Join the Fun!

Ketchup. There's only one bottle of ketchup in France. They pass it around from restaurant to restaurant when an American requests it.

chortle-guffaw Report

Final score:

141points

POST

FeelingFrisky 1 year ago

Lol

48points

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad The walk-ability of non-American cities is something out of a utopian dream.

tacojohn44 , Lu Pir Report

Final score:

139points

POST

Sue Denham 1 year ago

I've noticed American people wanting to drive from one shop to another even when they're 100m or less away, where Kiwis (and , I assume, most nationalities) will park in one place and walk from shop to shop before returning to their car to drive home.

54points

I have dual nationality and live in the USA, but I still travel a lot to Europe.
Why the hell do we pixel women’s nipples on TV? It is a f*****g nipple. We sell arms to kids, and we have violent movies, but we pixel a nipple.

Rejotalin79 Report

Final score:

116points

POST

Ak_Teren 1 year ago

Thats because your baptist taliban gets outraged at everything remotely connected to sexuality

108points

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Paying for ambulances and health care…

No-Method-7736 Report

Final score:

110points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

There is something very dystopian about being afraid to call an ambulance because you would get in crippling debt.

77points

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Sugar. When I visited Japan, even some of their sweetest desserts pale in comparison to how much sugar is in American food.

Bulky-Ambassador-638 , Tim Gouw Report

Final score:

109points

POST

Jrog 1 year ago

Quantity of sugar -or corn syrup- in american food is disgusting for anyone not used to it. On sweets, it's way too much. On the rest of the food, it should not even be there, so why the hell do you put it in? Your breakfast yogurt is sweeter than our cream desserts. Ketchup, BBQ sauce and even tomato sauces taste like candy. Breakfast cereals taste like sugar. Iced tea is basically syrup without any taste of tea. Even canned beans commonly have sugar on the ingredient list.

41points

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad When I traveled overseas I was surprised at how the public bathroom stalls gave so much more privacy. Like a full door to the floor in most places.

shannoniscats , Tim Mossholder Report

Final score:

108points

POST

Gilberto Pereira 1 year ago

we snort our coke in absolute privacy, in europe. 🤣

5points

The fact that tax is calculated on top of the price on the tag. I'd assume that every foreigner would think they're getting ripped off at the register because it costs more than the price tag. Every other place I've been, the price is the price. (And coins have numbers on them!).

whatevs42069 Report

Final score:

106points

POST

Ana Ferreira 1 year ago

Wait, your coins don't have value numbers on them?

9points

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Tipping. I had a waitress in Okinawa chase me into the parking lot with some change I left on the table.

sunlover010:

Went to Europe and tipped 20% and the servers acted extremely grateful. Like, a weird amount. After a while we finally asked a server what was up with that, and they said that in their country they are paid a living wage so tips don’t really mean much for them. They were very happy even with 10%.

bigedthebad , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

93points

POST

Winnie the Moo 1 year ago

Inhumane to do work like in the service industry (where customers can be very rude and demanding) and not get paid a living wage…

53points

FriedrichHydrargyrum Report

#10

A bizarre obsession with the national flag.

It’s not like countries dislike their own flags—you’ll see plenty of them at political events or international sporting events like the World Cup or Olympics—but they don’t typically fly a 6-foot flag from their trucks or hang them up in their churches. I don’t think most of them have a big national anthem ceremony at their domestic sporting events or have the military jets fly over them.

Final score:

92points

POST

Winnie the Moo 1 year ago

This. America needs to chill with this. It seems so over the top. 😂

75points

#11

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Obesity.

There are obese people everywhere and obesity is unfortunately apparently on the rise in most Western countries at least, but the obesity rate in the US is particularly remarkable, and not in a good way. I've had the good fortune of traveling to Europe three times in the last three years and I've gone to Brazil every year since 2010 to visit my in-laws. Do I see obese people in Europe and in Brazil? Absolutely, but they are often Americans visiting. And it's interesting because I never really seem to notice all the fit people in Europe and Brazil when I arrive there, but I do notice all the obese people when I return to the US. Very striking.

Water-Donkey , Andres Ayrton Report

Final score:

88points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

This corresponds to the one about having too much sugar in American food. Carbs are the fastest route to being overweight.

52points

#12

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Lived abroad 7 years. We're LOUD. I can hear my countrymen coming up the street going on about how they just had to pay to use the RESTROOM. :D

gorska_koza , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

86points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

Don't worry, you are hardly the only ones. From my experience, Greeks and Albanians can be pretty loud as well.

27points

#13

How ignorant we are, particularly of world history and geography.

walrusdoom Report

Final score:

85points

POST

Timbob 1 year ago

Also: Was involved hosting foreign exchange students at one time. Teen girl from Spain was attending the top academic high school in Chicago for a year. Local boy said to her,”You’re Anna from Spain. They speak Mexican there, right ?”

6points

#14

Minimum parking laws and garbage public transportation.

Going to Japan and seeing how accessible everything is made me question my whole life. Bikes and trains are just the better option and I'll resent oil executives for the rest of my life for the way they sabotaged the US transportation system.

Krovixis Report

Final score:

84points

POST

Sum Guy 1 year ago

The funny thing is that they still do this... remember when California announced plans for a high-speed rail and immediately had Elon talk about the Hyperloop and it being faster and more "cleaner"... California has been struggling to get funding since car companies also wanted funding for their vanity projects which will never be implemented...

5points

#15

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad When I moved to the UK, my flatmates asked how in movies people would stick their hands in the sink drain and it be ripped apart. I told them about sink garbage disposals and they were very weirded out.

