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26 Ways Visiting the U.S. Is Like Traveling to an Alien Planet

The Revolution is ancient history, America. You can do some things like Europe again!

26 Ways Visiting the U.S. Is Like Traveling to an Alien Planet

November 12, 2023

Consider this fun little analogy: Britain is an overbearing father-type, and America is the rebellious teenage son who somehow managed to kick daddy out of the house. Not only did this teen remodel the whole home, but he vowed to do the exact opposite of whatever his father did. Cue the Fahrenheits, and the inches, and the billion other things that aren’t a phase, dad!

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26

IN AMERICA, PUBLIC BATHROOMS ARE FREE. In a lot of places in Europe you have to pay to use a public bathroom. It usually costs around $1 in change to gain access, so if you plan to visit, be sure to keep some change with you. CRACKED.COM — Source

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AMERICANS ARE MOSTLY MONOLINGUAL. Only 20% of students in the USA study a foreign language as compared to 90% of European students. Geroun Langen- scheidt German Spa scheidt Langen- CRACKED.COM TRA ITALIAN — Source

24

FOR TRIPS OF LESS THAN ONE MILE... 70% OF AMERICANS WILL DRIVE. 70% OF EUROPEANS WILL WALK, BIKE, OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT. CRACKED.COM — Source

23

On workdays, 53% of Americans get fewer than seven hours of sleep. Those numbers are considerably lower in other Western countries - 39% in the UK, 36% in Germany, 30% in Canada, and 29% in Mexico. CRACKED.COM — Source

22

Less than half of Americans cremate their dead. In highly populated countries like India and Japan, the cremation rate is almost 100%. This leaves more land open. CRACKED.COM — Source

21

The rehearsal dinner is a huge part of any wedding, right? Sure, having one is a long-standing tradition (it's from the 19th century) - but only a tradition in the U.S. CRACKED.COM — Source

20

CRACKED.COM Red Solo cups are uncommon outside of the U.S. In fact, foreigners think they are All- American and even host American parties where they use the iconic red cups to lend authenticity. — Source

19

Riding in the back of a taxi is inherently American. BUT LOS DI In Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Scotland, taxi drivers will consider you rude if you don't sit in the front seat. GRACKED.COM — Source

18

WHITE TEETH Foreigners don't get why many Americans, even the ones who aren't celebrities, are so obsessed with having perfectly straight, unnaturally white teeth. Statistics say the British actually have the best oral health in the world, in terms of cavities-they just aren't concerned with bleaching and straightening their teeth. GRACKED.COM — Source

17

THE FLAG - Homes fly flags, malls fly flags, cars fly flags, and people stick flags all over their clothes. But to other countries, this looks like obsession, or even fascism. In France, the flag is associated with nationalism and the far right. In the UK, flying a flag outside your home would be considered embarrassing-it's just not done. GRACKED.COM — Source

16

BLACKCURRANTS en Ribena Ribe Ribe BLACKCUR BLACKCURRANT BLACK CKCURRANT FRUTTIQUICE SYR FRUIT JUICE SYRUA FRUITJU CJUICE SYRUP 100 - Many people around - the world enjoy the flavor of blackcurrants. They drink blackcurrant juice, bake blackcurrant pie, and make all kinds of blackcurrant-flavored candy. But the fruit was banned in the U.S. early in the 20th century, due to fears that the plants transmitted a wood-destroying disease. CRACKED.COM — Source

15

TWO PARTIES There are ten political parties represented in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. The Bundestag in Germany has six. Eleven in the Oireachtas in Ireland. Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has 28. New Zealand? Seven parties. South Africa's Parliament? Thirteen. GRACKED.COM — Source

14

DINNERTIME Since many middle-class Americans skip breakfast (or eat on the go) and eat lunch at their desk (if at all), they're ready for dinner as soon as they walk in the door, often as early as 5:30 p.m. This is considered too early for the vast majority of the world, where most people don't even consider sitting down to dinner until 8 or 9. GRACKED.COM — Source

13

TIPPING E 82386735 F 1 WASHINGTON, D.C. 9 5 DEPARTMENT THE 1789 OF HE TREASURY 29. 90 Dirt 02. 01 are H. simmers tary of the Treasury 5 UNITED Tipping varies greatly GRACKED.COM from one country to the next. In many countries, it can be a way of saying thanks but is considered unnecessary. In others, it's considered rude. Leave money on your table in some places, and your waiter might run out of the restaurant and chase you down to return it. — Source

