American Customs That Make No Sense To The Rest Of The World

Turns out some things we think that makes America great are found to be confusing, unnerving, and downright bizarre by our friends across the pond.
American Customs That Make No Sense To The Rest Of The World

On the eve of our great nation's birthday, everyone is in that grand ole "U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A" spirit. And while we get ready to blow stuff up to honor America, it might do us some good to reflect on some customs here in the States that our foreign brethren find confusing, a little unnerving, and downright bizarre.

For example ...

American elections are bizarre to most other countries. VS In the U.S., elections often start more than a year before the actual vote. In addition to
KYDRNS are a strange 4S. concept to many outside the USA Some claim it's the expense, others say it dilutes the beverage, but more than a few cubes in
As foreigners, we can't fathom why some Americans wear shoes indoors. Some of us even came to the conclusion that that either your streets are squeaky
Americans care way too much about nudity. Being nude is still seen as taboo to Americans. Most Europeans don't really care. They let it BEACH all hang
The culture of people openly carrying guns in public is a shocking concept to people from non-gun countries. They only ever see things like that in ac
BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, AMERICAN PERSONAL SPACE REQUIREMENTS ARE GIGANTIC While Americans typically prefer to keep several feet between one other
We don't get why Americans are so obsessed with Super Bowl commercials... NFL DURE 51 WOLfaon ...that they'd spend more time talking about the ads tha
CRACKED.COM In the U.K., you all right? is a greeting rather than a question. You typically respond with the same greeting in return. However, in Am
TO VISITORS, IT'S HARD TO GET USED TO THE FREE REFILLS PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE. ENROY CAFFEINE FREE 0 MUG >rick PEPSI T CD WATYR es IS JUST AWAY. In ma
Americans, want to freak out friends from other countries? TURN RIGHIT ON RED To nearly everyone else in the world, a red light means you STOP and don
HOW CAN THEY BE WORLD CHAMPIONS Patriots Cubs Warriors FOR WINNING A NATIONAL LEAGUE CRAL
Dear Americans, sandwich bread is supposed to be paired with jams, bacon or ham to bring out its flavor. It makes no sense for you to put fructose in
PLANNING A SHOWER? YOU'RE PROBABLY FROM THE UNITED STATES. BABY SHOWERS ARE PRIMARILY AN AMERICAN TRADITION. IN MOST OTHER CULTURES, IT IS CONSIDERED
NINO TRUMP LUIVP RUMP ROMP STANDS IRUMP WITH STANI Australians don't understand why Americans constantly go to politicians' rallies during election ca
CLEARANCE AMERICANS ARE TERRIFIED OF STRANGER DANGER, A FEAR NOBODY ELSE UNDERSTANDS In other countries it's not abnormal for a stranger to greet, hug
Americans' obsession with college sports IS BAFFLING TO EUROPEANS. We couldn't CARE LESS ABOUT: THEM.
CRACKED Americans love doggy bags and feel no shame in asking for one. Enjoy Erjoy Thank Tre. you. Many other countries find this practice embarassi
IT'S A MYSTERY FOR NON-AMERICANS WHY COLLEGE TUTION FEES IN THE U.S. ARE SO DAMN EXPENSNE. H44GO74LT IA OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LIKE GERMANY DON'T E
Foreigners don't get why many Americans, even the ones who aren't celebrities, are SO obsessed with having perfectly straight, unnaturally white teeth
People outside the U.S. think it's crazY that Americans have to file their own taxes. Many non-U.S. countries have taxes prepared by their revenue age
Tipping at restaurants is a foreign concept to U.S. foreign visitors. Outside of the U..S.) tipping is seen as unnecessary and in some cultures, parti
SERIES Americans are very familiar with these mostly green, same size U.S. bills. INITED STAIES 10628 K 432 ss @Hame RESERVE osgrats ocal Kll TENDER S
Americans eat dinner very carlyo Since many middle:-class Americans skip breakfast (or eat 00 the gol, and eat lunch at their desks (if they eat lunch
Non-Americans get put off by servers and customer service reps acting like their best friend. The chatty, super-friendly approach usually feels artifi
Europeans think Americans go overboard with their bumper stickers. PEACED RAESSOL Not Bombs RAINORAST jote OTCUPATTON THOECUMION (0) AND SOCial JUSTIC
Advertisements for prescription drugs are allowed in the U.S. MEDIS PRESCRIPTION ONLY Your doctor is supposed to be the one to tell you what you need.
These gaps next to bathroom stall doors in America confuse the hell out of visiting foreigners.
PHARMACY I It comes as a shock to a lot of US visitors that they can find cigarettes, booze and even guns in your local pharmacies. In their homelands

Cracked's weekly Pictofacts and Photoplasty contests are open to all comers, and anyone with image manipulation skills can walk away with $25 - $100 per winning entry. Enter here.

We're also looking for contest ideas and single-artist image sets. Pitch yours, here.

Scroll down for the next article
Forgot Password?