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30 Actual Things That Exist In The US That Non-Americans Didn’t Believe At First

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It’s no secret that America stands out from the crowd. There are so many little quirky American things that the rest of the world just can’t wrap their heads around. Like the word "y'all," red solo cups, free refills, and bulk shopping, to name just a few.

So when someone asked the non-Americans of Reddit what's the craziest thing they’ve heard about the greatest country in the world that turned out to be true, the question was destined to become a hit. 56.9K upvotes later, the thought-provoking inquiry generated some very surprising answers. Let’s take a look at the best ones so far down below.

To all the non-American Pandas out there, share more of these rumors-turned-facts in the comment section below!

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#1

America has libraries that are essentially free to use.

(This was not even a rumor, but more like sarcastic comment from a friend who heard I was excited to go to the US, because he knew what book nerds my entire family is)

When I first arrived here 25 years ago, the first day of work at Newark NJ, I walked out at lunch time and saw the huge Central Library. The size boggled my mind, but I bravely walked in to check it out. The guy says, yup, show me your work ID (for local address) and you get a membership card.

Me: how much does it cost? I only own $80 total till I get my first pay.

He (bemused, almost laughing): it's free. You don't pay anything.

Me (after a brief recovery time from shock): so how many books am I allowed to take home? (Expecting that to be a catch - maybe I need to put down a security deposit for each book)

He (now positively enjoying himself): how many can you carry?

That day I took home 30+ books, just being greedy.

And quickly called my dad to tell him about it.

For a guy who painstakingly would browse used books stores in small town India just to get his kids great books to read, he was suitably amazed. He was puzzled if that would kill the book-store business, because who'd buy if such free libraries existed?!?

Till date I remember the gratitude I felt that day for being able to come here. And when Dad visited some years later, I would drop him off at a library on my way to work and he'd be lost in it all day.

SFLoridan Report

Final score:

190points

Kaisu 4 years ago

What libraries aren't free? Isn't that the point of libraries that they're free to use?

156points

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#2

That you can get into university just by being good at sports.... Like...wtf?

SuperFluffyness Report

Final score:

175points

Kaisu 4 years ago

This is really mind blowing to me, because isn't university supposed to be about academics?

113points

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#3

As a Brit living in America the amount of pharmaceutical commercials on TV is creepy.

TrueHybrid Report

Final score:

174points

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)

I never really thought about it but I just realised that we don’t have that issue. It is actually illegal to advertise prescription medicine.

67points

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There’re so many customs that Americans use without too much thinking. But when traveling around the world, some of the cultural differences become quite obvious.

While tipping is not a matter of choice in the US, people in Japan and South Korea see that as an insult. That’s partly because workers are proud of their jobs, and they get decent pay for whatever it is that they do.

There’s nothing wrong about being a tiny bit late in the US. But in some countries, that would be totally inappropriate. If you’re fashionably late for a meeting in Germany or Netherlands, locals are likely to think that you don’t value their time as much as your own.

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“Athleisure,” while a popular choice of fashion for the day-to-day business, is viewed as distasteful in many European countries. For example, Italians never miss a chance to laugh at tourists wearing flip flops or denim shorts for restaurant dinner. The sloppy appearance can be understood as disrespectful.

#4

Injured people try to avoid getting ambulances called for them

asmeeks1 Report

Final score:

171points

Eirik Johnsbråten 4 years ago

That is so sad.

66points

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#5

That the prices on their products are without tax and you get the tax when you pay

Like here the tax is already like, in the price. If it costs 1€ you pay 1€.

Rushling Report

Final score:

171points

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

I find this extremely confusing. And I really hate the staff tipping concept, too.

109points

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#6

In an area, you're subject to a f*ck ton of different laws. There's laws that apply to the whole country, laws that apply to individual states, laws that only apply to counties, laws that apply to individual cities, and then I think, different areas within a city. In England, no matter where you are, all the same laws apply, with very rare exceptions. Homeowners associations as well. What a load of [crap]. Land of the free, but your neighbour can tell you what colour your f***king fence can be.

Lonsdale1086 Report

Final score:

162points

Kathy Baylis 4 years ago (edited)

Well, it’s difficult to govern such a large country from one small district (DC), so you have to delegate from the federal government to the individual state governments to the county governments to the city governments. The more local you get, the more specialized the laws become as they’re tailored to issues and situations specific to the area. However, that does open areas up to corruption if the wrong people manage to gain some power. You know, like the whole f*****g country because of the deranged orange baboon throwing his feces around the Oval Office right now (who I did not vote for, so do not blame me).

44points

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#7

That women only get about 6 weeks off work after having a baby and it's most likely to be unpaid.

