22 "Normal" Things in the U.S. That Are Weird to Everyone Else | What Visitors Find Odd in the US!
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- It's interesting when you see a different culture and way of life. However, have you ever wondered what others think of our culture and lifestyle in the US? In this video, we review 22 odd and weird American habits that baffle most visitors to the US.
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#american #visitingamerica #americanculture
Taxes at Grocery store check out! In the EU, the taxes are already included when you purchase something. It makes it so much easier to calculate how much your groceries will come to.
I agree! The way sales tax is handled in the US is so confusing, especially since it's not consistent across states and cities. 😬
#23 - tipping.
Yeah, tipping in the US is so confusing and excessive!
In traffic, right turns on red are pretty weird, as well as having the traffic lights on the far side of the junctions. But coming from Europe myself, I think both of these are pretty awesome! In the Netherlands, half the time you can't see the traffic lights because they're hidden behind your roof, door or mirror!
Interesting observation! The traffic light placement is something that I've never appreciated. 👍
Good list - having lived in Germany for 4 years and discussed the differences with friends these are many of the things that came up.
I´ve never been to US before, but honestly I would have freaked out if the waiter at the restaurant asked to take my credit card away to process the payment, thx for your content, learned many new things !
Thanks for checking out our video and channel. It is such a weird practice that we accept in the US. I know our visitors from abroad are always shocked whenever they have to pay at a restaurant. 😄
Am I the only one that noticed the Chase ad on the post about eggs?! lol
Ha! I’m so used to seeing them, I didn’t even notice. 😂
Another one: saying "excuse me" when you step in front of someone's line of sight, for example in the supermarket. Very polite and I really like it. In other countries people sometimes even bump into you and don't say a word.
Interesting! My wife (who is from England) thinks the opposite. She feels like we (Americans) aren't as polite. 😄
@@TripAstute I like the way Americans call people Sir and Madam. Its far nicer than mate or luv like here in the UK.
@@yorkshirecoastadventures1657 Well, in rural America the waitresses also like their "honeys" and "hons" ;-)
@@TripAstute Haha, okay but the British are in a league of their own regarding politeness! She must be shocked by the Dutch rudeness (or "directness", as they like to call it themselves 😂).
Is anything in this list surprising to you? What are other quirky things about the US? 😄
Also, in case you're wondering why I didn't include sales tax and turning right on red lights, I actually covered them in our "Things Every Traveler Should Know When Visiting the US" video: czcams.com/video/wEkjUgC8cww/video.html
We love wearing our shorts and baseball hats. Don’t see much of that overseas.
That's so true! Even in hot and humid locations, I often see people wearing long pants. I feel like our shorts and hats are a dead giveaway that we're tourists. 😄
This is a good list I really didn't know some of these things aren't normal outside of the US
Thanks! I was genuinely surprised too on a lot of these things. I think it’s good self awareness! 😄
KFC and McDonald's is actually good overseas though.
Haha, but yeah, when you start going over seas you see how crazy America is.
Yeah, I agree! Our chains seem much better abroad. 😄
These are very good! I imagine you could do a whole video on weird US street signs.
Thanks! That's true -- there are some crazy signs in the US. 😄
Here in the US, you can live without cash for days; you can’t live without some kind of debit/credit card for a day. We are nuts about having plastics!!! (Or metal I guess).
That is true! Though I think it might be even easier to live off of credit in some other countries, especially in Europe. 😎
Hummm! I’ll have to pay more attention next time I travel! 🙏🏼 thanks.
Thanks for checking out the video! 😊
Yep we certainly do call Stella wife beater here in England. Its usualy on a good offer in supermarkets,making it as cheap as chips.
It's fascinating how they've rebranded themselves in the US. It's definitely considered to be a premium quality beer in the States. 😄
As a brit' wanting to visit the US soon i find the information and clarity of presentation of your videos excellent...thank you! Regarding tipping i would much prefer a service charge is built in rather than at the discretion of the customer. I wondered whether there was a 'standard' tipping % in the states? (10%? or dependent on what item/service you are buying).
Thanks for the feedback! For most places in the US, the standard tipping rate is 15-20%. I agree with you though -- I wish service workers were paid a fair wage instead of relying on tips! There is a movement in some US restaurants to change the culture. However, ironically, servers seems to prefer the gratuity model since they can make more for better service.
