Top 30 Things Only Americans Do And Think It's Normal

#30: Expect Huge Portions

If you're an American who's ever eaten outside the U.S., you might notice something weird: your plate isn't the size of a steering wheel. In the States, its totally normal for a single entrée to feed two people, maybe even three. Foreign visitors are often stunned by the sheer mass of food that hits the dinner table - more so when it comes with bottomless soda and a free bread basket. A large fry in the U.S. is about 46% bigger than the British version. American large pizzas have 31% more surface area. In America, value basically means volume.

#29: Obsess Over the Stars and Stripes

In America, the flag is one part national symbol, one part branding strategy. Youll see it flying over schools, gas stations, front porches, car dealerships, beer cans, and the occasional pair of boxer briefs. For many foreigners, the sheer volume of flags feels more like propaganda than patriotism. In the U.S., though, its just Tuesday. While other countries display their flags on national holidays, Americans do it year-round. The Founding Fathers could never have envisioned the lever of commercialization their design would lead to. That Stars and Stripes branded gear is technically against the flag code never factors into it. In the U.S., the Stars and Stripes are forever.

#28: Shop at Superstores

In most countries, you pop into a store for groceries or lightbulbs. You're in, you're out. In America, can you enter a superstore and emerge three hours later with a kayak, a 50-pound bag of dog food, and a vague sense of disorientation. Walmart, Target, Costco - for people unused to them, theyre less retail spaces and more retail experiences. A trip for batteries can now include a food court, a pharmacy, and the temptation of a flat-screen the size of a door. Foreign visitors often describe them like indoor cities. TikToks from bewildered Europeans walking the aisles are basically travel documentaries. For Americans, its all about convenience. For everyone else, it can feel like a consumerist fever dream with free samples.

#27: Indulge in College Sports Mania

To much of the world, college is a place for lectures and cheap beer. In America, it can also mean mega-sized stadiums, multi-million-dollar coaches, and ESPN coverage. American college sports are a full-blown cultural institution. People paint their faces, tailgate at 9 a.m., and schedule weddings around game time. For many foreigners, the idea of student-athletes playing in packed arenas is totally bizarre. Youve got 18-year-olds performing for fan bases more intense than most pros ever face. Throw in marching bands, bowl games, and Final Four brackets, and it can seem completely out of hand. In America, higher education doesnt just mean academic achievement; it also means screaming yourself hoarse over a 19-year-old point guard.

#26: Be So Loud

Wherever there is an American outside of the United States, you are likely to get the same complaint: You can hear them before you see them. Whether it's in a restaurant, a museum, or a train car, Americans have a volume setting that seems permanently stuck on I'm getting no reception on my phone. In the U.S., being loud is often associated with confidence or friendliness. Abroad, it can come off as overbearing and obnoxious. Expats say they can pick out fellow Americans from across a plaza, just by the decibel level. And while its not every American, the stereotype exists for a reason.

#25: Consume So. Much. Coffee.

In America, coffee isnt just a warm beverage to set a gentle tone for the day. Its a lifestyle, a coping mechanism, a desperately needed stimulant, and sometimes practically a personality trait. While most countries sip modest cups at a café, Americans are out here gripping venti cold brews like life preservers on a stormy sea. The coffee to go culture is especially baffling to outsiders. Walk through any U.S. city and youll see people double-fisting caffeine like theyre training for a speed-walking marathon. Americans will take it iced, blended, with syrups, oat milk, and motivational quotes on the cup. Other countries might enjoy coffee. Americans mainline it.

#24: Practice Helicopter Parenting

When it comes to parenting, the U.S. wasnt always an outlier. The latchkey-kid generation of Gen X helped inspire the entire kids-on-bikes subgenre. But modern American parenting is a different story. In many parts of the world, kids walk to school alone, climb trees, and make their own sandwiches by age seven. In the U.S., many are strapped into five-point harnesses, tracked by nanny cams, and kept indoors over fears of potential dangers. The term helicopter parenting was born in America, and for good reason. Many parents hover over their kids constantly, micromanaging their every move. Studies suggest this can hurt long-term development, which might be why children elsewhere often seem more independent - and more well-adjusted.

