Foreigners Reveal: 5 Weird Things Americans Do (That We Think Are Normal)
If you’ve ever traveled outside the United States, you know the rest of the world is very different from America. But have you ever thought about how the rest of the world perceives us? A Reddit user recently posed the following question, and it immediately went viral: "What do Americans think is normal for everyone, but actually it's not normal for anyone but Americans?"
The question garnered tens of thousands of responses. Not surprisingly, they had a lot to say about gun control and politics, but some of the other answers might surprise you. And here’s the good news: Knowing these facts could help the next time you travel abroad. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the top takeaways.
Restaurant Etiquette
1. We call our dishes by the wrong name: Turns out that an entrée at a restaurant isn’t what it seems. Our mistake: calling a main course an “entrée.” Here’s what you need to know, according to Reddit user OK6502: “Entrée is French for ‘entrance’—literally the starting point of a meal. It’s usually an appetizer. What you guys call the ‘entree’ is called ‘main dish’ in [England, or] ‘plat principal’ in [France] because that's what it is. Italians are even more straightforward, with ‘first plate,’ ‘second plate,’ etc.”
2. We order water incorrectly: The mistake: saying “I’ll just have water” at a restaurant and expecting not to be charged for it. Here’s what you need to know: In Europe, the waiters will ask you: “What kind?” And the answer will be: “Still, sparkling or tap.’” Reddit user ssignpseudonym advises: “They ask ‘what kind’ because still water is bottled water and you're charged for it. You'd have to specify tap if that's what you want—but keep in mind that not everywhere in the world has drinkable tap water. So do your research.”
3. We eat sweets at the wrong time of day: Foreigners can’t understand why we start the day like we do. Our mistake? “Eating for breakfast what would be considered dessert elsewhere,” says parallelglow “Donuts, Belgian waffles, pancakes with syrup and icing, sugary cereal—it’s a uniquely American thing to start your day loaded with sugar.”
4. We tip: Most foreigners don’t understand our tipping culture. “I have gotten into a few arguments with Americans when they heard I don't tip where I'm from,” says lustforwine. “It may be normal in America but not every country has to tip lol.” DrNintendroid also questions our tipping culture: “Why don't they include the service and tax price in the price of a meal? Since it’s frowned for not leaving a tip. Also why is it based on percentage (cheap vs. expensive food) and not on the number of times of being served? If anyone deserves a tip I believe it should go to the cook. Should I tip at Starbucks and ice cream parlors too?” Another user, hanoian, adds: “It's extremely annoying. Been to America a few times and eating out is so awkward. The fakeness of it all because it's tips-based is very off-putting.”
5. We don’t know what lemonade is: In many countries, lemonade is not the iconic sugary drink that American kids sell at stands in summer. “Here in New Zealand, lemonade generally equals Sprite or similar,” says dobiewan_nz. “But you can still get ‘American’ lemonade—it's usually called ‘old-fashioned’ lemonade.”
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