Americans love to talk about the strange habits they see in Europe and other places abroad, but here’s a little secret: people from other countries find just as many stunning things when they’re in America.
Let’s take a little look at ourselves from the eyes of people not from the U.S. and consider that they may have a point!
Cheaper Food
There are countries where food is a lot cheaper than it is in the U.S., of course. For Canadians and many Europeans, though, they’re shocked to see how much less a meal is at the typical U.S. restaurant.
Dogs in Shopping Carts
People all over the world love dogs, but Americans seem to have an especially strong passion for them. Visitors often do a double-take the first time they see a dog hanging out in the seat normally reserved for kids.
Dogs in Drivers’ Laps
This one is even more astonishing. A lot of Americans with small dogs drive around with those dogs in their laps. What could go wrong?
Walmart Supercenters
Even Americans have trouble believing their eyes the first time they see a Walmart Supercenter, but they get used to them quickly. People from most other countries haven’t seen stores that size, and they don’t know quite what to make of them.
Bad English
To people who know the rules of English well, some of the worst speakers of the language are native Americans. Even many who learn it fluently as a second language speak it better in technical terms, though their unawareness of slang and idioms can come across as awkward.
Loud Speaking
Americans are loud when they talk! Maybe it’s related to the fast-paced, competitive nature of our society. Visitors often remark that Americans always seem to be “shouting.”
Homeless Camps
Some American cities have a major homelessness problem, and nothing exemplifies it like encampments of homeless people located beneath overpasses and in abandoned buildings. The truth is that most other first-world nations provide better shelter for their homeless populations.
Tap Water You Can Drink
Many Americans take clean drinking water for granted. There are many countries where you can’t safely drink tap water without boiling or otherwise purifying it first.
Fast Food Everywhere
Fast food exists in many countries, but it’s associated with America more than it is with any other nation. If you drive for an hour through a city or suburban area, you’re likely to see dozens of fast-food restaurants.
Obesity
Among developed countries, the U.S. holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rates of obesity. Some states have rates above 70%, and it’s now becoming an epidemic among children. Having fast food available almost everywhere helps drive these trends.
Lack of Public Transportation
Some American cities– New York is a good example– have excellent systems of public transportation. Unfortunately, that’s not the norm in most American cities, where public transportation is woefully inadequate or nonexistent.
Leashed Children
Yes, you do see American parents attaching leashes to their children. This does prevent them from being kidnapped or getting lost, but it’s still a startling sight for many people.
Low Gas Prices
Americans are almost always unhappy about gas prices, and they’re a perennial political football. The amusing truth, though, is that fuel prices in America are usually much lower than they are in Canada and Europe.
Huge Pickups and SUVs
Big pickup trucks and SUVs are a common sight in America, and they’re among the top-selling vehicles every year. If you go to Europe, though, you’ll see that most cars are much smaller and get much better gas mileage. This has a lot to do with the relative costs of gas.
Wastefulness
Another unflattering observation foreign visitors frequently make is that Americans are incredibly wasteful. They see this in all the uneaten food that gets thrown away and in all the trash that isn’t reused or recycled, among other things.
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