[deleted] , wikipedia.org Report

Final score:

81points

POST

Winnie the Moo 1 year ago

Honest question here: why would you not just throw your leftovers in the trash?

44points

thatandyinhumboldt , wikipedia.org Report

#16

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Ranch dressing. I guess I was vaguely aware that it was American, but I hadn't realized how much.

If you want to hear a whole pub stop and glare at you, go to Ireland and ask for ranch for your fries.

Final score:

80points

POST

sbj 1 year ago

Ranch Flavour Doritos=Cool American in Europe, we don't know what the hell Ranch dressing is

24points

#17

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad I remember the Germans all being shocked that to do anything like drinking or smoking you needed to be 21 but to buy a rifle you only need to be 18. Well they were also just shocked you can just go buy a gun in most places here whenever you like pretty much.

thingologist , Isabella Mendes Report

Final score:

76points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

The whole notion of students going to school with bulletproof backpacks and having "shooter drills" is also pretty shocking to us...

95points

Spiritual_Bag_9840 , RDNE Stock project Report

#18

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Eating so damn fast. It seemed in Europe it’s normal to spend 2 hours at a restaurant, at least every time we sat down it took 2-2.5 hours. In America you’re rushed out of your table as fast as possible so the waiter can make more tips.

Final score:

73points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

That's pretty sad.

34points

#19

Went to Mexico. It was a hot day so we stopped at a bar to grab some cold sodas. They came in glass bottles, so we paid and just left the bar to continue walking. About 5 minutes later, the bartender chased us down and made us pour the soda into paper cups and he took the bottles to return for a deposit.

Realized how much America is a throwaway society.

mission-ctrl Report

Final score:

68points

POST

RavenTheCat 1 year ago

Actually i love Mexico's glass bottle sodas and that's super cool, i really wish we recycled like that ourselves

24points

#20

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Pharmaceutical commercials.

Murbella0909:

It scared me so much when I was in the USA for the first time! Is like those happy people doing happy things while someone described the most terrifying side effects ever!

LittleBiggle , Artem Podrez Report

Final score:

67points

POST

The Scout 1 year ago

I never understood the rationale behind "Please tell your doctor what he should prescribe, after all you know better than he does after seeing a twenty second commercial." Those are medical professionals. They should assign medication by what is needed, not what you saw on TV last night. Ads for prescription drugs simply do not make any sense.

25points

#21

I was born in America, then we moved to Japan from the time I was 4 until I was 8 (my dad was military) when we moved back to America, the first place we went was Dennys. I vividly remember asking my parents why the waitress kept coming to check on us, and if she thought we were doing something wrong because she seemed suspicious of us. As far as I'm aware, most countries outside of the US just leave you be and let you eat in peace. You get them when you're ready. America is very pushy because they survive on tips and need the next table to come along to make sure they can have a livelihood.

Imhereforthewearp Report

Final score:

66points

POST

R Kramer 1 year ago

If I'm rushed through my dinner, I will not come back.

44points

#22

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Our portion sizes in restaurants.

clark_w_griswokd , Ash Report

Final score:

65points

POST

Jrog 1 year ago

I was shocked when in a burger joint on the US-Canadian border I found the "quadruple half pounder" burger. That's 1 kg of meat, plus bacon, condiments, and about 1 kg of fries and free drinks.

24points

#23

Air conditioning so cold in public spaces that you need a jacket. It’s one example of how wasteful we are with electricity.

crunchybaguette Report

Final score:

64points

POST

Jared Robinson 1 year ago

Nope you can go away. AC is a miracle of human ingenuity.

9points

#24

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Yellow school buses. They are all over the US and Canada, but apparently not in the rest of the world.

Ineffable7980x , wikipedia.org Report

Final score:

63points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

Most students around here use the public transportation buses to go to school. Several private schools do have their own buses, but it's a rarity.

44points

#25

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad I didn’t realize how much less common baseball hats were, I studied abroad in Prague and my teacher said that’s a good way to spot an American.

bulbipicg , Mathias Reding Report

Final score:

61points

POST

Becky Samuel 1 year ago

They're only really worn in the UK in a uniform dark colour and in combination with a hoodie. This provides instant protection against being identified by cameras in case of an 'opportunity' presenting itself.

16points

#26

Lack of personal space. I was in India and when lineing /queuing up people were so close I thought they were trying to pick poket me. Then I saw they did that to everyone. I'm used to my bubble of space in America.

sneezhousing Report

Final score:

61points

POST

John Harrison 1 year ago

This should be higher on the list.

16points

#27

Constant competition. I realize that competition exists around the world in one form or another, but the concept of “best vs worst”, or “good, better, best” is deeply engrained in the American psyche. Things can’t be simply different, there must be good vs bad.

Mrcostarica Report

Final score:

61points

POST

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

This is a very good point! Watching all these Highschool Movies as a kid I always wondered, why they had that weird Prom King/Queen thing? At my end of school party we simply got drunk and had a great time.

28points

#28

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Whenever I order a soda in Europe and it arrives with no ice in it, a bald eagle dies.

earther199 , Ron Lach Report

Final score:

60points

POST

Winnie the Moo 1 year ago

Ugg, I hate it when restaurants put ice in my drinks! It waters the taste down, come on!