Aucuparia Report

Final score:

160points

Kaisu 4 years ago

This sounds insane? In my country it's 4 months and it's paid and the father can get work off for 9 weeks, which is paid as well. The women can also start their leave a few weeks before giving birth.

68points

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#8

That people will just suffer through an injury or illness because they can’t afford health insurance.

Jacilund Report

Final score:

156points

Hans 4 years ago

Unworthy of any country, not just the so called West.

60points

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#9

Americans are nice and will stop to talk to Strangers. Canadian here living in Alberta. To any one who has never been, you will be blown away by the general Americans' generosity of their time, knowledge and helpfulness. I have done a few summers of Road trips from Calgary. one time i went to as far east as Ohio-Tennessee, as far south as New Orleans and Dallas, went through the flat lands and rode up the Rockies the rest of the way home... I have visited almost all the landlocked states (5 more to go) and 4 along the Gulf states, all by Car. I have been through a lot of big American cities and a lot of tiny towns. ALL OF YOU, North to South - make Canadians look like Bloody Savages. I expected something worse, probably because of Television and the Internet. i ended up leaving your country after the first time i visited, blown away and with a new found VERY REAL love for my southern neighbors. Been 5 times on multi-week trips. will spend time and money there again. 10/10.

animal1988 Report

Final score:

138points

Chiara Lucchetti 4 years ago

There are a lot of crazy things in US from an european point of view, but I totally agree with this post. I found Americans very nice, gentle and caring people. Before going there, I immagined to find rude and aggressive people :)) Too many bad movies! The first time I arrived in Philadelphia my english was not very good, and sometimes I wandered looking for some shop, or the subway or whatever... and I remember men or women that tried to help and listen me patiently. I still feel gratitude for those who made me feel welcomed and safe. Philadelphia is still in my heart! I left the USA in 2011 and I don't know if that's still the case.

82points

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#10

Drink sizes. When my family visited in 2017 we landed in Texas for a stopover. First thing I saw in the shops part of the terminal was a dude who was drinking from what looked like an actual f***ing bucket - here in NZ our “large” drinks would be considered an American “small” or maybe “medium”

The_Sly_Sloth Report

Final score:

137points

Stuart Smith 4 years ago

hence the size of Americans....

81points

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#11

Employees can get fired ‘at will’. No warning, no performance review plans, nothing, just straight up fired.

viralplant Report

Final score:

137points

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

Seem oddly super inhumane. Why do you allow this?

75points

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#12

The extent of the tipping culture is frankly shocking to me.

Final score:

136points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I can't believe Americans have created a system where the customers can be blamed for unfair wages instead of the employer

172points

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#13

Not really a rumour but your houses are made of mostly air and drywalls. I think that's pretty crazy

Final score:

135points

Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago

The way houses are build in the USA is crazy. It’s no wonder they’re all flattened in a tornado / hurricane. And yet they cost so damn much to buy!

9points

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#14

That public transport is almost nonexistent in many smaller towns, which makes it a necessity for teens to have their own cars.

boob_girl Report

Final score:

130points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

Yeah, it's not just not having no public transport. There are a lot of places (I lived in one) where there are no sidewalks, so you can't even walk from one place to another. And if you live in a small place, you can't get a taxi or anything else to come out and pick you up. If you don't have a car, it's almost impossible to get around in the USA. And it's not just small towns. Even big towns have no transportation infrastructure.

64points

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#15

American State and National parks are some of the most beautiful places on earth. All parks could use more funding, but American parks are well staffed and maintained. There’s real pride.

everydayboots Report

Final score:

130points

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

One of the few good things. I love the Grand Canyon personally

38points

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#16

Not exactly crazy, but I wanted to test out the stereotype that Americans will talk to anyone so I sought out a sports bar on my first visit. Ended up having a ton of really fun conversations with total strangers who I’ll never talk to ever again. It was great!

Final score:

128points

Joyce Melton 4 years ago

Sure. About 1/3 of people you meet in America will talk to anybody, about anything. We may be crazy but we're friendly. :)

87points

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#17

The minimal amount of paid days off you get from work. A friend of mine from Wisconsin was very proud he got 20 days off per year. If someone in Germany would offer me only 20 days, I would laugh at him and leave.

_Warsheep_ Report

Final score:

126points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

In the US, if you have a reasonably good job, you can expect to get 10 days' paid vacation a year. That's it.

63points

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#18

That higher education can cost upwards of $50,000 per year

Final score:

117points

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

This, and the cost of medical care in the US, is something I will never understand. Claiming to be the greatest country but basically living off of the poorest of citizens. How come nobody's actually bothered?