12

BREAD To visitors from other countries, American bread tastes like cake. That's because manufacturers add a ton of high-fructose corn syrup-the stuff is so cheap there, thanks to corn subsidies. Some people think American bread tastes better. Others think the sweetness makes it incompatible with any kind of topping. GRACKED.COM — Source

11

ICY DRINKS Other countries chill drinks, and they throw in a couple ice cubes, but visitors to America are baffled by the tradition of filling a glass with ice and then trickling a tiny bit of liquid around it. Many think they're being cheated. They're somewhat mollified, though, when they learn about the American tradition of free refills. GRACKED.COM — Source

10

INDOOR SHOES You might be confused by the custom people in some countries have of taking off their shoes as soon as they enter a house. Those people find the absence of that custom even weirder. American floors must be filthy, they assume. Either that or American streets must be squeaky clean. GRACKED.COM — Source

9

ELECTIONS Text UNITED to 30330 BID N In the U.S., races often start more than a year before the actual vote. In most other countries, campaigns last only a couple of weeks. The longest election campaign in Canadian history lasted 78 days. In the UK, a political party can't spend above a set amount in the year before an election. CRACKED.COM — Source

8

There are almost as many cars in the U.S. as there are people. The average for all 50 states is 910 cars per 1,000 citizens. The numbers for the European Union countries are much lower-587 cars per 1,000 citizens. CRACKED.COM — Source

7

America is one of the only countries that refrigerate eggs. WHY? ASABE A EN on 1234 be 1450 Because the FDA makes HOT anca us Fresh Form Eggs XL GOOSS ADE A EGGS wash off the hen's natural Tras coating that protects the egg from salmonella. CRACKED.COM — Source

6

In most states in the U.S., the highest-paid public employees are college football and basketball coaches. FOOTBALL COLLEGE PRE SIDENT LAN COACH - CALLESE ... SOCIAL COLLEGE MED SCHOOL PRESIDENT DEAN FOOTBALL has TMACK MED SCHOOL COACH CALCA CHANCELLOR FOOTBALL MED SCHOOL BAGKETBALL WE SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH COREM COACH DEPT CHAIR FOOTBALL DEAN MASHOTBALL BASKETBALL CRACK ENT COACH FOOTBALL BASKETBALL COACH FOOTBALL MED SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH* COACH FOOTBALL PLASTIC COLLEGE COACH BASKET COACH SURGEON FOOTBALL FOOTBALL Sell FOOTBALL COACH POW FOOTBALL Chair COACH COACH Mell FOOT State COACH BALL BASKET. BASKETBALL FOOTBALL COACH BALL COACH BASKETBALL COACH Clack COACH BASKETBALL COACH — Source

5

US: TOTAL Kit Kat (Hershey Company) KitKat / natural Crisp Wafers in Milk Chocolate The US is the only country in the world where Kit Kat is not produced by Nestlé. ...asnud el ® Ouvrez Rest of the World: Hiere / KitKat en Nestle he like 45g OF Nestlé CADE Year IN Kit Kat 40 45 g VOS - UNIVERSITY Have a break, have J KitKat. CRACKED.COM — Source

4

The US has more geysers than any place on Earth! CRACKED.COM Made in America Yellowstone National Park alone accounts for a whopping 60% of the world's known geysers. — Source

3

Tigers

THERE ARE MORE TIGERS PRIVATELY OWNED IN THE US THAN TIGERS IN THE WILD WORLDWIDE. ESTIMATED TALLY ESTIMATED TALLY I IN THE WILD IN US CAPTIVITY 3,890 5,000 And only 6% of the tigers in the United States are held in accredited facilities. CRACKED.COM — Source

2

CRACKED.COM American portion sizes are abnormally huge. Food servings are 40% to 80% larger in American cities than in European ones. op When adopting 95 an a typical American diet or moving to America, people from other cultures gain significant amounts of weight. — Source

1

CRACKED.COM (specifically the The US Florida Everglades) is the only place in the world where CROCODiLES & ALLIGATORS live together. — Source

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