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The United States—the land of the free. The home of the brave. And the nation of some very peculiar habits, according to the internet. Other countries in the world are confused by some of the things that Americans do. Like calling tuna “tuna fish” and putting too much cheese on everything. I find it endearing, others find it strange.

Bored Panda has collected some of the best tweets that show how confused foreigners are at what some Americans do. Scroll down and upvote your faves. And be sure to check out our previous post about Europeans who shared what problems are too American for them to grasp.

Culture clashes are nothing new. After all, if every country and culture were the same, there’d be no point in leaving your home, right? (Spoiler warning: due to the coronavirus pandemic, you shouldn’t be leaving your home either way.) Benny Lewis, founder of the Fluent in 3 Months blog, spent 4 years living in the US and has some gripes about the culture. Including how Americans are too politically correct while at the same time they think that everything is “awesome.”

#1

Things-Americans-Do

hesthehabit Report

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European other
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes sense to start with the day, but I guess it's what you get used to

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#3

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Montberte Report

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Prince Maroochy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We choose from a lot more at first, eventually narrowing it down to two and choosing from them.

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According to Benny from Ireland, Europeans traveling around the US will find a lot of things weird. Like the fact that Americans smile way too much and it’s difficult to know when they mean it and when they’re smiling out of reflex.

Another thing that Benny found very unusual is something a lot of people complain about when they arrive in the US. Yup, you guessed it—tipping! “I really think tipping as a means of waitresses and others earning the vast majority of their living is ridiculous. If I have to pay, say 15% anyway, then include it in the bill! It's not a bloody tip if it's mandatory!” Benny expressed his opinion. Some of us can agree that mandatory tipping is sneaky and that servers should earn a decent wage that isn’t based on tips.

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“Why not tip everyone who you interact with in some way—bus drivers, or leave money on your trash can for the garbage man? It's inconsistent, and waiters, hairdressers, and taxi drivers should just charge us what needs to be charged,” Benny writes in his blog.

#4

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This also goes for strict gun laws. Why do Americans think strict gun laws won't work in their country when it works in literally all other developed countries?

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#5

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Thomas brennan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an irish person I dont mind it, it is nice for people to be proud of their heritage. What I do mind is when they ask do I know paddy mcsomething from donegal. I know Ireland's small but we don't all live in one village. Oh and the accent impersonations are damn annoying...although in my experience the English are the worst for imitating accents.

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#6

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Alan Green
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The other day when they announced America now has the highest C19 infections of any country an american in the comments said "BS, I'm sure Europe has more". Seems some Americans think Europe is a country.

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He also has issues with how in some parts of America prices aren’t what they seem because the tax isn’t included to make the cost seem lower than it really is.

Of course, taxing is different in different states, but this doesn’t excuse corporations from printing up different product costs for each state. Or, as Benny puts it, “We have the same product sold across many European countries and somehow someone in the company found the time to punch numbers into a $1 calculator in advance to tell people how much they are actually paying.”

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#7

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

Why was fahrenheit even invented? The metric system just makes so much more sense. Freezing point is 0C and boiling point is 100C. A litre is 1000millilitres, 100 centimetres is 1 metre etc.

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#8

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ASXPJESSICA Report

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Petra Schaap
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thats not just American. I think it depends on the person. I have local friends who do and local friends who dont, and American friends who do and dont.

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#9

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Just Carmen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know about other Americans, but at our house, we just call it TUNA.

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But before you start thinking that all Europeans have it out for the US, Benny also mentions some awesome things about Americans. For example, nobody can deny that Americans have an incredible work ethic and how open-minded and diverse most of the country is. It’s a country with plenty of positives, peppered with a whole lot of bizarreness.

#10

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Colin Bayler
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because you don't need a bloody scale to measure grams. All you need is a simple cup with lines. DUH!

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#11

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candacekendall_ Report

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Just Carmen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well actually, most of the time we say that we don't give a s**t, so.....

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#12

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ZakAbel Report

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Stimpy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried changing it to "the poopery" but people won't listen to me

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#13

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Carol Lewis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think that, nor have I ever thought that. I don't know anyone who does. Where did you even come up with that nonsense.

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#14

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Mette Olsen Douglas
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think I know anybody who lives like they have free healthcare - quite the opposite actually. "Is it truly bad enough to go see a doctor or can we survive without going"? Nobody want those bills that follows a doctors visit!!

