10 American Things That International Students Find To Be Completely Strange | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

10 American Things That International Students Find To Be Completely Strange

How the American lifestyle makes an international student's experience abroad even more interesting.

1641
10 American Things That International Students Find To Be Completely Strange
@teamusa

When we international students come to the U.S.A. for the first time we are thrown into a completely different world than the one we knew from back home. In my case – a polish household on German ground. Some of the things we encounter on American ground make us smile, some of them make us cry, but some of them simply seem weird to us.

surely ask yourself what I am talking about. So let me clear up the mystery. This said I have to confess, however, that it’s probably exactly those little details in the U.S. that make an international student’s experience abroad so exciting.

1. Everything is huge

Americans seem to love huge things. The soda cup sizes you can get are insane, and so are those of some wine bottles at the supermarket. Most striking though are huge supersize cars. Luckily for me, parking lots here are also huge!

2. Iced water

Americans love iced water. No matter the weather, restaurants always serve ice-cold water with ice cubes filled to the brim. To be honest, there are often more ice cubes in the glass than actual water, and I’m freezing only looking at it even though it’s hot outside…

3. People fill your bags at the supermarket

This is so weird. In no other European country have I encountered staff filling my shopping items into bags. We do it ourselves while the cashier is scanning our products, allowing lines to move faster. And believe me, each one of us has their own strategy according to which we fill our bags.

4. There are flags flying everywhere

You can find the American flag on literally everything: In front of houses, on top of supermarkets, gas stations, on restaurant menus, … Everywhere. And some of them are impressively large. It seems that the Stars and Stripes enjoy an extraordinary status not only in American public culture but also in Americans’ private lives.

5. Americans love their A/C

Coming to the States in August, I know that it gets super hot in the summer. I understand that. And I also understand that one wants to turn on the A/C to have some cool fresh air. But tell me, why do I have the impression that people here like to blast the air conditioning to the maximum? In the summer, you go from sweltering 104 degrees Fahrenheit outside to ‘I-need-my-winter-jacket’ –10 degrees at the supermarket.

6. Americans love their pajamas

Whether in class at university, during groceries shopping at the supermarket or simply at lunch in the cafeteria, Americans can often be found in their pajamas and matching slippers in public. In Europe, a student wouldn’t even dare to come to class in sweatpants, needless to say, that pajamas would definitely carry things too far.

7. Prices are always displayed without tax

When going shopping the prices really invite you to buy that shirt or that nice pair of shoes. However, the price displayed on the etiquette is only a part of the actual amount you’ll have to pay. Once you are at the checkout and they add in the tax your “nice deal” suddenly becomes not so enjoyable anymore...

8. When people say “How are you?"

… but they really mean “hello” and actually are not interested in how you are. In Germany when you ask someone “How are you?” be prepared to receive a full 5-minutes answer on how they actually are, what is bothering them and how they feel.

9. Tipping in restaurants


While waiters in Europe are decently paid, waiters in some states in the U.S. are paid only $2.50 per hour! Thus, while in Europe the tip is a way to honor the good service, the customer in the States is expected to leave a tip even if the service was mediocre and then calculate said tip between 10% and 20% of the bill’s total in order to figure out how much to leave.

10. Confusing currency

Have you ever seen Euros? Or any other currency in European countries? The banknotes are all different sizes and colors to make life easier. Here, currency looks all the same, which makes paying cash quite a challenge for us internationals. But we love challenges on American ground. They make our stay abroad so much more interesting!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

103112
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

18721
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

17497
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments