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crackanape , André Gustavo Stumpf Report

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Police are the rudest and most aggressive I have experienced anywhere in the world (and I say this as someone who's dealt with some famously prickly regimes). I go up to ask directions and they put their hand on their gun. If I have more than a single question they are basically telling me to back off and move along. I always read about conflicts between American police and citizens; with that attitude, no wonder it's a problem.

Final score:

310points

POST

MrLoufoque 3 years ago

I was once in California for New Year's eve and had found a driver's license on the ground, so I approached nearby police officers to give it to them so they can get in touch with its owner. They were completely cordial and friendly, so I guess the whole thing is up to everyone's experience...

36points

Luzi1 , Go to Artem Beliaikin's profile Artem Beliaikin Report

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I witnessed a mother opening several packs of sugar and sprinkle it in their kids Coca Cola. I’m still speechless.

I also can’t comprehend how people think private health insurance is a threat to their freedom or that private prisons could be a good idea.

Lastly, the gap in the toilet doors. WHY

Final score:

271points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)

WTF, there is already s**t loads of sugar in coke. I don't think that is a normal US thing, probably just some idiotic parent trying to give their kids diabetes. But correct me if I'm wrong though.

149points

According to the original poster, Daleelab, the biggest difference between the United States and the Netherlands that they found was how many Americans had an "utter obsession with 'patriotism.'" In the redditor's opinion, too much patriotism can lead to "dangerous nationalism."

They said: "I love the Netherlands and I’m happy to be privileged to live here and to be Dutch. But the nationalism in the US is blinding people to the huge faults in their country anyone could see if not for that nationalism. Another big difference is that almost everyone there is a Christian."

Another thing that Daleelab was shocked to see on their visit to the US was that "people would shoot the 'Welcome to [State]' signs." They also were surprised by the road signs: "Everything on the street was spelled out instead of it being symbols. It’s a sign that says 'one way' while a simple arrow would do fine in Europe."

In an interview with Yale News, Sterling Professor of Political Science, Ian Shapiro, said that the trust in politicians, parties, and democratic institutions has become eroded. The cause of this? The transfer of political power to the grassroots. As such, there has been a rise in divisive and populist politics in the US.

“Many people are concerned about the damage Trump has inflicted on America’s political institutions. What they are missing is that Trump is a product of bad political institutions. The main infirmity is that the United States has very weak political parties. They are weak because they are subject to control by unrepresentative voters on their fringes and those who fund them,” Shapiro said.

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Having to say the ”Pledge of allegiance“ every single day, not gonna lie I found that really strange because it kinda gave off North Korea vibes to me, that’s just something that would be unheard of in German schools

GalileoGaligeil , Brett Sayles Report

Final score:

243points

POST

Aaron W 3 years ago

American kids have always been taught to worship the flag and the anthem. If only they had been taught to respect democracy and justice instead of superficial symbols.

190points

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I saw more obese and morbidly obese people than I ever had seen before in my life. Literally, before I visited NYC, I think I only once or twice saw a morbidly obese person.

Taalnazi , Tony Alter Report

Final score:

239points

POST

Demi Zwaan 3 years ago

My husband was morbidly obese when we went to Blizzcon in 2010 (a convention for gamers). We saw people who needed TWO chairs to sit down. My husband looked tiny compared to a lot of people there. We went to Walmart (cheap store that sells everything) and they sold XL shirts that were bigger than our 5XL for the same price as M/L clothes here. Same with pants. He got multiple new outfits for normal prices that would've cost a fortune here, simply because 'XL' is quite normal in the US.

68points

The poverty. I had been to the US a lot, but always along the costal cities. Sure, I saw homeless people around LA and New York, but I’ve seen homeless people in Sweden too and figured it probably had to do with addiction or mental illness. Then a couple of years ago I decided to travel across the US. I started in Los Angeles, then Nevada and then just moved on throughout the southern parts of the country. There were places that looked like a third world country. Homes barely holding together, people with dirty clothes, just horrible horrible poverty that I’ve never ever seen in a developed country before.

MrOaiki Report

Final score:

237points

POST

Aaron W 3 years ago

They adore capitalism though. Sure we have no decent education or healthcare, no food or clothes, but as long as the corporations are making bank we are good.

121points

The Dutch redditor who created the thread in the first place shared their own experience with going to America for the very first time.

“I went to the US in 2014. We landed in San Francisco and had to rent a car. We thought, ‘We're in America, let's rent a big car.’ So we rented a ‘big’ car. Then we joined the I101 and we were the smallest car on the road... So with our redefined car, we went to the Golden Gate Bridge but we were hungry,” they wrote.

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them When I was a young child I went on holiday to Florida. I remember going to a museum and seeing a ‘non guns’ sign at the entrance. My mum has to explain to young me that in the US people regularly carried guns around, which blew my mind. Still does today.

Squidco-2658 , R Report

Final score:

216points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

Blows most people's minds in almost every western country.

131points

The prices. Deals were extreme. Like you would get 12 donuts for the price of 2.5 single ones. I didnt want to overpay for a single donut, but i couldnt eat 12. So i didnt bought anything.

Healthy stuff was 2x-3× the price Im used to. Unhealthy stuff was half the price.

BrunoBraunbart Report

Final score:

190points

POST

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

yeah, healthy food is usually more expensive in almost any industrial country. but the price gaps are alot biggere in the us. it makes people with low income buy unhealthy food - exactly what the food industry wants us to do :(... that‘s a problem everywhere though

56points

How hard it is to walk in smaller cities. Everything is designed around cars. Want to go to the mall across the street? There’s a 6 lane road, good luck crossing that! If you somehow manage to do it, you still have to cross a gigantic parking lot that is like 10% full.

superpauloportas Report

Final score:

189points

POST

Aroha 3 years ago

My friend from Finland moved to the States and tried to keep up the habit of walking everywhere. She was regularly stopped by the police, or even worse, very dodgy men would stop their car and offer her a ride. Also some nice people stopped as they thought she needed help! I walk 10km per day, I could not imagine being tied to a car...

4points

“So we stopped at a diner. My brother ordered a burger and a small 7 Up. He got a liter of 7 Up. He wasn't even halfway and the waitress came to ask if he'd like a free refill (!). To quantify the bigness would be an insult of the bigly bigness that is the American lifestyle. Certainly a shock for me,” the redditor shared their experience and just how huge everything seemed once they arrived on the West Coast.

#10

Everything is sugary and sweet. I swear even bread was sugary instead of salty.

napaszmek Report

Final score:

188points

POST

Sum Guy 3 years ago

I read an article sometime back that the Irish supreme court ruled that subway bread is too sweet to be classified as bread.

106points

#11

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Any time I’m in the States I’m always shocked by the amount of homeless people. Especially in San Francisco and Los Angeless.

orangebikini , Sandra Cohen-Rose Report

Final score:

185points

POST

Hans 3 years ago

Even worse, (mentally) ill homeless people. The lack of universal healthcare and homelessness seem to be closely connected.

101points

#12

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Obligatory (not-really-but-yes-totally-obligatory) tipping

Panceltic , Tzuhsun Hsu Report

Final score:

176points

POST

Samantha Power 3 years ago

Very obligatory, when I lived there an English friend of ours didn't tip well enough and the waiter followed him out into the street and asked if his service was poor. Can't imagine that happening in England. Friends would carry a tip calculator which would show exactly how much to leave.

60points

Plenty of people have heard a lot about American culture without having delved into the culture firsthand because of how prolific movies, TV shows, books, video games, and other forms of media from the US are. So it’s only natural that some individuals have a skewed understanding of how things in American society work, basing a lot of their knowledge on stereotypes.

#13

I went to Miami for a day when I was 11. I was just so shocked and disgusted by the slums, the country acts like they’re so far ahead but their poverty is indescribable. Every country has their poor and underdeveloped areas, but wow man. Miami gave my system a shock.

myownfreemind Report

Final score:

170points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

So many people have poorly paying jobs, or they are unemployed, or they live on government assistance (which is not enough to live on). Also, this is usually rental housing owned by slumlords who don't keep the property up. I've lived in some awful places, but I'm at a nice place now.

40points

#14

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them People wear shoes inside their homes. So strange.

Tballz9 , tdr28 Report

Final score:

158points

POST

Aski Markup 3 years ago

Ew.