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#15

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some Americans also love making fun of people who speak English with a foreign accent, when they themselves can only speak one language

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#16

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Brick
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anything to not use the metric system whats next: glazed donuts per bald eagle who knows

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#17

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imwafflingg Report

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Winston Smith
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hear it said at least 3 different ways depending on what news channel you watch

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#20

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Bill
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because educators didn't want parents to think E meant "Excellent"

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#21

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JennaGuillaume Report

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Chewie Baron
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't get me started on how Americans pronounce 'mirror'. They miss out the 'o' and say "mirrrrr". Madness!

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#22

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brndizzle Report

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

High school was pretty much the worst time in my life. My daughter is going through it now and I wish I could just fast forward her outta there.

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#23

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C Black
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans get MAD? Rather they probably just don't know which sport you're speaking of. In America, football and soccer are two different sports. That's probably why they don't know what you're talking about. As for being "mad..." I doubt they are mad about it, LOL.

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#24

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Marcellus the Third
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah but then you also have 'drinks halls' in germany with liquor, beer, water, soda... Why? Also you're ignoring the "dry county" thing where within one state many counties may sell absolutely zero alcohol and the next does.

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#25

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Laugh or not
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The real question is why they call this semi-plastic, tasteless thing cheese.

Emperor Kitten
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American "cheese" is revolting. It's technically not even cheese, is classified as "cheese-food" by the fda.

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JessG
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the Swiss, and the French, and the Italians, and the Mexicans......come on, everyone loves cheese

Colin Bayler
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Specifics? What the heck are all the things we are putting cheese on?

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

I don't put cheese on anything or eat cheese at all

Nunya
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I put cheese on a lot of things. But I put bacon on even more things...

Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grilled boneless chick breasts wrapped in bacon topped with bbq sauce and provolone is the best!

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Johnny Farnen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, this is actually the result of clever marketing in the 1950s of "american cheese", which is actually a cheese flavored processed food product made mostly of vegetable oil and salt....the real question should be why are Americans obsessed with salt?

C Black
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL. What's wrong with cheese? I don't know anyone who puts cheese on everything though. That's very strange. Who do you know who puts cheese on everything?

Hafida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you put extra’s on your food (like chees, Mayo, saus etc) means the food is not tasty. That is wat I learned from a chef ☺️

Gregg Long
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm American and I agree with this. I have had made restaurants remake so many Hamburgers in my life because i don't like cheese on them and specifically tell them that but they still put it on anyway.

Shae Marae
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it's frickin delicious sis! P.s. not every American can tolerate cheese. Taste or effect it has on the digestive system

Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Especially "American cheese", which is actually "pasteurized cheese product", not cream and rennet.

Chloe Drury
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get putting cheese on thing but cheese in America is DISGUSTING I SWEAR its like. this super fake yellow color that isn't even half melted and they just slap it on something and it tastes like plastic poop.

Paul K. Johnson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because there are some things that there can't be too much of. It's not a big list but this isn't complete - Cheese, bacon, chocolate, butter, maple syrup, canned clams, etc.

Dippin Dot
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's orange because of Beta-Carotene! (I'm a proud Wisconsinite where we love our dairy farms!)

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Stephanie Trump
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because cheese is delicious. I’m trying to eat a pant based diet, and I miss cheese soooo much.

Jeri Moore
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don’t. It’s often on fast food, but it doesn’t go on everything.

Collin Edward
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because during the great depression, the gov. bought cheese and butter to support the dairy economy, and now has caves that are literally FULL of cheese.

Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same reason they put peanuts in most of their candy bars.

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

I put cheese on many things I love it we in Australia eat a lot cheeses.

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

Real answer: Sometime in the middle of the last century, skim and reduced fat milk became more popular as being fit and thin became more popular. Take regular milk and cut out the fat, now more consumption from people trying to be healthy. Not content with these additional profits, the dairy industry wanted to do something with all that wasted fat which they skimmed out of the milk. Cheese! How to sell it? Market it as healthy/natural/essential/part of every meal etc. Why do Americans put cheese on everything? Because ad men told us it goes with everything and we are gullible. This also answers another question: "Why does American cheese taste so bad?" Because milk is still the primary product and most cheese is just recovered from the milk scraps, as opposed to cheese-for-cheese's-sake which is produced from the start with a distinctive flavor profile in mind.

Logan Colee
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only time we put cheese on everything is up north, down here in the south we have more variety I like to think

Lorraine R
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kraft and Velveeta can keep their . . . whatever it is. COLBY is where it's at.

Id row
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do Brits drink tea every half hour? Why haven't you made any efforts to improve your terrible cuisine? Who came up with the idea of putting sausage, pork blood and suet together and calling it pudding? We can go deep down this hole if you start pulling on threads.

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#26

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THEYOUNGTROY Report

#28

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BANGTANDIOR Report

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Anne
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are handy when you bring cooked food to a meeting/people etc.

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