ADVERTISEMENT

While it might depend on who you ask, the truth is that life in the US is truly very different from everywhere else, for better or worse. However, even though this seems like it should be common sense, many travelers arrive in America and immediately realize that there is a whole lot going on that they maybe didn’t expect.
Someone asked “Non-Americans, what is something quite common in the U.S. that is completely unheard of in your own country?” and people shared their best examples. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to comment your own stories and experiences below.

#1

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States * employers firing people on the spot
* having a limited number of days for sick leave
* unpaid maternity / sickness leave
* "tipping culture".

Ok_Opportunity4475 , Lukas/Pexels Report

#2

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States People getting bankrupted because of medical emergencies.

VokThee , Nicola Barts/Pexels Report

#3

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Advertising medications on TV.

Dumbest thing I've ever heard of.

crackpotJeffrey , Pixabay/Pexels Report

#4

Open carry firearms. Like, I get it, I have a gun licence and go to the gun range and have a good time. But like, folks walking around openly with huge-a*s guns as though they're Walmart Mercenaries is seriously f****d.

el_pobbster Report

#5

Having Kids say the pledge of Allegiance in School.

Last time my Country had something like that.....well lets just say it didnt end wel for anyone involved.

platzandersonne Report

#6

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Displaying prices without taxes. It threw me off when I first went to buy a bottle of coke a day after I arrived.

AJ787-9 , Michael Burrows/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Homeowners Association.

Igotthebugthewire , Michael Tuszynski/Pexels Report

#8

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Getting into University by being good at sports. I was chatting to an American guy online and he told me he went to college on a "Lacrosse Scholarship". I'm like, seriously? You got to go to college for being good at f*****g lacrosse?

Johhnymaddog316 , Pixabay/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Medical debt.

Rega_lazar , Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels Report

#10

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Not sure if it's been said. Americans with disabilities act is amazing. Wheel chair ramps everywhere and ease of access.

LazyBid3572 , Ann H/Pexels Report

#11

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Tipping culture.

James-And547 , cottonbro studio/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#12

Overwork culture. Why would someone choose to work 80 hours a week? I get it, double the money, but what are you going to do with the money if you have just enough free time left to sleep and you die at 65?
Of course someone doesn't have a choice and needs extra hours or multiple jobs, but from afar I still see an undeniable cultural push to a life dedicated to working, with those who choose something else regarded as lesser parts of the society.
Career too. It feels like you *must* always strive to be something more, no peace, no rest, no point where you can be happy where you are.

pinninghilo Report

#13

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Neighbourhoods without grocery stores.

anon , David McBee/Pexels Report

#14

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States As a Dutchy, driving a car and turning right on a red light. That messed with my head. If you do that here you are gonna hit at least 5 cyclists.

CowabungaNL , Jack Gittoes/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Being worried about calling an ambulance. Or just medical bills in general. I cant imagine not being able to afford getting cancer treatment if needed for example.

summja Report

#16

Just how one-sided the employer/employee relationship is there.

Chopper3 Report

#17

As the neighbours from the North, having a milkshake that’s worth your entire calorie intake for the day sounds insane.

Ainstee101 Report

#18

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Where I from you need to put an euro in a shopping cart in order to use it, when you you return it, it gives back the coin. I think this doesn't happen in the US right?

Also that they take your credit card to pay in the restaurant, in Europe you always have the card with you when you pay.

burber_king , Efrem Efre/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#19

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Feet, yards, gallons, etc.

Delicious-Elk1605 , Pixabay/Pexels Report

#20

Drive thru banks and pharmacies. My partner is American and was astonished that I thought that was so weird. We simply do not have enough space for that sort of thing in the UK.

Squoggs Report

#21

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States My German friend visited us in college. First party he goes "THEY DO EXIST!!" and held up our pack of red solo cups. Haha.

mulljackson , Burst/Pexels Report

#22

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States The tax system - having to do a return every year (ours is done for us unless you run your own business or are a contractor). Also having to pay tax when you live overseas.

HiJane72 , Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#23

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States People caring about college sports.

Like people will actually show up to watch without being related to or friends with anyone playing?

There are actual stadiums with cheerleaders and marching bands?

Academic scholarships for being good at a sport?

Student athletes being handed passing grades even if they fail so that they can keep playing?

The only remotely comparable thing I can think of is my country is the Oxford vs Cambridge boat race.

Edit: I'm going to say this now even though its too late and I already slept while the American were awake and started replying. I don't think the hype and love of college/high school sports is inherently *bad* (except the grades thing). Its just something uniquely American and therefore my answer for the question posed by this post.

ttnl35 , football wife/Pexels Report

#24

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States This thing were the kitchen sink has teeth.

