It led to people sharing small things you wouldn't think of that happen in America but not really anywhere else. They're super interesting to read.
Here's what people said:
1. Servers taking your credit card:
"Having the restaurant take your credit card. In most countries, it's considered impolite to disappear with the card, as they might write the digits down to charge extra later. Therefore, they normally bring a portable terminal to your table, so you can keep the card in eyesight and have the (optional) tip actually charged when the card is run and not added after the fact."
2. Needing to sign the check:
"I'm Canadian and was surprised to still be required to use my signature on credit card receipts in the United States. Haven't done that here since like 2007-ish?"
3. Not needing to flag down the server:
"A lot of non-American restaurants expect you to flag down the waiter for the final bill. It's rude for them to ask, since you might not be done eating yet. In Italy, for example, they typically only have one family per table, per night. You hang out and talk, drink coffee, and eat dessert until the wee hours of the morning."
4. Having long-ass elections:
"Absurdly long election campaigns. In most countries I've been to, election campaigns last a month or two. In the US, they seem to go for a full year."
5. Cliques, holidays, sports, etc.:
"The multiple social cliques. Holidays. The extreme importance of sports. The freedom most students have, as compared to other countries, even though they don't think they do. Learning periods and subjects taken."
6. Using "freshman, sophomore, junior, senior":
"The use of the words 'freshman,' 'junior,' 'sophomore,' and 'senior.' I don't think I have ever heard these outside of an American TV show or movie."
7. Adding tax on the price tag:
"This may be a shot in the dark, but product prices not including tax when they’re displayed? Like, if something says it’s $10, and you only have $10, what’s with the surprise tax at the till?"
8. Putting bumper stickers on your car:
"Bumper stickers. They’re a lot less common in Europe anyway, not sure about the rest of the world."
9. Playing the national anthem before sporting events:
"Playing the national anthem before sporting events. There may be a handful of other countries that do, but in much of the world, it's only played for international matches."
10. Pledging allegiance:
"The pledge of allegiance. If you tell people here that in America they make kids stand up and recite some prayer to a flag every single morning, they'll look at you like you just grew a third arm."
12. Tipping:
"Tipping as a wage subsidy. Many countries don’t have tipping, and those that do generally tip a small amount for good service."
13. Jaywalking:
"Jaywalking. Like, in Europe, you can pretty much cross a road wherever you want, but when I visited America, there seemed to be this weird sense you were being judged if you walked out into an empty road."
14. Getting weirded out by nakedness:
"Now, I’m not advocating for mass naturism, but if I’m in the changing area at the gym, I’m going to see naked people. If I’m at the pool getting changed, I’m going to see naked people. Hell, if you live with people, you’re probably going to see them naked at some point. Americans always freak out. It’s fine to be a little shy, but the fear of the human body is just weird!"
15. Knowing drug names:
"Americans who are not a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or someone working in healthcare still know the names and uses of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs and sedatives."
Wow, some of these things I didn't even realize. Do you think Americans do anything odd/America-specific? Let me know in the comments below!
Responses have been edited for length/clarity. H/T: Reddit.