Every country has its own quirks that make them stand out from others. The British drive on the wrong side of the road, Canadians bleed maple syrup, and Australians all have pet kangaroos. There is no country in the world that differs on as many levels as the United States. There are more oddities about America than States that United to form the great nation. Going through everything may take a while so how about we just have a gander at 40 of the wackier things about America that other countries find to be rather insane.
1. 'America's Pastime'
No matter how popular the NFL or NBA may be in America, Baseball will always hold a special place as 'America's Pastime'. It will be difficult to find a place outside of North America where people are as passionate about the sport of baseball.
The majority of the world just doesn't seem to understand what is so special about baseball. The simple answer is that it was the first sport that was created in America by Americans. It is truly America's sport. The long answer is found after following a winning team through 162 game season and the playoffs. The new season starts on April 1st. Enjoy.
2. 'What Do You Mean June? The Invite Said 03/06/21.'
There are many ways in which America differs from the majority of the world but few are as confusing to understand to the method in which they write the date.
Upon traveling outside of North America, one will find that the date is almost always written as dd/mm/yyyy, but for some reason, North Americans use a different format. One can only guess that many meetings and party dates have been misinterpreted and missed as a result of writing the date as mm/dd/yyyy.
3. 'Entrees Anyone?'
When planning a visit to Canada or the States, those from elsewhere around the globe should probably read up on North American restaurant etiquette, if they are hoping to get their meals served in the proper order.
An entree is considered an appetizer in most countries. North America does not consist of any of those countries. In Canada and the United States, an entree is the main dish. It's probably for the best to make sure that when ordering entrees at dinner the family goes with more than just potato skins and spinach dip.
4. 'Sup?'
Every country has its own ways in which individuals greet others. In Australia they say, "How ya going?", in England, it's, "You're alright", and in America, well, just ask Joey Tribbiani.
Meeting someone in America can make someone feel as though they are interacting with someone who truly cares. When they ask, "how's it going?" don't get into a whole diatribe about what's actually going on in life. Chances are they are just being friendly. "How's it going" is not an invite to a free therapy session, it's just their way of saying hello.
5. 'Why's Is This Fizzy?'
If an American is after fresh-squeezed lemonade while on vacation they should probably emphasize the 'fresh squeezed' part.
In North America Sprite is a soft drink, not lemonade. Head out to Australia, the UK, or most other places around the world and ask for a lemonade though, and a Sprite or Sprite-like drink will show up on the table.
6. 'And Now A Message From Our Commercial Sponsors'
The North American sports leagues are incredible for fans who enjoy hard hits, amazing plays by phenomenal athletes, and have about three hours to spare.
The constant play stoppages and commercial breaks in the four major sports leagues in North America are the main reason why fans in other countries find it so difficult to stay interested. A soccer match consists of two 45 minute halves and a break at halftime while an NFL game is only 60 minutes of actual gameplay but takes almost 3 hours to finish, something doesn't quite add up.
7. 'Have A Great Day'
With the constant hustle and bustle of one's daily routine, the majority of the countries around the world have forgotten that there are those who deserve recognition for doing the jobs that few others are willing to do.
It is part of North American culture to greet and converse with public servants. When crossing the street thank the crossing guard and ask how their day has been, or have a conversation with the bus driver who has been driving the same route for the past 8 hours. Remember, they are people too and a simple thank you can go a long way.
8. 'Off To Work? Me Too'
As children, we are all taught not to speak to strangers however, upon getting older it is speaking to strangers that helps the day pass for North Americans.
Anywhere else in the world someone would get weird looks for speaking to the stranger who is sitting next to them on the subway or bus, but not in America. For every person in Europe who has their headphones on, in hopes of not having to speak to the person who has just sat down next to them on the train, there is someone in North America who has just turned their music off because someone has just sat next to them.
9. 'Was Something Wrong With The Meal?'
In Australia and most of Europe tipping is simply a kind gesture for exceptionally rare service. In North America, it is expected that a patron leaves something extra for the person who has just served them their food or drink and cleaned up after them.
Tipping in America is not a culture, it's a lifestyle. When visiting restaurants and bars in The United States or Canada it is important to remember that the waitstaff lives off of their tips. Even if the meal or service is not up to standard it is still expected that a patron will leave at least a 10-15% tip.
10. 'All About The Benjamans'
Americans have this crazy idea that their money is what all money should look like. They look at currencies from elsewhere in the world as they would look at Monopoly Money.
The United States is in fact one of the only countries in the world to have a single color for their currency. However, due in part to Hollywood films, the green color and paper quality of their currency has set the standard for pop culture's views on money.
11. 'That's Not Acceptable'
'Can I speak to the manager?'. 'I asked for 5 ice cubes but this had 6. Is there someone I can speak to about the service?' If it is possible to complain, they will find a way.
Only a place like America could produce 'Complaining Karen'. There is a certain sense of entitlement that Americans possess, one which tourists to the country can only look on and film.
12. 'Be There Soon'
People from the eastern shores of The Atlantic are frequently amazed by the ease at which Americans are willing to drive long distances for even the most basic of reasons.