84points

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#19

Private prisons. I thought it was some sort of "haha the US is a dystopian hell hole" exaggeration joke the first time I heard it was a thing. I had to look it up to believe it because I was 100% sure the person was just trying to [mess] with me when he said he was serious.

Final score:

117points

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago

This should not be allowed at all.

90points

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#20

I never understood why people in American TV series lost their house and job just because they got really sick.

Then I found out that it can happen in America.

Final score:

116points

DKS 001 4 years ago

companies here are a b***h about taking time off. They want bodies in the work place. If you use up your sick/vacation time (less than 2 week's worth total a year) then you're f****d.

44points

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#21

They have those angry sinks that chop [crap]

idk-what-name Report

Final score:

110points

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

HAHAHA! Angry sinks!! 🤣🤣🤣

86points

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#22

You can see into the public toilet cubicles

NamelessBeth Report

Final score:

103points

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

I just can't wrap my head around this logic, tbh

39points

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#23

How deeply religious and patriotic it is in contrast to Europe.

F*ckanator Report

Final score:

103points

JuJu 4 years ago

And how much of that religion is allowed to contaminate education

120points

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#24

Literally anything about what goes on in Florida.

Jacilund Report

Final score:

99points

Clare McDuff 4 years ago

Florida is America’s w**g. Always getting itself into trouble.

61points

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#25

2017 in Athens, Georgia I passed out at work and was fine but my boss had already called an ambulance and insisted I get checked out...a less than 2 mile ambulance ride cost me $950 with insurance. I was only dehydrated..

Butterfly1r Report

Final score:

99points

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

WITH insurance it cost 950 USD?? Do I dare to ask how much it would be without insurance?

83points

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#26

The amount of sugar y'all put on EVERYTHING. I spent only 2 weeks in the US and I couldn't take it. Even the portion sizes are colossal, I felt that in a month with this lifestyle I'd probably drop dead, my heart wouldn't be able to take it

GustavoTC Report

Final score:

97points

Kaisu 4 years ago

American candy is so sweet too, I just can't manage eating most of it

25points

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#27

That they actually do wear shoes indoors, I thought it was just a movies thing (less hassle filming), but no.

F*ckanator Report

Final score:

96points

JuJu 4 years ago

What I tell the kids almost every day "Please take of your shoes before you run to your room! I have just vacuumed the flat."

27points

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#28

That American kids eat straight sugar. Walked on to the playground and saw kids chugging these long thin sticks. I try and it was just colored sugar lol. Called them pixie sticks.

whowantsrice Report

Final score:

91points

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

Sounds gross.

32points

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#29

The freaking flag thing man, here we barely have one per school, or even government building.

Final score:

88points

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

Well, knowing some Americans, they might forget what country they’re in

83points

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#30

That you can rack up 100,000$ upward in debt easily through student loans.

Final score:

81points

DKS 001 4 years ago

lenders like to keep you paying for life

30points

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#31

Someone once told me that it's cheaper to go on vacation to Australia for one week than to treat your broken arm in the USA.

Starwberry-soul Report

Final score:

36points

DKS 001 4 years ago

yes

15points

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#32

That there are security guards(or cops) in the school's halls, and some even have metal detectors at the entrance like the TSA at airports...

Jacilund Report

Final score:

35points

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

Well America unfortunately had more school shootings in 2019 than probably the entirety of Europe from 1989-2019

29points

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#33

I’m from Quebec and when we went down to Boston for a school trip, I sneezed in public and heard two or three people say “bless you”. Quite a weird rumour I had heard not 2 months prior to that. I thought it was nice.

Inquistador43 Report

Final score:

35points

Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago

We say that all the time in the U.K. after someone sneezes. I though it was universal (with regional and language variations obviously). I guess you really do learn something every day.

6points

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#34

I'm from Australia, and all my life I believed red Solo cups were like 555 area codes - a Hollywood prop. When I immigrated to the US, my MIL was making dinner and offered me iced tea in a red Solo cup.

I lost it, made everyone sign the cup. I've still got it.

RavynLearnsBadly Report

Final score:

34points

JazzyRuns12 4 years ago

Ha! I like this one. I never really realized that at every party and holiday we have the red cups.

10points

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#35

Free soft-drink refills in restaurants. Like wth

JeezasKraist Report

Final score:

34points

Eduard Korhonen 4 years ago

Subway in the UK do free refills

12points

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#36

Some cafeterias renamed "french fries" as "freedom fries" when we refused to help the US for the war in Iraq. A canadian friend told me that, I thought it was a joke. Turns out it wasn't. It's the most passive aggressive think I've ever seen.

Final score:

34points

Guy MacGregor 4 years ago

And useless, cause this ain't French, it's Belgian

25points

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#37

They have milk in gallon cartons!

