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Even though Britain and America share the same language, these two countries couldn’t be more different. Whether it’s their quirky accent, absurd sense of humor, or baffling obsession with tea and the weather, Brits have a gift of leaving people on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean scratching their heads from confusion.

So when swfinds moved across the pond, they began noticing all the things in the UK that "puzzle" them. Getting to a new country and immersing in its culture left the American so baffled, they started a satirical TikTok account to create hilariously exaggerated videos and to make others laugh.

Bored Panda collected some of the "weirdest" things the user has posted. Check them out below and make sure to upvote the most comical ones. And if you have a funny explanation on hand, don’t be shy and share it with us in the comments!

#1

UK

swfinds Report

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

Cos mousies need homes with fancy schmancy front doors. In the UK the mice don't live like peasants. They be fancy AF. And it's cute.

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    #2

    UK

    swfinds Report

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

    Local planning laws - it is designed to break the roof line in non urban sites

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    Naturally, every country has its quirks that immediately strike you as different. But this time around, Great Britain deserves special recognition. From wondering what those yellow bins on the side of the road are to asking why the subway is called underground when it’s actually above ground, swfinds bio humorously states: “So many things in the UK confuse me!”

    The user regularly posts exaggerated clips of "weird" things they encounter in the UK. Many people seem to find them entertaining since the creator has gathered more than 34.6K followers and 2.6M likes in just a few months. The simple and sometimes silly questions have irritated some Brits and Americans, leading to commenters saying that the account is in fact satire.

    #3

    UK

    swfinds Report

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

    Here in Holland they are giant concrete balls and here they are meant to deter motorists from driving on the sidewalks. So I guess same but with metal cones?

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    #4

    UK

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    James016
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There used to a window tax, the more windows you had, the more tax you paid. These are bricked up windows to so the home owner at the time paid less tax. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_tax

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    While moving overseas can be a thrilling experience—meeting new people, tasting traditional foods, exploring unfamiliar cities—it can also be a difficult and overwhelming time. Although some people can fit in quite easily, others might take longer to familiarize themselves with the new country.

    According to UWS London, we experience culture shock because of the specific challenges we face when we first move and how we deal with losing our familiar surroundings. So if your new environment is similar to the one you came from or if you have lived in another country before, you might be able to adapt quite smoothly.

    #6

    UK

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    cybermerlin2000
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    True story, America did try to adopt them by pretending they invented them and calling them something like pastry dogs only to be called out globally for their bullsh*t

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    However, if you’re a foreign student or a first-time expat who has never lived abroad before, you might face some challenges. There are four stages of culture shock that you could experience in one year. Of course, every person has different experiences, and some process the changes quicker than others, but most people share similar feelings.

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    First is the honeymoon phase. When you move somewhere new, you can have great fun and enjoy unexpected things around you. It is also known as the “tourist” stage: [It] often includes the feelings of excitement that you have as you look forward to the new journey you are starting.” 

    #8

    UK

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

    They are Karen traps. If you annoy shopkeeper or pub landlord, they open these so that you fall into the hole as you leave. This is why we don't have as many Karens in the UK.

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    Yet, the honeymoon eventually ends, and you have to deal with the reality. This is the negotiation stage, probably the worst one of your whole adventure. “You may feel exhausted and constantly tired of the discoveries you have been making. You may also feel frustrated by how different things are from what you are used to,” UWS London explained. "The aspects of your new life that you found endearing at first, may feel irritating or confusing when you’re in the negotiation stage.”

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    After that, you begin to adjust to your current living situation and learn how to manage your feelings. Your baffling thoughts that are trying to make sense of how and why things are so different, suddenly become clearer. “During this stage, you may still experience problems and negative feelings” but you begin to understand more about your surroundings.

    #9

    UK

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    James016
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Salt is stored in them for when the roads are icy and the grit trucks come out

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    The final stage of culture shock is adaptation and acceptance. Even if you may never fully accept your new home, you no longer feel isolated or lonely and are used to your day-to-day life and activities with friends. In this phase, “many people can permanently say goodbye to culture shock and feel happier and more secure in their environment long-term.”

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    #11

    UK

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

    Because many of our homes were built before we had proper roads. There wouldn't have been any cars when that house was built.

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    #12

    UK

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

    Can someone tell me why Americans pour milk over candy, and eat it with spoons at breakfast?

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    Try to remember that the feelings you’re going through are completely normal and that most expats go through this too. Culture shock is not a sign things are going badly, but a part of the whole experience. One day, you will probably look back on this time and see that it was full of sweet moments.

    #13

    UK

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

    Because most of us don't live in big a** mansion with laundry room ? And very normal in Europe ?!

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    #14

    UK

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

    Because they were often houses or shops that were converted to be restaurants by the look of it.

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    #15

    UK

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

    These are very unusual: possibly 2 on the country. The one in the town of Slough is known as the "magic roundabout".

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    #18

    UK

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    cybermerlin2000
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes the crime rate is so high that the courts just put a tag on the whole town to save time

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    #19

    UK

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

    Parmigiano Reggiano is NOT supposed to look like that. That piece is quite old and moldy.