Due to the large size of the country, it is not out of the ordinary for someone to drive, what Europeans would consider being, a long distance. Driving an hour to a friend's place for dinner is definitely not out of the question.
13. 'The Cooler's In The Back'
To tailgate just a little bit on #12, with all the driving out the country to see friends, trucks are a lot more prominent in the US than in the UK.
Everything is bigger in America including cars. People in the States just love their big trucks. They are great in case of moving house, going out camping, or just heading to a tailgate party.
14. 'Just Leave Them At The Door'
After driving an hour in the truck to go see a buddy it would be wise to kick off the sneakers at the door before heading in.
In America, it is considered rude to simply enter someone's house with shoes on. The least someone could do is ask if they should leave their shoes on or take them off.
15. 'Trick Or Treat'
Every year on October 31st there is an event like no other. North America dresses up and eats a whole bunch of candy while the rest of the world watches funny videos about Americans celebrating Halloween.
Halloween is the biggest day of the year for many people over in the States. Anyone who has visited America during Halloween has surely gone back home to tell tales about the experience. Halloween is everything we see in the movies. It's a time to dress up and get free candy. It's a time to go party with friends and look ridiculous while doing so. One day the rest of the world will catch on.
16. 'Where Ya From?'
Americans may have more outward national pride than any other nation in the world but they also have a habit of hanging on to their roots.
Americans love to hold onto their heritage. For some families, it may be more than two centuries since their ancestors first arrived in the New World and almost a century since a member of the family has spoken the language of their old country. If one thing is for certain it is that everyone is Irish on St. Patty's Day.
17. 'Team America'
Going out for a night on the town in London and trying to figure out what to wear? Maybe some nice pants and a collared shirt would be appropriate. In the States, someone can just grab the closest flag and toss it on in order to fit in.
It would be tough to find any country in the world that sells more clothing than sports their national flag, than the United States. It has become a fashion, not just in America. Countries all over the world sell clothing with American flag patterns.
18. 'Mmm, Pancakes'
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides all the nutritious goodness that one needs in order to start the day properly. Breakfast in America is a bit different than the eggs on toast that many people are used to in the UK and Australia.
Most countries save sweets for dessert after one of the later meals of the day. Not Americans. The fine folks in the US and Canada enjoy sugary, maple syrup-covered pancakes and crepes as the first meal of their day.
19. 'Can't You See I'm Walkin' Here?'
Public places are meant to be just that, public. They are not meant for private conversations to be announced across town.
It may be someone who is getting too animated while on the phone or perhaps the car driver who nearly hits the pedestrian crossing the street, no matter the occasion Americans seem to have an affinity for announcing their grievances for all-around to hear.
20. 'How Long You Been Working There?'
As a tourist in America, one may feel as though boundaries are being crossed as the people of their host nation are asking a lot of personal questions.
It is meant to come across as friendly and polite, not nosy. It's part of North American culture to ask what someone does for a living or where they're from. It's probably a way of attempting to find something in common. Look at it as a way of trying to connect not intrude.
21. 'Two Horse Race'
When election time comes around most nations have ballots full of parties representing a variety of ideas from all over the spectrum.
There are smaller parties on the ballot in the United States as well, however, they are there mostly as a formality. Everyone knows that the presidential race in America is down to two candidates every four years.
22. 'ID Please'
In England, the ages to drink, vote, and join the military are all 18. In most places in Canada, the drinking age is 19 (except for Quebec and Alberta where it's 18). One would think that if an individual is old enough to die for their country then they should be able to have a cold beer as well. One would think.....
Not in America. In America, there is no hesitation in handing out crippling college loans or sending an 18-year-old off to war, but if that soldier is caught in a bar before the age of 21 there is a serious problem.
23. 'And That's The Bottom Line'
A common belief amongst Americans is that the accent in which they speak English is the proper way to speak and it is the rest of the world who have accents.
Anyone who thinks that these guys do not have accents must not be listening. There is a very distinctive accent with which Americans speak.
24. 'Who Brought The Cigars?''
One of the joys of being a new parent is being able to spend the first few months of the baby's life with them, watching them grow, and experiencing parenthood. In almost every OECD country around the world, new parents are given paid leave from work in order to make those first few months a little bit easier.
The United States of America is the only OECD country to not give paid maternity or paternity leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows for up to 12 weeks of leave from work, the downside is that it is unpaid leave.
25. 'Another Refill, Please'
Visitors to the States think that the amount of ice in a soft drink is just ridiculous. The idea that more ice equates to less drink does not quite ring true in America.
Ordering a soft drink at a restaurant in the US is quite different than in Europe or Australia. Soft drinks come with unlimited refills. That's right, bottomless cups.
26. 'Please Stand, Remove Your Hats and Place Your Right Hand Over Your Heart'
At the start of every school day children nationwide stand and recite the pledge of allegiance. To those who are not from America, it is a mindboggling practice for children to do.
Although it is no longer mandatory for students to stand and pledge their allegiance to the flag of America, for decades American children would be responsible for knowing the American anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance as well.
