33 "normal" things in the United States leading to all others

From our portions to our PTO, here we will differ from the rest of the world.


While eachRegion Among the United States has its own quirks and identity, there are also some customs that are common nationally. But while theseAmerican Traditions might seem normal sums, they are certainlynot universal. For example, the average American can be used for big tips and even larger portions, but to foreigners, it is far from the norm. Curious to know what things are considered a crowd of foreigners standards? Here are 33 customs and normal habits "in the United States taking place in the rest of the world.

1
Say "how are you?" When we mean "Hello"

lesbian couple holding each other, long marriage tips
Shutterstock / MimagePhotography

When a store clerk or knowledge in America asks: "How are you?" They do not seek looking for an answer. Instead, it's a simple greeting, similar to "Hi there!" A European, on the other hand, "will embark on a monologue on their health and well-being and will ask [how are you?] Right to search and wait for an answer"Sophie-Claire Hoeller to crushThe independent.

2
Smiling at strangers

woman smiling at stranger in cage
Refuge

Although it can vary a bit by region - we look at you, New Yorkers in general, Americans are much faster than the average foreignersmile To a stranger and offer a warm hello, even if they happen on the sidewalk. These greetings also can catch foreigners by surprise and you usually need some "hellos" before trusting it's not a kind ofscrape.

3
Flags ... everywhere

people waving american flags
Refuge

Americans love red, white and blue, even when it's not theOn the four of July WhereVeterans Day. In fact, in a 2017 report of theNational Federation of Retail, 65% of consumers reported possess an American flag.

So, browsing any block from the city, Suburban Street or Rural Road, a stranger will probably meet at least some American flags flying high, which is probably not the norm in their country of origin.

4
Rarely take a holiday

Black Man Looking Sad and Alone at Work, contagious conditions
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In most countries outside the United States,holiday time is a very used way to get away from work for a few weeks (or even months) every year. In America, on the other hand,take leave is often treated as a sin. Holiday Days Many people tend to accumulate as 50 hours work weeks continue to ride. Our collectiveWorkaholism is totally bizarre to foreigners - and frankly, we can see why.

5
Drinking from red solo cups

Red Solo Cups
Refuge

The red solo cups are the symbol of the ranks of the necklaces and barbecues of the backyard - and yet they are rarely seen outside the United States toSlate,Seth Stevenson gave a good explanation of the plastic cup call: its opaque color prevents the authorities from saying with flippancy which is in the cup; Its robust design makes it virtually a spill; and its newly created square background facilitates maintenance.

6
Get free refills

man getting a soda from a machine - american culture
Refuge

Americanslove theirfree Refills. Foreigners, on the other hand, are not even familiar with the concept. In most other countries, when you buy a drink, this prince is for a cup of beverage of your choice drink. If you want a second soda in a place like Paris, for example, be ready to get out of extra money.

7
Boring

man taking money out of a wallet, parenting is harder
Refuge

For a country that is the center of the world economy, the American currency is quite dull. While other countries have colorful invoices with cultural figures, the United States seems determined to keep their dollars just as little informed and indistinguishable as possible.

8
Carry conferring

Coins on Table Money Facts
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In many cases, the name of a coin will tell you something how much it's worth it. However, while the quarter makes sense, because its value is equivalent to a quarter of a dollar, it is the only piece whose name is logical in terms of its value. If even we Americans do not get it, we can not expect anyone else either.

9
Have restaurants 24 hours a day

friends in a late night diner, weird american
Refuge

While the city of New York never sleeps, it's not the only oneCity with companies 24 hours a day. Foreign tourists could be surprised how many other destinations in the United States haveRestaurants which are open around the clock. We like to eat when we like to eat - and if it means going to Denny's at 3, so be it.

10
Carding of people who are obviously not less than 21 years old

older man buying alcohol at the store, weird american things
Refuge

That you return to a bar or buy a six-pack pack at the grocery store, there is a good chance that you will be invited to your identifier in the United States, even if you arewell in your 50s. It is confusing many strangers, especially since, at the moment when they are in their30 yearsThey have been drinking legally for more than two decades.

