40 “Normal” Things Americans Do That The Rest Of The World Will Never Understand

James Loftus - December 4, 2022

While each region in the United States possesses its unique quirks and identity, there are certain customs that are prevalent across the entire nation. These traditions might seem normal for people within the US, but to the rest of the world, those things are truly bizarre. From consistently leaving generous tips to the colossal portion sizes that define every meal, these are the practices embraced by Americans that often bewilder people from other cultures. Scroll down to see the list of the weirdest things that Americans are doing that the rest of the world will never understand. Prepare to be astounded by the genuine perspectives of the rest of the world regarding the beloved United States of America!

Smiling at Strangers

While some might argue that questioning the politeness of American tourists is even stranger, it is worth pondering: What prompts Americans to smile at strangers with whom they have no prior or future connection?

It doesn’t make sense to most people, and while most Americans would smile back, people from other countries would probably be weirded out by a random person smiling at them. Some individuals may go to the extent of creating distance between themselves and someone offering them a rather unsettling smile.

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Fans of Ancient History

Being So Impressed With Ancient History — Pinterest

In comparison to many countries worldwide, the United States is relatively young, a fact that often goes overlooked when observing the enthusiastic fascination of Americans as they behold ancient historical landmarks. The awe and wonder Americans have for artifacts and historical sites baffle people outside of the country.

It is beyond our control that our nation lacks artifacts and structures that span thousands of years in age.

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Wearing Shorts All Year Round

One unmistakable method to identify an American amidst a foreign crowd is to search for the individual sporting shorts during the most unconventional seasons of the year. We don’t know why they do this, but it seems to be a common thing for American tourists.

While there is nothing wrong with wearing shorts when it is seasonally appropriate, it’s not normal to see someone’s knee caps when it’s freezing or raining. Irrespective of the weather conditions, it appears that when Americans venture beyond their homeland, they become impervious to temperature sensations.

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Expecting Everyone to Speak English

Although it is true that English is a globally spoken language, encompassing millions of people worldwide, it does not imply that every individual in every country is obligated to speak it simply because there are American tourists present.

Many American tourists don’t understand that and get frustrated when they go to other countries and can’t speak the language. Google translate is a lifesaver, and it can help with basic words and phrases instead of being rude.

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I’m From Smalltown Nebraska

Telling People Exactly What Town They Are From — Shutterstock

If you have ever asked an American, “Where are you from in the states,” you will probably get a response along the lines of, “I’m from Smalltown, Nebraska.” More often than not, Americans assume that individuals are familiar with every town in every state, even though these places may be relatively unknown or unheard of to others. With so many states and places to remember, they can all easily blur together.

Therefore, when a tourist states, “I’m from Ramsey,” most people are unaware of whether it is located in the northern, southern, eastern, or western region, or if it is even within the same country. Sometimes specificity isn’t useful.

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Wearing Socks and Sandals

One fashion trend that has always puzzled us, even as Americans, is the combination of socks and sandals. If the intention is to protect one’s feet, wouldn’t it be more sensible to opt for sneakers instead? Usually, people wear sandals to let their feet breathe, so what is the point of adding sandals?

We don’t know what possessed Americans to start this trend, but it is a bizarre look. At the very least, by wearing strappy sandals, they can avoid getting tan lines on their feet. However, they might end up with a peculiar sock tan instead, leaving us to ponder which is the lesser of the two fashion faux pas.

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The Strange Obsession with Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is deeply ingrained in American culture, much like playing football, utilizing Fahrenheit for temperature measurements, and experiencing financial challenges to afford higher education. Americans are obsessed with ranch, and could probably add it onto any dish from pizza and chicken fingers to ranch-flavored soda. As an American, there is an inexplicable satisfaction in combining ranch dressing with various foods, creating a uniquely flavorful and enjoyable culinary experience.

However, it will be hard to find our beloved dipping sauce in other countries because people don’t like or understand why it is such a good addition to meals.

