Americans reveal the bizarre things they didn't realize were 'weird' until traveling overseas
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Traveling opens the mind and soul - as well as unlocking some interesting truths about home.
Americans have recently been sharing their biggest cultural shocks after visiting new countries and making friends with different backgrounds.
'Americans, what's something you didn't realize was weird until you talked to non-Americans?' one user asked in a post to Reddit to spark the discussion.
In response, dozens of users shared what they had learned from experiencing different cultures and seeing how people live, noting what in particular stood out to them.
'Requiring cashiers to stand up,' one user responded. 'It seemed normal when I lived in the US, but now that I'm in Spain and see cashiers sitting down I wonder why they can't in the US.'
'The way we arrange our dates. Month, day, year. Most of the rest of the world arranges it day, month, year,' someone else chimed in.
'The amount of sugar that's in our food,' wrote another. 'Like ALL of our food has it in some capacity. I worked with foreign students every summer in [high school] and they always wondered why our food was so sweet. I didn't realize it until I traveled and ate at non-Americanized places.'
'We wash and subsequently have to refrigerate our eggs,' shared someone else. 'Not having a electric kettle for making hot water. We like the inefficient stovetop method.'
'Pharma ads on TV,' chimed in someone else.
Another Reddit user wrote that they thought 'saying the Pledge Of Allegiance every morning at school as a child was totally normal' until moving overseas.
'Then I got outside the US and realized that forcing children into a daily routine where they mindlessly recite commitment to the concept of their country is cult s**t wrapped in thin patriotic paper,' they added.
Last year, CNN and BBC reporter Kim Davis revealed that as an American she has made several unamusing mistakes since moving to London, and that US natives are often referred to as 'stupid Americans.'
In a CNN piece posted in July 2024, Davis revealed she believes the reputation surrounding certain travelers from America is completely understandable.
Some American travelers abroad tend to be disrespectful or embarrassing, with some of their actions leading to injury, arrest, or the victim of a crime.
Davis shared some tips can help a U.S. tourist go from being a problematic 'stupid American' to an inoffensive 'smart American.'
She listed paying attention to social cues, speaking at a lower volume, and being curious as positive qualities in being a tourist overseas.
She also encouraged people to research scams or other kinds of petty crimes in the country they're visiting.
Davis noted that there are 'various issues to watch out for in Europe like fake police, counterfeit tourist attraction tickets and taxi scams.'
The writer also encouraged people not to be too proud - admitting she often heard the term 'stupid American.'
Davis called her secret weapon to avoid being called a 'stupid American' was beating European locals to the punch.
She would call herself a 'stupid American' first in asking a question that might sound like a typical tourist query.
Joking about this can put on a good first impression in front of a local, who help them to navigate the area.
According to Davis, doing this reverse psychology method will help with the possibility of a local saying they are 'not stupid' and that they are 'happy to help.'
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