Americans are nothing elseaccording to the rulesAbout small things, most foreigners quickly learn that it is wise to keep a form of identity at any time if it plans to have a drink.

11
Have cheerler pommen at sports games

cheerleader on football field,
Refuge

The concept of squadrons dance that help support sports teams (or competition against each other) is quite strange for most non-Americans. You do not see cheerler pommen at the World Cup, is not it?

12
Get coffee to go

man holding a magazine and a to-go coffee - american culture
Refuge

This could be less surprising these days thanks to the ubiquity ofStarbucksBut the Americans have created the practice of ordering coffee from, and it always strikes many Europeans as weird behavior. After all, is notCoffee intended to be appreciated in a ceramic cup on a conversation at a quiet pace? Not in America, it's not!

13
Have conduit

Starbucks Drive Thru Sign
Refuge

In most other countries, you take the time to browse at least the car and cross the doors before the place you are condescending - not America, however! Here we are far too busy wasting time. So we have restaurants through the passage, cafes, grocery stores, alcohol shops, etc.

14
Always have the air conditioner A / C

woman turning on the air conditioning
Refuge

Americans go nuts with air conditioning,wanking The hot days to the point you could have a sweater. By the time you have been inside an American institution in summer for only 10 minutes, you will be glacial and impatient to come back in breathSun. In most other countries, however, an A / C unit is used sparingly, or not at all.

15
Shopping in superstores

aisle at a costco
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Costco,Wal-MartAnd other big-box stores that you need a map to navigate are a particularly American thing. Foreigners are constantly disconcerted by the volume of stuff the Americans seem to think they need, and superstores are a perfect encapsulation of this strange feeling.

16
Shopping at pharmacies that are mini shopping centers

an aisle at a pharmacy
Refuge

In England, the so-called "chemist" is where you go forMedication and medical supplies - and that's all. In the United States, pharmacies - the closest elements we have with double-double pharmacists are convenience stores, with aisles on food alleys, cleaning supplies and evenMakeup products. Some even sell fresh fruits and prepackaged meals - but if you visit the states of another country, we recommend getting your sushi elsewhere.

17
Eat super dimensioned portions

mcdonalds sign in the air, 1984 facts
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Why have an 8 ounce steak when you can have one of the 20 ounces? Why go big when a vention is just a dollar more? Yes, we, the Americans, do not like to go big or go home - and when foreigners come to visit, it is a concept they notice quickly.

"My only American culinary advice point: order the support", writes a new Zealand in a room forThing. "Sometimes I like to order things steadily here - it transforms consumption in tourism and makes me feel like I'm at a carnival. I also like a challenge. But seriously, do not do it. is not good. " Good enough!

18
Dinner with superviling servers

woman talking to waiter National Geographic bee questions
Refuge

Most European travelers expect to place their order, then to be interacting with their server for the rest of their meal. This is a bit of a surprise, so when these foreigners visit the United States and are recorded in every 10 minutes because they eat. For those who are used to a more tranquil meal with little interruption, all these recordings and the eagerness of the server to bring the bill can be a little scratch.

19
Get constant water refills

Waiter Pouring Water - american culture
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One of the reasons why we see a lot ofwaiters In the states, it is because they constantly fill the guest water glasses. This strange American habit leaves many foreign visitors asking: "How much water Could you be able if possibleneed over an hour or two? "

20
Ice in the water

ice cubes, diy hacks
Refuge

Americans really like their ice. Water, whiskey, soda-if it can be sipped, we put ice. Even when he died in winter, the cafes always serve as iced coffee. In other parts of the world, however, ice is not something you will see almost as frequently.

21
Offer so many choices

Refuge

In the United States, each food order requires severalthe decisions. White or wheat? Hash Browns or Fries Home? Bacon or sausage? We like to have a lot of options in America, but sometimes for a stranger, the order control can feel like aMultiple choice quiz.

22
Go big with advice

leaving tip on the table fr
Refuge

One of the most difficult things (or at least the most expensive) about being a stranger traveling to the United States is to switch. In most European countries, service charges are included in the price of a meal and tricks are generally not greater than 8 to 12%. But in America, you should add more than 20% to your invoice just to avoid a dirty look ofyour server.

