Americans Are Sharing The Things They Didn't Realize Were "Very American" Until They Visited Another Country, And I Never Realized Some Of These
1."Ranch dressing. Ranch-flavored Doritos are still sold, but they're labeled as 'American flavor.'"
—sniper91
2."Having air conditioning everywhere. I went on a business trip to Germany. It was 80 degrees outside, and my German coworkers simply opened up a window for some air exchange. I went to the mall to get a SIM card for my phone, and most of the mall didn't have air conditioning, either."
—workerbee223
3."Red Solo Cups. When I studied abroad in New Zealand, everyone asked me about them. Granted, this was at the height of Jersey Shore's popularity."
—fezfrascati
4."Here in the US, outside of big cities, it's pretty much required to drive a car. When I lived abroad for a few years, I was able to survive completely off public transport, the occasional taxi, and walking on my own two feet."
—back2therockinghorse
5."Portion sizes and taking home leftovers."
—hubert--cumberdale
6."I moved to the Netherlands eight years ago. The biggest one I realized was probably working while sick. For 20 years, I came to work every day unless I physically couldn't. Like, I had to be so sick that I legitimately couldn't make myself get out of bed. Even then, I felt bad for not showing up. I was in the Netherlands for maybe three months already when I got a cold. My boss came around to my desk and sent me home. I was still on my probation period, so I was super worried that if I took a sick day, I'd be fired and sent back on a plane to the US."
"I told him I'd go home, but I'd take my laptop with me. He told me to just go home and rest, and not to come back until I was well. When I came back after getting better, my boss sent an American colleague to talk to me. This guy had been at the company for 10 years and said, 'They don't want you getting anyone else sick; there's unlimited sick time for a reason.' So, now, I'm the one telling new arrivals to use their sick time."
—deVliegendeTexan
7."How much water is in toilet bowls."
—AcanthocephalaIcy516
8."Billboards along the highways."
—niels_nitely
9."Ice cold beverages. I worked in China, and they did drinks with no ice and had room-temperature water. I was so excited when my translator turned to me while we were ordering and asked if I wanted ice with my drink. I said, 'They have ice? YES!' The translator and the guy behind the counter laughed and said, 'No, we don't have ice.'"
—Delaneybuffett
10."A big culture shock to me in Europe was that there were many major cities that weren't filled with skyscrapers like in the US. I guess it isn't specifically American, but it definitely threw me for a loop."
—Cummyshitballs
11."Screens in windows. Does Europe not have bugs?"
—Over_Dog24
12."Advertising medical treatments for profit."
—gbourg12
13."Unlimited refills of coffee at restaurants."
—GoddessoftheUniverse
14."Eating a meal really quickly. I was just in England, and even in relatively casual restaurants, the waiter will only check up on you two or three times in an hour because they assume you're going to take your time and enjoy your meal. I walked into a restaurant an hour before close, and they specifically told me, 'We close in an hour, are you sure you will have enough time?' And my only thought was that I could eat my meal as fast as they could make it."
"There have been multiple times where I'd be seated, order, eat, and pay before other groups who'd arrived before me finished. Americans eat fast! We're also used to being rushed out of restaurants because waitstaff are looking to get as many people through in a night for their tips. Having a 'no tips' culture really makes the experience better for the diner."
—CanIGetASourceOnThat
15."Garbage disposals."
—Mysterious-Hawk6030
16."I didn't truly appreciate the 24-hour grocery stores when I lived in the US. When I moved to Belgium, it was a weirdly hard transition being only able to shop during normal hours. I moved back to the US before COVID-19, and now we rarely have 24-hour grocery stores in the US anymore."
—amioth
17."Competitive sports among high schools and colleges."
—niels_nitely
18."The loudness. My fellow Americans talk SO LOUD ALL THE TIME."
—Wwwweeeeeeee
19."Free public restrooms. I'm not saying they're clean or nice in the US, but it was annoying trying to remember to carry coins around Paris just so I can pee."
—DrPorkchopES
20."Leaving out sales tax from prices in the stores."
—peperazzi74
21.Lastly: "Chitchat. Americans can start conversations with random strangers and feel completely normal sharing their stories."
—phage5169761
Honestly, yeah, the portion sizes in America are truly wild. If you're American, what are some things you didn't realize were "very American" until you left the US? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your thoughts using the form below!
