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charisstomaOkay, yeah, these things are true for the most part... for us.
But is this really how others see us?
18 Odd Things About America That Americans Think Are Normal
1. Other countries don't tip.
Elsewhere in the world, servers' wages are not dependent on tips. In many places, a tip is only given in cases of exceptional service. A tip is considered a bonus for going above and beyond—not the norm!
2. Portion sizes in the U.S. are ridiculously large.
Americans love their food! From BBQ to Chicago-style deep dish pizza, American food is some of the best that there is. One thing about American restaurants that baffles people from around the globe is the massive portion sizes. What can we say? There is nothing worse than finishing a meal and still being hungry.
3. Free refills aren't a thing in other countries.
Soda in the U.S. flows freely in all of its high-fructose corn syrupy glory! In almost any restaurant in America, soda refills are free. Americans take this for granted. When you go to other countries, expect to pay for each beverage you consume.
Ice tea and coffee too, oh and ice water.
4. Americans waste a lot of water.
Toilets in America use a lot of water! Americans shower daily. We water our lawns, even when it's raining. Foreigners see this behavior and they're often shocked. Other places in the world are in desperate need of water while we just let it run down the drain. In general, Americans have a more wasteful attitude toward resources than other countries.
5. Americans are obsessed with college sports.
College athletes are worshipped in America. Aren't they just students playing sports? Those in other countries are baffled by this treatment. Imagine how they'll react when they find out a growing number of sports fans want college athletes to be paid and treated as professional athletes!
6. We put sugar in bread.
Americans tend to have a sweet tooth. Bread in the U.S. is full of sugar. For that matter, most foods in America are full of sugar. It's unsettling to some foreign guests.
7. Did we mention we put sugar in everything?
Not only do we purchase processed foods that are full of sugar, we then add more sugar at the table. Whether it be coffee, tea, or strawberries, Americans never miss a chance to add some sugar.
8. We put cheese in a can.
Cheese isn't supposed to come in a can. It's just not. Aerosol cheese is not just puzzling to outsiders, it's an insult to all of the dairy farmers and cows out there.
9. We're a country filled with loud—but friendly—people.
Outsiders find people in America to be generally really loud and unnervingly friendly (although this partially depends on which area of the country you are in). It just isn't normal in many other countries to strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you on the bus.
10. We have our own colloquial phrases.
America is a huge place, so common phrases and their meanings differ from region to region. It isn't difficult to see how non-Americans could be confused by many phrases that we use daily without even thinking about them, such as "What's up?" and "Let's hang out."
11. Our bathroom stalls lack privacy.
Using the toilet in a public restroom in America is a risky endeavor. With toilets low to the ground and large gaps in between the walls and door, American public toilets can leave one yearning for just a little more privacy.
12. Businesses spend tons of money on warnings and waivers.
Because people are so quick to sue each other in the United States, product labels are covered with warnings and people have to sign waivers to do the simplest things.
13. We also put pickles on stuff.
Americans love to put pickles on everything. And why not? They are tasty, salty, vinegary, and go well with everything! It is not as common to put pickles on every sandwich—and every plate containing a sandwich—in other countries.
14. Sales taxes are added to the bill at the end of the transaction.
In America, sales taxes are calculated only when all of the items are rung up. In most other countries, the tax price is already figured into the goods. So if you see something on the shelf priced at 2 euros, that's how much you will pay at the register. This is a constant frustration for non-Americans whenever they attempt to purchase anything in the United States.
15. Americans eat at "odd" times.
In America, lunch is traditionally served at noon, and dinner is around 6:30 in the evening. Dinner in some European countries isn't served until as late as 9:00 p.m.
16. Lawyers advertise their services.
Regardless of whether the reputation is deserved, lawyers in America are often stereotyped. Advertisements on television, the internet, and print media paint a picture of assertive ambulance chasers who convince people they're needed, rather than the other way around.
17. We train our children to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Americans children start saying the pledge in kindergarten and often continue to recite it daily throughout primary school. To people from other countries, seeing a bunch of children mindlessly pledging allegiance to a flag is a little...well, creepy.
