The United States is a land of contrasts, quirks, and strong cultural identifiers that often catch the attention of international visitors.
From the ever-present smile to the complex healthcare system, certain traits and customs make Americans stand out in the global crowd.
Whether it’s their openness in conversations, tipping culture, or the love for supersized portions, these characteristics can seem unusual, or even shocking, to outsiders.
This article explores 16 personality traits and cultural behaviors that define the American experience through the eyes of the world, offering insight into what makes Americans both admired and misunderstood across borders.
1. The American Smile and Approachability
Americans often have a reputation for being “bubbly, friendly people”. Compared to individuals from certain regions, such as East Asia, Americans tend to be less shy.
A common observation is that Americans will smile at and even initiate conversation with a stranger they pass on the street.
For people from cultures where this is not customary, this level of openness and unsolicited interaction can be unfamiliar and surprising.
This perceived friendliness creates an initial impression of approachability that defines many early cross-cultural encounters.
2. Getting Deep, Perhaps a Little Too Quickly
While friendliness is one aspect, the speed at which conversations can sometimes deepen is another point of surprise for foreigners.
The author of the source notes hearing foreigners express surprise at how quickly Americans might “dive into religious and other sensitive topics” with someone they have just met.
This could be linked to the general friendliness perceived in Americans or perhaps influenced by environments like hostel culture, where transient connections might encourage faster bonding.
Nevertheless, the willingness to discuss personal or sensitive subjects early in an acquaintance is highlighted as an unexpected trait.
3. The Monochromatic Dollar Bill
American currency presents an immediate visual difference compared to many other nations. The source points out that American money is the same color regardless of its value.
This contrasts sharply with the practice in many countries where bills are color-coded according to their denomination, making them easier to distinguish at a glance.
This uniformity in color can be a minor, yet noticeable, point of surprise for visitors accustomed to color-coded currencies.
4. The Shock of Medical Bills
Perhaps one of the most significant and often distressing surprises for non-Americans is the concept of receiving medical bills after hospital visits.
The source highlights data suggesting that nearly all countries (all but 43) provide free or universal healthcare for 90% or more of their citizens.
Given this global norm, many non-Americans who require medical attention in the U.S. simply “can’t believe it when they receive their medical bill”.
This fundamental difference in healthcare financing is a major point of cultural and financial shock.
5. Understanding School Funding Through Local Taxes
The method of funding public education in the U.S. also strikes some foreigners as unconventional. Specifically, the idea that a portion of school funding is derived from local property taxes “seems crazy” to some.
While acknowledging that state and federal funding also contribute, the source emphasizes that around 81% of school funding comes from property taxes, according to USAFacts.
This reliance on local property values can lead to “extreme” differences between the resources available to schools in wealthy suburban areas versus those in poorer rural areas, a consequence that foreigners find particularly surprising.
6. Sales Tax Added at the Register
A common, albeit less impactful, financial surprise relates to shopping. In many countries, the price displayed on an item includes any applicable taxes.
However, in the U.S., the sales tax is typically added at the cash register. The source describes this as an “unwelcome surprise” for non-American tourists who find themselves needing to pay more than the price they saw on the shelf.
This discrepancy in pricing display conventions requires adjustment for international shoppers.
7. The Pervasive Tipping Culture
Tipping is highlighted as another aspect of American culture that “unexpectedly cuts into foreign tourists’ spending money”.
The source notes that in some countries, tipping is uncommon or even “frowned upon”. In stark contrast, tipping is widely expected in the U.S.. Furthermore, simply tipping a small or “mediocre amount is frowned upon.
This expectation of tipping, and the social norms surrounding appropriate tip percentages, can be a significant adjustment and expense for visitors from cultures where service charges are included or tipping is not customary.
The source even links to an article about countries where tipping is considered rude or uncommon, underscoring this cultural difference.
8. Historically Super-Sized Portions
While potentially subject to change due to trends like “shrinkflation,” the source notes that historically, many foreigners have been surprised by the large portion sizes of food in America.
