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The United States of America is the land of the free and full of opportunities. It is one of the largest economies in the world and it has always amassed people for the life one can create there. But, like every country, it has its own way of functioning and the people living there have their own culture. And if you are also attracted to this country and would like to travel to the United States or you are planning of moving there, you should expect to encounter things you‘ve never seen before or things done differently to what you are used to.

A few days ago, Reddit user Ymij asked people to share some things Americans don‘t realize exist only in the United States. And people had a lot to say. The post got more than 10k answers and Bored Panda gathered a list of some of the most upvoted responses.

More info: Reddit

#1

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group GoFundMe being an acceptable replacement for a health care system

GTrav44 , gofundme Report

#2

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Literally being too poor to go to the doctor, but have too much income for any kind of assistance

kaden123drake , Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja Report

#3

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Tipping as a wage subsidy. Many countries don’t have tipping and those that do generally tip a small amount for good service.

Also displayed prices not including taxes or other fees.

Impossible-Buy-4090 , Wikimedia Commons Report

#4

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Pronouncing corruption as "lobbying"

GSLaaitie , RJA1988 Report

#5

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Assuming that everyone on the internet is American until proven otherwise.

Officer_Cat_Fancy_ , Steven Martin Report

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#6

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group The pledge of allegiance. If you tell people here that in America they make kids stand up and recite some prayer to a flag every single morning, they'll look at you like you just grew a third arm.

emissaryofwinds , USAG- Humphreys Report

#7

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group I want to say for-profit prison systems.

These things are f***** up. If the state doesn't keep up the prisoner quota they gotta pay a fine to the company they owns the prison.

So this basically makes them try to keep existing prisoners

downtimeredditor , Molly Haggerty Report

#8

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Gender reveal parties

jemariebearimy , highlander411 Report

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#9

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group People who angrily DO NOT WANT healthcare.

spammmmmmmmy , Presidencia de la República Mexicana Report

#10

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Having the restaurant take your credit card - in most countries it's considered impolite to disappear with the card as they might write the digits down to charge extra later. Therefore they normally bring a portable terminal to your table so you can keep the card in eyesight and have the (optional) tip actually charged when the card is run and not added after the fact.

Broadmin , Unknown Report

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#11

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group The Imperial System, Fahrenheits, massive ad breaks. I swear i watched US Television once and i nearly had time to go take a s*** before the adbreak ended. And i'm one of those people that play on their phone while on the throne

Pyanez11 , ilovebutter Report

#12

I am from Europe and I have never seen in supermarkets scooters for people that are so obese they can't walk by themselves.

indigo-wolf Report

#13

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Medical debt

CIA_grade_LSD , Grant Source Report

#14

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Waiting like 8 weeks after your elections till the new guy comes in to power is pretty f****** weird

Snoo61123 , GPA Photo Archive Report

#15

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Massive gaps on all sides of toilet cubicle doors, like why even bother with a door at all when people can see through so easily

digitalelise , Victoria_Borodinova Report

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#16

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Flags. Everywhere

psyk738178 , WTF Colorado Report

#17

This may be a shot in the dark but product prices not including tax when they’re displayed? Like if something says it’s $10 and you only have $10, what’s with the surprise tax at the till?

ninjapotatoprd Report

#18

Your toxic grind working culture. I find that Americans define their entire personality around their profession. It all feels so shallow and hollow way of living. Like I work so I can do the things I enjoy ( pre covid) I don't work because it defines me as a person.

vietcong420 Report

#19

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Absurdly long election campaigns. In most countries I've been to election campaigns last a month or two, in the US they seem to go for a full year.

BerserkBoulderer , Unknown Report

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#20

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group College sports, people do not care about nor have college sports like we do here.

UnusualLight0 , Unknown Report

#21

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Food portion sizes... In EU you get food portions you can finish and are generally calculated to be pretty much fill/satisfy you over the entire meal.

When I go to the US I can fill myself up with half of the appetizer

Drumah , Wikimedia Commons Report

#22

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Unused vacation days

Banana_Gorilla , Unknown Report

#23

The use of the words junior, sophomore and senior in school. I don't think I have ever heard these outside of an American TV show or movie.

No-Soft-3703 Report

#24

I can't speak for the whole world, but having elections on a weekday seems crazy to me. We do it in the weekend so that people are off work anyway.

frosty_hotboy Report

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#25

A single pool of paid time off that you use for both vacation and sick leave. Therefore having to forego vacation to keep a bank of leave just in case you get ill.

littleloucc Report

#26

People constantly thanking god for every day occurrences

toshredsyousay6502 Report

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YoChicken
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I 100% agree. Why do people need to swear on a bible in court??? What if they don't believe in the bible?

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

Thanking god for good occurrences wouldn't be so annoying if those same people blamed god for bad occurrences. "Heard you got cancer... why do you think god did this to you?"

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

Or people using their religion to justify judging someone and their personal decisions (sexuality, abortion, style, etc) like ok, we get it you are homophobic or whatever but why? Do your religious beliefs really prohibit you from treating someone like a human being just because of their choices that have nothing to do with you?

