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Isolation of nations, different climate and resources as well as other factors led to different customs in different places forming. But with globalization, we are able to know about those differences and prepare for them. However, some things are less talked about because people may not even realize that it could be different in other places, so there is always something that can surprise us.

The country that people like to talk about very often is the US. There are so many things they do differently, so visiting the country or living there might cause some culture shocks. Redditors were discussing this very topic when Miserablemermaid asked “Non-Americans of reddit, what was the biggest culture shock you experienced when you came to the US?” There were more than 30k answers given in just a day, so we collected the most interesting things redditors pointed out.

More info: Reddit

#1

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Your sugar has very little food in it.

manjeete , Lisa Risager Report

#2

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Seeing children of all different colors. It was beautiful.

SuspiciousSpecific71 , USAG- Humphreys Report

#3

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The treatment of veterans. A lot of communication around the respect they deserve. Yet many of them are broke, homeless and in a generally bad position.

coenw , Nick Vidal-Hall Report

#4

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Not really a shock but one thing that really surprised me was the sheer amount of flags.

It was like almost every building had an American flag. Here in Belgium, if I see a house with a national flag I assume there's some kind of sport event going on that I didn't know about.

Conocoryphe , Bill Smith Report

#5

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The toilet doors (or lack thereof). Not enough door!

Seriously, you're a wealthy enough country you don't need to leave an inch gap at the sides and a foot and a half at the top and bottom.

litsto , njaminjami Report

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#6

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Could not walk anywhere, or take good public transport. Always had to take Ubers or hitch lifts.

Everything was also HUGE. Cities, buildings, regular houses, food portions. I'd say people but I did not see anybody who was hugely obese there at least.

There was an insane amount of space just...everywhere. As a European used to being crammed into every available nook, even in rural areas, the way that towns and cities just stretched out was unimaginable.

ScotchSirin , Virginia State Parks Report

#7

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Everyone I met treated me like a long lost friend

Red_Ranger75 , Ricardo Moraleida Report

#8

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The air conditioning. Everywhere. And the literal temperature shock between the inside and the outside of any f**king building.

un_saumon , Matthew Paul Argall Report

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#9

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Everything being f**king huge. Literally. Road lanes, groceries, soda sizes. Especially distances: where i come from, 3 hours of driving are enough to cross half of the country, in the US it's just a small drive to go to see a relative or something.

salderosan99 , Ben Schumin Report

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#10

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Lawyer commercials and "if this happened to you, you can sue them" commercials.

RegnumRico , Wesley Fryer Report

#11

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Christianity everywhere. On your money, in the school, every Sunday, churches everywhere, in your pledge, in the Boy scouts, verses at the bottom of In&Out milkshakes

Majestic_Bierd , Ben Schumin Report

#12

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group I was walking down the street and there were some road workers doing something a bit ahead. When I got near them, one of them approached me and super kindly asked me to cross to the other side, halted the traffic so I could cross and wished me a nice day as I went along.

In my country they would've probably heckled at me for not crossing, and I would've told them to go f**k themselves for not signaling things properly as I walked in the middle of the street potentially getting hit by a car

madkeepz , Daniel Lobo Report

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#13

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Turn right on red. Beautiful.

klonricket , A_Peach Report

#14

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The importance of the College/University you go to. For me it felt like the name, you can even call it brand, of the College is more important than your actual skills and knowledge as well as the quality of education you receive. So many times, people asked me which College/University I visit and told me about their College and the College their childrens are visiting. Totally different than what I am used to in Germany, where it is mainly focused on your skills and grades not the College/University your are visiting.

Breathinglegend69 , carmichaellibrary Report

#15

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Tipping. And not just tipping, but tipping so much that the entire thing I bought (e.g. a meal) is now in an entirely higher price bracket.

wristconstraint , Kai Hendry Report

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#16

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group How early everything starts. School, work. 6am wake ups. That was hard.

helicoptercici , Paul van de Velde Report

#17

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Advertisements in between the title credits of the show and the actual show. You guys have a LOT of advertisements.