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People are Paid to Greet You at the Store

One of the most peculiar sights for first-time visitors to America is encountering individuals whose sole purpose is to greet you as you enter a store, creating a distinct and unfamiliar shopping experience. It is not like you are walking into someone’s home, you are going to pick up groceries, so why is there a need to have someone welcome you?

Even among Americans, the concept of store greeters may be puzzling to some, but they undeniably add a touch of cheerfulness to the otherwise mundane act of shopping. Maybe stores think if customers are welcomed into the store, they are less likely to steal.

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School Lunches are Just Nasty!

School lunches vary across the globe, with each country offering its own version of the classic cafeteria meal. However, it is often noted that America tends to have a reputation for serving school lunches with the most visually unappealing and seemingly inedible options. Something about nachos and milk at 11 in the morning just doesn’t sit right with most people.

From mystery meats to things that look like sludge, people from other countries don’t understand why anyone would want to buy their lunch from the school cafeteria. Even many Americans are grossed out by the meals they used to consume during their grade school years, reflecting a collective sentiment of distaste towards the food choices that were once the norm.

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Massive Gaps in Bathroom Stall Doors

Have you ever gone into a public restroom and thought, “This experience would be better if I could make eye contact with the person on the other side of the door?” It is reasonable to assume that the majority of individuals have not entertained such thoughts, as the bathroom is traditionally regarded as a space intended for privacy and personal matters. In every other country, the bathroom stalls don’t have large gaps, and you can do your business in peace.

Entering a public restroom in the United States can sometimes feel like a show, as there is a possibility of unintended observers, making one wonder who might unwittingly become part of the audience.

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Sharing a Dorm Room With a Complete Stranger

When individuals attend school in the United States, it is customary for them to occupy a compact dorm room the size of a closet, often shared with one or two unfamiliar individuals. There is absolutely no privacy, and who wants to be present for another teenager’s sexual awakening? In other places people live at home or rent apartments with friends, but they usually don’t get shoved into dorm rooms with strangers.

People worldwide often find themselves bewildered when they witness the living arrangements of American college students, and it’s understandable considering that even we struggled to grasp the concept at first.

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Wearing Hawaiian Shirts on Vacation Outside of Hawaii

Despite Hawaii being a constituent of the United States, it appears that individuals who have never set foot in Hawaii tend to flaunt their vibrant, button-up shirts when they travel abroad, thus perpetuating a tourist stereotype. Normally, the Hawaiian shirt is paired with cargo shorts, a baseball hat, and a large backpack. Oh, and we can’t forget the socks with sandals.

Identifying an American tourist in a crowd becomes a relatively simple task: just keep an eye out for those donning this distinctive ensemble.

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American Currency is All One Color

The Money Is All The Same Color — Shutterstock

American dollars may be powerful, but they are anything but exciting. n the majority of countries, currency notes are characterized by various colors and sizes corresponding to their respective denominations, often accompanied by metallic accents, which are visually more appealing compared to the standard green and black design.

For people who come into the country and have to use the bills, it is hard for them to distinguish the different values when they have to grab them out of their wallets quickly.

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Eating Mega-Sized Meals

It is widely known that Americans have a deep appreciation for food. The opportunity to explore diverse cultures and indulge in a wide range of cuisines while traveling around the world is undeniably thrilling. It is an experience most people only get to do once, and it is something they will never forget.

When people from America leave the States, they are confused by the smaller portion sizes. In countries where tapas or Mediterranean cuisine is prevalent, it is common for individuals to request larger portions as they are not accustomed to consuming such small meals.

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The Only Country That Uses the Imperial Measurement System

The reasons behind America being the only country in the world that still uses the imperial system for measurements remain unclear. However, it appears that when Americans venture outside of the United States, there is a tendency to resist learning and adopting the metric system. It’s almost as if we are allergic to the metric system. Everyone else in the world has adopted a different measuring system, and this has probably caused some issues when people are working between different countries.

It is undoubtedly true that Americans often encounter difficulties when they travel abroad and find themselves perplexed by the unfamiliarity of the metric system, making it challenging to measure anything.

