While the US has given us plenty of amazing things (hello, jazz, and the internet!), some American habits can make international observers want to crawl under a table and hide. From supersized everything to an almost aggressive form of friendliness, here’s a light-hearted look at the distinctly American behaviors that leave the rest of the world confused.
1. Speaking Loudly Everywhere
Americans make their presence known in any space, whether it’s a quiet café in Paris or a peaceful garden in Kyoto. The volume at which the average American conducts their daily conversations would make you think they’re constantly trying to communicate with someone standing on the other side of a football field. This tendency to project their voice isn’t just limited to excited conversations—even casual chats about the weather somehow manage to echo through peaceful spaces. According to a study by Preply, Louisiana residents are the loudest talkers, with a loudness score of 94.7 out of 100 (yikes!).
Many international travelers report being able to spot Americans in a crowd simply by following the sound of their voices, long before catching sight of the telltale white sneakers and baseball caps. What’s particularly fascinating is that most Americans seem completely unaware of their volume level, treating their outdoor voice as their indoor voice, and their indoor voice as their megaphone voice.
2. Being Obsessed With Large Portions
The American approach to portion sizes has turned eating out into a sport, where plates arrive looking like they’re meant to feed a small village rather than a single person. In American restaurants, a “small” drink often rivals the size of what other countries would consider a large, and their large drinks could practically double as portable swimming pools. The concept of supersizing has become so ingrained in American culture that many visitors find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of food that arrives at their table. As Psychology Today points out, this could be due to the lack of fiber in a typical American’s diet.
What’s even more baffling to international observers is the pride many Americans take in these enormous portions, often bragging about restaurants that serve “challenge” meals or posting photos of particularly massive dishes on social media. The doggy bag culture, while practical, still raises eyebrows in many countries where finishing what’s on your plate is considered proper etiquette.
3. Treating Strangers Like Old Friends
Americans have a unique talent for treating complete strangers like long-lost friends, creating interactions that can feel wonderfully warm or uncomfortably intense, depending on your cultural background. The signature American “How are you?” greeting, which isn’t actually meant to be answered honestly, represents just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their enthusiastic approach to casual interactions. This overwhelming friendliness extends to everything from casual chitchat in elevator rides to detailed conversations with checkout clerks about their weekend plans.
What really throws off international visitors is the genuine enthusiasm Americans bring to these superficial interactions, complete with big smiles and animated gestures. The concept of maintaining a polite distance or respecting personal boundaries seems to take a backseat to the American desire to make everyone feel like their new best friend, even if they’ll never see them again.
4. Being Addicted To Convenience
The American obsession with convenience has reached levels that make the rest of the world wonder if getting up from the couch has been officially classified as a hardship (according to a Pew Research Center study, half of participants labeled Americans as “lazy”). From drive-through everything (banks, pharmacies, wedding chapels) to expecting 24/7 service availability, Americans have developed an infrastructure that caters to their desire to expend minimal effort. This dedication to convenience has spawned innovations that other cultures find alternatively brilliant and bizarre, like grocery store pickup services and apps that let you order food from your phone while sitting in the same restaurant.
The real kicker is how inconvenienced Americans become when these conveniences aren’t available. The genuine distress displayed when faced with having to park and walk into a store, or when discovering a business isn’t open at 3 AM, provides endless entertainment for international observers who are used to planning ahead and working around standard business hours.
5. Dressing Too Casually
Americans have mastered making even formal occasions look like they’re headed to a backyard barbecue. The concept of “dressing up” seems to have a different meaning in America, where cargo shorts and flip-flops might make an appearance at upscale restaurants or even business meetings. This casual approach to attire isn’t just about comfort—it’s become a sort of cultural statement (according to TIME, clothes are freedom) that leaves visitors from more formally dressed societies in a state of perpetual shock.
What’s particularly fascinating is how this casual dress code has evolved into its own complex system of rules. While wearing sweatpants to a wedding might raise eyebrows even in America, the line between acceptable and unacceptable casual wear varies widely and mysteriously. The sight of someone wearing workout clothes with no intention of working out, just because they’re comfortable, continues to baffle international observers.
6. Assuming Everyone Speaks English
Americans approach any international situation with the unwavering confidence that English is the universal language of human communication. This linguistic optimism leads to scenes where Americans simply speak English slower and louder when faced with a language barrier, as if the volume is the key to cross-cultural understanding. The assumption that everyone should speak English extends beyond tourist interactions to business dealings and international relations.
What’s even more perplexing to the rest of the world is the pride some Americans take in being monolingual, treating it as a badge of honor rather than a limitation. The look of surprise on American faces when they encounter someone who doesn’t speak English, even in non-English-speaking countries, continues to provide entertainment for international observers.