Idan York
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. People thanking their God for the hard work of scientists and doctors.

Angela B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I had a dollar for every time an influencer wrote "feeling blessed" in their posts, I would have millions. Seems so shallow. Like the over use of the word "miracle".

Anxiety
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just say “Thank God” as a random phrase to express thanks that something happened, I don’t believe in god, or any god, but I was raised where we said “Oh my god.” And “Thank god.”

Sarah
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm trying to break myself of the habit, as it seems silly for an atheist to say, but boy, that's a tough one to break.

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Hugo A-niro
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love how some people acctuly think they have religion figured out

Viviane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an atheist, but if others want to thank God, that's okay by me. I would draw the line at someone telling me that I must give credit to God for happy outcomes; they can draw the line at my telling that they shouldn't. Mutual respect.

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TexasWoman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, why mention a fictional character from a fictional book?

Lazy Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey TexasWoman, did you know that there is something called different beliefs?

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KT
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i also find that bizarre but i find that happens in canada too. Like....God didn't put that food on the table, you did with your hard work like wtf

Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a figure of speech. We also say thank goodness as an alternative.

Mystery Egg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or thanking god for saving your life after an accident. I always found that pretty insulting to the team of medical professionals that actually put the work in to save you.

StnFlwr
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That started to bother me, too (many many years ago), especially at the office. So I stopped doing it. I'm not religious, but don't religious people call that "taking god's name in vain"?

TexasWoman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an atheist and don't give him credit for what I and others have done. Why thank him for something he didn't do? Why don't you thank him for the bad that happens?

Leo Domitrix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not atheist, but agree. How about saying "Thank God that guy drove drunk into my loved ones?" instead of "HWO COULD GOD LET IT HAPPEN!".... Uh, a drunk driver did. Free will. Y'know? *sigh*

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Alloydog
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to realise that the initial British colonists if the US were religious extremists.

Chich
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or thanking god for miraculously saving them during some disaster. Maybe this god character could have just not caused it in the first place?

AntiAntiVaxx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God doesn't create things like COVID or disasters.God set up the earth for us to live in and overtime the earth naturally has disasters (proven by science) its not a concisous decision he makes its something that happens.

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Furry_Danger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I say "Thank god" I don't actually "Thank god", It's just reflex....

Terd Fergison
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

First you have to prove a god(s) even exist. Then you would have to prove god made the good thing happen. If you are going to thank god for good things, you need to hold him accountable for bad things like bone cancer in children, malaria, ebola virus, our main source of heat and light giving people skin cancer, worms that gestate and painfully come out of the human eye, etc. I dare you to go to a terminally ill children's ward, look them in the eye and tell them to thank god. If he created everything and has a divine plan, all blame would belong to him. Then you have to ask yourself is god good. God's actions in the Abrahamic books are highly evil. A god that created hell. A god that supposedly flooded the world killing all puppies, kittens, and babies via torturous drowning. A god that condones slavery. Why do people want to worship and thank an evil god?

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sylvantic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's wrong with this? Something good happens and you want to thank G-d!

Terd Fergison
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

First you have to prove a god(s) even exist. Then you would have to prove god made the good thing happen. If you are going to thank god for good things, you need to hold him accountable for bad things like bone cancer in children, malaria, ebola virus, our main source of heat and light giving people skin cancer, worms that gestate and painfully come out of the human eye, etc. I dare you to go to a terminally ill children's ward, look them in the eye and tell them to thank god. If he created everything and has a divine plan, all blame would belong to him.

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Theblackdeath757
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

can somebody get me a number on how many atheists there are compared to religious people in the us just asking (i wouldn't know where to get that info)

Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

4% Pew Research Center link: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/06/10-facts-about-atheists/

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F. H.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's rather a language thing. It's like this in Germany, too. Many non-religious people will just use the phrase "Gott sei Dank" (thank God) as an expression of relief without meaning it in the sense of the words.

Baby Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i don't do that cuz god doesn't exist lol, that's just weird that people even do this

Sarah Grape
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ummmm wait uh are you sure this is american because i dont belive that's unique at all

CatWoman312
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn’t an American thing. This is a religious people thing.

Myrtle Yoma
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People all over the world thank “god” for everyday occurrences. But some call it Allah, Yahweh, Mother Earth, Brahma, or just their own resilience and will. This isn’t just an American phenomenon

Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you aware that a lot of people don't believe in gods?. Or even people who believes in them wont mention them all the time.

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Bethany Lingle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well if you feel blessed to be alive it would make sense to thank god everyday for everything good in your life.

Jane Alexander
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gratitude is never out of place, the same cannot be siad for public displays of it, however.

Helen Haley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some say it sincerely, others, it is more like an empty phrase. With me, it is an empty phrase of general thanks something did or did not happen.