#23: Use Drive-Throughs

In many countries, drive-throughs - if they exist at all - are mostly limited to fast food. In the U.S., you can stay in your car for just about everything: coffee, pharmacy pickups, banking, booze, and even a Vegas wedding. Entire cities seem to be designed around this system of never having to leave your vehicle. Chick-fil-A locations have multiple lanes, traffic cones, and headset-wearing employees that rival airport ground crews. The rise of mega drive-throughs is so intense, some U.S. cities are trying to ban new ones altogether. To many outside the U.S., its convenience gone overboard. To Americans, its Tuesday.

#22: Drive Constantly & Often Go Vast Distances

For much of the world, a three-hour drive is a long weekend trip. In the U.S., it might just be your weekday commute. For much of the world - particularly Europe - countries are relatively small and quickly traversed. When foreigners visit the States, they're often blown away by the massive size of the country. When you combine America's size with its car-first infrastructure, visitors are in for a culture shock. In the U.S, driving often isnt optional - its expected. Americans will happily drive hours for a concert, a good meal, or just cheaper gas. Public transportation is sparse, and walkability depends on your zip code. While some cities are making changes, the dominant vibe is still very much gas up and go.

#21: Spend Exorbitantly on College Tuition

In many countries, college is affordable. Oftentimes, its even free, seen as an investment in the future wellness of the citizenry and national economy. In the U.S., a college degree is often priced like a luxury product. Foreign students are routinely stunned by the cost of American higher education. Tuition alone can run $30,000 to $60,000 a year, not including housing, books, or emotional damage. While scholarships exist, the average American student still graduates with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. With increases to the cost of living, many never dig themselves out of that hole. Some international observers have compared U.S. universities to high-end businesses with dorm rooms.

#20: Refer to the USA as "America"

Outside of the United States of America, referring to the country as America is much less commonplace. After all, there are two entire continents called America, comprising like 35 distinct nations. Referring to only one country on one of those continents as America too is really confusing for anyone who doesnt live there. Referring to it as the U.S., U.S.A., the United States, or just the States is much more common in the rest of the world. Even so, everyone still calls its residents Americans, which isnt confusing at all!

#19: Throw Gender Reveal Parties

Cultures the world over have traditions to prepare expecting parents and celebrate the expected birth of a child. However, Americans have really taken the concept and run with it. An entire industry has been built around baby showers, as well as their modern relatives, gender reveal parties. Emerging in the 2000s, the latter have become infamous for sometimes absurd levels of showmanship. Some over-the-top reveals have been responsible for injuries and even disasters. They remain somewhat controversial, with many people, including Americans, not really getting why theyre often made into such big deals.

#18: Experience Huge Bathroom Stall Gaps

Every countrys restrooms have their own quirks, like different sinks and toilet bowls. The US is known for having a high volume of water in their bowls, and large gaps in their bathroom stalls - both under the door and between the door and the walls. Visitors can be taken aback at the lack of privacy. Some hold that theyre designed for easy cleaning or construction. Others that it allows one to check which stalls are occupied - although occupancy indicators in the locks can do that too. It might also make it more difficult to get up to no good in there. Whatever the case, public bathrooms in the US are built for speed, not comfort.

#17: Have Pharmacies That Sell Groceries

In most of the world, pharmacies sell exactly what their name implies pharmaceuticals. While youll see tangentially-related items, like grooming products or hygienic things like toothbrushes, pharmacies dont usually carry food or toys. But in the U.S., thats much more common. The country is all about the all-in-one experience; not only will dedicated grocery stores have pharmacies built-in, but pharmacies will also carry groceries. Granted, the selection isnt always great, but if youre desperate for milk and the grocery store is closed or you just dont feel like crossing the street to get there, you can get some. While most of the world still limits drug stores to drugs and self-care products, we have a feeling this might catch on.