18. We celebrate 'merica with almost rabid enthusiasm.
Our flag is on shirts, hats, cups, mugs—everywhere. You can't turn around without seeing a flag or two, especially around one of our many national holidays. People from other countries find this to be just a bit much.
But is this really how others see us?
18 Odd Things About America That Americans Think Are Normal
1. Other countries don't tip.
Elsewhere in the world, servers' wages are not dependent on tips. In many places, a tip is only given in cases of exceptional service. A tip is considered a bonus for going above and beyond—not the norm!
2. Portion sizes in the U.S. are ridiculously large.
Americans love their food! From BBQ to Chicago-style deep dish pizza, American food is some of the best that there is. One thing about American restaurants that baffles people from around the globe is the massive portion sizes. What can we say? There is nothing worse than finishing a meal and still being hungry.
3. Free refills aren't a thing in other countries.
Soda in the U.S. flows freely in all of its high-fructose corn syrupy glory! In almost any restaurant in America, soda refills are free. Americans take this for granted. When you go to other countries, expect to pay for each beverage you consume.
Ice tea and coffee too, oh and ice water.
4. Americans waste a lot of water.
Toilets in America use a lot of water! Americans shower daily. We water our lawns, even when it's raining. Foreigners see this behavior and they're often shocked. Other places in the world are in desperate need of water while we just let it run down the drain. In general, Americans have a more wasteful attitude toward resources than other countries.
5. Americans are obsessed with college sports.
College athletes are worshipped in America. Aren't they just students playing sports? Those in other countries are baffled by this treatment. Imagine how they'll react when they find out a growing number of sports fans want college athletes to be paid and treated as professional athletes!
6. We put sugar in bread.
Americans tend to have a sweet tooth. Bread in the U.S. is full of sugar. For that matter, most foods in America are full of sugar. It's unsettling to some foreign guests.
7. Did we mention we put sugar in everything?
Not only do we purchase processed foods that are full of sugar, we then add more sugar at the table. Whether it be coffee, tea, or strawberries, Americans never miss a chance to add some sugar.
8. We put cheese in a can.
Cheese isn't supposed to come in a can. It's just not. Aerosol cheese is not just puzzling to outsiders, it's an insult to all of the dairy farmers and cows out there.
9. We're a country filled with loud—but friendly—people.
Outsiders find people in America to be generally really loud and unnervingly friendly (although this partially depends on which area of the country you are in). It just isn't normal in many other countries to strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you on the bus.
10. We have our own colloquial phrases.
America is a huge place, so common phrases and their meanings differ from region to region. It isn't difficult to see how non-Americans could be confused by many phrases that we use daily without even thinking about them, such as "What's up?" and "Let's hang out."
11. Our bathroom stalls lack privacy.
Using the toilet in a public restroom in America is a risky endeavor. With toilets low to the ground and large gaps in between the walls and door, American public toilets can leave one yearning for just a little more privacy.
12. Businesses spend tons of money on warnings and waivers.
Because people are so quick to sue each other in the United States, product labels are covered with warnings and people have to sign waivers to do the simplest things.
13. We also put pickles on stuff.
Americans love to put pickles on everything. And why not? They are tasty, salty, vinegary, and go well with everything! It is not as common to put pickles on every sandwich—and every plate containing a sandwich—in other countries.
14. Sales taxes are added to the bill at the end of the transaction.
In America, sales taxes are calculated only when all of the items are rung up. In most other countries, the tax price is already figured into the goods. So if you see something on the shelf priced at 2 euros, that's how much you will pay at the register. This is a constant frustration for non-Americans whenever they attempt to purchase anything in the United States.
15. Americans eat at "odd" times.
In America, lunch is traditionally served at noon, and dinner is around 6:30 in the evening. Dinner in some European countries isn't served until as late as 9:00 p.m.
16. Lawyers advertise their services.
Regardless of whether the reputation is deserved, lawyers in America are often stereotyped. Advertisements on television, the internet, and print media paint a picture of assertive ambulance chasers who convince people they're needed, rather than the other way around.