When I visited America I went a supermarket for some breakfast stuff, cereal and milk. All they had was milk in gallons! Who could possibly have that much milk? I asked for a smaller carton and the lady who worked their just laughed at me and made a remark about don’t we like milk in England

memesalwaysdie Report

Final score:

33points

Luna 4 years ago

that's around 3.7 litres

26points

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#38

Home owners associations. What the [hell] is up with that?

Final score:

32points

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

A group that forms to annoy homeowners and fine us for having a house

34points

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#39

That Dolly Parton has her own theme park in Tennessee. I thought it was a joke.

panda_1996 Report

Final score:

32points

Samantha Lomb 4 years ago

Dollywood is awesome. But then Dolly is awesome. She does a lot of charity including running a literacy program for kids in which she mails them free books

33points

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#40

They have garbage disposals in their kitchens. That's just so wild to me.

AHoneyman Report

Final score:

31points

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago

The idea of Garbage disposals actually freaks me out, maybe I have heard too many horror stories of people getting their hands/fingers mangled in them.

9points

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#41

People of Walmart

CaliAnywhere Report

Final score:

31points

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

They're a different kind of species

17points

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#42

I studied in Maryland for about half a year back in 2017. I'd always heard that Americans are like... super good at pie. I was pretty much all alone during thanksgiving since everyone else was with their families. One of the RAs I'd befriended knocked on my door and brought me all different kinds of pie. Dear lord, I've never tasted anything that delicious. From blueberry to apple to pumpkin. Every. Single. Pie. They were all amazing.

Final score:

31points

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago

I have a question, do you have meat pies in the US. Like mince meat, gravy and onion or chunks of beef, gravy and onion?

9points

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#43

The amount of cola consumed. It's ridiculous how it's part of a regular meal and not unhealthy snacking

Final score:

31points

Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago

I love my mountain dew.

7points

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#44

I remember when I was younger seeing something on an American sitcom or a movie (I forget) about cheese that came in some kind of spray can? Or a squeezy tube? And I remember thinking it was a joke.

Final score:

30points

JuJu 4 years ago

We have a shop in Berlin where you can buy that stuff...it's horrible and nothing like cheese.

13points

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#45

Nearly every man is circumcised regardless of religion.

tschoerk Report

Final score:

30points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I think circumcision of both boys and girls should be banned, unless there's some pressing medical reason. I don't approve of the mutilation of babies when the baby doesn't have a say in it. If you want a circumcision you can still get one when you're old enough to consent.

32points

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#46

Biscuits and gravy is a legit thing. Also you can ride motorcycles without helmets in some states??? And your iced tea isn't sweetened unless you ask for sweet.

bitsaboy Report

Final score:

29points

Bob Beltcher 4 years ago

Biscuits and gravy with sausage is amazing. Texas state law mandates anyone UNDER the age of 18 must wear a helmet. If your over 18, it's your life. And some people; like me, hate sweet tea.

4points

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#47

That education costs two souls.

Goonie_Gamer Report

Final score:

29points

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

Three on the East Coast, and seventeen for law school (eighteen for medical)

12points

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#48

I’m still not 100% sure is true so hopefully can confirm - “buoy” is pronounced “boo-ee” ?

reheated_brew Report

Final score:

29points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

Yes, correct. They call it a boo-eee.

17points

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#49

I actually don’t properly know if this is true but yous have like a whole isle in your supermarkets dedicated to just the hundreds of cereals you have ?

outrojin Report

Final score:

29points

Eduard Korhonen 4 years ago

UK too. Pretty much every supermarket in the UK has a cereal aisle.

13points

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#50

Surfer-dudes actually speak like that.

Hasetate Report

Final score:

28points

JeffC 4 years ago (edited)

Woah man that's like totally rad....hang 10 dude! LMAO, I'm from PA and never surfed yet we seem to love that surfer dialect....;)

5points

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#51

That you can be fined if you don’t mow your lawn or park your car incorrectly. I really can’t believe that’s true

Duffzilla12 Report

Final score:

28points

JeffC 4 years ago

Non-HOA communities are not like this at all unless I let my grass grow as tall as I want to. Cities do fine for improper parking but not small towns unless someone is using a handicap spot.

10points

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#52

So apparently yellow school buses are actually a thing in America. I honestly thought it was just a cartoon thing, but nope.

Kwickly1 Report

Final score:

27points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I'm curious about why people think these are just cartoon things if they appear in so many cartoons? Did all the cartoon creators just decide to make up this yellow bus they all use in their cartoons?

25points

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#53

That people actually get attacked by Alligators which got in their pools (specifically referring to Florida here).

TheHunterBB Report

Final score:

25points

CrunChewy McSandybutt 4 years ago

Florida, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, some parts of Texas. Alligators are everywhere down south.