#16: Vote Before They Can Drink

Worldwide, the age at which a person can legally drink alcohol is most commonly 18; the age usually considered to be adulthood - though its even earlier in some countries. The voting age on a global scale is also generally 18, for similar reasons - although of course there are exceptions. However, the United States requires young adults to wait 3 years after being able to vote before legally being allowed to drink at 21. This was enacted during the 1980s to prevent alcohol-related driving accidents. While it helped in the short-term, ultimately it hasnt really stopped teenagers from drinking. The result is that many people - both inside and outside the U.S. - question the logic of why an 18-year-old American can decide who forms the government, but not get buzzed.

#15: Get Free Refills

One of the biggest differences between American restaurants and the rest of the world are their drink services. Most American (and many Canadian) restaurants and other establishments will offer at least one free refill of a non-alcoholic drink. The idea is that because of the low cost of drinks, particularly fountain soft drinks, offering a refill wont hurt the establishments bottom line, particularly if drinks are not the primary source of income. However, the idea has been slow to catch on in the rest of the world and its nowhere near as consistently offered. Some countries have raised concern that a practice like this can lead to an increase in obesity.

#14: Tip Service Personnel

While the concept of tipping waitstaff or other people in the service industry is known worldwide, few countries have embraced the concept to the degree the U.S. has. Many workers, particularly in the restaurant industry, rely on gratuities to get by, in part because laws allow managers to pay subminimum wages to tipped workers. However, in various other countries, tipping is seen as insulting theyre just doing their jobs, after all. While some countries workers certainly appreciate it, it isnt expected like it is in the U.S. mostly because employees are paid a high enough baseline salary that they dont need tips to survive.

#13: Obsess Over the Military

The American military is probably the best in the world. as it should be, since its also one of the best-funded militaries in the world; in fact, the U.S. spends several times more on their military than their nearest competitor, China. Whats more, there are more than a few American citizens who have a higher-than-average fascination with their own military and its culture. While other countries certainly appreciate their troops, you dont, say, see as many people wearing camouflage as a legitimate fashion statement. Likewise, you dont see movies made elsewhere that glorify the military to the degree the U.S. does. Part of the American enthusiasm is certainly rooted in patriotism. Still, it may also be a reaction to an increasingly anti-military sentiment that has popped up over the last several decades.

#12: Use Red Plastic Cups

If youve ever seen an American movie where a college party happens, chances are youve seen characters drinking from red cups. These red plastic, or Solo cups, are everywhere in the U.S.A. The cheap drinking containers are a favorite at parties, both for their durability and their ease of use in party games. While theyre also handy for crafts or gardening, theyre most famous for their intended purpose. However, the rest of the world either doesnt have the United States party cultures emphasis on kegs, or lacks the same distinctive cups, originally manufactured by the Solo Cup Company. At most, you might see them in a novelty American themed party.

#11: Wear Shoes Inside

Taking off your shoes before you enter a home, or at least in the entryway, is pretty common etiquette in many countries. And while many Americans do prefer to keep footwear off their floors, it isnt a hard and fast rule like it is in other places. Often it will depend on whether the person has carpeted floors or hardwood floors, with the latter considered easier to clean. Since its not considered the norm though, asking guests to take off their shoes indoors can come across as rude or fussy, and so is often avoided.

#10: Eat Peanut Butter as Their Go-To Spread

Peanuts are grown and eaten in many parts of the world. But its the United States (and Canada) that do most of the peanut butter eating. A lot of countries see it as a niche or even unpleasant taste. Others have a savory spread that is more culturally ingrained, like Nutella. The U.S.A. cant get enough of peanut butter though, consuming over a billion pounds of it annually. Heck, January 24 is even National Peanut Butter Day. Its a cheap source of protein that most American children grow up eating, so its no wonder that its a comfort food for many of them.

#9: Work Too Much

Americans are workaholics - at least compared to basically every other country in the world. The majority of Americans work more than 40 hours a week. They also tend to lack many of the things the rest of the world takes for granted, like paid holidays, as well as sick and parental leave. Research has shown that happier, less stressed workers do better at their jobs. Iceland even recently tried a four-day workweek that proved wildly successful. Several European countries take long breaks for lunch. While the American drive is admirable, grind culture becomes problematic when it costs workers their mental health and wellbeing.