23
Give our credit cards

handing out credit card in restaurant, weird americans things
Refuge

Americans are unusually relaxed on the discount on their credit cards in a way that tends to imagate foreigners. In the restaurants of many other countries, your server runs your credit card via a machine machine. But in the United States, people are happy to justto throw Their card in a folder with the invoice and leave the server pretend to slip. Obviously, we are a very confident sort.

24
Have lawyers who advertise

female lawyerThings Said in Court
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There are few countries in which you will meet a billboard or bus ad for adivorce lawyer or see several personal injury stains while watching half an hour of the dayTV. In America, however, these advertisements are everywhere - and unsurprisingly, they confuse foreign visitors.

25
And prescription drugs that advertise

row of pill bottles for medicine, weird americans
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Another quirk of American advertising is these spots that you see forprescription drug during each commercial break. Foreigners may not be realized from the bat that these soft advertisements offering happy couples using corn fields are advertising medications forDiabetes andBack ache. However, if advertising itself is unclear, the long list of side effects that the narrator rises in the end should at least tip them.

26
Wear pajamas in public

Woman work from home in pajamas
Refuge

That we passed in front of the post office or grocery shopping, we, Americans, are surprisingly at ease with the port of ourclothes typically reserved for bed in public. It's not that we are lazy, in itself; It's just that we like to be comfortably - and despite weird eyes, we get European tourists, being comfortable, just attentive to research.

27
Drinking wine from 3 liter bottles

Bottle of Wine in front of TV
Refuge

No, it's not theStandard bottle ofwine in states, but it's a common show to any Americansupermarket Or wine store and something that you rarely meet in the wine countries of the world like Italy or France. As we said before, the Americans live with the phrase ", the more the merry!"

28
Fry

fried cookies and ice cream, weird american things
Refuge

Of course, the fried chicken isbarelyA foreign concept - but try to explain a chicken steak or egg chicken fries to a non-American. Finding creative ways to fry things that should probably not be fries is an American specialty and something that certainly confusestourists.

29
Drive on wide roads

Aerial View of ten-lane Highway
Refuge

Like so many others in the United States we go big withOur roads, what regionhuge contrast with the streets of the tight city of mostEuropean cities and winding mountain roads found in a large part of the rest of the world.

30
Have huge gaps in toiletries

toilet stalls
Refuge

For foreigners, excessively important cracks in the doors of stalls in the public toilets are simply confused. AtTripAdvisor, A German tourist even commented on his love of New York's visit, spare for these toilet door gaps. "It's uncomfortable and I do not understand why" she wrote. To be fair, most Americans do not do it either.

31
Eat flavored raisin bowling

bag of skittles, weird americans things
Refuge

The flavor of the particular keys we call "grape" isAmerican curiosity Of his own, but for those of the United Kingdom and Australia, this flavor does not even exist. Instead, their purple bowling have good tasteCassis-And While this fruity flavor was popular in America, legislatorsbanned fruit Itself in the twentieth century, because it served as a vehicle for destroyed wood known as the white pine blister rust.

32
Keep eggs in the refrigerator

eggs in the fridge, weird american things
Refuge

Eggs Are a universal delicacy, but outside the United States, they are rarely stored in the refrigerator. It's because in America we put our eggs through aRigorous washing process (This is not even necessary) that eliminates the protective layer of the egg, so that harmful bacteria can enter if we do not refrigerate the eggs. But elsewhere, there is no reason for eggs can not sit on a shelf or countertop.

33
Pronouncing the last letter of the alphabet like "Zee"

Letter Z on a Keyboard Why Z is Pronounced Zee
Refuge

In America, the letterZ is good,zee. But if you had to use this pronunciation to a conversation with an English speaker from another country, they would probably give you a perplexed look. In most other English-speaking countries - like Canada, Ireland or England, the letterZ is pronouncedzed. And for more on why we pronounce this letter differently, check Why the world pronounces "Z" like "Zed" and the Americans do not do it .

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