35points

#15

Extremely sad to see people freak out about having to get medical attention and/or illness at work. Also going through the trouble of verifying my travel insurance indeed cover me in the states. I have been less concerned going into literal war zones.

LeBronzeFlamez Report

Final score:

152points

POST

Tracy Willis 3 years ago

My jaw dropped when I first found out you have to pay for an ambulance in the US. Living in the UK we take it for granted that any medical care is free (well we do pay in taxes but way less than the US pay for one procedure)

2points

ImFinePleaseThanks Report

But in reality, the United States is such a huge country that it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that even Americans can experience culture shock. Somebody going from the West Coast to the East Coast or from Texas to Minnesota might encounter a host of differences. Though one doesn’t have to travel far: just going to a metropolis or visiting the countryside is enough to show you that the way that you live might not be the norm elsewhere.

#16

All the waste and no concern for the environment. It really irks me.

And how the 'greed is good' mantra has taught many people how they shouldn't give a sh*t about others.

Final score:

150points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

I live in the States, and I am shocked and outraged by all the littering. Why, just why? The waste of water is awful. Huge lawns that need to be watered every day. I've seen sprinklers watering sidewalks, and being run even when it is raining.

72points

#17

The loudspeaker announcements about how much we love the soldiers. What the hell? It sounds so fascist.

Final score:

148points

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Anthony Mann 3 years ago

As a Soldier, it always made me feel uncomfortable, when people said things like that, or looked at you like you were a hero. It was my profession, and one that I chose, so to be treated like a rock star made me feel very weird and conspicuous. I sometimes felt like it was over compensation for how Vietnam Vets were treated when they came home.

136points

thelotiononitsskin Report

#18

In hotel rooms: We didn't watch a lot of TV, but when we did, I was very taken aback by the amount of commercials. I watched Cartoon Network as a kid and I remember the screen faded to black and immediately back to whatever I watched like every 10 minutes maybe (usually during an exciting part, for dramatic effect). I realized those blackouts were meant for commercials, but my home country didn't do that.

And also commercials for booze. And just in general the intensity of them. Some were hilarious though.

Final score:

131points

POST

Demi Zwaan 3 years ago

And the ads for medication. So weird! Ask your doctor about this medicine! Uhm, no? My doc tells me what I need, not the other way around...

97points

Like other countries, the US is multifaceted. You’re as likely to find someone who’s willing to give you the shirt off their backs as someone who’s rude to you. Incredibly wealthy and startlingly poor? Check. Socially backwards (which can mean drastically different things depending on your point of view, of course) while also incredibly progressive/traditional? Double-check. It’s a country of contrasts. Like most (if not all) nations are.

#19

Said it before, and I’ll say it again. The gaps in toilet stalls.

I’d heard of them before I visited but they still shocked me. Literally like 2cm of space between the partitions, for literally zero reason at all. People can look right into the stall. Goodbye privacy! Why? Whyyyyyy? Baffling.

Rottenox Report

Final score:

131points

POST

TV Junkie 3 years ago

I grew up in the US and can confirm that this is incredibly awkward. You never get used to it.

23points

#20

How religious the US is. Pretty much everyone attended a church and the churches were a big part of everyone's life. Weekly attendance was a thing. One of my teachers was very progressive (gay democrat philosophy phd literature teacher in a Bush worshipping area) and he was asked by his students about which church he attended. I felt that was weird thing to ask in the first place.

JoeAppleby Report

Final score:

125points

POST

Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago

Just wait a generation or so. Church membership is dwindling at a pretty good pace, so the old Holy Rollers will go the way of the dinosaurs soon enough.

6points

#21

So many overweight people. I'll see more alarmingly obese people in 15 minutes in an American airport than in a year living in Amsterdam

Final score:

123points

POST

Alexander Albon 3 years ago

Yep. Welcome to America. (no offense)

8points

Nonetheless, there are certain features that make America, well, America. Founded on the ideas of liberty and justice for all, the United States very much values freedom of thought and expression, as well as the drive and ambition to succeed. After all, the pilgrims who were some of the first colonists escaped England because they were persecuted for their religion.

#22

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I went to the US in 2014. We landed in San Francisco and had to rent a car. We thought: "we're in america, let's rent a big car" So we rented a "big" car. Then we joined the I101 and we were the smallest car on the road... So with our redefined car we went to the Golden Gate Bridge but we were hungry. So we stopped at a diner. My brother ordered a burger and a small 7up. He got a liter of 7up. He wasn't even halfway and the waitress came to ask if he'd like a free refill (!). To quantify the bigness would be an insult of the bigly bigness that is american lifestyle. Certainly a shock for me.

daleelab , Willis Lam Report

Final score:

122points

POST

Ileana Sky Aviles 3 years ago

I gain 25lbs! Everytime I go I prepare for weight gain. Resturant portions can be shared between 2 people per plate! But oh so delicious!

22points

#23

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The prices not including tax so you never know how much you're gonna pay because you can't multiply by 1.08875 in your head

Panceltic , Dan Keck Report

Final score:

121points

POST

troufaki13 3 years ago

This is sooo annoying! And if you are in a restaurant is plus tax plus tip! Ugh!

44points

#24

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Swiss are famous for the love of cheese and putting cheese on and in things, but America takes that to another level...even if the cheese is less good tasting. They think they have Swiss cheese, but what they call Swiss like a really sh*t version of Ementaller cheese. They are surprised that we have like 400+ kinds of cheese, none of which we call Swiss.

Tballz9 , Ioan Sameli Report

Final score:

120points

POST

Cupcake168 3 years ago (edited)

Emmental is an area in Switzerland and the cheese they make there is called „Emmentaler“ (single L). It’s a trademark and a quality feature. Only the Origin Emmentaler is allowed to be named so. But obviously that’s only in Europe like that. US-Chesse has as much in common with Emmentaler as Trump with a Trumpet. Both can be made out of milk (Emmentaler MUST be made out of Milk) - both makes noises. that’s it.

17points

However, that’s not to say that there’s no conformity in the US. Quite the opposite. It’s a very human part of our nature to seek out those who think like us, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that in America speaking out (especially on polarizing topics) isn’t always met with respectful listening.

#25

The amount of "fakeness" from people in the service industry: waiters, receptionists, bar staff, store employees etc

Everyone greets you with a fixed totally artificial smile, they speak in standard scripts, everything will be "their pleasure" and they will do it "for you". You just feel they are acting out a part but actually not listening to what you say and they certainly never do any of the things they promise. You just wish (a) they would start acting like human beings rather than pre-programmed service bots and (b) they would treat you like an actual human being rather than a visiting emperor.

prustage Report

Final score:

118points

POST

BorPand8 3 years ago

The scripts and the big smiles are usually required by their employers, so it's not really their fault.

121points

#26

Flags. EVERYWHERE.

The portion sizes. The price of petrol is ridiculous.

Shogim Report

Final score:

111points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

In Texas, you also see Texas flags and symbols EVERYWHERE. When I lived in Colorado, you only saw flags on public buildings, like City Hall, the Post Office, etc. And the American flag was displayed with the state flag. In Texas you will see the Texas flag displayed alone.

29points

#27

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them So many whackos around. People just standing in the middle of the pavement with a huge "Jesus is coming" sign or similar

Panceltic , frankieleon Report

Final score:

106points

POST

Mz Phit 3 years ago

Ah, so they visited Tucson! (JK Old Pueblo, but you know it's true)

17points

Friendly yet fierce, incredibly individualistic but still very tribal. That’s the US for you, representing some of the best and some of the worst qualities of the human experience. But what do you think, dear Pandas? What’s your experience with America and Americans been like?

#28

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them My experience was that Americans act or seem to be more friendly and personal. But it always feels like they don’t actually mean it. Don‘t get me wrong, I met great people in the US. But Europeans, especially Germans, seem to be more reserved at first or second contact.

BHJK90 , Cherrydeck Report

Final score:

100points

POST

Samantha Power 3 years ago

I thought that. I did live in NYC for a while, not so friendly there, but good people once you get to know them.

17points

#29

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them How divided everything is. There are only extremes, no in between. I thought this was mostly the case on the internet.

On the drive from the in Florida airport I saw an "the NRA is a terrorist organization" billboard right next to one advertising semi automatic (assault) rifles.

I was also surprised how many churches there were in rural Florida. Most seemed to have advertising unlike anything here in Europe. Some seemed to wage war against each other.

