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Growing up in a European country and never witnessing what it's like to go to an American school, watching American high school comedies, to me, has always been a pretty surreal experience. I'm sure that most of you fellow non-Americans reading this article could relate to me on this.

There are so many things about American schools that have always seemed utterly fascinating to me. For instance, you get letter grades instead of number ones, schools have swimming pools inside them, there's a club for almost anything, you have to get a hall pass to go to the bathroom during class, and lunch meals are usually pretty bizarre. The list goes on. With that being said, Bored Panda invites you to look through this list of tweets from non-American Twitter users in which they share things that they find the strangest about American schools. Feel free to explain to us the things we don't understand or add your own in the comment section!

#1

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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GC
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t ever know what A levels etc. are. One of these days I need to look it up.

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#3

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Caitlin Davenport
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but the cheerleaders were just normal students, not stuck up and they didn't wear their uniforms in class.

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#4

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Jamziee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, because if you're in the hall without one, then you MUST be commiting murder (Sarcasm lads)

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#5

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Charlotte A.
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Sweden it starts in august and ends in june. Nothing odd about it, to me.

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#8

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Caitlin Davenport
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They used to have E as a failing grade, but people thought it meant Excellent, so they changed it to an F.

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#10

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Juniper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, don't all schools have cafeterias? Where do you eat your lunch?

Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost zero schools in Australia have cafeterias. You just find somewhere to sit, there are benches usually scattered over the school like the courtyard, on the oval, in front of the library etc or you just sat on the grass on the oval. In primary school you often eat your lunch in the class and then after 10-15 mins you get to go outside and play.

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ArtistinResidence
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, we have cafeterias and selections of different foods. You get approximately a half an hour for lunch so you don’t really have time to go home and we don’t allow students out because we have had occurrences of them getting into accidents or getting stoned or getting drunk and then coming back or not coming back. Seniors usually have greater privileges and their own lunch area. We have staggered periods for eating so all students are in the cafeteria at the same time. For quite a few students who are uncomfortable with all that socialization there are teachers that usually allow them to eat in their rooms.

¡ Rachel ¡
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

British here, every primary school i went to, and that my children went to, had a huge hall for assembly's that would be used for meals but no cafeteria. However all the middle / secondary schools had cafeterias.

Erin Kavik
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both my primary and secondary had large cafeterias. Most kids I knew exclusively ate school provided meals while at school.

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tangy chip
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my cousins in mexico are still in grade school, and by the time they finish it is lunchtime, so they eat at home.

Gwenda Christenson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where would you go to eat your lunch? Most of us can't go home (living 10+ miles away). Because school are mostly in rural areas there are no local places to eat. Some schools are actually located between towns - so the only thing nearby is a field.

Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia we eat wherever we can find to sit. We don’t have cafeterias but we have benches scattered around the school yard or you can just sit on the grassy oval. In primary school though a lot of kids eat their food in the class room for 10-15mins then after that they go and play in the school yard.

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Lauretta Payne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. This is an outgrowth of the “hot lunch” programs that became popular in the 60’s (and continue to this day). They needed a place to prepare and to serve the food, so that students - especially poor students - were not dependent on a “bag lunch”. Also, many of our schools are BIG (there were 503 kids in my graduating class), so schools need to be able to feed 1000-2000 kids each day.

Carly Romer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My middle and high schools had an cafeteria..it depends on the group you were in, if you were in the athletic or popular group, the caf was the place to be seen. If you were band/theatre/art/newspaper/yearbook kids, you tended to eat in the rooms for that activity. The stoners would disappear into the smoke pit in the woods (the teachers knew, but didn’t care), and the goth/heavy metal kids used to chill in the breezeway between the auto shop building and the metal/wood shop building. (We had covered walkways between buildings as my school is in Western Canada)

Judy Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, schools serve a hot meal every day for purchase. You can also bring your own lunch, but you eat in the cafeteria. For many kids, unfortunately, it could be the only meal they would have to eat.

Amy Reusch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the colder states that have more incline to weather-yes we have cafeterias. Same for those states that get really hot. I moved from NY to NV and was shocked they had outdoor seating for students.

