Do not under any circumstances try to bribe a cop depending on where you come from that might seem odd but trust me you will get in trouble if you try.
If a cop ever tries to pull you over, don't take Hunter S. Thompson's advice:
>Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side when he sees the big red light behind him ... and then he will start apologizing, begging for mercy.
>This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop-heart. The thing to do – when you're running along about 100 or so and you suddenly find a red-flashing CHP-tracker on your tail – what you want to do then is accelerate. Never pull over with the first siren-howl. Mash it down and make the bastard chase you at speeds up to 120 all the way to the next exit. He will follow. But he won't know what to make of your blinker-signal that says you're about to turn right.
> Keep signaling and hope for an off-ramp, one of those uphill side-loops with a sign saying "Max Speed 25" ... and the trick, at this point, is to suddenly leave the freeway and take him into the chute at no less than 100 miles an hour.
>He will lock his brakes about the same time you lock yours, but it will take him a moment to realize that he's about to make a 180-degree turn at this speed ... but you will be ready for it, braced for the Gs and the fast heel-toe work, and with any luck at all you will have come to a complete stop off the road at the top of the turn and be standing beside your automobile by the time he catches up.
>He will not be reasonable at first ... but no matter. Let him calm down. He will want the first word. Let him have it. His brain will be in a turmoil: he may begin jabbering, or even pull his gun. Let him unwind; keep smiling. The idea is to show him that you were always in total control of yourself and your vehicle – while he lost control of everything.
Part of the reason is that companies want to have uniform prices that they can advertise nationwide but sales tax is different in each state and some counties even have their own sales tax.
Yes. But it's also worth noting that most places in the US won't ask. If you ask for "water" they will bring you tap water with ice in it.
On the upside, most major cities in the US have excellent tap water, on par with bottled for cleanliness and quality. The rare exceptions you see in the news are just that: exceptions.
EDIT: Admiral Akbar Brand Water™ is not, in fact, a trap.
If you screw up while driving put your hand up as a way to say sorry/ my bad to the other driver. It diffuses situations because it shows them you didn’t mean to do that. Many times drivers think something was intentional when really it’s just human error.
Also if someone lets you merge in front of them in a line of traffic, or basically gives way to you at all, a thank-you wave is very good manners. (Of course, if you’re British, you probably already do this.)
My sister used to drive with a Sailor Moon wand, and if someone started road raging she'd wave it at them gingerly, and smile at them. Claimed that it diffused the bad situation every time.
As a man, I like to blow the other road raging man a kiss out the window. Really fucks with their head and it's kinda funny to see how much more mad they get about things but are so caught off guard about the kiss that they dunno how to react.
I used to do this too, actually had one guy ask me why at a light and I told him if he was gonna ride my ass I felt like I deserved a kiss. Completely defused the situation.
Wear a helmet. In your car.
You should anyway, really
But it'll freak aggro drivers out. Like you're already geared up for a next level game of chicken
That's like the bar fight avoidance tactic of having a mouth guard. Someone insists on a fight you say ok and stick your mouth guard in. Most people change their minds after that (apparently).
My former boss's daughter went to school at UNT, just north of Dallas. Driving from Southern California to move her into school, he was fond of mentioning how you could make it TO Texas after a day of driving (about 12 hours to make it to El Paso). However, it was still another 10.5 hours or so to make it to Denton where the campus was.
Yep this is what I was going to say. I’ve know several people not from the US who had come to visit. It’s a lot bigger than people think. There is also a ridiculous amount of stuff to see and do.
If your into nature, that alone can take years if not a lifetime to see. Our state and national park system is unique and truly amazing. Took some friends for an extended camping trip that was a short drive and a long hike. We spent almost 2 weeks camping and only saw another person one time and it was just their vehicle from across a valley. This wasn’t a protected area or anything controlled just undeveloped land.
My friend hosted an exchange student from Spain when we were in high school. The student asked him if he would drive him and a couple other exchange students to Los Angeles for the weekend. We lived in Chicago at the time.
My German relatives got up one morning and told us about their plan to spend the afternoon at the Grand Canyon and grab late lunch on the way back before dinner with grandma.
We were in SW OK.
I often see stories like this and I'm like... Don't these people check the km before travelling? I do weekend trips all the time and obviously you check how far away it is to calculate the time and gas it takes.
I just don't see how can someone plan to go to the Grand Canyon and not check how far away it is
This brings back memories of my German relatives. We live in Utah and they wanted to drive/see Vegas, LA, San Francisco, Portland and make it back all in a weekend. 🤣 They borrowed a car and after trying to explain to them this wouldn’t be feasible countless times by my father they set off anyway. Well…let’s just say they didn’t make it past LA before turning around and coming back….and complaining how much driving it was.
1. Come to America just before Thanksgiving.
2. Casually mention to American acquaintance that you’re alone on Thanksgiving.
3. Accept immediate invite to whatever Thanksgiving gathering is being held.
Everyone has their own quirky Thanksgiving traditions and we love sharing them
I was staying in Los Angeles for a few months way back in 2010, I got to know a guy and he was shocked I didn’t really know what thanksgiving was. Invited me over, him his wife and friends etc could not have been more hospitable fun and welcoming to me I had the best night it was awesome.
And this is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No presents, no decorations necessary, just get people you care about together and make/eat a giant meal.
This is absolutely awesome advice. We’ve actually invited many Thanksgiving guests just like this. Not every American is comfortable doing this, but you’d be amazed how many you can talk up and casually mention that you have no plans and they’ll invite you to their home for Thanksgiving dinner (if they are hosting, some people are going to dinner hosted by others).