2points

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#54

Not me but my dad

My dad heard this crazy rumor about everyone getting drunk and wearing green for one day a year. He obviously didn't know this was a holiday, and was like WTF. When he came to the US and discovered St. Patrick's Day, he was amazed.

alan13510 Report

Final score:

24points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I don't believe this is just a US thing and that it actually originated from UK/Ireland

13points

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#55

That your country is huge!

I got off the plane and asked the cap guy how far the hotel was and he said about 30 miles. I almost had a heart attack... turns out cabs are cheaper than the Uk

I can't remember the price I paid but I was presently surprised.

The UK cabs are like £4 per mile

also you would get laughed of the taxi for asking to go 30 miles and not taking the train

Final score:

24points

EA 4 years ago

Taxi fares. I was stuck late one night in London after a train was delayed and missed my connecting one to the next station. My phone died out of the blue so couldn’t get a map up or call anyone, and the streets were deserted which made me even more freaked out. Managed to find a black cab in the next street and I think the fare was something like £26 for a 10 minute drive.

5points

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#56

I always thought that the Olive Garden in The Simpsons was just code for ‘generic restaurant’

Hamptaro Report

Final score:

24points

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

Really? As a non-American I've known about Olive Garden for years.

8points

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#57

Two-dollar bills.

SonaMain420 Report

Final score:

24points

Bashicka 4 years ago

keeping in mind imperial unit system I wonder they dont have like 3,485 $ bills

24points

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#58

I've had several German friends who were amazed that at house parties everyone actually does drink out of red Solo cups. They thought that was just a weird thing people did in movies and now they think it is a huge conspiracy or something

flyingmouse Report

Final score:

22points

David Jeu 4 years ago

Why would they invent things only for movies?..

3points

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#59

That an ambulance costs $2,000 F***ING DOLLARS!

theDee621 Report

Final score:

22points

Rick 4 years ago

And that women have to pay the hospital after giving birth just for a nurse or doctor to give the baby to the mother to hold.

11points

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#60

That they're not allowed to just cross the road wherever it's safe, "jaywalking" is the term I think.

Final score:

21points

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago (edited)

In America, its just not a good idea. Too many distracted drivers

11points

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#61

the SATs exam being multiple choice

Alyssa_H_04 Report

Final score:

21points

CbusResident 4 years ago

A stupid critique; the SATs being mulitple choice DOESN'T mean that you don't have to know the material involved to score well on them, you can't successfully guess your way to a high score just b/c they're multiple choice. I passed the Bar Exam in America, and the national portion of that (which you have to pass in every American State's Bar Exam) is multiple choice. Believe me, it's still really f***ing hard and you have to know your s**t up and down to have a chance to pass.

11points

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#62

Switching hands for you knife and fork. Its bizzare to me

TheLastEmoKid Report

Final score:

21points

Nami Tantrum 4 years ago

idk.. i do that.. and i'm german... when eating normal i switch it back

12points

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#63

That they clap at random times. I was watching a movie in the USA and people liked what happened so they started clapping on the middle of the [frikinn] movie.

monkeyboi08 Report

Final score:

21points

Random Panda 4 years ago

That would annoy the s**t out of me. Here you're supposed to be silent in the cinema; laughing is ok of course, but clapping would just be distracting.

17points

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#64

Majority of cars have automatic gearboxes. We don't get that here in Greece.

ntelas46 Report

Final score:

21points

Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago

I drive an auto (in the U.K.). I love it. Manual driving is awful, especially in big towns and cities where you do a lot of stop start driving. I actually think America has the right idea here.

15points

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#65

The honking... I thought it was a movie stereotype, and then I went to New York

violetzinc Report

Final score:

20points

Dianna Siever 4 years ago

We also honk out of friendliness. Whenever I'm on my porch, just outside of a very small little town, strangers and neighbors honk to say "hello". Before you think, no it's absolution not flirting.

7points

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#66

All the food is bigger.

BucketsofKFC Report

Final score:

20points

Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago (edited)

Yes, I once ordered a steak in a restaurant in New York and practically the whole cow was served up. I’d never seen so much meat in one sitting. It’s the same in other places too. The average meat portion is supposed to be a playing card size not a whole dinner plate.

14points

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#67

That a lot of American houses are actually built with a lot of wood and a lot less concrete than here in Germany. You would never get the idea to built a house out of wood here. But when I went to Minnesota lo and behold my host family had one of those wooden houses I've seen in movies and such. To me it was mind-boggling at the time :D

ResiCullen Report

Final score:

19points

Lavender Brown 4 years ago

Then you went to the right state!! MN is great

3points

#68

Super Sized meals, seriously, americans can f***ing eat!

in denmark we dont even have extra large!

