15 Weird Habits Americans Don’t Realize Are Strange

America is the ‘land of the free and the home of the brave,’ but it’s also the home of some pretty peculiar habits. These quirks are just as normal to Americans as morning coffee. To outsiders, they can look thoroughly confusing. It’s as if you’re visiting a neighbor who has their ketchup kept in the cupboard rather than in the fridge—definitely a surprise.

So, why do these habits seem odd? It’s sometimes about cultural context. In one country someone can do things that are second nature to them that someone from another country will do a double take at. Either way, Americans’ behaviors with food or personal space are something we should be looking at a second time.

Tipping for Everything

Tipping isn’t just for waitstaff in the U.S., it’s a way of life. Leaving extra cash as a tip is as automatic as breathing, from baristas to dog groomers. But here’s the kicker: Tipping is either unnecessary or strange in many parts of the world. ‘The tipping culture is a combination of social norms and economic systems,’ says Cornell University economist Michael Lynn. It’s something that is very ingrained in how Americans express appreciation.” But to tourists it often seems like an invisible minefield of unwritten rules.

Wearing Shoes Indoors

If you grew up in the U.S., walking inside with shoes on was normal. In Japan or Sweden, however, this habit is frowned upon—and dust levels are high. Some cultures consider open footwear, like shoes, as a source of contamination, and shoes-off cultures put cleanliness above all. Reddit threads about cultural differences have many non-Americans joking about the ‘shoe rebellion’ they face when visiting American homes.

Overusing Ice Cubes

American beverages have no such thing as “too cold.” For soda, water, or even wine, there just seems to be ice overflowing out of the glass. Meanwhile, Europeans drink their drinks at cellar temperature and consider this icy obsession positively bizarre. The study by the U.S. Geological Survey might explain why the average American uses about 300 pounds of ice a year.

Small Talk with Strangers

Talking to a total stranger in line at the grocery store? Totally normal in the States. This over-the-top friendliness is surprising, if not exhausting, to many foreigners. However, the reason we need to do it — as sociologist Dr. Erin Meyer notes — is because small talk is the ‘a social lubricant that helps Americans ease into interactions and create temporary connections, but not everyone is in the mood to talk about their weekend plans with someone they’ll never see again.

Advertising Prescription Medications

Turn on the TV and you’ll see ads for antidepressants, blood pressure pills and everything in between. Advertising prescription drugs is almost unheard of outside the U.S. and New Zealand. This practice, critics say, puts sales before understanding of the patient. Defenders meanwhile say it gives power to the consumers by giving them information. But for people who visit, these ads are often surreal mini dramas with smiling actors and endless disclaimers.

Excessive Enthusiasm for Flags

Flags are popular in America—on T-shirts, on front porches, on bathing suits. It’s a heartfelt expression of patriotism for many. To international visitors though, this massive parade of national pride can seem a little over the top. However, most countries only save flag waving for official occasions or sporting matches.

Obsessing Over Pumpkin Spice

Autumn means pumpkin spice everywhere in the U.S. It’s on store shelves from lattes to dog treats. This seasonal craze is bewildering to outsiders. For Americans, however, it’s a welcome sign that sweater weather has arrived. Nielsen data says the pumpkin spice market rakes in over $500 million a year. Yes, it’s that big of a deal.

Drive-Thru Everything

Burgers and fries aren’t the only thing served through the drive-thru anymore. Americans have perfected the convenience concept, with drive-thru pharmacies, banks and even wedding chapels. It’s undeniably efficient, but it makes some international visitors scratch their heads. A British tourist joked: ‘You’d think people couldn’t bear to leave their cars.’

Obsessive Air-Conditioning

Indoor spaces are habitually on the chilly side for Americans. Air conditioning is a luxury in many parts of the world, but a necessity stateside. A 2015 study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that the U.S. uses more energy on cooling than the entire continent of Africa. Stepping into an American mall can feel like stepping into a meat locker for visitors.

Calling Everyone “Buddy” or “Honey”

Americans use terms of endearment like ‘buddy,’ ‘honey,’ and ‘sweetie’ in everyday conversation with regular people. Others may consider it overly familiar or even intrusive, but to Americans it’s harmless friendliness. Such terms are often used only for close relationships in Germany, for example.

Celebrating Halloween Like a National Holiday

Halloween is a low key affair in many countries, if it’s celebrated at all. In the U.S. it’s a full blown spectacle of elaborate costumes, themed parties, and haunted house attractions. Americans spend more than $10 billion on Halloween each year, according to the National Retail Federation. It’s a sugar fueled mystery for some, a fun escape for others.

Eating Dinner Super Early

If you’re dining out in the U.S., showing up at 5:30 p.m. is perfectly acceptable—if not expected. In Mediterranean countries, however, dinner doesn’t start until 8 or 9 p.m. Many foreigners are baffled by this early-dining habit, wondering if Americans are just really hungry or if they’re rushing to catch a rerun of Jeopardy!

Tons of Fast Food Options

Sure, you can get fast food all over the world, but nowhere has it been so completely embraced as in the U.S. America’s love affair with fast food is unmatched: From breakfast burritos to late night milkshakes. The CDC reports that the average American eats fast food about twice a week. The sheer variety is overwhelming, and tempting, for many visitors.

Celebrating High School

Americans make high school into a movie. To people from other countries, this enthusiasm for secondary education can be excessive. Outside of a small handful of countries, high school remains a stage to get through, not a cultural cornerstone. For many Americans, however, these traditions become lifelong memories.

Mixing Sweet and Savory

Peanut butter on burgers? Bacon with maple syrup? It makes perfect sense to Americans to combine these flavors. Many visitors can’t imagine combining such different tastes, though. It’s controversial, but in a way that’s like wearing socks with sandals in the culinary world—odd, but oddly satisfying to those who do it.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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