Foreigners Visiting The US Share What Left Them Completely Confused (40 Stories)

Every country has its quirks, but when you’re used to them, they just seem… normal. That’s why it’s so fascinating to hear what visitors notice about your home turf. On Threads, someone recently asked, “Non-Americans who have been to the US: What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don’t realize is weird?”

#1

Image source: wrightetal, Laura Nyhuis/unsplash (not the actual photo)

The misreading and illogical allegiance to an 18th Century commitment to the right to bear arms, resulting in countless deaths of innocent children and adults.

#2

Image source: qingyelihui1513, EyeEm/freepik (not the actual photo)

I’m Japanese and my observation is
1. Being afraid of guns
2. So many obese people
3. Artificial colors like blue cakes, green drinks
4. Huge drink sizes and food portions
5. Tipping
6. Homeless people everywhere
7. Wearing sports casual clothing like Lululemon everywhere
8. Electing a president with zero human decency

#3

Image source: gaiane_min, freestocks/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Abortion bans and shortest parental leave. It’s the most inhumane, discriminative, misogynistic thing ever. It’s heartbreaking to see a woman who’s still bleeding, in pain after episiotomy/C-section, breasts swollen days after labor, crying at her workplace cause she wants to be with her newborn, but still needs to work to pay her bills. And it’s inhumane to the newborns to not be able to be with their immediate family, and to be at daycare instead. As a former dc provider it’s heartbreaking.

#4

Image source: stephenlightsvancouver, David Todd McCarty/unsplash (not the actual photo)

That they think the world revolves around them.

#5

Image source: friendlycheese, Gabriel Ponton/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Thoughts and prayers apparently being a solution to anything.

#6

Image source: evelinbandeira, Getty Images/unsplash (not the actual photo)

The healthcare system prices. It’s absurd.

#7

Image source: mdhblackburn, Getty Images/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Thinking life is better in the US than anywhere else.

#8

Image source: patrickwu1119, Stockbusters/freepik (not the actual photo)

Americans get the most propaganda yet believe they are still free. At least the Chinese know their media is propaganda.

#9

Image source: chrish_photos, Kres Thomas/pexels (not the actual photo)

The whole worshiping the military ‘thank you for your service’ cult. It’s a career, a job, a way to earn money, and they went into it with their eyes wide open. I personally find it cringeworthy.

#10

Image source: staciotter, Yan Krukau/pexels (not the actual photo)

My European friends tell me we are SO LOUD which i have witnessed when traveling. Lordy we are loud.

#11

Today I saw a picture of an American family wearing a « Trump is God » shirt. All of them. We all have our stupids in every country but USA beats them all 😎🤷‍♀️

Image source: laviniavannini

#12

Image source: mariamoerk, Getty Images/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Being allowed to drive at 16 and married or enlist at 18 but not drink until 21.
Flags everywhere.
Tax not being included in the price tag.

#13

Image source: pekka.taipale, Katelyn Perry/unsplash (not the actual photo)

That walking from one place to another is not normal.

#14

Image source: itsalextat, Sergey Zolkin/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Most of what I notice have been covered, butt I’ll add the whole scenery of religious billboards standing next to gun show billboards standing next to adult depot billboards.

#15

Image source: _kathrynrose_, Sharefaith/pexels (not the actual photo)

When I first moved here from Canada, I thought the army recruitment commercials on TV were jokes or a form of satire. I was blown away by how much military propaganda there is in the States.

#16

how young and sparsely populated it is as a country. also how un-free it is as a country. you’re about 5-10 bad decisions from being outside of the system and bankrupt / homeless with little to no help.

Image source: walkercombe

#17

Image source: peteswanderings, A. C./unsplash (not the actual photo)

The entire condescending attitude towards anything different or not known to them.
The immediate solution to a problem is aggression, compromise, compassion and understanding is seen as weakness
The idea of fairness being evil and unfair (I must get mine and you must suffer)

#18

Image source: robbushell23

Calling something “World Famous” when NOBODY outside of the US or even perhaps the city it is in, knowing anything about it.
New York is expert at this.