Voodevil Report

Final score:

19points

pusheen buttercup 4 years ago

Some people do eat it all but my understanding is that the excess is for left overs- you take the rest home and eat it later :)

9points

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#69

hat lesser-known musicians aren't paid for their show by the owners of the club/bar/what ever. I still remember how a Los Angeles musician told me completely surprised that he and the band had received free food and drinks before his show here in Germany. This is just normal for us! That artists - no matter if wellknown or unknown - are paid for their music by the booker and get catering. (even if the celebrities, of course, get more and better stuff)

Final score:

18points

DKS 001 4 years ago

America is greedy. All about getting and keeping money as much as possible. I really wish I was born somewhere else like Canada or something. America does not fit my belief of how things should be. But here I am. Broke all the time and unable to save in order to move to a more desirable country.

23points

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#70

That there are video games in their libraries.

goodnight891 Report

Final score:

18points

Mii 4 years ago

We have those in Germany too. Also with movies on DVD, audiobooks and music CDs.

2points

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#71

Masked people come to your house, knock on your door asking for candy. Mostly it's just packs of kids but sometimes whole families. This was my friends Halloween culture shock.

PlaidSkirtBroccoli Report

Final score:

17points

Kaisu 4 years ago

We don't do this around halloween in Finland but we do it around Easter. This is a tradition all over the world and not tied to just Halloween. So definitely not just an American thing.

12points

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#72

That people are still paying off student loans in their 40’s

Final score:

17points

Astrid Nineor 4 years ago

Not uncommon oin Scandinavia either, but the monthly payment is managable

4points

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#73

Free refills!

el_dude_brother2 Report

Final score:

16points

Sheila DeVille 4 years ago

Free refilk have been around for years. Pizza Hut 25 yrs, McD's 15+ years...

3points

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#74

Sports Bars are actually exactly how they're portrayed on TV

BeYourOwnDog Report

Final score:

14points

Jeff 4 years ago

Yup

5points

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#75

The "Take me out to the ballgame song" thats apparently sung at baseball games. still not entirely sure that guy wasnt taking the piss out of me

Final score:

13points

Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago

I love that song and I’m from the U.K. where baseball isn’t even played much (at least on a big scale).

5points

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#76

That you can identify Texans with the simple phrase "The stars at night are big and bright"

Final score:

13points

DE Ray 4 years ago

Texans live under the misapprehension that their being Texan makes them interesting to non-Texans.

10points

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#77

Your love for cheese. It rubbed off on me and now I love cheese too

parkavenueWHORE Report

Final score:

13points

Guy MacGregor 4 years ago

"cheese"

17points

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#78

That they are able to drink from the sink i tried that and spit the water it taste like [crap] (in my country) but when i went to america it taste great

Final score:

12points

Anne 4 years ago

Come to Europe.. You'll be in for a treat!

19points

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#79

Crazy hospitable...turned out to be true. Talkative...turned out to be true as well.

Final score:

12points

#80

People in their 20s can earn six figure salaries.

DirtySockBasket Report

Final score:

11points

Ripley 4 years ago

Or that people of any age can earn $3 per hour . . .

33points

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#81

Apparently, rolling coal is actually a thing.

raised-by-humans Report

Final score:

10points

Andres Tejeda 4 years ago

Yes, its like a smoke signal that says "I am an a*****e, with a big truck and tiny penis."

16points

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#82

One positive thing Iv'e noticed, foreigners love how big Halloween is here.

Final score:

9points

Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago

I love Halloween. But I love everything creepy.

7points

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#83

I’m an American, but one that I’ve heard a lot is that we have a bunch of trees. I’ve never really thought about, but when I was told this I did some research. Turns out about 70 percent of the US is forested. Guess we have an abnormal amount of trees.

morganharris37 Report

Final score:

9points

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

Naah sounds normal. I think the same applies to Sweden too, something like 65-70% is forests.

11points

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#84

That Hawaiians really like spam.

FinalGirl1990 Report

Final score:

8points

Joyce Melton 4 years ago

For the same reason it's in the Monty Python song: during WWII, Americans shipped Spam and other canned meats to feed the people who lived on islands.

8points

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#85

Not really crazy, but I just learned you guys have like outdoor sirens that get tested somewhat frequently. I’ve only heard those noises in video games and movies until my friend sent me a clip, because I had no idea it actually happened.

sammi2016 Report

Final score:

8points

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

Yep, in my country they're tested every first Wednesday of the month, at noon

7points

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#86

That there are many libraries of all kinds in the United States.

Final score:

8points

Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago

Pretty much every city has one. I'm about within 30 minutes of at least 3. Plus if course every school has one.