_eg0_ , Fibonacci Blue Report

Final score:

99points

POST

Dan Buczynski 3 years ago

We're moments away from civil war at any given moment.

46points

#30

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Educational system sucks and is made to print money and throw the youth under the debt bus. Professions that don't make any sense to spend years in uni for (nurse for example) instead of doing an apprenticeship course.

iwysashes1 , COD Newsroom Report

Final score:

97points

POST

Giovanna 3 years ago

Well, I dont think nurses dont need to study for their job! It's a university degree in Italy too, and for a good reason

13points

#31

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Extremely dirty and old public infrastructure - NY subway feels unsafe to use at times, some of the stations look like they're collapsing any minute now

Panceltic , Enrique Vázquez Report

Final score:

95points

POST

Y T 3 years ago

Yeah, and also that the stations all look the same so you really have to be alert for when to get off.

22points

#32

How difficult it actually is/how much knowledge is required just to not get fat

zazollo Report

Final score:

93points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

Too much availability of junk food and fast food. Ridiculously huge servings in restaurants. You always need a take home box for leftovers.

24points

#33

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them To be honest, the flag salut in school. I could not comprehend it. I had flashbacks to videos seen in history class.... Made me feel super uncomfortable.

radleafdog , Paul L Dineen Report

Final score:

91points

POST

Hans 3 years ago

Great opportunity to waste time that could be used to learn, play or do anything else...saluting a piece of textile is just strange if you set aside the symbolic pathos of it.

29points

#34

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Extreme friendliness to you when you're a customer. Too much in my opinion, it made me feel uneasy

Panceltic , ELEVATE Report

Final score:

90points

POST

Samantha Power 3 years ago

I always remember that. Often I hadn't even had a bite of my food and the the waitress/waiter would be asking how I was enjoying it and chatting when I wanted to eat. It can be a bit overwhelming.

37points

#35

The sheer distance between everything and the fact that most americans consider an 8 hour drive no big deal

nobody0110101 Report

Final score:

90points

POST

Kristal 3 years ago

Yeah, 8 hours can be done in a day, no problem :) I enjoy road trips though.

32points

#36

On the first night of my first trip to the USA we ended up in a restaurant where pretty much all the customers openly carried handguns. That was quite shock.

voskem Report

Final score:

89points

POST

Steve Barnett 3 years ago

Replace 'shock' with 'unnerving'.

47points

fruity_brown_sauce , Corey Balazowich Report

#37

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The water level in the toilets, I walked into 3 different cubicles in JFK that where all seemingly blocked, until I realised that in the states the water level in the toilets is much higher, like half the bowl, where as here in Europe theres just a bit of water at the bottom.

Final score:

88points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

It is such a huge waste of water.

51points

#38

Homeless and drugs ins the street, it is incredible.
I feel like this is a deeply splitted society, either you serve or you are served. Or you die in the street.

dansmabenz Report

Final score:

88points

POST

El Dee 3 years ago

Trump had the audacity to call another place a 'shithole country'

4points

DogsReadingBooks , Davidlohr Bueso Report

#39

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Strangers talked to me for no reason. I could be walking on the street and a total stranger would come up to me and say "nice jacket" or something similar.

Final score:

84points

POST

Samantha Power 3 years ago

I think that is a nice thing

113points

#40

I went for the first time in 1999, to Washington DC, it was the first time I had ever seen truly obese people, I grew up in Ireland and yes we had some overweight people but nothing comparable.

AB-G Report

Final score:

80points

POST

Sista of the moon 3 years ago

It’s true. Washington DC does have a lot of obese people.

3points

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#41

Went to Florida for 3 weeks. Asked for directions to a certain mall at the hotel. They said it's 2 miles up the road. I ask for the closest sidewalk (as they are far from standard) that could take me there and they look at me like I'm an idiot.

Receptionist: You can't walk there, its 2 miles! Me: Yes, and the sun is shining, what's the problem? Receptionist: But it's really far! Me: You said it was 2 miles, which means 3,2km to me, or did I get the conversion wrong? Receptionist: I dont know kilometers but I know it's too far to walk to the mall! Me: Okay. I'll try it and I'll tell you if it killed me.

Had a nice stroll and came back after a nice day out and about, she looked absolutely astounded

thewinberg Report

Final score:

35points

POST

Sue Hazlewood 3 years ago

I walked back to my hotel in Las Vegas and was aware I was being followed so crossed the road (The Strip) to where there were more people. Got to my hotel and was in the reception area and the guy following me came in. He came up to me and asked if I was okay, I said yes why? Because he had never seen anyone walk so far before. It was only a km or two.

20points

#42

The size of drinks in fast food restaurants is crazy, we were in Florida driving from Miami to Orlando and we stopped on the way to eat in Wendy's, I got a medium Coke and when it came I was shocked, it was literally the size of a bucket, it just goes to show why the obesity problem is so bad in the US.

AdamFinnegan03 Report

Final score:

32points

POST

bryguy 3 years ago

Yesss! I did the same thing at Wendy's there as well, the medium is insanely massive! I didn't even get to see the "large" cups or fries but the medium fries seemed like something you'd order for the table to share anywhere else. Order a small anything at Wendys and it'll be similar to the large or XL options you are used to.

1point

#43

A single coffee is like a liter and yet there's barely any coffee in it.

nemoxori Report

Final score:

31points

POST

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

Most places in the US serve coffee that's reminiscent of dish water. It's weak, bitter, and acidic. More like coffee-flavored water than actual coffee.

9points

#44

The weirdest thing for me were houses. They were, like huge, even in middle class people, with a huge front yard no one used but had to be perfect and tiny tiny backyard for the family. It was just a waste of space for me: you buy a land and use only a small part on it. Why a so big front yard?

Iseult-benoit Report

Final score:

31points

POST

Nela Rothenbach 3 years ago

This is always something I don't understand. Huge front yards and front porches....If I owned a house I'd want a big garden and a deck behind the house.

18points

#45

The streets were generally wayyy more dirty and filthy than they are in Europe, and the amount of homeless people were downright depressing. Also the sizes of everything you ordered from restaurants were completely unhuman lol. Also the inefficiency was surprising, you could easily spend half an hour queueing in shops or supermarkets, even though there weren't even that many costumers

Hyonokokoro Report

Final score:

28points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

Most homeless people suffer from mental illness and/or substance abuse. It's a disgrace that our country does not provide the help that they need. It may be difficult for them to apply for help. There are long waiting lists, and a ton of paperwork.

10points

#46

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Teens addressing adults by their first name. When the school bus driver invited my 16-yo self to "just call him Dave" I had no idea what to do with myself. It just wouldn't go through my throat.

Also, the over-the-top-friendliness in the service sector towards total strangers. Yeah, no wonder American's think we're gloomy and depressing, lol. The first time a shop assistant exclaimed "Hi!! How are you today??" looking as if the sun has just come into the store I had a minor panic attack because I thought we had met, she knew me and I was the asshole who forgot her. People criticize the American "fake friendliness" and the obligatory "fine" but I quite liked it if it wasn't turned up to 11, made everything seem smoother.

Agamar13 , Max Fischer Report

Final score:

27points

POST

nanashi 3 years ago

man, every fibre of Asian in me will refuse to address someone older than me with their first name only. I don't think I can do it lol

5points

ColossusOfChoads , daryl_mitchell Report

#47

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them My wife was shocked by all the open space, and how we horizontally fill much of it up with low, hastily built buildings. Strip malls and such. "It's like you have more space than you know what to do with." And it's true!

She was also astonished that you can drive through dozens, sometimes even hundreds of miles of wild empty nothingness, with nothing but the road you're driving on to indicate you're still in civilization.

Final score:

27points

POST

Nathan Pogorzala 3 years ago

We haven’t even scratched the surface. The open land where there are no people within miles and miles is my favorite part of America.

13points

#48

I knew the public transit was pretty bad in most cities, but I didn't realize to what extent. I went to Orlando FL and stayed in the suburbs (not even that far out though) and the nearest public transport stop for getting to the city center was almost a 2h walk

pinedeer Report

Final score:

27points

POST

Paul Davis 3 years ago

Cities used to have more public transportation but auto industry executives started bribing politicians in key roles in city governments to get rid of it.

14points

#49

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them In general, low price seems to be favored over high quality. An American will buy a 10 USD shovel a dozen times in his life.