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof reopens after renovation
H World Group hotel brand Steigenberger Icon's Europäischer Hof in Baden-Baden, Germany, has reopened its doors after undergoing extensive renovations. The renovation aims to maintain the hotel's historic essence while updating its facilities for contemporary guests. The reopening signifies a step forward for H World Group, which acquired Deutsche Hospitality, which is now known as H World International, in 2021. H World Group chief strategy officer He Jihong said: "The reopening marks a milestone that signals the H World's long-term dedication to expanding our international footprint while respecting local culture and brand identity." With a history dating back to 1930, Europäischer Hof in Baden-Baden features 126 rooms, suites, and apartments, as well as several dining options and leisure areas. The hotel also provides five multifunctional rooms with conferencing technology for events and 700m² of retail space, featuring Germany's inaugural Porsche Studio. Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden general manager Holger Flory said: "The Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden stands for a harmonious connection of rich history and modern sophistication. A place where guests experience a unique symbiosis of historic grandeur, contemporary luxury and exceptional service.' Earlier this year, H World Group signed four hotel management agreements in Laos, marking its debut in the country and signifying a step in its international expansion strategy. "Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof reopens after renovation" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Fast Company
7 hours ago
- Fast Company
Airlines' shares surge after airfare data shows pricing power returning
Shares of major U.S. carriers jumped on Tuesday after upbeat airfare data for July signaled improving pricing power for the industry, as airlines bring capacity in check to align with a soft demand environment. Shares of legacy carriers United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines jumped nearly 10% each, while budget rival Southwest Airlines gained 4% in afternoon trading. Smaller peers Alaska Air and JetBlue Airways rose about 10% each and low-cost carrier Frontier Group surged 22%. Data from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday showed airfares rose 4% in July after slipping 0.1% in June, marking their first increase in six months. Uncertainty stemming from President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and budget cuts has prompted travelers to curb discretionary spending and reassess plans. A soft demand environment, particularly from budget-conscious domestic travelers, had forced carriers to discount fares, squeezing margins despite summer typically being their peak money-making season. Airlines have since been trimming seats on offer and readjusting routes to keep their pricing power in control and shield margins. During their second-quarter earnings calls in July, major executives expressed confidence in the industry's ability to cut capacity and boost airfares in the latter part of the year. —Shivansh Tiwary, Reuters Shares of major U.S. carriers jumped on Tuesday after upbeat airfare data for July signaled improving pricing power for the industry, as airlines bring capacity in check to align with a soft demand environment. Shares of legacy carriers United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines jumped nearly 10% each, while budget rival Southwest Airlines gained 4% in afternoon trading. Smaller peers Alaska Air and JetBlue Airways rose about 10% each and low-cost carrier Frontier Group surged 22%. Data from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday showed airfares rose 4% in July after slipping 0.1% in June, marking their first increase in six months. Uncertainty stemming from President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and budget cuts has prompted travelers to curb discretionary spending and reassess plans. A soft demand environment, particularly from budget-conscious domestic travelers, had forced carriers to discount fares, squeezing margins despite summer typically being their peak money-making season. Airlines have since been trimming seats on offer and readjusting routes to keep their pricing power in control and shield margins. During their second-quarter earnings calls in July, major executives expressed confidence in the industry's ability to cut capacity and boost airfares in the latter part of the year.
Skift
8 hours ago
- Skift
In a Weak U.S. Market, Spirit and Frontier Sound the Alarm
Spirit and Frontier are trying to reach profitability in a grim domestic market. While Frontier is seeing some gains from its premium shift, Spirit is in a more dire situation. For most U.S. airlines, the summer represented a turning point after economic uncertainty and declining consumer confidence had roiled the industry earlier this year. For many carriers, domestic demand — a sore spot for the industry — was finally starting to stabilize and even improve. However, for Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, the two largest ultra-low-cost carriers in the U.S., the landscape is still grim. Spirit, which had just emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, said in a securities filing on Monday that it may not be able to survive if it doesn't raise more cash. The carrier pointed to an oversupply of seats and weak demand in the domestic market as some of the factors affecting its bottom line. 'The Company has continued to be affected by adverse market conditions, including elevated domestic capacity and continued weak demand for domestic leisure travel in the second quarter of 2025, resulting in a challenging pricing environment,' the filing read. 'As a result, the Company continues to expe