Eunice Bentley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my corner of Canada, a rural school district we ate our lunch in our classrooms, although if the weather was nice you could take it outside and eat there. Then I moved to a city and my children while in elementary school came home for lunch. When they moved up to Junior high they took their lunch to school and ate in the lunch room or if they were on really good terms with their teachers in the classroom. In high school they could a) take lunch to eat in the cafeteria, or outside b) buy lunch in the cafeteria and eat in there or c) come home for lunch if someone had their license and lived nearby, or they could go to the mall and eat in the food court. Security kicked them out about 10 minutes before classes were scheduled to start.

Flore Daï
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In France (from kindergarden to high school) either you eat at the school's "cantine" (= cafeteria, serving a proper meal with entrées, main and dessert) , or you go back home to eat (or eat out wherever when you are old enough). Hardly anyone brings a packed lunch.

Angela Jester
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know not all schools have a cafeteria, but I wouldn't think it's that unusual?

Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aussie kids have a basic tuck shop with some very simple food snacks or sandwiches but not really all that healthy . Students usually take their lunch from home.

Eglė Bukauskaitė
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This question should be the vice verca. Your schools DON'T have cafeterias??

Viv Hart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In South Africa, you or Mom makes your sandwiches to take to school for lunch, with a bottle of milk or juice. We had a tuckshop which sold cold drinks, what the US calls soda.

Philly Bob Squires
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went to Mastbaum in Philadelphia from 1973 to 1976 and we'd eat lunch (if we brought it) up on the roof or on the front steps. The cafeteria was a zoo. I usually just hung out as I mentioned in another post, that I'd save my bus fare and lunch money to buy records!

Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most do. It's the way only way a lot of kids get a decent meal (sometimes breakfast, too). I went to Catholic school and our cafeteria was basically for Friday night Bingo. We got a hot lunch on Fridays (hot dogs or hamburgers, even during Lent - go figure!).

Kimberly Reetz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For kids who don’t have cold lunch brought from home. I would sometimes forget to make/bring my lunch, but I could still eat.

Elizabeth Robert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YES and my Mom was the school cook for all 8 of my elementary school years....

elfin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many do. It is a convenient way to feed a lot of students. It is also a way to make sure that students from underprivileged homes get a solid meal. It's awful that that's a thing, but it does serve a good purpose.

Kimberly Herbert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes and a program where kids that are food insecure get at least 2 meals every school day. SOme districts even have an evening meal for kids that stay after school for sports or clubs.

Ivana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't know this was an American thing but it works really well. Highly recommend.

Goth Nurse
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huh? Here in Finland we have cafeterias/dining halls. That's where they serve the (free) food.

pink
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I live we have cafeterias but they're not like American ones. You get only 1-2 dishes and you don't get pizza or Doritos. We get to leave during lunch hours too.

I Like Jelly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We get a cafeteria to sit in and eat lunch for 15 minutes then straight back to the classroom we go (no recess or freedom of any sort)

あんぱんまん
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we have cefeterias too... but we dont get to eat their, noooo, we have to buy the damn oily food wrapped in one layer tissue paper and go to the class to eat! and did i mention we have to wait in line even though there are more than two cafeteria stations to sell food

Hobbes Maxwell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it also comes from the concept of providing lunches for the students, since the school lunch is kind of a social program that made sure kids were fed. one of the few decent things America does. so having a designated lunchroom made sense, since it's next to the kitchen. When i was in grade school we had a breakfast program as well that kids could go to instead of playing in the yard before the school day start, so homes that had financial trouble could get that extra assistance.

Emily Smith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course we do! It's a big room with tables and chairs where students can buy lunch or just eat one brought from home.

Amber odom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes mostly by laws. It believe it is to help underprivileged students get a meal. Some schools give breakfast and lunch as well. Sadly they are programs that are underfunded or getting canceled.

Todd Cooper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been teaching in Korea for years - Korean students eat their lunches in their classrooms with their teachers.

Petey the Foo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't eat in a cafeterias in Europe, where do you eat while at school?

aj B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, because everyone knows exposure to the outside causes children's brains to melt, and eating in the classroom will cause them to ignore the teacher of that room for the rest of the year.

NWB
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ozzie schools just eat outside, no hot lunches and trays etc!

