This article was originally published on WMoneyVersed
While it is undeniable that the United States of America takes pride in living stateside, the rest of the world often wonders why. If you've ever asked yourself how America looks in the eyes of others, take a gander at the following list of habits that are considered peculiar at best by other countries. How many of these things are you guilty of doing?
Acting Casual and Using Feet
Americans, especially tourists, tend to dress a bit more casually than most other people would. They'll wear regular ol' T-shirts and khaki shorts to the beach, a restaurant, a play, you name it. At least it makes them easy to spot!
As a person from, well, anywhere else in the world, it's hard to fathom why the U.S. still uses the imperial measuring system. Twelve inches, three feet, 1,760 yards... It's a lot more complicated than necessary. Oh, and freezing temperature should be zero.
Ice Ice Baby and PB&J
Why do we need ice in everything? If a drink has been refrigerated, it should be cold enough, right? In fact, adding all that ice makes it uncomfortable to sip and makes it watery fast. Not everything needs to be on the rocks.
Alright, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are pretty delicious, but also so sweet that you can barely call it a sandwich anymore. To make matters worse, American bread slices are loaded with sugar too. What's with the sweet tooth?
Bathroom Breaks and 'Murica's Best
Compared to most western nations, public bathrooms/restrooms/powder rooms/ are pretty dirty. Not to mention the giant gaps between the stall and the door. Privacy, please!
Almost everyone has a sense of pride in their home country, but Americans take it to the next level. There are flags everywhere you look, and people won't stop talking about "freedom" and "the troops."
Taxes for All and Working Hard
In most places around the world, price tags end with ".99." This is also the case in most stores in the U.S., except when you're ready to check out, you'll find a completely different total in your receipt. Include the tax in the price, for goodness' sake!
America, give your workers some time to rest! Jobs in the U.S. tend to have longer work days and less vacation time. Plus, depending on your position, you might have to answer calls and emails after hours. Yikes.
Fantasy Pharmacies and Time to Tip
In most corners of the world, a pharmacy is a place where one picks up prescriptions, bandages, and some toothpaste at best. They definitely don't have snack food, batteries, balloons, or seasonal decorations.
Yes, we understand that servers are underpaid in the U.S., but the fact that the customer has to make up for that in tips seems absurd. Plus, you have to tip hairdressers, cab drivers, baristas, and everyone else whose service you already paid for.
Small Talk and Fry It up
It's not that Americans are particularly friendlier than people from other cultures, but they do like to chat it up with strangers. And the phrase "how are you?" when nobody cares about the answer should be scrapped from greetings altogether.
As if most snacks weren't unhealthy enough, Americans love to deep-fry them. This oil isn't just for french fries, it's for Oreos, Snickers, dough, sandwiches, onion, chicken, hot dogs, butter, pickles, donuts, ice cream, and even mac and cheese.
Coffee Run and Advertising Prescriptions
Speaking of beverages, what's up with drinking piping hot coffee while we're on our way to work? In other countries, you take the time to drink coffee at home, at your desk, or on a bench if you're out. How do Americans do it?
In most other countries, you visit a doctor, and it's entirely up to them which medication they may or may not prescribe to you. So commercials in which a happy family kicks a ball around before hearing the 600 deadly side effects of a drug come off as a little strange.
Cheerful Cheerleaders and Freezing Over
Sure, sure, they're here to motivate the teams, yadda yadda yadda. Are the sports teams not motivated enough? Or are the scantily clad female dancers there for a different reason after all?
Everyone likes the heat on when it's cold out and the A/C on when it's sweltering. We get it. But why crank that air up so cold that we need to put on long pants, jackets, and boots? Seems like a waste of energy, and it's colder than we'd ever accept in the winter months.
Creature Comforts and Fast Food
Why on Earth do Americans wear their sweatpants, or even their pajama pants, out in public? In most cultures, those are considered house clothes, not something you wear to a coffee shop or even work. Not everything is about comfort.