#19

Image source: annagt91, Jeswin Thomas/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Sugar. Literally everywhere.

#20

No federally paid maternity leave. It’s basic human right.

Image source: mariana__korol

#21

Where I’m from, once you have a seat at a restaurant, you can take all the time in the world to eat, chat, order some dessert and a coffee or tea, chat some more, etc.
In the US, the waiters are lurking around me like sharks, waiting for me to get my last bite so they can throw me the bill, which I am expected to pay right away and leave.

Image source: jf.levy

#22

Image source: markedwithanm, Curated Lifestyle/unsplash (not the actual photo)

How they pay with cards at restaurants. Why are you taking my card away when we could just do this at the table like literally everywhere else??

#23

I’ve lived in America for 15 years and I’m STILL not over the pledge of alliance. It’s just so freaking weird to me to this day

Image source: yul.kor

#24

Image source: drjamescant, CDC/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Being treated like an unwelcome suspect at most incoming airports when arriving as a guest
Mass gun ownership
Dearth of electric toothbrushes
Prevalent beliefs that no other countries have basic amenities or products
The confusion of what an appropriate tip is, and when
‘Chocolate’ that is 🤢🥴🤢🤮

#25

Three things hit me 1. classifying people as black when they were more white than black, ( like Megan Merkle), 2. Maintaining reverence for confederate generals. 3. Calling the endemic corruption “ lobying”

Image source: phatfill

#26

Ads for prescription d***s that sound like death threats: “May cause internal bleeding, night terrors, and loss of moral compass. Ask your doctor!”

Image source: sqhoughton

#27

Image source: donzeigler_ , Yunus Tuğ/unsplash (not the actual photo)

People I know from other countries often mention the monstrous portion sizes at many American restaurants.

#28

Image source: schanullekeamsterdam, Getty Images/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Commercials every 2 minutes during a TV show/movie. Huge gaps at bathroom stall doors. Saying ‘like’ ten times in every sentence.

#29

Image source: maxwell_au, Alex McCarthy/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Thinking carrying a 38 special when you are jogging will protect you.

#30

Image source: anniec567890, Elisabeth Jurenka/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Eating fast food daily. True story, cousin goes back to work, no home cooked meals, just take out 7 days a week.

#31

Other countries people can speak multiple languages. America: 🗣️SPEAK ENGLISH. Nosies

Image source: country_duchess223

#32

Image source: christinebakerwellness, Vitaly Gariev/unsplash (not the actual photo)

As an American who only knows the single family household culture, that still seems odd to me. Lack of community. Doing everything by yourself without help is supposed to be some sort of flex.

#33

Image source: chizz3lz, Mizuno K/pexels (not the actual photo)

Thinking an American accent = Standard English

#34

Applications asking your race, disability, protected veteran, & home address

Image source: jzamaria

#35

– Student loans ( it’s interest is higher than the mortgage interest?!)
– People use paper plates at home.
– Lunchables. Seriously? Why is this food for kids

Image source: winnnnnie_wen

#36

Image source: discodialogdiva, cottonbro studio/pexels (not the actual photo)

Ultra-parochiality of television news, especially in Southern states

#37

Image source: nessiefewt, Maryna Nikolaieva/unsplash (not the actual photo)

Trailer parks!! Awful and scary!
Shop workers and service workers being surprised when you’re nice to them.
Biscuits and gravy
Grits
Not being able to walk safely in urban areas.

#38

It’s so decrepit, crumbling infrastructure, garbage everywhere. Everyone looks miserable.

Image source: micartist6

#39

Image source: outfoxedmulder, bearfotos/freepik (not the actual photo)

There’s like, a museum for everything. I absolutely LOVE it, but when I drove through the states for the first time I was so confused by all the signs for all the different types of museums lol.

#40

Image source: halloj_inger

Why do you still have overhead power lines everywhere, even in big cities, like here near Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York? In Europe, we’ve had power lines buried for decades. And the phones are only mobile.