What are the American habits that expats don’t understand?

Although everybody from all over the world has a peculiar routine and habits, expats or tourists mistake them for standard. It’s like putting a label on X citizens because of what they do. This isn’t a surprise when it comes to America as well, and the way we work here makes others scratching their heads.

In the end, it’s their loss. I mean, America is awesome. Even if some American habits are considered weird, people still want to come and relocate here, so, without further ado, let’s see what is so special in our country. And these are only a few examples—this list is by no means complete.

Having disposal units under the sink

This is definitely strange for many people who aren’t American citizens; I mean, who would have a garbage disposal under the sink? Well, in the U.S., after eating instead of going outside to take the leftovers, Americans scrape them into the sink and let the garbage disposal take care of the work.

But a question lingers: what happens if, by any chance, you get the hand stuck in there? I mean, it isn’t possible, but you never know.

Eating a sweet breakfast

Sugary food is tasty, and almost everybody has the guilty pleasure of eating a slice of cake very first in the morning. But this habit might be considered unusual for many people, especially for those who don’t reside in the U.S.

One of the American habits that makes everybody else say, “Why?” is that they enjoy eating sweet foods for breakfast. Pop tarts, doughnuts, and pancakes with a generous amount of maple syrup are three American favorites. Honestly, I can’t see a problem here!

Bread is sweet too

The majority of Americans are unaware of how much sweeter store-bought bread is in comparison to freshly baked goods found in other parts of the world.

While sugar can aid in bread preservation, its primary purpose is to soften the dough and counterbalance the occasionally strong yeasty flavor of bread. However, it tastes a little strange if you’re not used to it.

Date formatting

In writing, month comes first in America, followed by day. For everybody else, this is a bit odd since it’s usually the day followed by the month. Naturally, if you’re not an American citizen, seeing “11/30/2024” written out is a little surprising.

Free soda refills in almost every fast-food chain

Out of all American habits, this is probably the best. I mean, who wouldn’t like to benefit from a free drink of the same size after you drank the first? Soda is enjoyed by all the nation. A lot of soda. So much so that the refills are many and typically free, and the cup sizes are huge compared to the ones in Europe.

Since we have this incredible benefit and they have to pay for each drink they desire, I think the other countries are just plain jealous of us. Well, lucky us!

Tipping the waitress is a must

Well… now not many countries have this tipping culture, and it seems a bit strange to see that in our country, at least in my area, we all like to tip the waitress who is nice and kind or the guy from the closest burger shop who added some extra sauce for the fries!

When a staff member is that kind of kind and conversational, I believe they have already earned their gratuity. And in the U.S. they are usually very happy to see customers throughout the day.

Compared to other countries, especially the European ones, in the U.S., tipping is extra and is usually paid in cash. In Sweden, Greece, or even France, tipping is included in the check, and you have the option to do it or not.

Big portion sizes

We love food, and we don’t intend to hide it! The fact that other nations can’t keep up with our habits isn’t our problem, right? Well, if you have ever been to America and you choose to eat at a local restaurant to try out some well-made burgers and a portion of fries, you can spot that the portions aren’t exactly… well small.

Every other person who is non-American would see the average portion size to be quite large and not be able to eat everything in one stand. It’s acceptable to take the leftovers on the go too, so don’t be shy in asking!

Drinking root beer

Once you drink it, there is no turning back, honestly! While it is indeed an acquired taste, it’s an all-time favorite among every American. However, it may taste a bit like medicine for those who aren’t used to it or try it for the first time.

Americans work overtime quite a lot

Tell a European to work overtime and they will look at you like “You’re out of your mind!” Well, this may be very strange for other people who don’t understand American work culture.

According to various reports, the average time of a full-time worker in America is around 47 hours a week which means a lot and it’s one of the highest in the entire world.

Now with Greece adopting the 6-day work, it might be similar but we’re not certain. There isn’t something bad with working a lot, right? I mean if you’re paid for the extra hours it might be worth it in the long run.

We also have very few paid vacation days compared to other countries, which offer more than 20 days of paid leave per year. This means that we enjoy our vacations more knowing that we don’t have much time, which is quite amazing I’d say!

Talking so openly with strangers

This is one of the American habits that Norwegians, for example, will find very disturbing; in fact, you will be considered a freak if you do that while in every spot in Scandinavia.

Talking friendly and openly with strangers on the bus or subway while waiting in line at the supermarket is one of the things I absolutely love about our nation. We like being nice to people, and this is a great thing, and this comes naturally to everyone, not just friends and family.

Patriotism is another level

It appears that other nations do not fly their flags with the same passion as us. The people of the United States are deeply patriotic, and of course, this is nothing to be embarrassed about, but tourists may find it a bit strange.

Wearing shoes inside the house

This is a common thing, and even if you don’t live in America, you probably notice this habit in a lot of movies. Well, it isn’t just a myth; it is part of our culture.  In the end, who cares if guests wear your shoes inside your home as long as they’re clean?

Well, if you tell this to a European, for example, they will instantly reply that removing the shoes when entering someone’s home is common sense and it’s connected to good manners and hygiene. Even in Asian culture, removing your shoes before entering is considered a gesture of respect.

Commercial breaks on TV are so frequent

This is annoying even for Americans; I mean, I was watching that show; spare me with those commercials! Generally speaking, there are six to eight minutes of commercials for every thirty minutes of TV programming in the US, which is substantially more than in most other nations.

What do you think about these things? Which one do you think annoys most tourists? Tell us in the comments.

Related article: 14 Bizarre US Laws You Won’t Believe Are Real.