Terd Fergison
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

First you have to prove a god(s) even exist. Then you would have to prove god made the good thing happen. If you are going to thank god for good things, you need to hold him accountable for bad things like bone cancer in children, malaria, ebola virus, our main source of heat and light giving people skin cancer, worms that gestate and painfully come out of the human eye, etc. I dare you to go to a terminally ill children's ward, look them in the eye and tell them to thank god. If he created everything and has a divine plan, all blame would belong to him. Then you have to ask yourself is god good. God's actions in the Abrahamic books are highly evil. A god that created hell. A god that supposedly flooded the world killing all puppies, kittens, and babies via torturous drowning. A god that condones slavery. Why do people want to worship and thank an evil god?

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BG
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Folks who pat themselves on the back are thanking their god too.

Alex De Leon
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

ok? I'm going to thank my Lord for everything. You can choose to ignore it.

Lauren Potts
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed! Everyone should get to choose how they want to live their lives. If you want to thank God than so be it, if you don't, then so be it. Not everyone is religious and that's perfectly fine! "You choose this day whom you will serve but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." :D

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Rhys Cernunnos
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

That is a religious thing, not a USA thing... dumbass.

NATHAN ENGLANDER
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

This comment has been deleted.

Ulrike Sponagel
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Thanking god is second best to making god proud by behaving well.

Viviane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is one reason why atheists generally don't care for "thoughts and prayers" that are not backed by action. On the other hand, some people do ask for "thoughts and prayers", "healing vibes", etc. I'm an atheist, but I can certainly offer those people "thoughts"; whether they believe that prayer works or they just want emotional support doesn't matter to me.

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#27

Those commercials featuring some sort of drug or medication. With the typical closing where the narrator states "Side effects includes blah blah blah...Discuss with your doctor about blah blah blah"

Noor_awsome Report

#28

Tipping, most other places actually pay their waiters/waitresses and tippings just for extremely good service or rounding up.

Undisclosed-Fruit Report

#29

Having to drive everywhere. I'm 27-years-old, not from the US and never learnt to drive. I've also never felt like I needed it.

FreshNebula Report

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#30

It's pretty funny watching Americans moan over their super-cheap petrol prices. "But we drive everywhere, cars are fundamental to our society". Yep, same here in Australia, too. Your fuel is still incredibly cheap.

vacri Report

#31

Garbage disposal units in sinks. I've been to nearly 20 countries, and I've never seen one.

TypingLobster Report

#32

Longer ad breaks in the Muppet Show.

The UK version had two minutes of extra content in every episode due to restrictions on the amount of ads you could play on British TV.

That's 240 minutes of extra Muppet content that most Americans never saw.

JeremiahSpankMouth Report

#33

Playing the national anthem before sporting events. There may be a handful of other countries that do, but in much of the world it's only played for international matches.

SkippyNordquist Report

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#34

Your identity politics used to be just in America, then it spilled out like a burst sewage pipe.

Consistscent Report

#35

Red solo cups. My european cousins asked me if parties in the us really had those red cups.

Belgianwafflz Report

#36

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Bumper stickers. They’re a lot less common in Europe anyway, not sure about the rest of the world.

Random_Machiavelli , dalliedee Report

#37

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Nearly everything about their high schools

Unfair-Act-4499 , Wikimedia Commons Report

#38

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Free refills at restaurants

milwaukeeminnesota , James Petts Report

#39

Stores like Wal-Mart where you can buy everything that are open all the time. Groceries, alcohol, plants, medicine, tires, toys...

The first time I went to Germany on a work trip it was a bank holiday and everything was closed.

I live in Jerusalem now and there is a separate store for everything.

windwalker28 Report

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#40

Girl Scout cookies?

iamnotdoctordoom Report

#41

Graham Crackers.

Remember when I picked up a friend's mother and her friend at the airport, fresh from the US. One of them was like 'They don't have Graham crackers here?' I'm like nah mate we have crackers for everyone.

EdwardCosmos Report

#42

45 Things That Are Normal In The US, But Seem Bizarre In Other Countries Shared In This Online Group Parking lot size. I’ve been to about 20 different countries, all over the place, and I have never seen a standard Walmart sized parking lot anywhere out of America.

Upstairs_Cow , Walmart Report

#43

Buscuits and gravy. This conjures up images of having a plate of cookies smothered in a sauce made from the the meat juices of a roast.

plasmadrive Report

#44

I wanna say jaywalking. Like, in Europe, you can pretty much cross a road wherever you want but when I visited America there seemed to be this weird sense you were being judged if you walked out into an empty road. Maybe just me idk.

Caughtinjail1 Report

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#45

It always surprises me when someone from another country has never heard of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

helplessAteverything Report

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#46

Ranch dressing obsession. The World Series.

LederhosenSituation Report

#47

I wasn't aware we and New Zealand, possibly Australia(?) Are the only countries with ads for prescription drugs.

wickedblight Report

#48

The fuel-brand Exxon. Throughout the rest of the world, it's known as "Esso." It's only Exxon in the US.

Taman_Should Report

#49

Small talk among strangers.

CallieIsQueen Report

#50

Thanksgiving

StonyandUnk Report

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