40 “Normal” Things Americans Do That The Rest Of The World Will Never Understand

Having School Mascots

If you’ve ever watched an American movie or TV show set in a high school, chances are you’ve witnessed the contagious excitement that fills the air when the school mascot makes an appearance on the field or court. The sports games are so hyped up, and everyone seems to go nuts when the person in a lion costume steps out from the locker room to show off their unique dance moves.

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Is the enthusiasm directed towards the actual animal or simply towards the person wearing the mascot costume?

Pointy Water Cups

Isn’t it crucial to maintain proper hydration? It’s fantastic how in almost every location across the United States, one can typically come across water coolers, allowing people to refresh themselves. However, what’s the deal with those peculiar ice cream cone-shaped cups? These paper cups are strange in every single way because they don’t hold much water, you can’t put them down anywhere, and they basically disintegrate in your hands.

While those ice cream cone-shaped cups may provide a brief moment of amusement, they are not particularly practical in the long run.

Americans Cannot Live without Those Sugary Drinks

Just as our eating habits raise concerns, America’s drinking culture follows a similar pattern, lacking in healthiness. While indulging in a soda and ice cream; it’s disheartening to observe that these choices are often abundant in added sugars.

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Non-Americans have brought up that there is sugar in pretty much every drink that isn’t water, and it boggles their minds. Even if it isn’t real sugar, there is artificial sweetener added. There’s no denying our past fondness for Vitamin Water, though.

Sitting in the Back Seat

Living in America, it’s a common experience to find oneself seated in the back of a taxi or an Uber. This practice has become ingrained because we’ve rarely witnessed anyone in movies hail a cab and casually hop into the front seat alongside the driver. Because of this, American tourists take this habit abroad with them. However, that often gets them strange looks from taxi drivers because they are used to people sitting in the front seat.

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It might even be considered rude. As Americans, it is considered unusual to join the taxi driver upfront unless you intend to engage in a conversation.

Expecting Free Refills

In American eateries, it is quite common, although not universal, for certain dining establishments to provide their patrons with complimentary drink refills. As a result, when Americans go abroad, they are in for an annoying surprise when they have to pay for every cup they drink.

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Having complimentary refills outside of America is exceedingly rare, and if there happens to be a place that offers such a service, it would be noteworthy indeed.

Sticking to Strict Drinking Rules

Apart from being one of the few countries that impose a legal drinking age of 21, certain locations throughout the United States continue to adhere to laws rooted in the Prohibition era. They restrict the sale of beer, wine, and liquor on certain days of the week. It is also one of the only places that will card someone even if they look much older than 21.

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In some states, the enforcement of strict laws pertaining to age verification is such that individuals in their 50s may still be requested to present identification, highlighting the strict laws in those areas.