53points

#29

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Hearing gunshots all the time. My wife and I were in the UK, and there was a holiday happening in one of the boroughs in London (can't remember which one). We were staying in an Airbnb and we asked our host if it was a dangerous neighborhood . We got a look as if we were aliens and she said something along the lines of, "are you scared of fireworks?" My wife and I laughed saying, "we thought they were gunshots." Our poor host looked so horrified at how cavalier we were about how many "gunshots" there were (it was not a lot of fireworks, maybe a bang every 10-20 seconds). We had to explain that it's not out of the ordinary to hear gunshots most days where we live in the US. I hope she's ok and we didn't cause her any permanent damage. She may never visit the US though....

ScarofReality , Meruyert Gonullu Report

Final score:

55points

POST

FeelingFrisky 1 year ago

Where do you live in the US that you commonly hear gunshots‽

57points

#30

Feeling unsafe when you went outside. deep in germany, even during the anti-american protests, i felt way safer than i ever have in America. I know there are other turbulent places of course, but living here you worry about what unhinged a*****e has a gun and wants to f**k s**t up today. just a few weeks ago my sister was at work at chapel hill in NC when someone went and shot up the science center and she was on lockdown, f****n hiding and just hoping she would make it out to pick her daughter up from school. F**K that s**t.

blondemarley89 Report

Final score:

54points

POST

oktopus 1 year ago

I have literally been in one supermarket in the US, and a while back I was reading the news in my country, and one of the headlines was a shooting in a supermarket in the only town I've been to in the US, and yes it was that same supermarket.

17points

#31

Is no one talking about health insurance yet? It blew my mind coming to the UK and people go to the same doctor every time. I don't think I ever went to the same doctor twice in the US because of changing insurance so often working various jobs.

whatevs42069 Report

Final score:

52points

POST

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

I don't even understand that. Why would you change insurances for different jobs? Why would you change doctors for different insurances?

15points

#32

The cost of medication and how easily accessible it is.
The stupid hoops I had to go through to get my prescription in America is so frustrating. I've been on the same medication for well over a decade, and my last refill, my insurance decided to deny it for some stupid reason. Took 3 weeks for them to refill it.

When I was in South Korea, took less than an hour.

AnotherAnimeNerd Report

Final score:

51points

POST

Katy Thomason-Stewart 1 year ago

I have certain life long medical conditions - in the UK this makes me exempt from paying prescription charges. I would have been bankrupt and dead long ago if I lived in America!

29points

#33

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Free refills on soft drinks. On our study abroad trip to Italy we jokingly called Hard Rock Cafe the US Embassy because that was the only place for it.

agentbunnybee , Caleb Oquendo Report

Final score:

46points

POST

Donkeywheel 1 year ago

You went to Italy of all places to go to hard rock cafe ? What’s wrong with these people..?

28points

These_Bicycle_4314 , August de Richelieu Report

#34

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Eye contact while speaking to people. Americans don't break eye contact easily so depending where you go, I've been told it comes off as aggressive.

Final score:

46points

POST

James016 1 year ago

I REALLY struggle to keep eye contact for any amount of time, I feel like I am glaring at someone.

26points

#35

I didn’t go abroad to learn this, but I worked on staff for a Very Big International Sporting Event (but not the one with the rings) and we provided lockers with built in combination locks like you’d see in any American public school for journalists to store equipment (computers, cameras etc.) in.

What no one realized was that if you didn’t attend public school in North America, you’ve apparently never seen such a thing before, and the whole “go three times past zero to the right and stop on the first number, turn past zero once to the left and stop in the second number, then back to the right immediately to the third number” is an incomprehensible system.

After a few days of hearing cursing in every language you can imagine, and seeing grown adults brought to tears or rage or both, we ended up assigning a troop of volunteers whose entire job for two weeks was opening lockers for non-North Americans.

Lesson learned!

Far-Ad5796 Report

Final score:

45points

POST

arthbach 1 year ago

I've read the instructions three times, and it's still incomprehensible! If I had the instructions in front of me as I was doing it, I'd manage, but just being expected to be able to do this.... yoicks!

20points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#36

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Root beer is apparently disgusting and an offense to most of the world's palate.

Routine-Aspect1000 , wikipedia.org Report

Final score:

44points

POST

Thom Cornell 1 year ago

It's foul.

13points

CascadedFalls 1 year ago

Damn, as someone who grew up loving root beer ( still do) , this hurt me on an emotional level, but I can see why you wouldn't like the taste.

17points

Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago

Not with a scoop or 2 of Vanilla in it

3points

Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 1 year ago

So is haggis, but lots of people like it.

1point

Richard Hussong 1 year ago

There is no "it". Every brand of root beer tastes different.

0points

XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 1 year ago

Idk why but I could never wrap my head around root beer. It tastes like like overly-sweet, some what but not quite licorice flavored vomit. Confuses the hell out of my brain.

0points

Janos Schumacher 1 year ago

It just happens to taste like medicine to Europeans. Just like how artificial Cherry tastes like Robutussin sometimes. Try Moxie cola some time if you can find it. Tastes straight-up like medicine.

8points

RavenTheCat 1 year ago

Moxie's my favorite soda

1point

Dr Robert Neville 1 year ago

Noooooo. I'm a Brit and I love root beer, was very upset when MaccyD's took it off the menu. Mountain Dew however should be used as a form of torture.

6points

Julie S 1 year ago

I as going to say the same thing loved when McDonald's had root beer on the menu in the UK.

3points

Kathryn Baylis 1 year ago

Root Beer is an acquired tasted, as is its cousin, Sarsparilla. As someone who, as a child, used to cut tender twigs off of Sassafras plants, peel the bark off, and chew on the tender middle, I love the flavor. But I can see how someone who isn’t used to it could react negatively to it. At least until they find their brand of root beer/sarsaparilla, that is, since the region, brands are all just that much different.

