"When I First Traveled to the US, I Thought It Was a Restaurant Scam": Non-Americans Reveal What Seems Totally Normal in the US but Strange in Other Countries

Whenever I visit another country, I’m always intrigued by the everyday customs and cultural norms that feel so different from those in the US. However, I rarely stop to think about the things I consider "normal" at home that might seem completely bizarre to people from other places. This is why Redditor u/CapitalBread6959 posed the question, "What are some things that are very common in the US but totally unknown in your country?" Here's what they had to say.

1. "People actually love and purchase pickup trucks for everyday use, even if they don’t need them for hauling anything."

2. "I went to the US for the first time just a few weeks ago, and I couldn't believe it—BLUE CHEESE DRESSING! It sounds awful, but it's incredible! I only wish I could have brought some home with me."

3. "A German friend visited me in college, and at a party, he yelled 'THEY DO EXIST!!' while holding up our red solo cups."

4. "Tipping almost everyone who provides a service. I mean not just waiters, but also hairdressers and taxi drivers. And tipping at least 15%. Back home, tipping is only expected in restaurants for exceptional service, and we usually just round the bill up. For example, if the bill is €46.40, we give €50."

5. "Free refills. The first time I visited the US, the waitress kept refilling my glass without asking. I thought it was a sneaky way to charge more. Turns out, they only charged me for one drink on the bill."

6. "Health care professionals going home still wearing their scrubs, and washing them at home. Where I come from, it’s actually against the rules to leave the hospital in your work clothes. I wouldn’t want to take them home and risk spreading resistant hospital bacteria. Also, you can’t trust how well others wash theirs. I prefer getting mine professionally cleaned at the hospital."

7. "Homeowners associations. From what I've heard, it seems like a group you pay into, and they enforce a particular aesthetic within a neighborhood."

8. "The whole tax system. Having to file a tax return annually seems strange. Where I come from, taxes are handled for us unless you're self-employed or a contractor. And paying US taxes while living abroad is also quite odd."

9. "That everyday gadget which gives the kitchen sink its teeth."

10. "The college classification system of freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. I have to mentally translate this every time I come across it."

11. "Iced tap water served as soon as you sit down at a restaurant. It's such a delightful touch!"

12. "In American restaurants, the waiter takes your credit card when you pay. In Europe, however, you always keep the card with you while paying."

13. "Driving a car and making a right turn at a red light. That really confused me. If you try that in the Netherlands, you’re likely to hit at least five cyclists."

14. "The practice of showing prices in US stores before taxes. It really confused me the first time I tried to buy a bottle of Coke when I got to the States."

15. "Jaywalking. Where I'm from, crossing the street at spots not designated for pedestrians is frowned upon, but it's quite a common practice in the US."

16. "Long work commutes. In the Netherlands, many companies prefer to hire people who live within a 30-minute commute, or maybe an hour if they really need the candidate. I once applied for a job an hour and a half away from home and was turned down solely because of the travel time."

17. "The idea of being accepted into university based on athletic ability. I had a conversation with an American online who told me he got into college thanks to a 'lacrosse scholarship.' I couldn’t believe it."

18. "Homes with low fences and minimal security. Coming from Latin America, where we often have tall gates, barbed wire, or concrete walls to keep intruders away, I was stunned when I visited the US. Suburban houses with parked cars on the street and tiny wooden fences that anyone could hop over were so different from what I was used to."

19. "Authentic Mexican food. From my experience, it’s something that can only be found in Mexico itself."

20. "Drive-thru banks and pharmacies. It amazes me because in the UK, there simply isn’t enough room for something like this."

21. "Ordering a milkshake that has the entire recommended daily calorie intake in just one serving."

22. "A car culture so ingrained that living without one is almost impossible. My parents never learned to drive. We rely on public transportation (subway, buses, etc.) to get around."

23. "The entire idea of someone going bankrupt due to a medical emergency."

24. "Apparently, the majority of American men are circumcised, which seems strange to me."

25. "The American 'college experience.' You demonstrate your maturity by paying $800 a month to live in a campus dorm, sharing a room with a stranger and a bathroom with 11 others. Meanwhile, if you stay at home with your parents, people assume you're making poor choices."

26. "The absence of paid vacation time each year. My uncle recently relocated from the US to the UK, and he was stunned when he realized I get about 35 days off every year."

27. "Discussing your job or asking for detailed work information at social events. It's unusual where I come from. In the US, though, work is a huge part of the culture. It's inescapable. When I'm out socializing or at a party, the last thing I want to talk about is work. I'd rather discuss the latest movies I've watched or my travels, not my daily work routine."

28. "The fact that you can drive for five hours across the United States and still be in roughly the same place. In Europe, however, a five-hour drive and suddenly you’re surrounded by new accents and different kinds of cheese."

29. "Sending out holiday cards that feature a professionally taken photo of your entire family on the cover."

30. "The strange fact that in some states, you can purchase firearms at the same store where you do your grocery shopping."

Non-Americans, what’s something you’ve encountered in the US that seems completely normal here but is rare or unheard of in your home country?