PoetPont , Henry Kobutra/Unsplash Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#25

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Houses with small fences and little to no extra security

As a Latin american, our houses have either big gates and fences with spikes or concrete walls with barbed wire on top in order to stop burglars from entering. You can say it was quite a shock to me when I first visited the US and saw suburbs filled with houses with cars parked on the street and small wooden fences that anyone could jump over.

Blacksmith_99 , Josh Hild/Pexels Report

#26

Freshman sophomore junior senior... Have to translate this in my head every time.

starfished1 Report

#27

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Long commutes.

Here in the Netherlands a lot of companies only hire within a 30 minute radius, maybe an hour if they really need you.

I once applied to a job around 100 minutes away and was rejected purely because of travel time. If the travel time was a problem for me I wouldn’t’ve applied.

kaida_notadude , Rishiraj Parmar/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#28

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Free drink refills.

internetsss , cottonbro studio/Pexels Report

#29

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Homecoming, Sadie Hawkins, Winter Formal, Prom...

We have none of this, the closest thing is the graduation itself.

badeksha , Alejandro Peralta/Pexels Report

#30

So, I only heard this like a year ago. But apparently it seems that most of American men are circumcised. Which sounds bizarre to me.

VulturicAcid Report

Add photo comments
POST
G A
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Male Genital Mutilation. Should be banned. Based on outdated medical ideas.

Ashlie Benson
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It should NOT be banned. It SHOULD be a choice each person makes. You shouldn't be able to dictate what someone else does with their own body.

Load More Replies...
Nimitz
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was popularized due to religious hatred and, not a joke, the Kellogg guy from the cereals. He and the rest of the Catholics wanted to prevent boys from masturbating so they had decades long pressure campaigns and defaulted most hospitals into circumcising babies with penises. Removal of the foreskin decreases sensitivity and reduces pleasure by removing those critical nerves from the body. So because of crazy Christians, men are mutilated at birth by default. And please don't go talking about hygiene. It's 2024 and soap and water exist

Austin L
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It also provides a movement mechanism too so it's more comfortable to use and functions as a covering when its not in use to protect the more sensitive areas from rubbing on things like clothing.

Load More Replies...
ConstantlyJon
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true. Had a roommate in college who was uncircumcised and everyone was amazed by his d**k so that was kinda wild.

Steve Robert
Community Member
2 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

Laura Bradshaw
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the expectation for a man to be circ that gets me. When Americans travel outside the USA and can't believe how few men are circ or hadn't seen a un cicr until then It's crazy

Trophy Husband
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people do it for reasons of cleanliness, and some adults do it because it supposedly improves pleasure (though I have no idea how they figured that out). But Jewish people do it because the religion says they must. And while any individual can debate whether or not religion is right, short of some proof that it is harmful, I would never say that someone's religious beliefs should be outlawed.

cerinamroth
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many Jewish people aren't religious but do it for cultural reasons. For those who are religious, I would say it should only apply if they are Orthodox and follow all the mitzvot. And even then, you could argue that, since it emulates the sacrifice that Abraham was willing to make, and all sacrifices stopped with the destruction of the Second Temple (progress, yay!), it shouldn't even be needed then. Plus it's not a "make or break requirement" - there are Jewish males who are accepted as Jewish despite not being circumcised because of haemophilia, for example. I'm Jewish and didn't circumcise my boy (it helped that it was the pandemic). I did feel more conflicted about it than I expected to, however.

Load More Replies...
Robin Roper
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many men want their son's circumcised so they "look the same." Sort of a silly cycle.

wordsupfool
Community Member
2 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

Bex
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn't an "American" thing. It's a cultural/religious thing. There are plenty of people from other cultures that consider themselves American who do not practice this. Where I live has a very large (like 90%) Cape Verdean/Portuguese population. Most of the people my age are 1st generation Americans, but they choose not to circumcise their sons bc of their culture/religious beliefs.

Mary Kelly
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, recent research shows, e.g., that men who are circumsized transmit HIV and HPV at much lower rates. So, may be it's not "outdated medical ideas."

Dancing Armadillo
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men not circumcised.. not a fan. The extra foreskin is not ideal when you have to pull it back… bleh. And even if they are clean the foreskin traps a sweat smell.

Forrest Hobbs
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make whatever choice you like. That doesn't mean you get to decide what happens to baby boys.