6points

Sans Serif (Sans) 1 year ago (edited)

Thanks for that, Kathryn! There really ARE so many varieties and many of the micro-breweries here in the northeast have created their own amazing recipes (and some serve it on draft). Commercially bottled/canned root beer tends to be dreadful - just like a good many beers.

2points

John Harrison 1 year ago

Root beer is delicious, although in America it's gotten too sweet, along with everything else. For those who have birch beer available in their store, give it a try.

6points

Landithy 1 year ago

Well yeah. But my country invented Vegemite so whatever.

6points

MotherofGuineaPigs 1 year ago

I'll stick with peanut butter thank you

3points

Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago

meanwhile in the UK: marmite, vegemites even worse cousin ;-;

2points

Amo Mazzuchelli 1 year ago

And we also have sarsaparilla

0points

Dr Robert Neville 1 year ago

Brit here, Vegemite is Marmite's palatable cousin.

0points

Corvus 1 year ago

Heh, one of my friends said it tasted like "cow pee." Never asked him how he knew what cow pee tasted like :P

5points

Vermonta 1 year ago

Haggis anyone?

4points

Dr Robert Neville 1 year ago

Nope but I'll take your hand off for black or white pudding.

1point

Fat Harry 1 year ago

I like rootbeer. McDonald's used to sell it in the UK in the 80s.

3points

Sarcastic Jock 1 year ago

I'm Scottish and love root beer. Picked up the taste for it while working in yankland though.

3points

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

You guys have Irn-Bru and Buckfast, so no surprise there. ;-)

5points

Ima Manimal 1 year ago

Sassafras. It’s an acquired taste. The frothier and colder, the better.

2points

KMB 1 year ago

They dont know what they r missing

1point

Moo 1 year ago

It's my favorite soft drink ):

1point

afia kooma 1 year ago

Not in Norway, even kids drink it as soda.

1point

Beck 1 year ago

That's why it is. Soda. I like the generic kind, like store brand versions. They are not as strong.

0points

Sharon Ingram 8 months ago

Try it with vanilla ice cream. It’s a float.

0points

Joseph Limbrick 1 year ago

I have to say as an OZI I could not get enough A&W root beer . I loved that stuff. DR PEPPER , not so much

0points

JP Purves 1 year ago

Not everyone in the U.S. likes root beer. I'm sure there are regional drinks worldwide that would be considered equally disgusting and offensive.

0points

Lace Neil 1 year ago

It's disgusting 🫣

0points

Caiman 94920 1 year ago

Love root beer, especially with pizza. When we were kids once a week we would end up at a pizza parlor with parents and their best friends. Pizzas ordered, a pitcher of beer for the adults and a pitcher of root beer for the kids. When my husband first came here from Peru, he complained that root beer tasted like medicine, he was used to the overly sweet Inca Cola (which tasted like Double Bubble bubble gum) but after 30+ years of marriage, my root beer disappears mysteriously.....the flavor grows on you

0points

Huddo's sister 1 year ago

I hadn't realised it was sarsaparilla flavour, so when I went to Canada my sister and I tried one and had a sip each before throwing it out! We hate waste, but just can't do that horrible stuff (except notably one time I was drunk, I went on and on about how I'd never had it before and loved it. Woke up the next day and realised my mistake!).

0points

David Hopkins 1 year ago

What the hell do they know?

0points

Edison Lima 1 year ago

Yep

0points

realenancy170 1 year ago

I just recently found out that root beer is loathed by most people besides americans. Blew my mind! I have always loved root beer, birch beer and sasparilla as a special treat.

0points

Bree Piper 1 year ago

Yes it is. But as a lifelong Dr Pepper addict who can’t have caffeine any more, and as all other soft drinks are too sweet, and I can’t find any other kind of drink I like as well…. I’m stuck with root beer. If only they’d bring back sarsaparilla - I dug that bubblegum flavor.

0points

Deb Dedon 1 year ago

Goody. More for me.

0points

Fairsher 1 year ago

Love A & W Root Beer, used to be served in frosted mugs, soooo good!!

0points

Mental Liberals 1 year ago

Real root beer is great! Most is just high fructose corn syrup and artificial everything!!

0points

Hans Georg 1 year ago

I like it.

0points

Richard Willis 1 year ago

As is US chocolate!

0points

The Chocolate Gecko 1 year ago

Think about it. The ONLY way that root beer is palatable is with a giant scoop of ice cream in the glass, a root beer float. Grody.

0points

Timbob 1 year ago

And I guess raw Herring isn’t ???

0points

Maudelin 1 year ago

Would love a root beer float right about now.

0points

Michelle Reynolds 1 year ago

All I have to say is room temperature Guinness!

0points

A P 1 year ago

It is always best with vanilla ice cream in it.

0points

Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago

what even is it? I always thought it was like Shandy, but apparently not?

0points

Vermonta 1 year ago

Its just soda like Coca Cola

0points

Robin DJW 1 year ago

Americans say the same thing about Vegemite. You gotta grow up with it.

0points

Amo Mazzuchelli 1 year ago

People have to learn how to eat vegemite and not eat it off a spoon like Nutella. If it's spread on bread, toast, biscuit with butter, not thick and then tried I reckon more people would like it

0points

Michael Largey 1 year ago

Lots of unfamiliar food or drink gives that initial impression.

0points

Nichole Harris 1 year ago

Y'all are heathens!!!!

0points

Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

Depends on the brand

0points

R Dennis 1 year ago

I counter your hate of root beer with osmanthus tea and rose or lavender drinks.