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Taking Leftovers Home from Restaurants

Due to the generous portion sizes in America, it is quite common to have leftover food after a meal, resulting in the popular practice of requesting “doggy bags” to take home the remaining food. To be fair, this is a custom that should be commended because people aren’t wasting food that is left on their plates.

In other countries, inquiring about taking leftovers to go may elicit a quizzical response, as it is not a customary request they often encounter. In numerous European restaurants, such a query might even be considered impolite or inappropriate.

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American’s Just Love Their Icy Drinks

Putting More Ice Than Liquid In Drinks — Pinterest

Including ice in nearly every beverage is a practice primarily familiar to Americans. Many countries tend to dismiss the use of ice due to concerns about diluting the drinks, as well as questioning the origin and quality of the ice itself. It also takes space away from the actual drinks. Some places offer a small amount of ice in drinks, but it doesn’t take up most of the cup, like the cold drinks from Starbucks.

Paying a considerable amount for a beverage only to find that a significant portion of the cup is occupied by ice certainly diminishes the overall experience. Hence, we comprehend why other regions find this practice peculiar and question its rationale.

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Giving People a Thumbs Up

“Hey dude, thumbs up!” It is indeed interesting to note that a thumbs-up gesture is not universally recognized as a universal sign. Many Americans are often unaware that this hand gesture is not commonly used or understood in various other regions around the world. Next time you leave the States, you might want to think twice about using that hand gesture because it could mean something else.

In certain countries around the world, a thumbs-up gesture can carry a negative connotation similar to that of showing someone the middle finger which could potentially lead to undesirable consequences, and one might not walk away with their thumb unscathed. Just a warning for the next time you travel.

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Not Including Sales Tax on Price Tags

One of the prominent criticisms about the United States is the absence of sales tax inclusion in the price tags of items, which often leads to frustration among people. When foreigners come for a little retail therapy because things are generally cheaper, they should be warned that the prices are not what they seem. The idea that sales tax is not incorporated into the price until you are at the register is sneaky.

Certain Americans have developed the skill of mentally calculating the total price when looking at an item, despite the perplexing nature of the system. The need to perform these calculations can indeed be confusing for both locals and visitors.

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Having a “World” Series and Only Including The United States

Have you ever wondered why the World Series is called the World Series if it only involves baseball teams from within the United States? Do we possess such self-absorption that we believe the entire world centers around our 50 states, allowing us to dub our championship event the World Series?

It is only called the World Series because a team from the National League and the American League decided to have a tournament, but both of the teams were in the United States. Hence, we will adhere to our initial hypothesis that Americans perceive the world as revolving around the United States.

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Sticklers About the Proper Format for the Date

Writing The Date In The Format Day-Month-Year — Shutterstock

The United States consistently chooses to diverge from the norm, even in matters as seemingly trivial as formatting dates uniquely. In most of the world, it is written day-month-year, but in the US, it is written month-day-year. While the exact rationale behind this disparity remains uncertain, it undoubtedly perplexes individuals when they venture beyond the borders of the United States and encounter the need to transcribe dates in an unfamiliar format.

You can probably guess that people have had to cross out many incorrect dates because of this difference.

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Having Baby Showers

While the scale and grandeur of baby showers continue to expand each year, this particular celebration appears to be primarily embraced within the United States. People in the US must have baby fever from the pregnancy announcement to the actual birth. Baby showers in the US are commonplace, but other countries find them odd because they consider it bad luck to celebrate the baby before they are born.

Moreover, for many individuals, the excessive nature of these events tends to surpass their personal preferences and comfort levels.

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Partying with Red Solo Cups

“Red solo cup, I fill you up, let’s have a party!” While red Solo cups hold a revered status in American college and outdoor party culture, their appearance leaves the rest of the world bewildered and perplexed. They don’t have an issue with it, but it’s fascinating. College parties are synonymous with red cups because we know how to party in style, and we know what kind of cups are the most ideal for beer pong.