This is presented as a reciprocal observation, as American travelers abroad are often equally taken aback by the smaller portion sizes encountered in other countries.
The sheer quantity of food served in restaurants or available in packaging has been a notable American characteristic.
9. The Imperial Hangover
One point of persistent confusion and surprise for many foreigners is the U.S. continued use of the imperial system of measurement.
The source states that many non-Americans “can’t wrap their heads around why Americans don’t switch over to the metric system”.
It acknowledges that attempts have been made in the U.S. to transition to metric, but they have failed because not enough businesses and citizens have adopted it effectively.
This adherence to feet, pounds, and Fahrenheit, rather than meters, kilograms, and Celsius, is a consistent point of difference that requires mental conversion for visitors from metric countries.
10. Shoes Indoors
The practice of wearing shoes inside homes is another cultural point that differs significantly. The source states that wearing shoes inside American homes isn’t a “hard-and-fast rule” and varies between households.
However, the fact that it “flies in certain households” is a “huge cultural shock” for visitors from countries where wearing shoes indoors “essentially never flies,” citing many Asian countries as examples.
This seemingly minor habit highlights a considerable divergence in home etiquette and cleanliness norms.
11. The Landscape of Processed Food
The prevalence and variety of processed foods available in American grocery stores is another aspect that visitors from some countries need “getting used to”.
The source contrasts the American food landscape with countries like Denmark and Finland, which are noted for selling “locally, minimally processed foods”.
The sheer volume and dominance of highly processed items on American shelves can be a surprising observation for those accustomed to different food production and retail environments.
12. The Paradox of Living Standards
The United States presents a complex picture regarding living standards, leading to contrasting surprises for visitors depending on their origin.
On one hand, individuals from developing nations are often surprised by how “relatively well-off low-income Americans are”.
Despite a notable poverty rate (11.5%), the availability of government and non-profit resources can provide access to food and services that are simply not available to the poor in many developing countries.
This suggests a floor on living standards, supported by social structures, that is higher than in some other parts of the world.
Conversely, other non-Americans express surprise by “how undeveloped much of the United States is”. These individuals describe seeing “shack-like houses in rural areas,” which starkly contrasts with their preconceived notions of the U.S..
This highlights the significant economic and developmental disparities that exist within the country, presenting a picture of extremes rather than uniform prosperity.
13. The Presence of Firearms
Depending on where a foreigner visits in the U.S. and the prevailing news headlines, the perception can form that firearm ownership and misuse are “rampant”.
The source provides context by citing a Gallup statistic, noting that approximately 32% of Americans personally own a firearm.
While not all ownership implies misuse, the visibility and societal impact of firearms in the U.S. are a notable difference compared to many other nations with stricter gun control, leading to this perception among some visitors.
14. Pride in European Lineage
Based on the author’s personal experience, Americans frequently discuss their European ancestry with Europeans they meet.
This often includes citing DNA results and launching into enthusiastic stories about a “slightest percentage of a European heritage”.
This emphasis on and open discussion of distant lineage, particularly with individuals from the ancestral country, is presented as a peculiar trait observed by non-Americans.
15. Beyond the Single Accent
For many non-Americans, their exposure to the American accent is primarily through movies and TV shows, which often feature a relatively “regionless American accent”.
As a result, some foreigners are surprised to hear the variety of distinct regional accents as they travel throughout the U.S..
The linguistic diversity beyond the perceived standard accent is a reality that media consumption doesn’t always prepare international visitors for.
16. The Hollywood Influence
The source suggests that arriving in the U.S. doesn’t always lead to a complete “cultural surprise” for some international travelers.
The reason cited is that they watch American movies and TV shows in their home countries.
Although Hollywood productions are acknowledged as not accurately depicting “the average American’s life,” they appear to contain “enough similarities” that watching them “lessens cultural shock” to some extent.
Pop culture serves as an unintentional form of cultural preview, preparing visitors for some, though certainly not all, aspects of American life.
Alicia Richards