Load More Replies...
ScootyPuffJr
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People can decide for themselves, but many have done it in other countries to cut down on the spread of HIV and other diseases. The foreskin supposedly makes them easier to catch and to spread.

Austzn
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many of those "studies" have not been duplicated. Others like the HIV one are taken completely out of context and are only based on meta analysis not causality. We already have healthcare data on huge amounts of people around the world and none of it has shown that it justifies any of these supposed benefits. We have far better methods of dealing with these problems than amputating parts of our genitals.

Load More Replies...
Bettye McKee
Community Member
2 months ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

That's for health reasons. Mainly to protect women from cancer. If you've ever had a friend or relative die from cancer because the man wasn't circumcised, you wouldn't think it was bizarre.

Austzn
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That cancer is caused by a virus that we have a vaccine for now. Also the virus is still present in circumcised people and can be spread by oral sex, simple skin contact, and by women too. Those benefits are lies to justify doing it. There are better ways of being healthy.

Load More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

Good mexican food. in my experience, it doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world (except for mexico itself, obviously).

glwillia Report

#32

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Visited US about a dozen times, pretty much all around.
- random people smiling at you and engaging in small talk. They seem genuine about it and not acting out of some rule
- handling large crowds of people extremely well. Guys repeating ”this way sir/maam” endlessly actually puts people in the correct lane or place
- cash culture. I last visited a few months before the pandemic started so YMMV now, but at least then you just had to have cash money for lots of things. I still have a couple hundred dollars in a desk drawer somewhere for when I next visit. I have not had my own country’s currency in physical form for at least 6-7 years or as far as I can remember
- security guards inside establishments during opening hours
- jaywalking being a thing (I mean crossing the street at a place without a pedestrian crossing being looked upon negatively)
- incredible courtesy everywhere except NYC for cars and people using them. You can literally drive right up to most things and have generous parking for any size of car

Edit: one more thing I had to add which I just remembered. All signs and other things being written out in words, i.e. ”Left turn only” or such. Same in cars, buttons have the thing written in text. It’s pretty much symbols everywhere else around the world. First couple of times driving felt so difficult when nothing I saw was intuitively what I was expecting to see at that situation but rather I had to look and really process each thing separately.

wuoma , fauxels/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

Intense car culture to the point where you can't live without one. None of my parents even know how to drive, we use public transport ( subway, bus etc) and eventually either uber or taxis if really needed (like going to the airport etc).

directordenial11 Report

#34

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Health care workers going home after work still in scrubs. And washing them at home.

orebro1234 , Jonathan Borba/Pexels Report

#35

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Iced tap water on your table immediately. Such an amazing thing!

c19isdeadly , Ron Lach/Pexels Report

#36

Toilet doors with massive gaps in them so you can easily see people taking a dump.

Hutcho12 Report

#37

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Driving at 16.

anon , Gustavo Fring/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Peanut butter jelly sandwiches. Never seen one ever.

Neihlon , Nima Naseri/Unsplash Report

#39

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States (Fake) Grape flavored stuff.
Over here, the purple gummies are black currant.

whezzan , Ana Vieira/Pexels Report

#40

Spray cheese.

mustardmayonaiseman Report

#41

In my country basically every backyard has a greenhouse or garden.

Regnars8ithink Report

Add photo comments
POST
#42

Lawyer advertising everywhere.

Ayvi_Lau Report

#43

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States The "college experience".

cheynnr20 , Pixabay/Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States The way you talk online about getting you wisdom teeth removed... do they sedate you? d**g you?

I got local anesthesia and got told to keep ice on it and take ibuprofen (or paracetamol, i don't remember) at home if it hurt too much.

(based on the online jokes about it, maybe it's not true i don't know, you tell me lol).

tootiredstudent , Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels Report

#45

English muffins.

I come from England.

anon Report

#46

Twinkies.

Xander_Mumbles Report

#47

Home depot.

EddieEddle Report

#48

Signs. Signs everywhere. As in ”Branded” neighborhoods/communities. American residential neighborhoods will throw up a huge sign like ”Spring Creek Estates” or whatever, really announcing the name with a big logo instead of being low key.

Bishiop Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#49

30 People Share “American Things” They’d Never Heard About Until They Visited The States Those disposable red cups for drinking alcohol at parties or gatherings.

GinjaWhinger , cottonbro studio/Pexels Report

#50

Freedom of speech. In my country (Belgium) the government can prosecute you for speech it considers to be politically incorrect or -phobic. In the USA you can be honest about how you feel and think. In my country you have to pretend to like things you don't like or you get fined/jailed.

AIIAboutRussia Report