I’m not shocked by this since I was born in the USA and got use to it
Yeah, these are definitely norms for us Americans. 😄
Putting gas in a car yourself, instead of the gas station worker doing it for you; Taxes at the grocery store checkout; Turning right on red;
So true! Those are definitely very American things. The turn on red concept seems to baffle visitors, though I have to admit that I really like it. 😄
Alcohol related, not sure how specific to North Caroline this one is, but have heard it may not be that uncommon. Lived for a while in Asheville with ex. First time (day) I was there her sister took me down for some snacks and booze. Local Walmart, typical Brit reaction, why are there so many guns on sale in a supermarket, you don't think about it really until you come face to face with it. But anyway, we bought the snacks and beer, but wanted a bottle of brandy. This was the really weird bit. Off down the road to this other shop where we had to go, one at a time through a security door into a small space between two doors. the outer door locked then the inner door opened and let me in. Then repeat for sister in law. Same thing on way out. Obviously over here i could have just bought the Brandy in the supermarket.
Trying to rationalise the security on the booze compared to the guns was, and still is to this day, a head scratcher. At the time I worked IT for an airline and accessing the shop was about one step below accessing a data centre never mind the fact that the building looked like it was designed to withstand a small tactical nuke.
It baffles me as well! It might be because I grew up in Los Angeles, but I still get uncomfortable when I am around that many guns. I did a project a few years ago in west Texas, and I remember seeing a lot of people walking around with guns. I know it's a different culture and lifestyle, but I never truly felt safe in that environment. 😬
Very nice video. In US we change time twice a year for daylight saving 😊.
In US some people are over obsessed with tattoos 🇺🇸
Thanks. Those are great observations too! 😊
Daylight savings timezones are used in pretty much every country outside the tropics.
Nice video! I can relate to many of these.
#13 stood out for me because Chip-and-PIN credit cards seem to be the norm outside the US. I use a Chip-and-PIN card that offers 2% cash back: the SDFCU Premium Cash Back+.
When I traveled outside the US and used a Chip-and-Signature card at some grocery stores, the clerks had an annoyed look on their faces when they require me to sign my receipt.
Interestingly, in the US, I enter the PIN when I use my Chip-and-PIN card. The cashier at Sprinkles Cupcakes asked me to enter my PIN. At other places such as car dealerships and hair salons, after I entered my PIN, the cashiers who are accustomed to handing me the receipt to sign were surprised that the transaction was already authorized. They didn’t seem to know how Chip-and-PIN works. It’s very funny to see a reverse culture shock in the US when I use a Chip-and-PIN card the way people outside of the US normally would.
So true! It always surprises me when I use mobile payments and are asked to then sign the receipt. It feels so redundant! 😄
I remember reading somewhere that the US couldn't implement Chip and PIN since the debit card networks own the PIN authentication service and process. Not sure if it's true, but it might explain why it never seemed to catch on in the US.
What I found a culture shock during a visit to the US was the sheer amount of police officers/security personnel milling about on the streets, all with big guns and surly faces and I honestly don't think I would have approached them for help if I needed it.
That's very true. I am always impressed that the police officers in many other countries don't even carry guns. 👍
An armed society is a polite society. That being said, how big of a gun do you consider "big?" I've never seen local law enforcement on patrol carrying a rifle. Ever. Come to think of it, the only airport ice been to with police that were patrolling with rifles was in France where officers were carrying Famas machine guns.
On date format - you’re right on the general point, of course - in the US it’s M/D, and most other places it’s D/M - hence “9/11”. But there is one huge American exception - “4th of July”, which is in D/M format! Have you got any idea why that date is referred to in the US that way round?
Don't forget about daylight saving. It's damn confusing. We need get rid of it.
That's a good point! I have no idea why we usually refer to it as the 4th of July instead of July 4th. 🤔
Hope you can visit Taiwan someday. It’s a great country worth visiting
I hope so too! I've only been in the airport, but everyone I know that has been (or grew up there) has nothing but positive things to say about it. 😊
I could keep on going: having someone else bagging your groceries for you. Super awkward! It's my stuff, I just bought it, I will bag it! Plus, it saves a lot of time if you don't wait for the cashier to do it.
I agree with you! 👍
It won't be weird if we, Americans, travel overseas more often.
I like bills in plastic like those in $10 HK. US bills are very dirty.
I'd never put ice in my beer, like friends in Asia.
Sharing a table with strangers at Asian restaurants. I'm OK. People have to do business.
At Japanese and Korean restaurants, finish at the restaurant. Do not ask for a box for the leftover.
I still have to remind myself to go to the left side when taking a taxi in Asia.
7-Eleven in Taiwan, Japan and Thailand are so much better than ones in the US. Can pay your phone/electric bills there.
McCafe is high end because the coffee/espresso drinks are pretty good.
You're right about the 7-Elevens in Asia. They are so impressive! 👍
England is a mess of the imperial and metric system
I wish we would adopt the metric system in the US as well! 🤓
Pharmacies sell cigarettes in the US???? HAHAHAHAHAHA wtfffff
YES! 😆
Video starts @1:44
Trip did we forget that other countries love their sparkly water because they cannot fix the water system because they are lazy countries