Unhealthy, greasy, and sugary foods are a guilty pleasure of us all, but must there be one of the 40 national fast food chains on every corner? To make matters worse, the sizes are always huge, from the soda to the cheeseburger. Don't even get us started on the Heart Attack Grill...
Doggy Bag and Number One
Luckily, when you can't finish your disproportionate meal, there is no shame in asking if servers can pack it up for you to take it home. In other places, that is considered impolite or low-class, but in the U.S., doggy bags make everyone happy.
You can't just claim to be number one. A sports league that only happens in the States shouldn't be called International. And you can't call yourself worldly if you've never left the country. The truth is that even one of the United States' closest relatives does things very differently.
Armed and Dangerous and Minimal Maternity Leave
In the United States, police officers are known to carry guns — after all, they often engage with highly dangerous criminals. While the United Kingdom may not be crime-free, regular UK police officers do not carry firearms. They tend to only rely on specially trained Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) during escalated situations.
Alarmingly, the United States is one of the only developed nations in the world that does not offer paid maternity leave for new mothers. The 12 weeks that mothers are entitled to are all unpaid. UK mothers are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave, with 39 of them being paid to varying extents.
Tea Time and Hidden Costs
As a nation of tea connoisseurs, the British pride themselves on making tea the traditional way, namely by boiling water using a kettle. Americans, on the other hand, typically warm their tea in a microwave — an act that their British counterparts would view as blasphemy!
In the UK, the price see you on an item is the price you pay — but not in the US! With each US state determining its own sales tax rate, the price tags you see in stores display the price of the product before tax, not after like in the UK. An important fact for tourists to know when budgeting their next trip to America!
"World" Championships and Going Private
If there's one thing that confuses the British the most, it's when Americans refer to winning sports teams as "world champions" when they only compete within the US. For example, Major League Baseball's championship is the World Series, yet only teams from the US (and one from Canada) can qualify!
While the United States has a huge array of both public and private universities, the majority of universities in the UK are public. While not unheard of, private universities and colleges are few and far between in Britain.
Where's the Switch? And Giving Waitstaff Your Credit Card
It seems like the British take electrical safety very seriously. Every UK plug features an on/off switch that is particularly useful for protecting people against accidental fires and electrical shortages. In the US, such switches are nonexistent.
In the United States, restaurant patrons will willingly give their credit cards to their servers upon receiving the check. British patrons, on the other hand, would become paranoid very quickly if this happened in the UK! Instead, British waiters bring a credit card reader to the table.
Help Is on the Way — At a Cost — And the Value of the Constitution
United Kingdom residents who find themselves in an emergency situation can rest assured that any ambulance services they receive will cost next to nothing. In fact, the average ambulance call in the UK costs just £7! In the US, however, these same services can cost hundreds of dollars, even exceeding the $1,000 mark in some instances.
In the United States, the Constitution is a codified legal document that serves as the ultimate law of the land. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, does not regard its constitution as highly. While there is technically a constitution in the UK, it's mostly a collection of general common laws rather than a codified document of the highest legal authority.
Can I See Some ID? And Free Refills
In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. Considering that British people can start drinking at 18, some younger UK tourists will be disappointed to learn that having a pint while vacationing in the US is a no-go.
With such enormous portions in restaurants, it should come as no surprise that the US has one of the highest obesity rates in the world. What's more, it's commonplace for American restaurants to offer free refills on drinks — something that's virtually unheard of across the pond.
Mind if I Cut in? And so Much Driving
While both the UK and the US are strict when it comes to social conformity, there are some instances where Americans will ask to cut in line. In the UK, cutting in line is virtually unheard of and severely frowned upon.
In the US, most people who live in suburbs rely on their cars as their sole mode of transportation. That's not the case in the UK, however. British car owners will often travel on foot to run nearby errands, such as visiting their local grocery store or pharmacy.
Pancakes, Anyone? And Friendly Faces
If you had to imagine what the standard American breakfast looks like, pancakes would probably spring to mind. In the UK, however, pancakes aren't exactly a breakfast staple, with most British people only eating them on occasions such as Shrove Tuesday. No wonder IHOP never set up any franchises across the pond!