#8: Make Small Talk with Strangers

Americans are known for their friendliness towards strangers - especially outside of big cities. Its not uncommon for Americans to smile at each other in passing. But their comfort with new people also extends to small talk - saying hello, or even striking up a conversation out of the blue. In many countries, speaking to strangers unprompted can be seen as intrusive or even risky. Many Americans are masters of the art though, often happy to chat to people theyve never met about the weather, sports, or whatever else comes up in conversation.

#7: Casually Own Guns

In many countries, gun laws are strict, and gun ownership is relatively rare. In the US, gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment, and gun ownership is the highest in the world. Despite making up 4% of the global population, Americans own 46% of civilian-held firearms. Theres a distinct gun culture, where gun ownership is celebrated or at least seen as important for personal safety; most states even allow you to open carry. Of course, the issue is extremely divisive, due to the countrys high rate of gun deaths. Either way, the idea of having so many guns around is a novel one for many visitors..

#6: Put Sales Tax on Everything

Most countries enact a value-added tax, or VAT, on goods or services purchased within their borders. These taxes are collected from every person in the supply chain, from the distributors to the consumers. The United States is one of the few to use sales taxes, which not only vary wildly from state to state, but are only enacted after a purchase has been made. Theyre also not listed in the initial price, which can leave foreign visitors - and many Americans - scratching their heads as to why theyre being charged more than the price on the product. Better or worse? You decide. Its certainly more confusing.

#5: Recite a Pledge of Allegiance

In many parts of the United States, school children - and adults in some settings - are expected to recite the pledge of allegiance. This is an expression that they will be loyal to the U.S.A. and is usually performed daily while looking at the nations flag, which youll find hanging everywhere, by the way. This isnt something other countries do. They might salute or respect their flag and country, but to make school children recite an oath to the country? The pledge has been the subject of plenty of controversy within the U.S. too, particularly since it mentions God. While some schools no longer require it, it remains a widespread practice.

#4: Watch Ads for Prescription Drugs

Aside from New Zealand, the United States is the only country in the world that advertises prescription drugs directly to consumers. Every day, Americans are bombarded with ads for prescription medications, featuring generic, pleasing imagery and a list of side effects longer than a flagpole. Many people, Americans included, are baffled by the practice, as doctors, not patients, are meant to decide what drugs to prescribe. Proponents claim that advertising increases competition and lowers drug costs. Meanwhile, prescription drugs are typically far more expensive in the United States, as the US doesnt regulate or negotiate drug prices.

#3: Put Months Before Days

Most of humanity marks calendar dates as being day first, then month, then year, or else the opposite, as year, month, then day. The reasoning is that you go from the shortest value to the longest, or vice versa. Yet the United States (and parts of Canada) eschew both these formats by putting the month first, then day, then year. The U.S. has been using this format basically since its founding, although it has used the day-first format interchangeably too. The exact reason why is debatable, but as far as practicality goes, it can be useful when filling out forms to know which month it is before which day or year.

#2: Go Bankrupt From Healthcare

Medical costs are the cause of over 60% of all bankruptcies in the United States. Americans experience a variety of unexpected charges while getting much-needed care, from surprise bills to being charged for riding in an ambulance. In some parts of the civilized world, even seeing a medical bill can be an uncommon occurrence. Healthcare worldwide tends to be much more regulated than it is in the USA. Its either funded through taxes in a single-payer system or else through individual insurers who are more strictly monitored. Bottom line: while there can sometimes be extra charges, for most of the world, medical debt is basically unheard of except in horror stories about the U.S.

#1: Use the Imperial Measurement System

There are three countries in the world that dont use the metric system: Myanmar, Liberia and the United States. Objectively, metric is the less arbitrary measurement system, since everything goes by 10s. Even Britain and Commonwealth countries have converted, although admittedly they do still use measurements like feet and inches casually. So why hasnt the U.S. converted? Well give you one guess. Did you say its because of money? Because money is definitely a big factor. Its the same reason they still use Fahrenheit instead of Celsius. Converting to a whole new system of measurement is expensive! Other factors include a need for control and stability. So, inertia, basically. Why change when you dont need to?


Is there anything more American than arguing over what is and isnt American? Let us know your favorite - and least favorite - All-American quirks in the comments below.