7. Taking Pictures Of Everything
Americans approach every moment as if it needs to be preserved for future historians. From photographing every meal before it’s eaten to taking selfies in inappropriate places, the need to capture every moment has reached levels that make others wonder if Americans actually experience anything firsthand anymore. This compulsion to photograph everything isn’t just about personal memories—it’s about sharing every detail of their lives with their social media followers.
The real entertainment comes from watching Americans orchestrate elaborate photo shoots in the most mundane locations, turning a simple coffee run into a full-blown Instagram opportunity. The dedication to getting the perfect shot, often at the expense of actually enjoying the moment or respecting their surroundings, leaves international observers both impressed and puzzled.
8. Overemphasizing Work Ethic
Americans have developed a peculiar relationship with work, treating busyness as a status symbol and wearing exhaustion proudly. The constant competition over who works the longest hours or takes the fewest vacation days creates a culture that leaves Europeans, in particular, wondering if Americans have heard of the concept of work-life balance. This glorification of overwork extends beyond the office, with people humble-bragging about their 60-hour workweeks and answering emails at midnight.
What’s really crazy is how this intense work ethic coexists with relatively low productivity in many sectors. The emphasis seems to be on being seen working rather than actual output, creating a culture where spending long hours at the office is more valued than efficient work completion during reasonable hours.
9. Having A “Bigger Is Better” Mentality
Americans seem to operate under the assumption that everything improves with size, from their vehicles to their homes. This bigger-is-better philosophy manifests in ways that leave the rest of the world wondering if Americans have ever heard of moderation. From enormous SUVs used primarily for grocery runs to McMansions with more bathrooms than occupants, the American obsession with size extends to nearly every aspect of life.
The fascinating part is how this mentality influences even the smallest decisions, like choosing between coffee sizes or shopping for appliances. The look of confusion on American faces when presented with something intentionally small or efficient, like a European apartment or a compact car, suggests a deeply ingrained belief that more square footage automatically equals a better quality of life.
10. Treating Pets Like Humans
Americans have elevated pet ownership to an art form, treating their four-legged friends more like furry children than animals. From birthday parties for dogs to cat spas and pet psychologists, the level of attention and resources devoted to pets leaves many international visitors wondering if they’ve stepped into an alternate reality. This anthropomorphization of pets extends to elaborate wardrobes, gourmet organic meals, and social media accounts dedicated to their animals’ daily activities.
What particularly amuses international observers is how this pet-centric culture has infiltrated public spaces, with Americans expecting their pets to be welcomed everywhere from restaurants to shopping malls. The concept of “emotional support animals” and the variety of creatures that fall under this category continue to provide entertainment for visitors from countries where pets maintain their traditional role as beloved but clearly non-human companions.
11. Invading Personal Space
Americans seem to have a different concept of personal space than most other cultures, often treating the recommended bubble of distance as more of a suggestion than a rule. In many cultures, maintaining an arm’s length of distance is standard, but Americans will happily close that gap to half the size without a second thought. This tendency becomes particularly apparent in lines, where Americans stand close enough to read the text messages of the person in front of them.
The invasion of personal space isn’t just physical—it extends to conversations as well. Americans think nothing of asking relatively personal questions within minutes of meeting someone, diving into topics like salary, relationship status, or political views that would make people from more reserved cultures break out in a cold sweat.
12. Having Incessant National Pride
The level of patriotism displayed by Americans on a daily basis would make most other nations feel like they’re constantly celebrating their Independence Day. From flags on every corner to the frequent proclamations of America being “the greatest country in the world,” the unwavering national pride can feel like watching someone give themselves a standing ovation. This fervent patriotism extends beyond just symbolic gestures—it’s woven into everyday conversations, political discussions, and even casual observations about other countries.
What particularly makes international observers’ jaws drop is how this pride often comes with a surprising lack of knowledge about other nations or even their own country’s history. The conviction that everything American is inherently superior, from their healthcare system to their coffee, creates moments of cognitive dissonance that leave visitors torn between amusement and concern.
13. Wanting Ice In Their Drinks
The American obsession with ice has reached levels that make the rest of the world wonder if they’re trying to achieve hypothermia through beverage consumption. The standard American drink comes with so much ice that finding the actual beverage becomes an archaeological expedition. This ice fixation extends beyond summer months and hot climates, with Americans requesting ice-cold drinks even in the middle of winter or in air-conditioned spaces.
What’s even more confusing is the automatic assumption that every drink needs ice, from water to soft drinks to even red wine (much to the horror of wine enthusiasts). The look of betrayal on American faces when served a room-temperature beverage, or worse, when told that ice isn’t available, provides endless entertainment for observers from cultures where drinks are served at more moderate temperatures.