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

    As an Italian I said you must right about had doubts. A parmigiano reggiano even if had 2 years (24 months) not look that bad. Its clear it was not correctly preserved use a plastic protection not help to "breath" the cheese.

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

    Why is it nonsense? That looks like it's from the stoneage! I'd be reluctant if I wasn't familiar.

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

    Well, I will agree that it isn't "straight from the can" type of fresh. But aging cheese has been done for many hundreds of years.

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

    It's not "aged" it's just moldy. Parmesan doesn't usually feature edible mold.

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

    In case you fall sick, you already have the penicillin with you!

    Catherine M. Pearson
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do you eat the green mold or scrape it off? Do you scrape it into the trash or it is ok to scrape it and leave it there while you’re eating?

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

    This you throw away. It's moldy and not in an aged cheese kind of way. Parmesan is supposed to be yellow or tawny, not green.

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    Ralph Watkins
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Go for it. It will make you look & feel youthful again. Cures cancer, vitiligo, baldness, increases sexual stamina, & creates peace in the world.

    Nightshade1972
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If "you're not sure whether it's supposed to look like that," why would you buy it?!

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

    Not to my taste, prefer young Cheddar, but some people like well-matured cheese.

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

    Boy oh boy... you probably don't want to learn the full truth about dry-aged beef. Those drying rooms are full of moldy, fungus-coverd hunks if expensive beef. They literally just trim the nasty outside off before sending it to the kitchen for prep.

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

    ANYTHING with mold goes directly in the trash, then in the out of doors trash at my house.

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

    Do you waste cheese when mold appears? Or just scrape it off and keep using it? I keep using it, cheese is expensive!

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

    All cheese has mold. They just trim all the visible stuff off in the US. Unless you are buying really fancy cheese.

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

    Valid question. I have lived in 4 european countries and never seen Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese like that.

    Jj321
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do people not realize that kraft singles is not the only American cheese? Deli cheese exists. American is hy far not the best cheese, but it serves its purpose.

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

    Oh but have you ever had millennium parm? 🤭 teeheehee You can make it yourself you just have to die and be reborn about a dozen times.

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

    Or it might give you Diarrhea if you didn't know what you were buying when living in the UK.

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

    It's called real cheese sweet cheeks. Unlike the American goop stuffed in a plastic wrapper that you peel like a banana.

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

    absolutely NO - by the way, if you call it parmesan instead of Parmigiano Reggiano you deserve it

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

    Parmigiano is just Italian for parmesan. Reggiano has to with the province where this specific cheese originated from. Similar to how pecorino romano is just a sheep's cheese from a specific region (pecoro=sheep).

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

    Because it IS parmesan and not just CALLED parmesan like in the USA.

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

    I think what you mean is thats parmesan reggiano (authentic) rather than just parmesan. We do sell parmesan in the states as its way cheaper. However we also still sell BOATLOADS of parmesan reggiano, we can barely even keep it on our shelves. How do I know? Years of being a cheesemonger. So how does it feel to be schooled by an AMERICAN? (haha) I will also throw out there that mold on a hard cheese, especially one as hard as parm wont hurt you at all. Mold is routinely cut off cheese in American shops to make the product more attractive and to increase its value. (Would you wanna buy a block of cheese if you saw that youd immediately have to to cut off and toss a few bites? No! Thats not fair. So we cut it off, wrap it back up again and reprice it so you are only paying for the good bits.) That said I have NEVER seen anything like that. It doesnt even allow the beautiful natural golden color of the parm to shine through.

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    #21

    UK

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    cybermerlin2000
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Feudal Realty. The seller chooses as many realty companies as they like and the best champions are chosen to represent them in the arena and fight to the death until either one survives or the house gets sold

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    #22

    UK

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    Devil's Advocate
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because we aren't as fat so we actually fit in. Plus most toilets aren't this small

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    #23

    UK

    swfinds Report

    #25

    UK

    swfinds Report

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

    cheddar is never orange - you mean red leicester - American Cheese is not something anyone from Europe recognises as 'cheese'

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    #26

    UK

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

    because that isnt mayo - its salad cream, a totally different sauce!

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    #28

    UK

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

    Stop calling things "dangerous" that you don't understand! The top bit is metal so that it IS safe

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    #29

    UK

    swfinds Report

    #30

    UK

    swfinds Report

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

    We in europe don't wash the eggs the way the US does. So the layer that is naturally on the egg to prevent infection isn't broken and its safe to keep them out if you want.

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    #33

    UK

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

    The literacy act of 2019 to include wildlife and ducks encourages them to read the signs before crossing the road

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    #34

    UK

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

    Shame they don't have them in France. The centre of the merde universe.

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    #35

    UK

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    cybermerlin2000
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a detonator cap. Makes the entire bottle of alcohol into an instant Molotov cocktail

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    #37

    UK

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

    These are English muffins - totally different from 'cakey' muffins (which we also have).

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    #41

    UK

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

    In case America invades. We also all carry black powder and cannonballs around just in case

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    #42

    UK

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

    Not a lot people know that they are actually portals to secret universes that are set in the 1950s...

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    #43

    UK

    swfinds Report

    #44

    UK

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

    we dont - that isnt even orange juice - thats american 'orange juice'

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