.
European shoppers experience sticker shock when they make their purchases at the register. Why are they paying 15% more than the sticker price?
In most of Europe, the price on the tag includes taxes, so it’s the price you will pay at the register.
I think I like that system better.
Living to Work
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Americans love work. Our entire lives revolve around it. We’re obsessed with it.
We talk about how many hours we worked as if there’s a prize for working ourselves to death. We describe ourselves in terms of our careers as if that’s the only thing that holds any value.
And the worst part is – most of us don’t make nearly enough money for it to be that big of a deal. Europeans wonder why we don’t care about real life more.
Drinking Age
In most European countries, the legal drinking age is 18 or even younger with parental consent.
Our friends across the pond are baffled that folks can buy a gun, join the military, and sign up for a lifetime of debt, but can’t drink a beer for three more years.
How We Write Our Dates
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It’s not just the drinking age that brings American culture shock. Young Europeans visiting a bar in the US might be in for a surprise when they discover we write our dates backwards.
Imagine turning 21 on February 12 and visiting a bar. An American’s ID will have the birthday listed 02/12/XX, but a European’s ID will show 12/02.
The bouncer may tell you to get lost even though you’re of legal age!
The Opening in Bathroom Stalls
Foreign visitors are in for a shock when they use a public restroom for the first time. Most scoff at the giant open space between the door and the stall, offering anyone a peek in.
In Europe, most bathroom stalls are completely enclosed, allowing you to do your business in near-complete privacy.
In America, we can save a few bucks by making cheap stalls with doors that barely close, so that’s what we do.
How Do You Feel About These Common American Practices?
After seeing the perspective from outsiders, do you agree that these ordinary “American things” are a little weird?
Would you change any of these things about American society, or do you think we have the right approach?