0points

keyboardtek 1 year ago

Root beer is my only favorite flavor. But with so many brands they all have their own character. IBC is my gold standard.

0points

The Short Lady 1 year ago

Different and a matter of taste, not fact.

0points

Emma London 1 year ago

Tastes like cough medicine, and not the good kind!

0points

El Cucuy 1 year ago

That would be Jägermeister

0points

Max Robitzsch 1 year ago

Not sure if it would taste the same, but root beer is reasonably well known in Germany.

0points

RavenTheCat 1 year ago

As an American who loves rootbeer, i. Respectfully laughing x3

0points

Annik Perrot 1 year ago

Tastes like mouthwash.

-1point

Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 year ago

Tastes like savlon (ointment for grazes/cuts) smells. Or was it germolene? Long time since I’ve been near either. The joys of being that middle age where you fall over less than at either end of your lifespan!

-1point

oktopus 1 year ago

Tried some once, reminded me of medicine I had as a child, and felt like it would melt my teeth.

-1point

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

yes

-1point

#37

Not american but I'm surprised to not see americans mention going outside dressed like s**t... In France it may take 20 minutes to get ready to go grab something for breakfast or walk the dog, but nobody would go out in PJs or kinda-workout clothes...

justinmarsan Report

Final score:

44points

POST

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

For a more detailed study I recommend visiting the breakfast at any large chain hotel in the US.

16points

#38

I was in Germany and had people asking how far I lived from certain American landmarks. They would get a strange, kind of “wow” expression on their face when I told them.

Turns out they were just getting a kick out of the fact I was explaining it by time and not distance.

DudebroggieHouser Report

Final score:

44points

POST

John Harrison 1 year ago

It makes sense to describe it by time. Ten miles in the city is entirely different than ten miles in the country.

26points

SecretAgentVampire Report

#39

I learned that American fast food is disgusting and way overpriced.

Out in Seoul you can almost guarantee that you'll find a fried chicken and beer place, and barely pay anything for a delicious meal. Korea changed my world on food.

Final score:

41points

POST

PhaseWitFact 1 year ago

TBF I've been in McDonald's in Spain. It was as gross as the McDonalds here in the US.

16points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

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“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#40

Half and half. I watched an American family try to order coffee in London with half and half and the server just kept saying “half what?” and neither side understood what was happening.

scotchplaid87 Report

Final score:

34points

POST

Landithy 1 year ago

The one that really messed me up was sticks of butter. Butter doesn't come divided in sticks where I'm from and until I moved to the US, I thought a "stick" was an entire 500g block of butter. I messed up so many American recipes.

9points

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#41

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad In America , we’ve normalized bad restaurants. For example, when I go to a restaurant in the US, I do so with the expectation that there’s at least a 50% chance it will suck. I’ve been to Italy and Japan. In both places I could go to restaurants expecting them to be good nearly 100% of the time. American restaurants on the whole just take food less seriously.

traanquil , Pixabay Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Darryl Martin 1 year ago

Italians take food VERY seriously.

16points

ElectionProper8172 , Karolina Grabowska Report

#42

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Peanut butter is in the international foods section, and many people don't like it. It also amazes me how much American culture is all over the world. Like our movies and TV shows.

Final score:

21points

POST

James016 1 year ago

Peanut butter is divine

16points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#43

To-go cups and coffee. It's EVERYWHERE in the states... but after a red-eye to Barcelona I just wanted to get a huge coffee and walk around. Wrong. Get a table at a cafe.. order a tiny coffee and a croissant, and relax for an hour. This is the Spanish way. The only place I ever saw 'to-go' like I was used to is Costa Cofee and Starbucks, which were only in a few touristy areas (thankfully).

Also drive-thru. Apparently it's not a thing most places in Europe (obviously driving for everything is less common). One person we met said that after they had lived in the states for 20 years and moved back to Europe they were spotted eating in their car. Apparently this was such a rare sight that a total stranger stopped to ask if she was OK. When she replied 'yes' the only response was "wow, you must have been REALLY hungry to eat in your car".

sSnowblind Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

I really hate walking and drinking/eating at the same time

5points

#44

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad How trustworthy they are in places like Iceland. My buddy and I went to Iceland and he left his ATM card on top of the ATM when we first got there because it was a redeye flight and we hadn’t really slept. We went to get our car from the car rental place realize he didn’t have it, went back, and despite being in a public place for about an hour no one had touched it.

SkekVen , Liliana Drew Report

Final score:

16points

POST

PhaseWitFact 1 year ago

This is not an American thing. I've traveled a lot and I'm most countries I have to carry my money and passport in a tight fitting bag under my shirt so it won't get stolen.

11points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#45

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad This probably isn't exclusive to America, just places with certain plumbing, but I took it for granted that we can flush our toilet paper. Going to Ecuador it was a shock to see that they had trash cans in each stall for throwing it away. Definitely smelled terrible.

Birdhairs , hermaion Report

Final score:

16points

POST

James016 1 year ago

A lot of places don't have the plumbing to handle toilet paper.

8points

#46

I have no idea how to ride a train.

milkkiller999 Report

Final score:

16points

POST

ToGo 1 year ago

You have to let it smell your hand first. Gently pet it and when it finally trusts you it will open it's door and let you hop on.

39points

#47

Right turn on red. (In places like the UK, Australia, and Japan, the equivalent would be left turn on red.)

I thought turning on a red light (unless a sign says its forbidden) was normal. Being pulled over by a cop in Taiwan, followed by online discussions about my experience, showed me that it's a very American thing.