5points

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Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Ilona Baliūnaitė

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

What do you think ?

JuJu 4 years ago

Why do Americans call themselves German, Irish, Italian, Greek and so on, just because one of their ancestors comes from that country (yes, you are all immigrants), but you neither know more than a word from that language and you have absolutely no knowledge about the country, the culture, the people, the food (really, what you call Italian or German food is just an abomination)?

19points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I agree, this is very strange for me, claiming to be a part of culture that you have no connection to, don't know anything about and have only experienced through Americanised versions of their food

7points

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Esca Sav 4 years ago

I think it's because we like our history. I'm the first direct American in my family, but my parents were born and raised in Poland. A majority of the things we do at home are influenced by Polish culture. I also know the language. Some of my friends who have several generations of their ancestors born and raised in the U.S. often times get excited when they find out about their ancestry and use it as a means to find out more about the culture. It's a good conversational topic. The U.S. is the "Melting Pot," our historical backgrounds are all different and we love learning more about it.

6points

Shelby P 4 years ago (edited)

You may not realize this but a lot of folks here can trace their lineage back in just two generations. And because this country is so freakin big and people STILL have to point out the differences they hold on to their heritage like it matters. I do not agree with this mindset as I think it's part of what causes racism but life in the US is completely different from Europe and most of the rest of the world by default. I mean the folks that live here now are mostly not the natives (sadly) and our history is only 200ish years old. What do you expect??

6points

BG 4 years ago

In the US 2020 census, if you respond as Caucasian (White), then you have to specify what European region your ancestors were from.

6points

Ringo Starkey 4 years ago

Does it really affect you that much? Let someone have a little pride in themselves. For the love......

4points

mph seti 4 years ago

A common question when getting to know someone is "what are you?" as in what is your heritage. Personally, I think it's rude, but whatever. At least it seems to have gotten less common than it was when I was growing up. Some people take irrational pride in their family history. Being proud of something you have had no control over seems stupid, but whatever.

4points

Bob Beltcher 4 years ago

For some this is true. For others like my family it's not. We still have family that live in Sicily and Germany. Can I speak the languages, nope. Can I cook authentic food just like them, no because we don't have the same ingredients. I am American by birth, but my heritage is over seas. Although, after reading this I'm strongly thinking about driving north 3000 miles.

2points

Gabriela L. 4 years ago

Yes!! Once I saw someone saying Gisele Bundchen was german even though she's from Brazil, speaks portuguese, has always lived here until moving to the US and her whole family is brazilian except maybe a great grandfather or something like that. I said that she was brazilian and the person called me dumb. So weird!

2points

BDR 4 years ago

You do realize that it was likely Italians or Germans or Indians or Chinese that originally sold, made or attempted their style of cuisine here and that it organically became what it is now.

2points

Dippin Dot 4 years ago

I think it’s back to when the US was a “melting pot” and so many cultures were coming together for the first time... it was important to some to marry people with the same background both religious or cultural, and it also connected you to strangers so you had a better sense of community... like “I’m from Germany. You are too? Let’s be best friends” and it just stuck.

2points

Dianna Siever 4 years ago (edited)

It would take so much information to answer this question that I can't do it in a paragraph. But I will say that your question sounds haughty and insulting. The world is a big and scary place and people hold on to what makes them feel at home. You're country might have a "little China" in it? Would you tell it's second and third generation residence that they know c**p about their culture and do it disservice? I'm guessing you're from somewhere homogenous.

2points

Daria B 4 years ago

I agree, but then, I believe they also find strange how little knowledge we have about our ancestors as well. Like... we mostly don't care. But we do get curious.

2points

Bettye McKee 4 years ago

I was born an American and I'm still an American. I don't need to add anything to that.

1point

Lou Lopez 4 years ago

Because many of us are alienated from "American Culture." That's why so many sub-cultures exist (punk, goth, redneck, hippie etc).

0points

David Jeu 4 years ago (edited)

Dont want to start a thing there but African American. 🙄

0points

Foock Auff 4 years ago

I feel like this is a blanket statement that only applies to bandwagon Americans/our dumbest citizens

-1point

Lemon 4 years ago

A fun game can be to look up "Florida Man (your birthday)." There are endless insane news articles.

10points

JOY JACKSON 4 years ago

"florida man bored calls 911 to talk about hitler florida man threatens family with coldplay lyrics" last year I looked it up and it said "watch florida man vapes semin"

5points

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Jo Choto 4 years ago

I had lived many places in the world, including in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, but moving to the USA was the biggest culture shock of my life. After 23 years, I got used to a lot of things, but I have to say, I'm very happy to be living back in Europe again.