17. We train our children to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Americans children start saying the pledge in kindergarten and often continue to recite it daily throughout primary school. To people from other countries, seeing a bunch of children mindlessly pledging allegiance to a flag is a little...well, creepy.
18. We celebrate 'merica with almost rabid enthusiasm.
Our flag is on shirts, hats, cups, mugs—everywhere. You can't turn around without seeing a flag or two, especially around one of our many national holidays. People from other countries find this to be just a bit much.
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no subject
Date: 2016-10-28 03:34 pm (UTC)My dad is visiting America next year, I warned him about the tipping but not sure he was paying attention - don't think he'll appreciate that!
And seriously tax at the till? Didn't know that. Dad will be a frustrated foreigner indeed ;) When they lowered our tax for a time we had to change every price ticket in store and worse change them all back when the tax went back up, putting signs everywhere to warn people of price changes in progress.
Heard portion sizes are big, there's a lot of 'eating challenge' meals appearing and those get credited to America.
Refills - Is that the norm then? Read books where they're always getting coffee refills and think WOW heaven LOL, some places soda (we call it pop) is free refills but most places pay, pay, pay.
Been told there's sugar in your bread and milk, wasn't sure if that's true. Cheese in a can though? *shakes head* (but I'd probably buy it!) And I like pickles :D they often get treated with suspicion here and I'm pretty sure McDs have stopped adding them now.
Um I generally shower daily too! though I don't always wash my hair daily. We do seem to have months of rain then one of sun and an immediate hose-pipe ban though.
College sport - hard to understand what a huge thing it is to you guys.
Talking on the bus - I'm sometimes that odd person LOL - here some older people will chatter on, others give you 'a look' for speaking.
Have found with the few Americans I've met there's more of a 'speak out, speak up' attitude than we have (gross generalisation here) here depends on the person and the place.
colloquial phrases - we haz them too, my friend in work is English and he assures me that Welsh people don't talk sense. 'Now in a minute' :D
The lawyer thing is creeping over the sea :(
The flag thing -sorry- does seem kinda odd to us.
The toilet stalls - eek.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-28 05:16 pm (UTC)Okay, at home I will talk on the phone sometimes while 'using' but only to family, because there is no shame with those you've grown up with.
Tax on things and the changing of price tickets, why doesn't your store just change the tags on the shelves under the items and let the barcodes read the price at the till? That's what we do for price changes when they happen. It's nice because if they didn't change the shelf price they have to sell it to you for that price. Also here some things are exempt from tax, like most foods.
The cheese in the can is processed cheese. Not the highest quality.
That pledge to the flag... we do the one to the US flag and Texas is strange since it was its own nation before being admitted to the US, Texas has its own pledge. I don't do that one because I might move out of state. So I stand respectfully, like I was taught when we lived in Rep. de Panama and they played the anthem for that country.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-28 06:11 pm (UTC)That's what we do - but when the tax was changed every 'tag' in the shop had to be changed. And because customers can claim it, it had to be done in stages and by opening when it rose. My main job is making sure those tags are correct.
They do sell it in a tube here, never tried that.
We do stand for our anthem and some sing along, especially the chorus if you're talking the Welsh Anthem, the 'Gwlad' gets very cheerfully shouted, probably in relief at being the word everyone knows ;)
(Gwlad=land (Land of my fathers))
There was comedy sketch on how to get rid of a damaged American flag. Amazed me how serious the rules were, though amusing how every method could also be interpreted as offensive..
no subject
Date: 2016-10-28 07:16 pm (UTC)Some of our new students from out of country, lands where water is scarce, have knock you down with a breeze odor. We think the administration is depending on peer pressure to tell them they need to shower more often.
On the other hand, in the women's staff restroom (WC/toilet room, whatever) some person has put cans of odor masking spray supposedly to not offend others with the smells that take place.
And then there's the product that you put in the toilet bowl that forms a film on the water surface to prevent the odor from escaping into the air? Have not seen that yet on the shelves but it amuses me since the lady doing the sales pitch is a very proper Brit type person.