Most other countries either forbid it altogether or allow it only when there's a sign or light saying you can. Apparently South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines are among the few countries that follow the American model (turns on red permitted unless otherwise indicated).

BubbhaJebus Report

Final score:

16points

POST

arthbach 1 year ago

To put it bluntly, turning on a red light is dangerous to pedestrians. In other parts of the world, we expect pedestrians to have a basic level of safety when crossing the roads.

5points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#48

Red Solo Cups.

I went to an American themed party once and the hostess was super excited that she was able to order the cups off of Amazon for the party.

khelwen Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

Been to lots of parties here (Germany). We simply used glasses and plates or drank beer out of the bottle. Not really a need for single use plastic c**p

13points

#49

Ads for lawyers. Attorneys if you are highbrow. We have so many on TV yelling about being hit by a truck and CALL ME RIGHT NOW or dial a single digit multiple times or “I am a multimillionaire corporation that sues companies since they have gobs of liquid cash”.

rbarr228 Report

Final score:

15points

POST

James016 1 year ago

I saw an amazing amount of billboard advertising lawyers when in Florida

5points

No-Carry4971 , Possessed Photography Report

#50

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Free public toilets everywhere you go. I cannot believe the rest of the world is a “pay to pee” society.

Final score:

14points

POST

Thom Cornell 1 year ago

Australia has free public toilets and it amazingly is a part of the rest of the world.

20points

#51

Having coin money with NO value written on it in numerals. Also the dime looks insanely small compared to most coins.

SmittyComic Report

Final score:

14points

POST

troufaki13 1 year ago

Also all the banknotes are the same size and color

13points

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

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Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#52

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Bumper stickers.

sumosloths:

Any kind of car customization in general, even down to license plate frames. Pretty much every car I saw in Europe looked super generic.

Taco_Bella_ , Andrew Magill Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Laugh or not 1 year ago

As far as bumper stickers go, this one is rather wholesome.

9points

#53

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Sit-down bookstores.

Tsurumah , Pixabay Report

Final score:

12points

POST

Scrappychick 1 year ago

My local second hand Bookshop is huge and has sofas for people to take a pew and read.

4points

#54

Escalator Etiquette.
I cannot speak for every country, but in the UK, it's strongly frowned upon to stand in the middle or left side of the escalator; that side is meant for walkers only. Think of it as a fast lane. Supposedly, if you stand in the way, you're liable to get pushed aside or exaggeratingly huffed at.

I pride myself on a high social IQ so if this is common sense in America and I just didn't know about it I apologize!

SnooApples6592 Report

Final score:

12points

POST

pep Ito 1 year ago

In Spain it is normal for people to stand on the right side of the escalator and the left side is used by people walking up.

5points

Fluffy_Psychology_44 , Stephan Müller Report

#55

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Large parking lots and always having guaranteed free parking available wherever you go.

Final score:

11points

POST

Laugh or not 1 year ago

Given that many cities in Europe are actively trying to make themselves unfriendly to cars, there will only be less and less parking lots. Public transport all the way!

4points

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

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College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

#56

SUVs. I only saw three in France, and one had Florida tags.

DerwoodMcDaniel Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Jrog 1 year ago

SUVs are common, but are generally smaller than the american ones. Pickup trucks are not common at all. The most common american SUV in 2023 is the Ford Expedition, that is 564 cm long, 237 cm wide, 194 cm high. The most common European SUV in 2023 is the Dacia Duster, that is 434 x 180 x 169 cm. That's about 50% less volume. Oh, and the Duster is only the 10th most sold car in Europe, the rest are compacts

5points

#57

40 Things Americans Weren’t Aware Were So Blatantly American Until They Traveled Abroad Accessibility of public places. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is incredible.

DoctaDrew614 , Marcus Aurelius Report

Final score:

7points

POST

Mis Stake she/her 🇫🇮🇬🇧 1 year ago

This is not just an American thing.

20points

#58

To go bags after dinner!

gold_dust_woman13 Report

Final score:

5points

POST

James016 1 year ago

Get this in the UK. Not a bad thing. It means the food is not wasted

8points

#59

Clothing dryer machines. Outside of the US, most dryers in many countries are very weak. They tumble with gentle heat to get most of the moisture out but they don't dry clothes completely to "dry", they're still damp. Usually after "drying" one finishes them on a clothes line. Many view the kind of full dryers we have in America to be extremely wasteful of electricity.

tmntnyc Report

Final score:

5points

POST

Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het 1 year ago

Slightly puzzled by this one. Of course, our dryers will completely dry our clothes. But we only use ours when the weather isn't suitable for line drying, whatever the time of year.

22points

Southern_Hunter_3860 Report

#60

I doubt this is restricted to America in any way, but when I studied abroad in the UK, the lack of public drinking laws was a bit of a culture shock. Being able to walk outside with a bottle of beer was very freeing.

Final score:

4points

POST

Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago

You can drink out if you want but if you get drunk and start being a nuisance THEN the law comes into play.

3points

Basic_Equipment2127 Report

#61

Also, leaning. I lean on everything.

Final score:

3points

POST

Julie S 1 year ago

What?

1point

#62

Fashion. When I visited China for the first time as a 13 year old on vacation, I was dumbfounded by the sight of men wearing capris.

CasanovaFormosa Report

Final score:

3points

POST

Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago

China is a weird place, it's either high end fashion, or.. as you say, capris and polo shirts. No inbetween. (but to be fair, afaik there's still a huge wealth gap in China, especially between the cities and more rural areas)

1point

Professional_Law_942 Report

#63

We refrigerate a lot more things than in the Caribbean and UK. It was surprising to see things like yogurt & freshly squeezed fruit juices simply on ice on Barbados instead of a proper refrigerator.