Seth Linn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure do, the food sucks, the lines are as bad as Disney land, and they will sue your parents for a dollar.

Lsai Aeon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Cafeteria in US schools isn't just a room to eat in. They furnish a breakfast before school and a lunch for everyone. Students whose parents can afford it pay full price (like $3) Those that are less able to afford a full lunch are charged $0.40 and some get free lunch. It's all the same food and now with the computerized system no one knows who pays what for lunch. I don't know the breakfast prices

Cal Capone
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if your school had enough money for one. A couple of my schools didn't

Kayci Landeen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. My high school even made us stay there until the bell rang. We couldn't even go get our books for our next class.

Cee Mor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where do you eat lunch at school? I've seen cafeterias in English movies

InfectedVoice
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a canteen, it was also the assembly hall, they would just lay out tables and chairs at lunch-time.

Lili
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All schools I've been to (Asia) have cafeterias, but small and mostly selling snacks bc we come home for lunch. Unless if a school is placed pretty far from the center and children have to stay for lunch, then there's a fully functioned cafeteria.

Ana Filipa Lino
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Portugal schools has cafeterias and universities has small coffees inside them.

Whawhawhatsis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, some small schools don't have a cafeteria. The high school I went to was very small and if kids wanted to eat at a school cafeteria they had to go to the elementary school and eat with the little kids. My friends and I would walk the block or two to the small downtown, where there were several small shops that would sell yummy sandwiches and soup and whatnot for the same price as lousy cafeteria food. I still miss the fabulous salami in one of those shops, and it's been out of business for many years!

Kim
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought this was a thing in most schools, not just the states. All schools I’ve gone to in Sweden have a cafeteria as well, from first grade up to university.

sylvantic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we have a tiny one... we usually eat outside or in classrooms, there isn't room in the cafeteria. this sucks cause where i live it gets to be over 100 degrees and there's no indoor seating.

The Pansexual MELONLORD
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my elementary school, there was a 'cafeteria' except we had to bring our own food and snacks. The 'cafeteria' had a fridge, sinks, a microwave, and silverware just in case. My current school has a real cafeteria. But their food isn't murky gloop like in Hollywood, it's actual edible very delicious food.

Livvyol
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my school in Ireland, you brought your own lunch and usually sat in the assembly hall or lurked about in corridors/outside. Later on, they started to sell (crappy) sandwiches for kids who forgot to bring lunch.

me
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My school (in America) doesn't. There is a small room to buy your lunch, and you just eat outside (there are tables and benches around school) or some teachers let you eat in their classrooms.

Demetri
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now, THIS (to Americans) is a STRANGE question. A meal-break is required here from Kindergarten onward. No one has time to run home for a meal or have adults come deliver it. So, YES, there is a structured meal-plan and a cafeteria to eat at.

Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But why can’t you just bring lunch from home? We have meal breaks too in Australia but most people either bring their own lunch or have some money to buy something from the canteen. We then find somewhere to sit scattered around the school to eat.

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Roadkill The Brave
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes but in highschool you don't have to sit in them anymore. I was a free-range highschooler and ate anywhere but the cafeteria.

LJ Robinson
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LJ Robinson We had cafeterias. We would line up, they would put our food on a tray that we picked up at the end of the steam tables the lunch ladies worked over. No choices, just what they gave us. Then we sat down at long tables with benches attached and ate and chatted or did homework or read until the lunch period was over, then went to your next class.

Soph the Loaf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of kids go home to eat during lunch break. Not in the US but internationally.

Michaele
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Canada students eat lunch in the classroom before going outside.

Ian Bartels
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our cafeteria was too small to fit the large amount of students. We usually had lunch outside by the band room.

Dave P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well students need to eat somewhere and eat a table in a civilized manner

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#12

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Aunt Messy
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Canadian here. They don't close schools in Canada unless it's been colder than -40C for three days in a row.

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#18

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#21

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The Zooble
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be very honest, I'm English and I usually do page count rather than word count

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#25

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#26

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Caitlin Davenport
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not really. We have nearby schools we compete against in sports, but any rivalry is very light-hearted.

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#32

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

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Caitlin Davenport
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Candy was usually a very tiny part, if it was there at all. But it was the most exciting part!

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