Tballz9 , Ryan McFarland Report

Final score:

25points

POST

Lorelai Dewrell 3 years ago

its not because we want too trust me we want nice things that last but we have no money and we cant afford the nice ones sometimes

5points

#50

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The size of food. And not just portions but like the size of chicken breasts in a supermarket and things like that.

FreeAndFair , Konrad Summers Report

Final score:

24points

POST

Samantha Power 3 years ago

Huge portions everywhere especially in diners (do miss them though) often one meal was enough for one or two more. When I moved back to England it took me a year to adjust to English portions (often very small).

4points

#51

The sheer amount of advertising and open display of patriotism felt very odd to me.

wurstsemmeln Report

Final score:

24points

POST

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

It feels very odd to most Americans too.

8points

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

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

#52

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The country is vast and covers many different climates and biomes, yet it is also shockingly the same. One can be at the Wal-Mart in Juneau Alaska or Portland Maine and see the same products. The plazas contain the same stores, with only some regional variation. It is really weird how similar the feel of it all is...even when the people and landscape are different.

Tballz9 , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

i think it‘s fascinating how big and how different heach state is. I‘s like many little countries in one. Different climates, different cultures. But it‘s pretty common that supermarket chains will have the exact same look and products. Same in Europe. Each Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour etc. is the same in every country

8points

#53

The size of the portions was the most obvious culture shock, we were there with my mum and my then teenage brother who ate a lot. But on the second day we stopped ordering three portions and asked for two with an extra plate because we were absolutely unable to finish them.

curly_nerd Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Samantha Power 3 years ago

I used to visit a famous diner in NJ. Even before the meal was served you were given hot cheese bread, a huge bowl of crudites, and a large bowl of soup. Then there was a huge meal followed by a huge slice of pie or cake.

4points

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

#54

The need to do math at 2 AM in the morning while drunk to settle the bill. I don't want to stiff anybody for their earnings, but sales tax really adds to the confusion

Skaftetryne77 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

See Also on Bored Panda

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

#55

A/C. I visited New York in the summer, going from the hot streets and subway stations to the freezing indoors was a shock in its own right.

griselde Report

Final score:

22points

POST

troufaki13 3 years ago

I hate A/C too!

8points

#56

I havent been to an American airport that didnt suck. Also the queue to get through customs is a joke.

howunoriginal2019 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Stacy Beare 3 years ago

And the CBP (custom border patrol) are a bunch of arseholes.

6points

#57

The tap water tasted like pool water, that's how much chlorine there was in it. If it hadn't been for the fact that the water from a drinking fountain tasted the same, I'd have thought that it wasn't drinkable.

mcweaa217 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Y T 3 years ago

I'm also amazed that no one drinks the tap water.

3points

#58

That there seemed to be no normal restaurants like we have in Europe. It was either fast food or an expensive restaurant where you have to make a reservation.

kleinph Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

I'm not sure where you visited, but in my area, there are loads of small, locally-owned restaurants. In my small city alone, there's a Puerto Rican restaurant, a noodle shop, several Chinese restaurants, several Italian restaurants, etc. All casual dining and affordable.

7points

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

#59

The blatant every day racism.

Like, I knew Americans were racist but it was just soo blatant and disgusting.

X0AN Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

racism is a bad thing, no matter which place. i‘ve travelled alot and sadly people can be blatanly racist everywhere.

12points

#60

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them All my USA visits were for business purpose so I can only tell how insanely toxic is US working environment.

also as someone born and grown behind iron curtain, young stupid me idealised USA as country of freedom not as a country where people like to all aspects of their lives to be dictated and policed. The number of arrests in the US every year is something completely absurd to me.

and one more thing, I was told I should follow some urinal etiquette which means use every second one for no reason but I don't know if that was real or some sort of joke against me.

Heebicka , Alex Kotliarskyi Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

That's a urinal etiquette here in Australia too, unless there isn't that option. I don't know why I know this lol.

13points

#61

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them I was a 17yo french guy visiting California, I was mostly annoyed by how much people wanted to hug for no reason.

Chibraltar_ , Ricardo Moraleida Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Mystery Egg 3 years ago

I find it so rude to just ignore someone's personal boundaries like that. I hug people I am intimate with. Nobody else. Ever.

10points

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

#62

For a car centric country I found the roads to be bad (California / Nevada / Arizona). Even the worst countries in Europe are reasonable compared to there. The first trip in the rental car I thought the car was broken, but it was the highway.

Poijke Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Yugan Talovich 3 years ago

I remember driving from Long Island into NYC with a friend. The road surface was so bad that we joked it was defense against tanks.

6points

#63

The vehicles are really big and most people are driving the kind of heavy truck/van mashups that normally I only see for the king's motorcade or something. How can they afford all that fuel?

Final score:

20points

POST

Steve Barnett 3 years ago

Because it's dirt cheap.

3points

#64

I went there for a semester and had to attend a bunch of sexual harassment education classes before classes started. Seemed like a way bigger cultural problem than in Europe.

pgomes95 Report

Final score:

20points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

Unfortunately, it IS a big problem. I can't understand why some men think women owe them something. Women are people, not toys.

24points

#65

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Americans are shockingly open and friendly. It is terrifying at first. The generally are lovely, but I can see why they think we are cold. It took me years to understand things like small talk between strangers. Many times when I first arrived I thought people might be mentally ill, cult members, or trying to set me up for a crime. lol.

Tballz9 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

19points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

I actually think it's kinda sad that people are shocked by friendliness.

15points

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

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

#66

I was in San Francisco with my family a few years ago. At some point we stopped in a Hard Rock Cafe and I ordered what I thought would be a small brownie, and I got probably a dozen of brownies mashed into the biggest cup I’ve ever seen, along with a load of ice cream and chocolate on top; even by sharing it with everyone we didn’t finished it, and it was the same everywhere.

The size of the meals over there is ridiculous. Also the distance you can travel before finding any sign of life freaked me out a bit at first.

M_arse Report

Final score:

19points

POST

#67

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Americans are very aggressive drivers. Courtesy for fellow motorists seems to not exist. Everyone everywhere goes considerably over the posted speed limit, even when police are present. I never figured out what the rush was or the reason for the "me first" attitude when driving. Perfectly friendly people turn into raving lunatics behind the wheel.

Tballz9 , Open Grid Scheduler Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Badulesia 3 years ago

I'm not sure that this aggressive behavior is exclusive to US. Visit France ... :(

15points

"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

#68

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them Paying with a 5 dollar note and getting my change back in notes. It's weird to me that 1 dollar notes even exist.

Brainwheeze , Karolina Grabowska Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Paul Davis 3 years ago

Our government talks about issuing dollar coins to save the money it takes constantly printing new bills, but then fails to follow through by requiring vending devices all take them.

4points

#69

For me a very strange thing was that in the USA people share pizzas, I was with a group of US friends and they looked at me very strangely because I ordered my personal pizza, then I realized that everybody share their And it’s not common, since In Italy everybody have their own (only in rare circumstances like when ‘meters of pizza’ are purchased) I seemed rude but you know, I want my own pizzas ! Also tips, I needed 5-7 days to realize that it’s rude to pay ‘just’ the normal amounts in a restaurant

ItalianDudee Report

Final score:

18points

POST

troufaki13 3 years ago

We share pizzas in Greece too

6points

#70

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them We've been several times, but my first experience was when I was 15 and transiting through Houston to get back to the UK from visiting Mexico.

I think it was just the scale of everything that stuck with me at the time. We never left the airport, but the scale of the airport, the sheer size of everything (including the people I'm sorry to say) was enormous.

The size of the walkways, even the toilets were bigger. I was hungry so bought a slice of pizza, and I swear it was the size of a dinner-plate (although on reflection probably not).

I've gotten used to it over repeated trips and it doesn't phase me anymore - but the US certainly takes 'bigger is better' to the extreme.

gouplesblog , I am R. Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Ileana Sky Aviles 3 years ago

Everything is huge in Texas! I was shocked at the size of the beer mugs!

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

#71

The taxi driver asking me, a student driving to a cheap ass motel to stay over the night and earning 1/10 of his salary, to give him a tip after paying $40 for a taxi drive 15 minutes away from the airport.

OdiousRant Report

Final score:

16points

POST

M O'Connell 3 years ago

In some cities, cab drivers have to pay a special fee (read: bribe) to be able to pick people up at the taxi stands at the airport.