If the cups lack the distinctive red hue and fail to feature the convenient measurement lines for different beverages, Americans tend to exhibit little interest in utilizing them.

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Joining a Sorority

The fact that sororities exist exclusively in America is one notable aspect that perplexes the rest of the world. People outside the United States often struggle to comprehend why college students willingly spend significant amounts of money to cultivate friendships and proudly display Greek letters on their attire. It is fascinating for people in other countries to hear about being in a fraternity or sorority though.

Around the world, people probably only hear about them when there is a hazing accident in the news, but they do have some benefits like post-college job connections. In addition, sororities also engage in philanthropic endeavors, ensuring that their presence contributes positively to the community.

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It’s Rude NOT to Tip

Not leaving a tip in the United States is widely viewed as an impolite gesture, and the reasons behind this social norm are fairly straightforward to comprehend. Servers in the US do not make enough money to live solely on their paycheck, so they rely on tips to boost their income. In many countries outside of the US, a service charge is typically included in the bill, making it appear unnecessary to add an additional tip.

Consequently, tipping on top of the included service charge may give the impression of frivolously dispensing money. Also, servers in other countries make a much better wage than those in the US.

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Showing Off the Flag

Apart from the classic identifiers like Hawaiian shirts, wearing shorts during unconventional seasons, or pairing socks with sandals, one can often spot an American by observing someone proudly donning the American flag. Stripes and stars happen to be our favorite pattern, and no one can say we don’t have national pride.

While American patriotism is often endearing, it is not something you will find across the globe. Consequently, if you disembark from a plane clad in stars and stripes, be prepared for the curious and perplexed gazes of onlookers.

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Tailgating for Sporting Events

Tailgating For Sports Games — The Northside Sun

There is one thing in American culture that gets us more excited than anything else – tailgating. When it comes to college or professional sports games, it’s not uncommon to find that some individuals attend primarily for the tailgate festivities rather than the actual game itself.

The brews, barbecue, and vibes are what people get so excited about, but outsiders have no idea why people would come so early before the game actually begins. The elaborate setups and preparations that Americans undertake for events like tailgating are often perceived as unusual by others.

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Trick-Or-Treating for Halloween

While Halloween’s American traditions have started gaining popularity beyond the United States, many people still find them peculiar and out of the ordinary. People also say it is another way for Americans to commercialize every holiday.

Some may argue that other countries feel envious of what the United States has with Halloween, as no other celebration allows you to approach a stranger’s door and receive free candy. However, when we write out the concept, it actually does seem rather sketchy.

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Advertising Everything and Anything

In America, we don’t care what the product is, we probably have an advertisement for it. Some may argue that other countries feel envious of what the United States has with Halloween, as no other celebration allows you to approach a stranger’s door and receive free candy.

The thing people really don’t understand is why the US has so many drug advertisements. When individuals watch television in America, they often feel perplexed by the commercials featuring couples joyfully frolicking through fields, followed by a rapid-fire list of potential side effects recited at the end.

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Using Coffee Creamer

While people outside of the United States typically use various types of milk in their coffee, within the country, there is a distinct product known as creamer. It’s a mystery what it actually is, but we know it is filled with sugar and not good for you.

Unlike certain European or South American countries celebrated for their coffee offerings, the United States isn’t particularly renowned for its delectable coffee choices. We often rely on potent flavors to mask the less desirable qualities of over-roasted beans or diluted brews.

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Eating Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peanut butter and jelly has to be one of the most classic combinations in the US. Did you know that the delightful fusion of salty and sweet flavors is a uniquely popular combination in the United States? It’s a taste sensation cherished by Americans. The reasons why more people aren’t embracing this flawless combination remain a mystery to us.

However, some individuals do find it peculiar or unconventional. Some people don’t know if jelly is the same thing as jam and why these two things are eaten for lunch past the age of five, but we don’t care. We are proud of our all-American classic PB&J, and we will never give that up.

