American culture is vastly different to many other countries in the world! As a result, there’s a few things that American people believe in that the rest of the world actually laughs at. Here’s 19 of them.
Excessive Ice in Drinks
Here in the U.S., we like our drinks cold, okay? For some reason, many other countries don’t agree with us and think it’s funny that we like to put so much ice in our sodas. We’d prefer to avoid a room-temperature beverage, though, thank you very much.
Tipping Generously
YouGov tells us that the tipping culture in the U.S. is substantially more profound than it is in the rest of the world. As a result, many people laugh at Americans for paying more than 20% on top of their bill, even when the service has only been average at best.
Supersized Portions
In America, the portions sure are big. When Americans go to other parts of the world, they’re a little disappointed by the lack of food on their plate by comparison. But when international people come to the U.S., they can’t help but laugh at the size of their meals.
Black Friday Shopping Frenzy
Black Friday is a thing throughout most of the Western world, but in the U.S. people go particularly crazy for it. The whole idea of queuing up super early before a store opens and then storming in to get the sale prices is pretty hilarious for people abroad.
The Fascination with Groundhog Day
We can totally see why people think the idea of Groundhog Day is a little weird. After us, it is just a celebration of a small creature… What’s the big deal? To other cultures, it’s going to look weird, but to those in the U.S., it’s actually a lot of fun.
Prescription Drug Advertisements
Big pharma is seen as as much of a menace as it is funny to those from other parts of the world. The amount of money that goes into prescription drugs that are free or cheap abroad is going to be quite a culture shock for people who don’t know about it.
Jumbo-sized Drinks at Fast Food Outlets
The large portion sizes of food is one thing, but the massive drinks in the U.S. take it to another level! It’s not possible to buy cups of coffee or soda anywhere near as big as those in the U.S. in most other countries around the world, so it’s going to look a little funny to people.
Overzealous Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is certainly used quite substantially in the U.S. It is a hot country, but Americans do tend to use their air cooling systems more so than in other hot parts of the world, including Mexico to the south. In Europe, it’s hardly ever used, as reported by Euronews.
Early and Elaborate Prom Celebrations
Prom is an elaborate affair in the U.S. as high school students go crazy for it! While there are still proms in the UK and other parts of the world, they’re not taken quite as seriously as they are in the states and for that reason, it might be amusing to other cultures.
Infomercials and Over-the-top Advertising
The U.S. truly is the home of capitalism, and its intense advertising is one of the key symptoms of that. Used car commercials on TV, massive lawyer billboards, and a whole lot of fast food are going to be more than enough to make foreign people laugh.
Extreme Patriotism and Flag Display
Here in the U.S., the flag is taken very seriously. It’s a symbol of the patriotism that many Americans feel so deeply, and it is raised in schools and other public buildings around the country every day. This might seem a little silly to people from less patriotic parts of the world.
The Love for Peanut Butter
As many as 300 million Americans consume peanut butter at least once per year, according to Statista. That’s the vast majority of the population as a whole, and it says everything we need to know about how crazy the U.S. is about the stuff.
Baby Showers and Gender Reveal Parties
American people sure do take their baby showers and gender reveal parties very seriously. The latter has recently been taken to all new levels as a result of hype around social media, and has actually resulted in people being injured or even killed as a result of elaborate reveals!
Large Cars and Pickup Trucks
The U.S. has the biggest vehicles in the world on average. Americans love massive pickup trucks and SUVs as they see them as a symbol of their personal freedom, plus they’re practical for many as they allow them to transport heavier loads. In Europe, that just doesn’t fly.
Excessive Choices in Consumer Goods
American people certainly have a lot of choice when it comes to consumer goods. Even the most menial of items come from a wide range of producers, such as bread or coffee. As a visitor, this can be a little overwhelming and probably quite funny.
The Obsession with Lawns
The perfectly manicured, lush green lawn is an essential part of the American dream for many homeowners. It can be seen in movies since the 1950s and it symbolizes the idea of the nuclear family, which is nowhere near as much of a big deal in other parts of the world.
College Sports as Major Events
The American sports system is going to seem very confusing to those who aren’t familiar with it. There are no other sports cultures in the world where college-age teams are followed with such a high level of support as the U.S. That could seem amusing!
Drive-thru Everything
A report by The New York Times explains how drive-thru is increasing in popularity, up 30% in usage from 2019 to 2022 in the U.S. And that’s just food. In fact, the convenience of drive-thru services in America extends beyond fast food to include banks, pharmacies, and even wedding chapels!
Over-the-Top Christmas Decorations
Christmas is a wonderful time for Americans; they go crazy for it! In fact, the extent to which some people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas, with elaborate light displays and inflatable Santa Clauses, might seem a little crazy to those based in other parts of the world.
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