Now, for a positive one! Some British people have remarked on how friendly Americans are. What was particularly impressive to them was how willing Americans were to help someone in need, even a stranger. Such behavior is not as commonplace in the UK.
Watch Your Words and Don't Touch the Guards
While the U.S. and Britain basically share the same language, it's important to understand that certain American slang terms mean something much different overseas. For example, when someone doesn't show up to a planned hangout in America, we say we've been "blown off" — in Britain, this same term means to break wind!
For Americans visiting the UK, it may seem like innocent fun to try and provoke a member of the Queen's Guard, and for the most part, they'll tolerate a little lighthearted teasing. Touch one of these soldiers, however, and they have the right to draw their weapon on you. Yikes!
Money Matters and Be Generous
Americans should also keep in mind that while England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all use the pound as their form of currency, not all pounds are the same. Specifically, Northern Ireland and Scotland both use alternative pound notes that will get you some pretty odd looks if you try to use them in England or Wales.
In the US, we’re obsessed with getting our own tabs. Even if someone pays for you, it’s common to get them right back on Venmo or with cash. In England, things are a little different: you pay for the round, then your friend does the same next time!
Don't Kiss and Not Soccer
Some Europeans are big on the kiss hello — Britain, however, is not one of them. Don't even go for a hug on the first meet either: a simple handshake will do the trick.
If you're looking to kick a ball around with some local Brits, don't ask if they want to play soccer — it's called football! This is the case pretty much everywhere in the world, and calling the sport "soccer" will only out you as an American.
Bad Teeth and Authentic Bites
Believe it or not, Brits having bad teeth is more of a stereotype than an actual fact. That's why you should never joke about someone's teeth while visiting the U.K. — or really anywhere, for that matter. How rude!
You may have heard of fish and chips or Britain’s crazy good South Asian food, but make sure to go to an affordable, authentic restaurant to enjoy them. You might otherwise risk a crazy surcharge (and a few unwanted trips to the restroom).
Don't Be an Accent Chameleon and More Than One
Another thing to not even think about making fun of is the British accent. Even if your cockney is spot on, most Brits won't take too kindly to you making a joke of the way they speak.
England is a country, but the United Kingdom is made up of four! England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all comprise the U.K., so make sure you know what you’re referring to!
Royal Error and the Other Side
The Queen and her family might be famous cultural figures, but locals definitely don’t know her personally and probably never will! For that reason, you should never ask if a local Brit is chummy with Her Majesty — you'll just look plain dumb.
It looks more topsy-turvy than it actually is, but British roads are the opposite of American ones when it comes to the side they drive on. Even the steering wheels are on the other side of the car!
Not Biscuits and Weather Swings
If you're looking for something thick and fluffy to dip into the leftover juices on your plate, the last thing you'd want to ask for when in Britain is a biscuit. Instead of a warm, buttery bite, you'll be handed a cookie!
You might have already heard that London is gray, cloudy, and rainy most of the time. But did you know that five separate air masses meet above the United Kingdom? Any moment could turn tropical or polar, so make sure to pack for all occasions.
Personable and Polite and Be Patient
Manners matter everywhere, but they're especially important in England. The culture here is all about being polite, so even if you aren't feeling too sunny, always be sure to respond positively if someone happens to ask you how you are.
When you're hangry, dining etiquette is typically the last thing on your mind. Yet even though snapping your fingers or waving to call your waiter over might fly in other parts of Europe, doing so in Britain is the quickest way to wind up with spit in your food.
Half Metric and Talking to Strangers
The Brits are half and half when it comes to the metric system, so don't be fooled when you spot road distances that read in miles or pub menus that serve pints. Everything else in Britain is measured in metric, and their "imperial pint" is actually bigger than ours!
If you’re from New York City, this one might not be that much of a surprise: don’t talk to strangers. It’s not necessarily that they’ll be rude — it's just taboo and far from the norm in Britain.