3points

#72

The friendliness and openness of people. Visited the south and everyone talked, some invited me over. The curiosity and enthusiasm of people overwhelmed me haha.

Dutchcloggie1 Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Sista of the moon 3 years ago

The south is wonderful.

4points

#73

Went to Chicago and was brought to a deep dish pizza place. We ordered a starter, it was breaded chicken and a gigantic portion of fries. Couldn't believe it. Barely made it through a slice of the pizza. My friend boxed up the leftovers, put them in the fridge. On Friday her and her husband would eat all the leftovers from the week.

decojdj Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Aroha 3 years ago (edited)

To be fair, cold pizza for breakfast is better than hot fresh pizza! :)

1point

#74

Tipping is so annoying and I hate the fake friendliness that waiters put on. Americans are already nice enough, we shouldn't have to pay them to pretend to be even nicer

Final score:

16points

POST

Heather Atwood 3 years ago

TIPS stands for To Insure Proper Service and over across the pond, it started out as something you did BEFORE you ordered and that determined how much service you wanted (refills, quicker service etc). Most waitstaff only make $5-7/hour before tips, so it is important to them!

-1point

#75

Imperial measurement system. For a whole month I had to google convert everything to metric. A year later, I joined the military and most American Vehicles in our army were are using imperial measurement system and to this day this is something that annoys me

Constantine__G Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Steve Barnett 3 years ago

As a UK citizen I’ve grown up with imperial/metric measurements. The UK has a mixture of both. Speed limit? In miles. Liquids? In litres. Inches, feet, centimetres or metres? Yep, we use both. We’re are still kinda stuck in that transition phase of really not knowing which one to use. It’s haphazard.

7points

#76

40 Foreigners That Visited The US Reveal What Was The Biggest Culture Shock For Them The feeling that everyone is out to squeeze you for just one more dollar. Granted, I've mostly visited touristy cities (NYC, Miami, LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas), so it might be different in more rural/less touristy areas, but it was all sorts of small things which built up to this feeling, and it made me more wary when I encountered people who seemed friendly, because I'd automatically assume they just wanted money from me. And pretty much everything came with a prize tag. So weird to drive into a national park and paying at a booth to enter.

kwowo , Adrian Scottow Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Riani Kivela 3 years ago

It is less in rural areas. Right after I moved back to a small town in the Midwest after living in Washington DC, I was surprised when a guy at the grocery store started talking to me just to tell me the product I was looking at was on sale for $3 cheaper at a different nearby store. Had to reset my brain to get used to that again.

3points

#77

When you're sitting down in a diner, somebody will constantly top up your glass with icy water. I mean thanks but it was December!

Panceltic Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Triple-AAA battery 3 years ago

I honestly hate ice-water. Too cold for me

1point

#78

In clubs, partying, women would come up to you and start a conversation. Happened 0 times in 15 years of adulthood in Europe. Happened several times a night every time I was out in California.

LXXXVI Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Steve Barnett 3 years ago

It's the accent.

11points

#79

Distance. No, you can't drive from NY to Florida for the weekend. A flight to California lasts about as long as your flight from Europe.

phoenixchimera Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

yes. you realize how big the us is. quite fascinating!

5points

#80

My biggest shock was how small the statue of liberty was because when I saw it on TV I thought it would look completely different. Also beaches in California are not filled with models that will make you feel like you are in heaven. Of course dress code in Walmart or shops in general and morbid obesity. Also seeing an automatic rifle being carried by someone.

ShyHumorous Report

Final score:

15points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

Visit peopleofwalmart.com. I'm afraid that someday I will see myself on there.😂

4points

#81

I experienced the biggest culture shock when my uncle and I went to get money at a drive through ATM. That's when I realized that Americans truly do anything with their cars

Nico_Th_ Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Anthony Mann 3 years ago

We have drive-thru liquor stores. Why?

1point

#82

One thing that still seems to surprise me on every trip is the amount of open space once you leave the cities. Drive an hour from any city and you're pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

voskem Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Aaron W 3 years ago

Lol try Australia. If you leave the cities without taking water, you die.

20points

#83

Fat wildlife everywhere was sad, junk food pouring out of bins.
Amazing nature but cafes everywhere. Getting donuts at the top of pikes peak. Employee says 'we had to get a special donut fryer because of the altitude, they won't cook properly in a regular one'. Why get a special fryer though?!

decojdj Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Morna Bibbw 3 years ago

Omg!! My mom's friend ran the gift shop on Pikes Peak for years.

3points

#84

I am 30 years old,look older. Went to a pub after work, dressed smart as your average office worker. Still got asked for an ID when I ordered a beer. Felt so awkward.

BlueEmpathy Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Pappy West 3 years ago

Yep, saw a sign behind a bartender once that said "I would card my own mother." The bartenders are not stupid, they are trained to avoid liability by asking everyone, regardless of their obvious age. If a patron leaves a bar intoxicated and kills someone with their car, the bartender or server is often prosecuted or sued, along with the perpetrator. It also depends on the state, but here in beautiful Tennessee I get carded buying beer at the grocery...and I'm 71 y-o. It's just avoidance of liability in the most litigious society on the planet.

6points

#85

Depends on what state. In California i was surprised at how many homeless there were and that we couldn't drink the tap water. In Tennessee i was surprised how involved parents were in their kids lives. Even after turning 18 they are still considered kids as long as they live with their parents. It's like "as long as you live under our roof you will follow our rules". I also noticed how present the cops are everywhere

more9898 Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Katchen 3 years ago

We can drink the tap water in California.

4points

#86

The open and friendly mentality of the people. People were always helpful and polite. Being a 15 y.o. teenager and called "sir" by the people felt very good :D

Everydaysceptical Report

Final score:

12points

POST

#87

There's this fast food chain, called Sonic. It's basically a drive-in restaurant. Looks like a gas station, where you order from screens where the gas pumps would be. You get your order delivered to your car, where you eat it. It's not a drive through, you stay in the parking lot, you just don't need to leave your car for a single moment.

birotriss Report

Final score:

12points

POST

Morna Bibbw 3 years ago

That's more of a nostalgia thing. Drive up restaurants were really a thing in the 50s and 60s. I remember going to a few when I was a little kid in the early seventies. And sometimes they would wear roller skates when delivering your food.

20points

#88

How strangely old fashioned the lorries/trucks looked compared to European ones. Very strange to see them chugging around NYC with their massive bonnets.

thelaurasaurus Report

Final score:

12points

POST

Steve Wilson 3 years ago

European trucks are all cab-overs due to length restrictions for the entire vehicle. The US loosened those restrictions years ago so bonnets are back as the standard here. European roads, narrower than those in the US & with more extreme turns, still require using cab-overs with short wheel bases.

3points

#89

On our last trip to the US, our car rental didn't have the car we had pre-booked available anymore.

They asked if a brand new Dodge Viper would be ok.

YES, IT IS VERY MUCH OKAY, said we, with the excitement of the innocent.

...and then we had to drive at speed limits of 60 and 70mph (~95 and 110Kph), on loooong straight streches of open road 😢.

Why. Why deposit such a toy unto our hands if you're not allowed to drive faster than a dying slug. WHY

SerChonk Report

Final score:

11points

POST

BusLady 3 years ago

Well, it's not the Autobahn. 60-70 is not slow.

11points

#90

The thing I found really weird about dating was that people would have the "conversation". So you could just being dating/having-sex with multiple people, but until you had the "conversation" there was no indication of monogamy. This was in the early 2000s so perhaps things have changed.

I found the American attitude to sex much less romantic in some ways, which had it's positive and negative aspects. Of course, this is generalising over a huge country from a very small sample.

strahlungsfluss Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Y T 3 years ago

Yeah, I feel it's weird to date several people at the same time and that's totally fine with everybody until you decide to "be exclusive". I don't want the dude I'm dating dating ten other women. Just figure out fast if you like this person or not, if you don't just find someone else to date.

5points

#91

Our waitress in the 230-FIFTH Bar in Manhattan INSULTED us ("jerks!") when we declined to tip her because the service was really bad. She actually came running after us ("Guys, you forgot the tip!"), when my friend turned around and told her: "30 minutes no service: no tip". I've never seen a waiter/waitress being pissed, but she was so pissed and had us almost thrown out after calling us names.

CeterumCenseo85 Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

If you're a terrible server, you don't deserve to be tipped, though. Ignoring your customers for 30 minutes is being a terrible server.