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Needing Variety of Every Product

Americans can’t just have one type of thing; we need multiple options. The grocery store shelves are filled with an overwhelming assortment of products, available in countless flavors and varieties. As a result, it’s no wonder that people often find themselves uncertain about which options to choose as they navigate the aisles. Maybe we just like to have options because we like to change things up instead of sticking to the same breakfast cereal each morning.

Regardless of the circumstances, when leaving the United States, one tends to long for the many choices available. Adjusting to a more limited selection elsewhere can prove challenging.

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Turning Right on Red (Except in NYC)

When it comes to the rules of the road, each country has its own set of distinct rules. One prominent example is the allowance for Americans to make a right turn at a red traffic light. As long as there isn’t a sign saying there is no right on red, and there are no oncoming cars, people can go through a red light to turn right.

This particular practice of allowing right turns on red lights often perplexes foreigners who are accustomed to waiting for a specific green arrow signal to proceed.

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Having Different Laws in Each State

Upon deeper reflection, it does raise the question of why Americans themselves may find this practice peculiar. Additionally, the existence of varying laws across different states can be strange, making it challenging for people to remember them when they travel.

When you really take a step back, if America is supposed to be a united country, wouldn’t they have the same laws for all the states? Things are never that simple in the US, and it’s almost like we enjoy making our lives more difficult.

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Having School Mascots

If you’ve ever watched an American movie or TV show set in a high school, chances are you’ve witnessed the contagious excitement that fills the air when the school mascot makes an appearance on the field or court. The sports games are so hyped up, and everyone seems to go nuts when the person in a lion costume steps out from the locker room to show off their unique dance moves.

Is the enthusiasm directed towards the actual animal or simply towards the person wearing the mascot costume?

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Pointy Water Cups

Isn’t it crucial to maintain proper hydration? It’s fantastic how in almost every location across the United States, one can typically come across water coolers, allowing people to refresh themselves. However, what’s the deal with those peculiar ice cream cone-shaped cups? These paper cups are strange in every single way because they don’t hold much water, you can’t put them down anywhere, and they basically disintegrate in your hands.

While those ice cream cone-shaped cups may provide a brief moment of amusement, they are not particularly practical in the long run.

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Americans Cannot Live without Those Sugary Drinks

Just as our eating habits raise concerns, America’s drinking culture follows a similar pattern, lacking in healthiness. While indulging in a soda and ice cream; it’s disheartening to observe that these choices are often abundant in added sugars.

Non-Americans have brought up that there is sugar in pretty much every drink that isn’t water, and it boggles their minds. Even if it isn’t real sugar, there is artificial sweetener added. There’s no denying our past fondness for Vitamin Water, though.

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Sitting in the Back Seat

Living in America, it’s a common experience to find oneself seated in the back of a taxi or an Uber. This practice has become ingrained because we’ve rarely witnessed anyone in movies hail a cab and casually hop into the front seat alongside the driver. Because of this, American tourists take this habit abroad with them. However, that often gets them strange looks from taxi drivers because they are used to people sitting in the front seat.

It might even be considered rude. As Americans, it is considered unusual to join the taxi driver upfront unless you intend to engage in a conversation.

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Expecting Free Refills

In American eateries, it is quite common, although not universal, for certain dining establishments to provide their patrons with complimentary drink refills. As a result, when Americans go abroad, they are in for an annoying surprise when they have to pay for every cup they drink.

Having complimentary refills outside of America is exceedingly rare, and if there happens to be a place that offers such a service, it would be noteworthy indeed.

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Sticking to Strict Drinking Rules

Apart from being one of the few countries that impose a legal drinking age of 21, certain locations throughout the United States continue to adhere to laws rooted in the Prohibition era. They restrict the sale of beer, wine, and liquor on certain days of the week. It is also one of the only places that will card someone even if they look much older than 21.

In some states, the enforcement of strict laws pertaining to age verification is such that individuals in their 50s may still be requested to present identification, highlighting the strict laws in those areas.

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