27. 'I Think I'll Walk'
When people find out how much an emergency ride in an ambulance will cost in the United States they are usually quite flabbergasted. A Canadian resident pays an average of $45 per emergency ride and UK residents get their rides free of charge. Americans are not quite as fortunate.
The average ambulance ride in the States is just over $1000 before insurance. Without insurance, after the ordeal an individual would have just experienced, in order to end up in the ambulance, to begin with, they get a hefty bill from the paramedics for the ride over.
28. '(Don't) Get Out Of Jail Free'
Cash bails are a rather unusual thing for people to understand about America. The majority of countries release those awaiting trial without bail, unless that person is a flight risk or a dangerous offender, of course.
Individuals awaiting trial in the United States usually have to pay a cash bail in order to stay out of prison until their trial. With the amount of money prisons take in on bail, one would expect the prison conditions to be a bit better than we see on the news.
29. 'What's The Hurry?'
On the next family trip to America don't forget to watch out for school busses all year round. When the school year ends the busses are usually re-commissioned as camp busses. Either way, just make sure to come to a full stop once the bus does.
When the stop sign appears from the side of a big yellow bus, traffic must come to a stop. This is because there could be a child crossing the street and safety does come first.
30. 'Peek-A-Boo'
Washroom stalls in America are one of those mysteries that are better left alone. This is one of those things that just cannot be explained with any reasonable answer.
Whoever it was that designed the washroom stalls for that country missed one key component. Privacy. There are usually gaps large enough to fit one's hand into in between the stall door and the wall. There is also enough room for an average-sized person to crawl under most stalls. Just why?
31. 'Would You Like Fries With That?'
The majority of countries in the UK as well as Canada and Australia greatly subsidize post-secondary schooling. After all, graduating from college or university is meant to be a momentous occasion in a young person's life, that is of course until they realize how much debt they have due to the loan they took out in order to achieve higher education in America.
As a result of the interest payments that are charged against student loans, there are those who are making payments towards these loans for their entire lives. Perhaps a job at the local pub would have been a better idea than borrowing money.
32. 'Roll Call'
One would like to think that only those who deserve to be in prison are actually spending time behind bars. At least that's how it should be.
In America, there are private prisons. These work as a for-profit prison system, where there are bonuses in place if certain prisoner quotas are met. This occasionally leads to prolonged sentences and wrongful imprisonment.
33. 'How Many Km Are In A Mile?'
According to those who are not from The United States, there is no good enough reason or rhyme for the Imperial system to be in use anywhere in the world. The Metric just makes more logical sense.
Only two countries other than the United States use the Imperial system of measurement, Myanmar and Liberia. The rest of the countries settled on the metric system where zero degrees is the temperature at which water freezes and feet are what we have below our ankles.
34. 'Get Well Soon'
Healthcare is something that politicians have been debating for decades. Universal Healthcare is something that a lot of people around the world take for granted.
People's health is not something on which a profit should be made on. Healthcare is a human right and should not be looked at as a privilege.
35. 'Just A Bit Of Honey For Me'
A cup of tea is a sacred thing for plenty of people across the globe. Every country has its own way of preparing a cuppa. Some like it milky, some sweet, and some like it hot.
In America, they like their tea fast. It is rare to find a kettle in most households. When tea time comes around it's time to get the microwave ready. Just be sure not to use a metal teacup or ridicule won't be evening's only experience.
36. 'Go Local Sports Team!'
One of, if not the most confusing thing about the United States is the obsession with college sports.
America LOVES amateur sports. There are college football stadiums that are larger than some of the professional stadiums in the States. The pride which Americans have for their college sports team runs deep in their veins. It is something that anyone who is not from America will never be able to understand.
37. 'Nothing As It Seems'
Tourists usually think that everything in America is so much cheaper than at home. This is usually due to the fact that all of the prices in the States are before taxes are added. Almost everywhere else in the world, the price that is seen on the tag is the final price.
It must be quite a confusing experience for foreigners who come to North America for a visit when they approach the register to pay for something with exact change and find out that they are at least 7% short of what they owe.
38. 'Won't Someone Think Of The Children?'
The gun violence in the United States is something that continuously shocks foreigners.
The fact that there is the need for police in schools across the nation should be evidence enough that there is a problem. Kids should not have to go to school and see the resident police person who is there to help prevent a school shooting.
39. 'You Can't Do That On TV!'
The British may be many things but they most certainly are not prude. British humor has been full of vulgarity for as long as can be remembered but the American public has always had a bit of an issue with taboo topics being brought up in public.
Americans can watch an athlete break a bone but yet they still cringe when there is profanity or nudity on TV. Fans cheer more for the concussion-inducing hit than for the 40-yard touchdown.
40. 'Good To Know'
Watching American television commercials can be a rather interesting experience for someone who is not from America, especially when there is an ad for an over-the-counter medication.
Unlike almost anywhere else, advertisements for any medications in the States are obligated to announce the side effects and possible reasons for contacting one's doctors. Most of the time these are all said rather quickly at the end of the ad, while occasionally the ads will be riddled with statements about possible side effects from start to finish.