11points

#92

I was not shocked but surprised how dirty the public buildings (like airport) were and how low-quality (doors, floors, windows) everything in buildings (including plumbing and electric installations in private buildings). Sizes in general weren't as large as i had expected, especially cars were much smaller than I thought.

ncendium Report

Final score:

10points

POST

dev mehta 3 years ago

Nowadays, cars in North America are probably same size as in Europe

0points

#93

I guess just how grey and industrial everything looked and felt. All those buildings towering over me like that was just so intimidating. I mean, I have seen it all in movies and shows of course, but those just can't convey exactly how it feels to actually be there.

ItsAPandaGirl Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Excuse me where were you? Most of America is incredibly beautiful. For example, take trip from Flagstaff Arizona to Phoenix. It’s gorgeous.

2points

#94

How massive the roads were and the fact that lane discipline does not exist. Ordinary roads with six lanes which is basically a motorway in the UK. The lack of roundabouts and everything built on a grid means you have to stop at a four way junction every couple of hundred metres. People waiting when the lights have turned green. In UK, if it’s green you go.

PasDeTout Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Spork420 3 years ago

Occasionally these roundabout things pop up somewhere, and we Americans loathe these things.

4points

ColourlessGreenIdeas Report

#95

Next time went to Nashville, entirely different story. Biggest difference I noticed was traffic and transportation. So many cars, huuuge parking lots everywhere, virtually impossible to get anywhere on foot or by bus. And the hotel was something that could never happen in Europe either.

BrickJoke Report

Final score:

8points

POST

#96

ACs protruding from every single house, with special protection metal grids mounted around them.

Final score:

8points

POST

Anthony Mann 3 years ago

Only the high crime areas have those metal bars. A lot of houses and apartments in the US have central air and heat.

3points

#97

How large/big everything is. Wide roads, enormous interchanges, food/drink portion sizes (!), cars bigger than tractors at home

Panceltic Report

Final score:

7points

POST

#98

Bagged milk. Who puts milks in bags?! I knew that the canadians did it, but apparently the cheese eating Wisconsinites are part of this madness as well!

HuntingRunner Report

Final score:

3points

POST

Kira 3 years ago

Well, we Russians here put milk (not all of it though) in bags (not our weirdest quality ;-)), along with other dairy products, like kefir or sour cream... Here one can even buy a jug-like plastic thingy to store one's opened milk bag in upright position and prevent it from spilling all over one's fridge)

1point

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

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Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

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Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

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What do you think ?

POST

Pungent Sauce 3 years ago

Is it just me or is “How shocked people are by America/Americans” becoming a bi-monthly feature here on BP?

68points

Heather Pobicki 3 years ago

It seems weekly now, getting real old. We're too patriotic, our toilet stalls have gaps, we're fat, stupid, we all need cars...there saved everyone 5 minutes.

69points

Mina Minx 3 years ago

The us vs them thing is definitely getting old.

27points

Big 3 years ago

No matter what we do, we are going to be bashed by the non-Americans. What I'd love to see is a post where people post the positive things they experienced in America.

14points

Omag 3 years ago

First thing that came to my mind. Ive seen post a lot now. Im not even American and this is becoming annoying!

8points

Aileen 3 years ago

Remember that post featuring a tiktok from an American sharing "culture shock" experiences when she went to Italy? Mostly positive things right? Now there's "culture shock" from people visiting America. Every story is negative.

4points

Julie C Rose 3 years ago

It's very much not just you. It's lazy content, and I say this as a non-American myself.

4points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Annoying as heck. America has some surprising but it’s a generally cool country. Honestly other countries are crazy too.

4points

Luthor 3 years ago

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tuzdayschild 3 years ago

Yay!!! Another America bashing post. Just what I've been waiting for!

50points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Are you being sarcastic?

3points

Heather Mullen 3 years ago

Makes a change from everybody insisting everything in Australia wants to kill you, it doesn't.

0points

Luthor 3 years ago

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Kristin Ingersoll 3 years ago

YAY!!!! Your daily dose of "Amerians are stupid and fat!!!!" I don't even have to read this crap to know exactly what's on this list. Americans eat too much. Tipping is terrible. We're too friendly and the country is big. YAWN.

34points

Thomas Kanonym 3 years ago

you forgot "...and if you survive getting shot by either a psycho or the police , you'll die homeless on the street after not being able to pay the hospital $2.000.000 for saving your life"

1point

Logic and Reason 3 years ago

HAHAHA America bad funni!!1!1!1!1!!!1 Jesus Christ I’m so tired of these posts, it’s like a broken record. BP staff if you’re reading this, just stop these. They’re consistently xenophobic and repetitive.

26points

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

We get it: The US is full of fat, stupid, ugly, ignorant jerks who are utterly unlike the fat, stupid, ugly and ignorant jerks in the rest of the world. *yawn*

23points

CatWoman312 3 years ago

Flags everywhere, huge portion sizes, no universal health care, we’re all fat, we make you tip on everything. Saved you a click.

21points

Carolina Fernández González 3 years ago

Again with these posts? We get it Americans like everything big, their flag is everywhere, they love sugar, and their care system sucks. All countries have their own bad things. Please BP stop focusing on the bad, and always Americans. We don't care about their bad crap!

20points

Wilf 3 years ago

I'll add a couple of positive ones from the UK. 1) People are generally inquisitive about foreigners, I guess a lot of Americans outside the cities don't get to meet many. 2) The idea there's nothing old in America is a ridiculous myth- in the original 13 states you can find some amazing built heritage dating back to the 17th century. 3) The ease in which you can access some genuine mind-blowingly empty wilderness is great. There are empty spaces bigger than many small European countries.

20points

Snake of Eden 3 years ago

For that last one, It is true. I live in a regular old suberb and we have a forest right behind our house. On our 2 hour drive to my grandmother's house, we drive by cliffs, forests, lakes, rivers, and plains. It's also absolutly beautiful in the fall :)

11points

• Lemønchu • 3 years ago

Bored Panda, please stop the America sucks posts. I know we have problems, but please stop reminding us

20points

Isaac7lego 3 years ago

yeah, it is getting really annoying.

8points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Maybe in turn they could do an America’s great post.

2points

Thomas Kanonym 3 years ago

Maybe if you'd start doing something about it...?

0points

Hexenfox 3 years ago

Exactly. Jfc BP. Please find another country to talk sh*t about. Smfh.

20points

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

I like to focus on the positive habits in certain countries. Sure, the US system has a lot of flaws and it‘s surely not the most advanced country in the world anymore. But i love the fact, that the general public has a habit of being friendly to strangers and being helpful has well - as in talking to conplete strangers etc. That‘s a nice thing, especially when you‘re travelling alone. Also service for products etc. is superb in the US. Usually you‘ll get great customer service there. I live in Germany and customer service etc. used to be crap. It‘s because of the US standards that it has gotten alot better in the past 10-20 years.

18points

BusLady 3 years ago

Americans tend to be fascinated by people from other countries, and their accents. Many of us have never even been to a foreign country. We want people to feel welcome.

13points

Petra Christovová 3 years ago

Bored Panda: guardian of antiracism, anti hate speech, anti xenophobia, anti this, anti that .... with a small exception of United States. What is with this US bashing every second day or so? It is really weird.

17points

Big 3 years ago

Bored Panda is anything BUT antixenophobia. This is one of the most xenophobic sites I've ever visited.

9points

Hoppinger 3 years ago

The thing about these posts is that they act like this stuff doesn't happen anywhere else and is somehow unique to America. I've been to my fair share of places overseas. Want to see people with guns? Go to Israel. (they require citizens to serve the military after high school and it's very visible) Want to see out of control tipping? Go to Egypt. Want to see fat people? Go just about anywhere, especially England and Europe. The horrors of being too friendly as if the rudeness of other places is somehow better, and I'm open for ideas to get around such an enormous area with a low population density without a car. Don't get me started on racism, which (gasp!) happens outside of the US.

14points

Caroline 3 years ago

I'd like to see a "what's good about living in the US". And the answer being given by both natives/immigrants "I love my country because..." and foreign visitors "I had the best holidays there because...". Just for a change.