Final score:

2points

POST

StumblingThroughLife 1 year ago (edited)

No need to refrigerate in the UK: Eggs; fruit; long-life/Alt milk; bread (unless it's REALLY hot weather, and we want it to last its proper sell-by-date (- edited to add, due to plastic packaging and heat = mould), but we definitely refrigerate dairy products and fresh fruit juice - and fizzy pop before we drink it.

7points

#64

This is about 25 years ago, but when i lived in South Korea, i was once asked if i wanted some dessert. My options was cola or cider (like sprite). As an American i never thought of soda as a dessert.

wildbill1221 Report

Final score:

1point

POST

Vul Va 1 year ago

"cider (like sprite)" - what??

19points

#65

Screens on windows!

Ktjoonbug Report

Final score:

0points

POST

Corvus 1 year ago

Ummm, they are pretty common in Europe as well.

7points

Expatriated_American Report

#66

Construction safety. Walking around cities in France, I’d often find that building construction work would just spill out into the sidewalk, with nothing done to steer pedestrians away. You have to be a lot more mindful about not getting something dropped on your head, tools littering the sidewalk, sparks from welding, etc.

Final score:

0points

POST

Jan Rosier 1 year ago

Definitely not the case in Belgium, where you have to apply for permits and put up fences and warning signs if you are doing something which might take space from the sidewalk. Unless off course you own a cafe and want to set up tables outside... :-)

5points

#67

Easy access to drinking water. I once asked for a cup of water at a coffee shop and they acted like I’d asked to eat their garbage. Also in a restaurant I asked for just plain tap water and they kept saying no we don’t have that. I know damn well you have running water, just put some in a glass, jeez.

FamousLocalJockey Report

Final score:

-1point

POST

Little but Fierce 1 year ago

I've travelled to almost every country in Europe and never found this, except in Germany. The places I've been to that don't have drinkable tap water are mainly in South America.

3points

FloridaMan69ingurmom Report

#68

Dive bars, sports bars and wings. For example I’m currently in Argentina, I’m not saying American food is better by any means. But a regular bar is not as common here. Most places are cafes/restaurants which are great but sometimes I just want to hang out at a good neighborhood dive bar, I don’t always want to sit down at a table and it be like a dining atmosphere/experience if that makes sense with waiters and food menus, etc. There are regular bars and sports bars here but they are not as prevelant and common and because of that they are usually only in the main part of the city. Where as in Florida and a lot of other states there is always at least a few good sports bars in town.

I guess they could also be categorized as a pub, but not an English pub because the bar food there sucks. Sports bars have great happy hour deals on pitchers of beers, wings and other good bar eats. They are also great places to get work done, if you go to one during the day and there’s no major game on they usually are pretty quiet and a great place to hook up to Wi-Fi and get work done, spend a lengthy lay over in, or kill time at, if you make use of the happy hour menu you can eat actually pretty good and not break the bank. I always find myself looking for the closest thing to a sports bar when I travel. So far most the Irish pubs I’ve come across in South America are pretty good, but the wings and sliders just aren’t the same.

Final score:

-10points

POST

ColorEd 1 year ago

Why not just stay in the US, you donkeyhole?

8points

A writer here at Bored Panda, I am a lover of good music, good food, and good company, which makes food-related topics and feel-good stories my favorite ones to cover. Passionate about traveling and concerts, I constantly seek occasions to visit places yet personally unexplored. I also enjoy spending free time outdoors, trying out different sports—even if I don’t look too graceful at it—or socializing over a cup of coffee.

Read less »

Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

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What do you think ?

POST

Ren Karlej 1 year ago

I'm NOT reading this I will just make this one comment (beyond saying I like America and Americans). Please stop commenting. Please don't read or click on these threads. The only way to stop them is to boycott them. BP do it because it winds people up and creates a LOT of comments which helps sell their advertising. If we deprive them of this, it won't make it worth their while. Ignore these posts. Boycott them. At least let's try that!

38points

ƒιѕн 1 year ago

Agreed, it's tiring seeing the bash USA post everyday. I just down voted the post and scrolled down here to the comments.

16points

Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 1 year ago

Or at least down-vote the whole post (next to the sharing icons).

2points

Vul Va 1 year ago

Clicking and commenting to stop clicking and commenting. Is this what alanis morrisette was singing about in the 90s?

1point

Power puff scientist 1 year ago

please bp f**k off with the America posts

19points

Aiden Brough 1 year ago

At least give us a couple days rest before ANOTHER backhanded 'What is wrong with America?" tirade...

17points

Phase 1 year ago

F**k off

16points

--- 1 year ago

Again?

16points

Caro Caro 1 year ago

Again. Sigh...

14points

Porribix 1 year ago

Its a weekly feature, some good ol' 'Murica bashing. I prefer a good article on wtf are the brits thinking? carpet in the bathroom? using a yorkshire pudding as a plate? beans do go with everything.

6points

Xenon 1 year ago

Like clockwork.

5points

Ace 1 year ago

Well at least all of these particular anti-American posts seem to be from actual Americans. And TBF one or two of them are not really anti-American as such, even if commentors choose to point out the sometimes absurd comparisons being made.

1point

John Harrison 1 year ago

Just yesterday, or maybe the day before, BP posted a thread that examined Europe. Many people in the comments said, "Don't worry, Europeans, just give it a day or two and there will be another America-bashing thread." I literally laughed out loud when I saw this pop up.

