Lisa O
From the impressive tall buildings in New York to the beautiful hills in San Francisco, the United States always surprises. Apart from its famous cities and great places, what really sets this country apart? It’s the unique habits of Americans! Today, we’re listing the top 20 things only Americans do—these are the unusual yet amazing things that only people who have lived in the U.S. will truly appreciate and understand.
Restaurant Tipping Culture
Let’s begin with the most debated topic—tipping. Tipping is a big part of American dining culture. According to the Pew Research Center, 29% of adults feel it’s more of an obligation, while 21% say it’s more of a choice. Restaurant staff often consider it rude if you don’t leave an extra 10%. Now that tipping has also spread to online stores, many believe this practice might have gone way too far.
Medical Bills Leading to Bankruptcy
According to U.S. researchers, medical costs cause over 60% of all bankruptcies in the United States. Americans face unexpected charges when getting necessary care, from surprise bills to ambulance fees. In many other developed countries, seeing a medical bill is rare. Healthcare elsewhere is usually more regulated than in the USA, often funded through taxes in a single-payer system or through insurers who are more strictly monitored.
Date Format: Month Before Day
Most people around the world write dates as day-month-year or year-month-day. However, the United States uses a different format: month-day-year. The U.S. has used this format since its early days, though it sometimes used the day-first format too. The exact reason is still unclear, but we think that knowing the month before the day or year can be practical when filling out forms.
Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising
The United States (along with New Zealand) is the only country that advertises prescription drugs directly to consumers. Every day, Americans see ads for medications with pleasant images and long lists of side effects. Many find this puzzling since doctors, not patients, should decide on prescriptions. Supporters argue that these ads increase competition and lower drug costs.
Small Talk with Strangers
In America, people don’t just ask strangers for directions or the time. There’s a culture of small talk where people often chat with each other to break the silence or build familiarity for future interactions. However, we strongly suggest you to avoid this. Unless you want to end up featured in a Netflix documentary, it’s safer not to talk to strangers.
Car Dependency in Cities
Europeans often walk to nearby stores or take trains for longer trips. Americans, however, tend to drive everywhere. As an American, you likely drive twice as many miles as your European friend, mainly due to the longer distances in the U.S. Cities here are generally sprawling, with large neighborhoods far from workplaces or shops. This is why American cities are designed around cars, featuring car-centric infrastructure everywhere.
School Pledge of Allegiance
In many parts of the United States, school children (sometimes even adults) are asked to recite the pledge of allegiance. It is a declaration of loyalty to the USA and is typically done every day while facing the national flag, which is displayed in many places. Many other countries may salute or show respect for their flag and country—but they don’t usually have children recite an oath in this manner.
State-Specific Sales Tax
Most countries implement a value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services bought within their borders. VAT is collected at every stage of the supply chain, from distributors to consumers. However, in the United States, each state has its own sales tax that is added after you’ve already paid for something. It’s not included in the price you see on the item—which can be confusing for both visitors and locals.
Shoes Indoors Debate
It’s pretty common to see Americans wearing shoes inside their homes, a practice which they share with Western Europeans. Shoes aren’t always cleaned before being brought indoors. However, in many Asian, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern households, this practice can be seen as disrespectful. Some people believe that wearing shoes indoors can bring in bacteria, lead, and unhealthy chemicals, among other nasties.
Use of Imperial Measurement System
Most countries around the world use the metric system, which measures things in meters, kilograms, and seconds. Even Canada switched to the metric system in 1975. However, in the United States, measurements are done differently using the imperial system, which includes units like inches, pounds, and tons. The American system is considered outdated, with only two other countries—Myanmar and Liberia—reportedly using it, according to CBC.
Gun Ownership Culture
In many countries, laws about guns are strict. But in the U.S., the Second Amendment protects the right to own guns, and citizens have more guns than anywhere else in the entire world. Even though Americans are only 4% of the world’s population, they own 46% of all civilian firearms, according to a study conducted by the Small Arms Survey in 2017. There’s a strong gun culture where owning one is celebrated or seen as important for personal safety.
Giant Gaps in Bathroom Stalls
One thing that might seem like an invasion of privacy to non-Americans is the large gaps at the top and bottom of bathroom stall doors. Some say these gaps are for air circulation or easier cleaning. Many believe that they provide visibility in case someone inside needs help and allow first responders to assist without breaking down the door.
Free Refills at Restaurants
Asking for a refill is common worldwide. What’s unusual is that Americans often get theirs for free. Yes, we’re serious. And it’s not just about business; free refills are so disliked in some countries that places like France have banned them, according to CBS. In the U.S., many restaurants offer free refills as a smart marketing tactic to encourage customers to stay longer and socialize.
Workaholic Culture
Americans are workaholics compared to people in most other countries. Most Americans work over 40 hours a week and often miss out on benefits like paid holidays, sick leave, and parental leave that others take for granted. Research shows that happier, less stressed workers perform better. While the American work ethic is admirable—the grind culture can be very harmful when it affects workers’ mental health and well-being.
Peanut Butter Love Affair
Peanuts are grown and eaten in many parts of the world, but the United States consumes the most peanut butter. In many countries, peanut butter is seen as a niche or even unpleasant taste. Others prefer savory spreads like Nutella. However, Americans love peanut butter, eating over a billion pounds of it each year. And if that’s not enough—they even celebrate National Peanut Butter Day on January 24.
Red Plastic Party Cups
If you’ve seen an American movie with a college party, you’ve likely seen characters drinking from red cups. These red plastic Solo cups are everywhere in the U.S. They are popular at parties for their durability and convenience in games. In contrast, the rest of the world either doesn’t share the U.S. party culture’s focus on kegs or lacks these distinctive cups—originally made by the Solo Cup Company.
National Military Admiration
The American military is considered one of the best in the world, which we’ll say is expected given its significant funding. The U.S. spends much more on its military than China. Additionally, many Americans show a strong interest in their military and its culture. While other nations respect their armed forces, it’s less common elsewhere to see people wearing camouflage as a fashion statement as you might in the U.S.
Legal Drinking Age vs. Voting Age
Around the world, the legal drinking age is typically 18, which is also considered adulthood in many places. The voting age globally is also set at 18. However, in the United States, young adults must wait until they are 21 to legally drink, a rule implemented in the 1980s to reduce alcohol-related driving accidents. While this change had some immediate impact, it hasn’t completely stopped teens from drinking over the long term.
College Debt Crisis
The high cost of tuition isn’t the only thing that catches the attention of American universities. What really surprises us is how students are willing to take on tens of thousands of dollars in debt. It’s quite different in Europe, where many universities offer free education. But why is education so expensive in America? Tuition costs have risen because of higher demand for education, reduced state funding, and the increased operational expenses of universities.
Extravagant Baby and Gender Reveal Parties
Around the world, different cultures have their own ways to get ready for new babies and celebrate their arrival. But Americans have really taken these traditions and run with them! They’ve turned baby showers and gender reveal parties into big events with their own industries. Sometimes these parties get so elaborate that they’ve caused accidents and even disasters.