14points

Dahungryfella 3 years ago

Or posts of people who are actually doing something about some of the problems in whatever small ways, regardless where these problems arise so we can actively be inspired to change our behaviour for the better. (Not a US citizen)

8points

ScarlettofHydraIsland 3 years ago

One thing I would like to say while we’re on the topic of ‘America sucks’ is please don’t paint all Americans with the same brush. Not every American is loud, overly friendly, rude, or obese.

13points

ChickyChicky 3 years ago

And even if they are obese, so what???

7points

Bill 3 years ago

Back at it again with the same thing BP? No agenda here.

13points

Daphne Williams 3 years ago (edited)

Dear Europeans visiting the US: yes, our way of being with others is different from yours. Yes, people in the US tend to be open and friendly and smile a lot. Instead of complaining that people from another culture are different than the people in your culture, why not try to understand it? The United States is by it's very nature and design a country made up of immigrants from every country on earth. Even among Americans of European origin, they represent immigrants from every country in Europe, and Russia. All of those countries and cultures have different etiquettes and ways of relating to strangers. To ensure that misunderstandings don't occur, Americans adapted long ago to be outwardly friendly and open to ensure that people who may not share the same background understand that they don't mean them any harm. That's why Americans manners are what they are. They not inferior to the manners of people from countries that are historically homogenous, just different.

12points

Carrie B 3 years ago

This is awesome.

6points

Josh Hicks 3 years ago

This is getting boring at this point. You're living up to the "bored" in bored panda.

10points

Petra Schaap 3 years ago

Do we need to say it louder BP? Everyone is tired of these anti American posts, even the non Americans.

9points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Imagine how bad it is for us Americans.

3points

Isaac7lego 3 years ago

Am I the only now who is tired of these stupid "people were shocked by America/americans articles?

9points

maswartz 3 years ago (edited)

Please BP surprise us and do a week of nothing but shitting on nations that aren't the US. Or better yet, go back to having all good stories.

9points

Pezor Zass 3 years ago

ya, too many of these lately

9points

katz up! 3 years ago

Most reasons are just repetitive...

9points

angie but who cares 3 years ago

not to say this post reeks of fat phobia along with xenophobia but yeah it does tho

8points

Anony Mouse 3 years ago

Bingo! I got a line across with: - Portion sizes - Patriotism - Tipping culture - Bathroom door gaps - Fat people Almost had an "x" with sugar-in-the-bread, the pledge, and lots of water in the toilet, but you didn't call out prescription drug commercials. You can crap on us all you want - that's fine. We can take it. But please be more creative than just printing the same article every two weeks.

8points

Danieletc 3 years ago

Last week, pointed out you had an article whose headline had "America", but no "shocked", "awful" or "stupid" along with it. Nice to see BP is finally back to form. (That's sarcasm, BP staff).

7points

Sinkvenice 3 years ago

My friend and I went for dinner in New York. We roughly worked out the tip (before phones had calculators and we were terrible at maths, we also wanted to be nice) and left $10 more in case it wasn't enough, then left. The waitress ran out of the restaurant and down the street to tell us we hadn't left enough. I was astounded. We were in too much shock to refuse so gave her another $10. So she got about $40 for a $60 meal. She must've had a nice little racket going with poor unsuspecting and should be better at maths tourists. That was 15 years ago and it still bothers me.

7points

Daphne Williams 3 years ago

If it was 15 years ago, I recommend finding a way of moving on. Maybe therapy.

1point

Kayla J 3 years ago

I find it interesting how Bored Panda has a bunch of Be Happy With Yourself posts and then they post a few btw everyone else thinks you're fat and uses a photo of a woman who would most likely recognize herself if she saw it with a caption on Flickr that is not flattering.

6points

Carrie B 3 years ago

Is US bashing your go to when you don't have anything new to post? Yes, we're obviously a bunch of fata^* imbeciles with no class or value to the planet.

6points

JayWantsACat 3 years ago

So many of these are broad generalizations seemingly made after a single, specific experience. "I saw fat people at an American airport therefore all the people in the airport are Americans, who are all also fat." "The people or place i experienced was religious therefore all Americans are religious!" The US is vast nation with a diverse population. I wouldnt go to Paris and then state France was dirty AF. In California alone, we have beach towns, major cities, suburbs, mountains, deserts, farmland, etc. Maybe visit more places before being so judgmental.

6points

Emperor Kitten 3 years ago

So, sighs we just look forward to the weekly hate-on-America set now?

5points

OCDRobot 3 years ago

Bored Panda, you guys need some new material. The daily hate for people from the US is a bad look. Look at these comments. Even people not from the US are getting tired of these.

5points

Aileen 3 years ago

I wonder if BP staff only look at the number of upvotes posts like these have, because comments don't seem to do anything.

4points

JD L 3 years ago

Glad to see folks pointing out how much BP does these "America sux" posts

4points

ℜ𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔱 ℭ𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢 3 years ago

Can we have a post that is NOT about stereotyping?

4points

Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago (edited)

Ahhh yes, it is time for BoredPanda's weekly country bashing post. Yes, we get it. You don't have to beat us over the head with a crowbar every week. Americans are uncultured, unwashed, obese swine that wallow in their patriotism and Europeans (that's me!) are their vastly superior, highly-intelligent, and culturally superior counterparts. For Pete's sake, BoredPanda, I'm saying this as a non-American, please stop posts like this. They are immature and make you look like a cheap version of Buzzfeed, which this site is sadly becoming. Posts like this are flat-out xenophobic and just mean spirited. What happened to all the wonderful art posts you used to post? If you want click-bait articles to define your site, go work for Buzzfeed!

2points

ℜ𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔱 ℭ𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢 3 years ago

I have been to America multiple times, and I can verify that all of these are extremely exaggerated, if not entirely false.

2points

Enamelcamel 3 years ago

Heather, I'm totally with you! Sick and tired of all the different "why we hate __________" posts. Always pitting Millenials against Boomers, Gen Z against Millenials, Americans against the rest of the world. I saw more homeless people when I lived in Paris, France than I have EVER seen in the US ... but don't find anyone encouraging ME to go online and say sh***y things about France. Enough already.

2points

jknbt jknbt 3 years ago

all of these rants about well-discussed observations of American differences are cliche. This same article comes up once or twice a year.

2points

Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost 3 years ago

No one out of 40 people had something nice to say? No one!?

2points

jpaul 3 years ago

i think their federalism that gives to much power to states, and lone wolfers, combined to an insane, and uncomplexed talking of God in public is just the perfect fertilizer for division. they have great men, and women there too. but they also have a tremendous amount of mentally ill folks who think they are perfectly sane. I hope them to fix this s.. soon, because they are a great country, it's undeniable

1point

angie but who cares 3 years ago

one sec i will be back soon with all the xenobhobic posts from lets say the past month

1point

Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago

Again, why are people coming to visit America in the first place. Do they not read about us in their own countries. How awful it is here. How awful the people are here. How expensive it is here. How everything is NOT free and/or tax free? Stay home!

0points

Kat 3 years ago

That is called CULTURAL DIFFERENCE. Why is it even a regular theme here?

0points

Mindy Keys 3 years ago

As an American I can say sometimes I too get annoyed at my fellow Americans behave. Mostly just how loud and rude some are. Yes, it may seem we are all fat, loud, gun-toting, wasteful, litterbugs, but that is no more true than any other generalization that can be made about any group of people. I doubt we have the market cornered on being asshats.

0points

Lauren Christie 3 years ago

Wait...someone things spending a few years at university to be a nurse makes zero sense? Do they think it's a waste of time becoming a nurse, or do they genuinely just think that medical nursing should be able to be completed under a 6 month training course?

0points

Arenite 3 years ago

I think the Euros hate us because we had to save their continent* from committing suicide not once, but twice. Churchill’s entire strategy was “get the Americans involved”. * Actually, according to geographers, Europe is NOT actually a continent, it’s a peninsula off the continent of Asia.

0points

backatya 3 years ago

Welcome to America now Leave, you bunch of Karens

0points

Zadie the Swiftie 3 years ago

So this entire post is basically telling me *checks notes* "GET THE HELL OUT OF AMERICA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!"

0points

BorPand8 3 years ago

But don't you want more people to open accounts and join in? The more complaints the more likely Bored Panda is to stop doing this, right?

0points

Happy Daihatsu 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

BorPand8 3 years ago

Oh my gosh, I have seen the error of my ways! I too wish to complain about this post! It's an anti-American conspiracy by Bored Panda probably! In fact -- all you silent watchers out there, don't you want to open a Bored Panda account so you can complain too? It's easy and free! Don't let them get away with their anti-American propaganda!