15points

Anony Mouse 1 year ago

We didn't even have to wait. Half the comments on that thread were "But what about America?". Like I said before, this site is turning into Buzzfeed so slowly they are hoping we don't notice. Pretty soon posts will be "82 things you absolutely need to buy on Prime Day!".

9points

Leo Domitrix 1 year ago

DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. CLick away! Downvote the whole thing. I didn't read this, just wante dto encourage all pandas to be kind to all of us (yes, even Americans).

11points

ColorEd 1 year ago

This was an interesting, totally new topic on BP. So refreshing!

11points

Koos Kommentaar 1 year ago

What is BP editors obsession with the US and to bash them?

10points

Sylvia Schmitz 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Mimi M 1 year ago

F off

9points

sofacushionfort 1 year ago

Bored Panda: has the FSB threatened to hack you if you don’t run these weekly? hold up your open palm, tuck your thumb against it, and then close your fingers over your thumb if you need to be rescued.

7points

Tracy Wallick 1 year ago

And people are surprised why American Pandas think you hate us.

6points

Invader Zim 1 year ago

Same old stupid a*s posts , wtf ? Get something new and interesting please

5points

Jessica SpeLangm 1 year ago

BP....stop with the "let's bash America" posts. There are many more interesting things to post about on this site and allowing other countries to continually bash the USA when they don't live there is getting EXTREMELY tiring and frustrating.

5points

Mama Penguin 1 year ago

I'm getting tired of these wtf America posts. It was amusing at first but they're getting stale very quickly. It's just the same recycled content.

5points

Rachel Ainsworth 1 year ago

How is "things an American learned while traveling" america bashing? You'll are too sensitive.

2points

Exotic Butters 1 year ago

They hate us cuz they ain't us!

0points

Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago (edited)

Part of the problem is that a lot of the world really wants America to be the leader, the model of prosperity, democracy, well-being, justice, good sense, fairness, and freedom that it claims to be. What we see in these 'US-bashing' threads is perhaps expressions of disappointment at what's seen as failings which, if America was the country it 'should' be, could easily be avoided.

0points

Tracy Wallick 1 year ago

Yeah, Americans want this too. Now imagine how crushing it is to live in this country as it fails to live up to yours and everyone else's expectation, and then having people outside your country gleefully rubbing salt in the wounds.

1point

Norby Klein 1 year ago

It cracks me up the posts bashing Americans as obnoxious; your comments are so obnoxious! You hate in others what you hate in yourself!

-1point

Petra Schaap 1 year ago

Ok ok its a US post but not as bad as all the other ones relax people :-D

-1point

Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Thom Cornell 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

John Harrison 1 year ago

... because if it's people from the USA doing the bashing, then it doesn't count? Brilliant, Thom.

7points

Jared Robinson 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Vul Va 1 year ago

😂

4points

POST

Ren Karlej 1 year ago

38points

ƒιѕн 1 year ago

Agreed, it's tiring seeing the bash USA post everyday. I just down voted the post and scrolled down here to the comments.

16points

Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 1 year ago

Or at least down-vote the whole post (next to the sharing icons).

2points

Vul Va 1 year ago

Clicking and commenting to stop clicking and commenting. Is this what alanis morrisette was singing about in the 90s?

1point

Power puff scientist 1 year ago

please bp f**k off with the America posts

19points

Aiden Brough 1 year ago

At least give us a couple days rest before ANOTHER backhanded 'What is wrong with America?" tirade...

17points

Phase 1 year ago

F**k off

16points

--- 1 year ago

Again?

16points

Caro Caro 1 year ago

Again. Sigh...

14points

Porribix 1 year ago

Its a weekly feature, some good ol' 'Murica bashing. I prefer a good article on wtf are the brits thinking? carpet in the bathroom? using a yorkshire pudding as a plate? beans do go with everything.

6points

Xenon 1 year ago

Like clockwork.

5points

Ace 1 year ago

1point

John Harrison 1 year ago

15points

Anony Mouse 1 year ago

9points

Leo Domitrix 1 year ago

DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. CLick away! Downvote the whole thing. I didn't read this, just wante dto encourage all pandas to be kind to all of us (yes, even Americans).

11points

ColorEd 1 year ago

This was an interesting, totally new topic on BP. So refreshing!

11points

Koos Kommentaar 1 year ago

What is BP editors obsession with the US and to bash them?

10points

Sylvia Schmitz 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Mimi M 1 year ago

F off

9points

sofacushionfort 1 year ago

7points

Tracy Wallick 1 year ago

And people are surprised why American Pandas think you hate us.

6points

Invader Zim 1 year ago

Same old stupid a*s posts , wtf ? Get something new and interesting please

5points

Jessica SpeLangm 1 year ago

5points

Mama Penguin 1 year ago

I'm getting tired of these wtf America posts. It was amusing at first but they're getting stale very quickly. It's just the same recycled content.

5points

Rachel Ainsworth 1 year ago

How is "things an American learned while traveling" america bashing? You'll are too sensitive.

2points

Exotic Butters 1 year ago

They hate us cuz they ain't us!

0points

Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago (edited)

0points

Tracy Wallick 1 year ago

1point

Norby Klein 1 year ago

It cracks me up the posts bashing Americans as obnoxious; your comments are so obnoxious! You hate in others what you hate in yourself!

-1point

Petra Schaap 1 year ago

Ok ok its a US post but not as bad as all the other ones relax people :-D

-1point

Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Thom Cornell 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

John Harrison 1 year ago

... because if it's people from the USA doing the bashing, then it doesn't count? Brilliant, Thom.

7points

Jared Robinson 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Vul Va 1 year ago

😂

4points