VodkaMargarine , Markus Report

#18

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Spray cheese. I was not ready.

ItsACaragor , Wendy Harman Report

#19

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group No sidewalks, not everywhere, but outside of major cities, you often literally can't walk between places safely

rioting-pacifist , TheMuuj Report

#20

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The different kinds of flavors for beverages. I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.

Just so you guys know,I enjoyed having multiple options, until I came to the US I had no idea I liked Blue Raspberry flavored soda and I found out that I liked to mix different kinds of sodas from the fountain and make a cocktail soda occasionally.

Also, I like how you guys have a s**t ton of flavors for your alcohol. I liked a lot of them but to be honest I didn't enjoy the whipped cream flavored stuff.

howwouldiknow-- , danielle_blue Report

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#21

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Medical advertisements on tv

DifferentAd154 , Leonid Mamchenkov Report

#22

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Sewers turtles aren't ninja turtles

BackgroundNoose , promiseminime Report

#23

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group When we first arrived, and I walked up to a soda machine. We never had those, and I think I drank 10-15 refills of coke before my parents started yelling at me. UNLIMITED SODA ARE YOU KIDDING ME WTF.

Lord_Disagree , Mike Mozart Report

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

Even if it was sugar free soda/pop I'd feel a bit sick after 15 refills o.o

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

That would honestly be pushing it for me too. At most I think I had maybe 1 or 2 refills? depends on how long the family was sitting there just jabbering away.

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

Shoot, I guess I take the refills for granted. Never considered it.

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

Goodness! Practice moderation, you hedonist. Accurate, though.

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

No wonder people are addicted to sugar and 'non' sugar crap like this. Our bodies get no fuel from the fake sugar additives. Free unlimited pop is a lousy thing to do. I haven't had fizzy drinks for over twenty years from illness, I only miss ginger beer occasionally 😔

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

Same here; I stopped drinking carbonated anything after having my gall bladder out 10 years ago. I occasionally miss dandelion and burdock, or want a Coke to settle my stomach, but I can't have them.

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

It’s not unlimited lol, but there is a lot in those machines

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

and even with those 10-15 free refills they still made a profit off your drink. That's how big the profit margin on soda is.

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

First visit to the US, I couldn't understand why I was given an empty cup. It was so huge, though, I only had one fill.

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

😂 kids! All you can eat places are the worst. Between the 🍨 and the 🥤 they often make themselves sick if you don't keep an eye out.

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

Op. Did you get Pepsi syndrome (an old term for soda induced runs)? Apple juice does it for me, all the sugar, but my dad swears it's the combo of caffeine and sugar in most sodas (but especially his favorite, Pepsi) as a caffeine addict I don't have problems with caffeine.

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

Homie your vet the runs from apple juice cause the high fiber lmao i use it for constipation lmao

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

Well, it is only syrup & carbonated water. Pretty cheap to make & it draws ppl in to buy more expensive things. I don’t condone it but I do understand the motive.

Yoru S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes another thing I miss in Germany, well kfc does stick to it but nowhere else. 😢😢

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

Sometimes they don't clean them properly so the machines can contain things you would find in toilets. I never refill more than once or twice. We have these refills in some fast food restaurants in Australia too but the staff think your being a bit rich if you have more than three.

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

I only drink sugar free, but it's still bad for teeth (acids). 15 refills = caffeine overdose!!

J P
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When i went to Italy i was shocked when they charged me for ketchup. Fast food is more expensive compared to US and on top you charge for every packet of ketchup? Fk me!

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

Same here in Malaysia at some of the American fast food franchises

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

We have them in McDonald's in Poland, but these sodas are shittier versions of original ones. When I was a teen it was the best thing ever to have a special cup for refills.

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

YOU'RE DRINKING HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!!! YOU ARE NOW POISONED!!

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

Lol some places in my town charge you for water. No seriously.

Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had those in Hungary Jacks for a while near where I grew up in Australia. I thought it was great, especially as you could mix them together to make other flavours, but I learned pretty quickly that two was an expectable limit otherwise I felt so sick after!