0points

Lauren Caswell 3 years ago

Is that sarcasm, I genuinely can't tell? Just curious, it could be ppl think it is, and that's why they are downvoting? I feel like ur not being sarcastic tho but I could be wrong. Upvoting anyway

0points

sofacushionfort 3 years ago

I won't argue against any of the entries, but please; don't consider yourself the next Alexis de Tocqueville just because you saw a real life Honey Boo-Boo while changing planes at O'Hare.

0points

ChickyChicky 3 years ago

Stop fat shaming.

0points

BorPand8 3 years ago

I'm agreeing with you guys, I don't know why you keep downvoting me...

-1point

BorPand8 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Mina Minx 3 years ago

Yeah cuz being silent is totally working.

8points

POST

Pungent Sauce 3 years ago

Is it just me or is “How shocked people are by America/Americans” becoming a bi-monthly feature here on BP?

68points

Heather Pobicki 3 years ago

It seems weekly now, getting real old. We're too patriotic, our toilet stalls have gaps, we're fat, stupid, we all need cars...there saved everyone 5 minutes.

69points

Mina Minx 3 years ago

The us vs them thing is definitely getting old.

27points

Big 3 years ago

No matter what we do, we are going to be bashed by the non-Americans. What I'd love to see is a post where people post the positive things they experienced in America.

14points

Omag 3 years ago

First thing that came to my mind. Ive seen post a lot now. Im not even American and this is becoming annoying!

8points

Aileen 3 years ago

4points

Julie C Rose 3 years ago

It's very much not just you. It's lazy content, and I say this as a non-American myself.

4points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Annoying as heck. America has some surprising but it’s a generally cool country. Honestly other countries are crazy too.

4points

Luthor 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

tuzdayschild 3 years ago

Yay!!! Another America bashing post. Just what I've been waiting for!

50points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Are you being sarcastic?

3points

Heather Mullen 3 years ago

Makes a change from everybody insisting everything in Australia wants to kill you, it doesn't.

0points

Luthor 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Kristin Ingersoll 3 years ago

34points

Thomas Kanonym 3 years ago

you forgot "...and if you survive getting shot by either a psycho or the police , you'll die homeless on the street after not being able to pay the hospital $2.000.000 for saving your life"

1point

Logic and Reason 3 years ago

26points

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

We get it: The US is full of fat, stupid, ugly, ignorant jerks who are utterly unlike the fat, stupid, ugly and ignorant jerks in the rest of the world. *yawn*

23points

CatWoman312 3 years ago

Flags everywhere, huge portion sizes, no universal health care, we’re all fat, we make you tip on everything. Saved you a click.

21points

Carolina Fernández González 3 years ago

20points

Wilf 3 years ago

20points

Snake of Eden 3 years ago

11points

• Lemønchu • 3 years ago

Bored Panda, please stop the America sucks posts. I know we have problems, but please stop reminding us

20points

Isaac7lego 3 years ago

yeah, it is getting really annoying.

8points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Maybe in turn they could do an America’s great post.

2points

Thomas Kanonym 3 years ago

Maybe if you'd start doing something about it...?

0points

Hexenfox 3 years ago

Exactly. Jfc BP. Please find another country to talk sh*t about. Smfh.

20points

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

18points

BusLady 3 years ago

Americans tend to be fascinated by people from other countries, and their accents. Many of us have never even been to a foreign country. We want people to feel welcome.

13points

Petra Christovová 3 years ago

17points

Big 3 years ago

Bored Panda is anything BUT antixenophobia. This is one of the most xenophobic sites I've ever visited.

9points

Hoppinger 3 years ago

14points

Caroline 3 years ago

14points

Dahungryfella 3 years ago

8points

ScarlettofHydraIsland 3 years ago

One thing I would like to say while we’re on the topic of ‘America sucks’ is please don’t paint all Americans with the same brush. Not every American is loud, overly friendly, rude, or obese.

13points

ChickyChicky 3 years ago

And even if they are obese, so what???

7points

Bill 3 years ago

Back at it again with the same thing BP? No agenda here.

13points

Daphne Williams 3 years ago (edited)

12points

Carrie B 3 years ago

This is awesome.

6points

Josh Hicks 3 years ago

This is getting boring at this point. You're living up to the "bored" in bored panda.

10points

Petra Schaap 3 years ago

Do we need to say it louder BP? Everyone is tired of these anti American posts, even the non Americans.

9points

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago

Imagine how bad it is for us Americans.

3points

Isaac7lego 3 years ago

Am I the only now who is tired of these stupid "people were shocked by America/americans articles?

9points

maswartz 3 years ago (edited)

Please BP surprise us and do a week of nothing but shitting on nations that aren't the US. Or better yet, go back to having all good stories.

9points

Pezor Zass 3 years ago

ya, too many of these lately

9points

katz up! 3 years ago

Most reasons are just repetitive...

9points

angie but who cares 3 years ago

not to say this post reeks of fat phobia along with xenophobia but yeah it does tho

8points

Anony Mouse 3 years ago

8points

Danieletc 3 years ago

Last week, pointed out you had an article whose headline had "America", but no "shocked", "awful" or "stupid" along with it. Nice to see BP is finally back to form. (That's sarcasm, BP staff).

7points

Sinkvenice 3 years ago

7points

Daphne Williams 3 years ago

If it was 15 years ago, I recommend finding a way of moving on. Maybe therapy.

1point

Kayla J 3 years ago

6points

Carrie B 3 years ago

Is US bashing your go to when you don't have anything new to post? Yes, we're obviously a bunch of fata^* imbeciles with no class or value to the planet.

6points

JayWantsACat 3 years ago

6points

Emperor Kitten 3 years ago

So, sighs we just look forward to the weekly hate-on-America set now?

5points

OCDRobot 3 years ago

Bored Panda, you guys need some new material. The daily hate for people from the US is a bad look. Look at these comments. Even people not from the US are getting tired of these.

5points

Aileen 3 years ago

I wonder if BP staff only look at the number of upvotes posts like these have, because comments don't seem to do anything.

4points

JD L 3 years ago

Glad to see folks pointing out how much BP does these "America sux" posts

4points

ℜ𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔱 ℭ𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢 3 years ago

Can we have a post that is NOT about stereotyping?

4points

Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago (edited)

2points

ℜ𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔱 ℭ𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢 3 years ago

I have been to America multiple times, and I can verify that all of these are extremely exaggerated, if not entirely false.

2points

Enamelcamel 3 years ago

2points

jknbt jknbt 3 years ago

all of these rants about well-discussed observations of American differences are cliche. This same article comes up once or twice a year.

2points

Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost 3 years ago

No one out of 40 people had something nice to say? No one!?

2points

jpaul 3 years ago

1point

angie but who cares 3 years ago

one sec i will be back soon with all the xenobhobic posts from lets say the past month

1point

Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago

0points

Kat 3 years ago

That is called CULTURAL DIFFERENCE. Why is it even a regular theme here?

0points

Mindy Keys 3 years ago

0points

Lauren Christie 3 years ago

0points

Arenite 3 years ago

0points

backatya 3 years ago

Welcome to America now Leave, you bunch of Karens

0points

Zadie the Swiftie 3 years ago

So this entire post is basically telling me *checks notes* "GET THE HELL OUT OF AMERICA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!"

0points

BorPand8 3 years ago

But don't you want more people to open accounts and join in? The more complaints the more likely Bored Panda is to stop doing this, right?

0points

Happy Daihatsu 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

BorPand8 3 years ago

0points

Lauren Caswell 3 years ago

Is that sarcasm, I genuinely can't tell? Just curious, it could be ppl think it is, and that's why they are downvoting? I feel like ur not being sarcastic tho but I could be wrong. Upvoting anyway

0points

sofacushionfort 3 years ago

I won't argue against any of the entries, but please; don't consider yourself the next Alexis de Tocqueville just because you saw a real life Honey Boo-Boo while changing planes at O'Hare.

0points

ChickyChicky 3 years ago

Stop fat shaming.

0points

BorPand8 3 years ago

I'm agreeing with you guys, I don't know why you keep downvoting me...

-1point

BorPand8 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Mina Minx 3 years ago

Yeah cuz being silent is totally working.

8points