10points

BDR 4 years ago

Good for you...

-3points

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JuJu 4 years ago

Why do Americans call themselves German, Irish, Italian, Greek and so on, just because one of their ancestors comes from that country (yes, you are all immigrants), but you neither know more than a word from that language and you have absolutely no knowledge about the country, the culture, the people, the food (really, what you call Italian or German food is just an abomination)?

19points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I agree, this is very strange for me, claiming to be a part of culture that you have no connection to, don't know anything about and have only experienced through Americanised versions of their food

7points

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Esca Sav 4 years ago

I think it's because we like our history. I'm the first direct American in my family, but my parents were born and raised in Poland. A majority of the things we do at home are influenced by Polish culture. I also know the language. Some of my friends who have several generations of their ancestors born and raised in the U.S. often times get excited when they find out about their ancestry and use it as a means to find out more about the culture. It's a good conversational topic. The U.S. is the "Melting Pot," our historical backgrounds are all different and we love learning more about it.

6points

Shelby P 4 years ago (edited)

You may not realize this but a lot of folks here can trace their lineage back in just two generations. And because this country is so freakin big and people STILL have to point out the differences they hold on to their heritage like it matters. I do not agree with this mindset as I think it's part of what causes racism but life in the US is completely different from Europe and most of the rest of the world by default. I mean the folks that live here now are mostly not the natives (sadly) and our history is only 200ish years old. What do you expect??

6points

BG 4 years ago

In the US 2020 census, if you respond as Caucasian (White), then you have to specify what European region your ancestors were from.

6points

Ringo Starkey 4 years ago

Does it really affect you that much? Let someone have a little pride in themselves. For the love......

4points

mph seti 4 years ago

A common question when getting to know someone is "what are you?" as in what is your heritage. Personally, I think it's rude, but whatever. At least it seems to have gotten less common than it was when I was growing up. Some people take irrational pride in their family history. Being proud of something you have had no control over seems stupid, but whatever.

4points

Bob Beltcher 4 years ago

For some this is true. For others like my family it's not. We still have family that live in Sicily and Germany. Can I speak the languages, nope. Can I cook authentic food just like them, no because we don't have the same ingredients. I am American by birth, but my heritage is over seas. Although, after reading this I'm strongly thinking about driving north 3000 miles.

2points

Gabriela L. 4 years ago

Yes!! Once I saw someone saying Gisele Bundchen was german even though she's from Brazil, speaks portuguese, has always lived here until moving to the US and her whole family is brazilian except maybe a great grandfather or something like that. I said that she was brazilian and the person called me dumb. So weird!

2points

BDR 4 years ago

You do realize that it was likely Italians or Germans or Indians or Chinese that originally sold, made or attempted their style of cuisine here and that it organically became what it is now.

2points

Dippin Dot 4 years ago

I think it’s back to when the US was a “melting pot” and so many cultures were coming together for the first time... it was important to some to marry people with the same background both religious or cultural, and it also connected you to strangers so you had a better sense of community... like “I’m from Germany. You are too? Let’s be best friends” and it just stuck.

2points

Dianna Siever 4 years ago (edited)

It would take so much information to answer this question that I can't do it in a paragraph. But I will say that your question sounds haughty and insulting. The world is a big and scary place and people hold on to what makes them feel at home. You're country might have a "little China" in it? Would you tell it's second and third generation residence that they know c**p about their culture and do it disservice? I'm guessing you're from somewhere homogenous.

2points

Daria B 4 years ago

I agree, but then, I believe they also find strange how little knowledge we have about our ancestors as well. Like... we mostly don't care. But we do get curious.

2points

Bettye McKee 4 years ago

I was born an American and I'm still an American. I don't need to add anything to that.

1point

Lou Lopez 4 years ago

Because many of us are alienated from "American Culture." That's why so many sub-cultures exist (punk, goth, redneck, hippie etc).

0points

David Jeu 4 years ago (edited)

Dont want to start a thing there but African American. 🙄

0points

Foock Auff 4 years ago

I feel like this is a blanket statement that only applies to bandwagon Americans/our dumbest citizens

-1point

Lemon 4 years ago

A fun game can be to look up "Florida Man (your birthday)." There are endless insane news articles.

10points

JOY JACKSON 4 years ago

"florida man bored calls 911 to talk about hitler florida man threatens family with coldplay lyrics" last year I looked it up and it said "watch florida man vapes semin"

5points

Load More Replies...

Jo Choto 4 years ago

I had lived many places in the world, including in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, but moving to the USA was the biggest culture shock of my life. After 23 years, I got used to a lot of things, but I have to say, I'm very happy to be living back in Europe again.

10points

BDR 4 years ago

Good for you...

-3points

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