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

My guess is the OP is talking about the ones in fast food places where you serve yourself, not vending machines like BP is showing in the stock photo.

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#24

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Billboards. They are everywhere. You can go hours in the UK driving without seeing one. In Florida, I saw one every few minutes.

Ads on TV, motherf**ker, just play the show, this is painful.

Traffic, how do people drive in the US, it's so easy to get caught in traffic, it's everywhere. F**KER JUST DRIVE, ITS PAINFUL, ADD A F**KING ROUND A BOUT

7/11s are magical places though.

IAmTheGlazed , Zen Skillicorn Report

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#25

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group People pay for their own food. As someone who came from China, where everyone fights for the bill without the intention to pay, this is very refreshing.

ListenOrElse_ , Pressmaster Report

#26

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group 1.No walls around houses, or burglar bars by windows.

2.HOAs, i don't get why neighbours can have any say as to how long grass should be or what colour i can/cannot paint a house.

3. People walking around with their phones in hand freely and not worried about getting robbed.

4. Not all but how many know little about anything outside of the U.S.

5. How hard they go in advertising for any and everything.

Natures_VO , Michaela Pereckas Report

#27

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group My wife is from the Philippines and also worked in Singapore for over 10 years. When she came here she had many surprises but one big one was the ability to return items that she had purchased. She had never been able to do that before.

CitySuper5546 , Gipsy Tights Report

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#28

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group How non-physical Americans are. I’m Latina and every time I meet someone new it’s considered polite to hug and kiss their cheek as a greeting. Obvi with professionals it’s a no go but like if I’m introduced to a friend of a friend I would do a very light hug and kiss, it was mind blowing to me that Americans mostly did the half hearted wave or a handshake.

rainbow_elmo24 , Henry Burrows Report

#29

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group People really care about their teeth like whitening and straightening.

WhitePhatA** , Smiles7676 Report

#30

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Drive through ATM. Very friendly people. How very obese so many Americans were. Water fountains in every public place. Heating system in every house. I was amazed by so many trees along the highways. Still am

Final-Couple-3729 , Sean Hayford Oleary Report

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#31

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group A sign at the front door of a restaurant to remind patrons not to bring your firearms inside, to please leave them in your car

for those who are asking, I saw it in Phoenix Arizona

RushSubdivisions , Daniel Lobo Report

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#32

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The homeless in the US are very abrasive. I’m from Africa and am use to beggars and squatters, but the ones I came into contact with in California were so loud, obnoxious and invasive.

KyleLucasZA , Elvert Barnes Report

#33

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group Root beer

brigidsbollix , Meredith P. Report

#34

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The power of some toilet flushes shocked me, one was so loud it actually hurt my ears. Then I remembered the whole poo knife thing and figured it must be necessary.

subrhythm , Sophie Report

#35

That you can't have a beer with your lunch in a lot of places.

I get that they are family friendly places but where's my beer? Here you can pretty much get one at any restaurant from 11am onwards

richards182 Report

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#36

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The way in LA food came with warnings like may cause cancer, antibiotics used when buying things with meat in

leajeffro , Global Panorama Report

#37

There was work being done on the highway and after like every kilometer there was a dude standing with a sign telling us how long the traffic jam still is. Or was it remaining construction area in miles? Dont remember really.

The thing is... Why were there dudes? In my country we just hang those signs to iron sticks lol.

Wundawuzi Report

#38

30 Of The Good And The Bad Culture Shocks Non-Americans Experienced While In The US, As Shared In This Online Group The first was on the train from.the airport into new uork.

There were well dressed people coming back from the races and they were sober. At home that would have been a heavily drunk party train.

Oh and then being able to buy 500 paracetomol at once in a pot. Wtf.

Incantanto , Martin Cathrae Report

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#39

It was weird to see alcohol being sold at ordinary grocery stores. Where I live it is only sold at liquor stores.

UnsocialAsset Report

#40

Many things but the biggest was how difficult it was to take a left turn at an intersection. I had taken a car on rent as I could drive on my B1 and I thoroughly enjoyeed driving there but this rule baffled me.

punkychandey Report