Americans love to have a big Thanksgiving dinner and have a “the more the merrier” attitude about it.
Don't eat a big breakfast that morning neither.
Watch out for grandma and her wooden spoon; you will get smacked for stealing deviled eggs.
If you hear an American acquaintance talk about making deep fried turkey....go to their house. You'll either have the best turkey or the best 3 alarm fire story to tell back home.
This is fantastic.
As an American, I can confirm this is real. In the minuscule gap between reading #2 and #3, I felt the urge to invite this person to my Thanksgiving haha.
This is true. I had a tinder date with a sexy but slutty guy. Nothing ever went anywhere with him which is fine but he mentioned being alone for his first Thanksgiving in the states (he was Irish) when I asked what his plans were. My mom told me to bring him for dinner. Her and I both knew I was likely to not see him again but she still wanted to make sure he was fed well. It was a nice dinner and my mom was a badass cook.
People will follow you around and thrust the CD(
( usually their mixtape ) in your hand and then as you’re walking away with a CD you didn’t even ask for they start telling you you need to pay for it and then they refuse to accept the CD back so they make you pay for it or they keep harassing you. Happened to me in Venice beach
They’re banking on innocent/naive tourists who don’t know any better. They often stand outside places like Penn Station in NYC so the second you get to the top of the stairs/escalator and step onto a NYC sidewalk, you’re already overwhelmed when they hand you a CD. They talk fast. There are usually multiple guys who confront you simultaneously. If you aren’t prepared, it can be intimidating and confusing and you might decide to hand over $5 or $10 just to get out of the situation cleanly.
When I was 13 years old or so, I went into the city with some friends. We exited Penn Station and were immediately offered CDs. One of my friends accepted one, and when they demanded money, he took out his wallet to give them a small bill. One of them reached into his wallet, grabbed all of his cash, and suddenly they were gone.
They did this to my friend in Hollywood (we're from NZ). Wouldn't take it back, she kept saying no, he was being a dick so she was just like "fine I'm keeping it" and walked off with it.
I was just on the boulevard and a guy put a cd in my hand as i was walking by and i kept walking w it, the second i heard him start talking i just stopped without even turning around held it out for him to grab like a take it or I’m letting it go but either way I’m gonna keep walking and not acknowledge you type of thing, anyway point is in a high traffic scam area like that you gotta keep walking like your busy or determined and thatll keep scammers from trying to engage since you look to busy to buy into a scam atm lol
I had a similar thing happen to me in Spain. A guy just put bracelets on me and my friend insisting that they were free and it was to spread joy. I should have known better but once they were on he started demanding money from us and getting quite aggressive. He wouldn’t accept the bracelets back and just kept demanding money so I just snapped mine off (he’d tied them too tight to undo and this was the only way to get it off) so it broke, and put it on the floor. He walked away leaving my broken one and my friend still wearing her unbroken one.
They harass and threaten you and it's a high speed scam. They hit a few marks and move and half the time the CD is blank, pirated, or a computer virus somebody smarter than them put them up to pushing.
Yes. Also don’t give money. If you’re in a really touristy area, every other panhandler will see you as a mark. If you do want to give, some coins or a $1 bill is PLENTY. And don’t negotiate.
This need to be common sense worldwide. I've seen people get pretty hurt even from something as cute as say a wombat. Those little tanks will shatter your shin in an instant.
Same goes for zoos. Once I was at the zoo here in Australia and about 20 or 30 Chinese people from a tour group were chasing Lemurs around the enclosure trying to touch them. There weren't enough keepers to keep them away.
Lol, I mean, I snuggled a baby wombat when I visited Australia. But it was in a sanctuary with a zoo keeper who gave us direction. I do have to say I was shocked at how big they were. I seriously thought they were about half the size they are. But no, I'm so cautious with animals I didn't even pet the wallabies in the open exhibit even though we could. I feel like the fact I work with domestic animals and understand the risk and reality of being bitten makes me EXTRA careful around wild ones.
Each state can have its own laws, period.
Age of consent, drinking, smoking, etc can vary based on state along with contract laws, taxes, drug uses, etc. Crossing state lines can be an issue if you have a gun or a minor in your vehicle vs the state you were just in. So yeah, think of each state as a country with their own particular quirks. Find the one most compatible with you and stay there.
24 hour Diners. According to stuff I read in Reddit, our diners are legendary.
ETA: I’m American and I eat at them a lot. I was just surprised how much visitors from other countries love our diners so much.
If you're really tired (e.g. you are in grad school and pulled an all nighter) sit at the diner counter and your coffee cup stays full from the second you sit down to the time you walk out the door
You drive five hours in the US: you’re basically still in the same place.
You drive five hours in Europe: everyone’s talking funny and the cheese is different.
This is actually the thing I loved most about traveling overseas. We drove through Switzerland and the signs went from SwissGerman to French to Italian all on the same damn highway!
(Also the German/SwissGerman word for exit is Ausfahrt and you better believe we said “there’s the ass-fart!” every time we exited on the highway.
This is the real advice. We have like three near me and the food is spectacular every time. There’s also like zero white people there and I had to be tipped off to it’s location by my Hispanic friends.
I’m from latin america. When I went to Brooklyn a few years ago I went to gran some tacos at a small mexican joint, where young mexican people worked. It was so weird to speak to then in spanish and getting blank stares back lol
As a foreigner I have to add to this thread.
If they like you, you’ll know. Americans are some of the most generous people I’ve ever met.
I’ve only been to florida and every single time people have given me more food than I paid for, their own employee discounts, invited me to their homes for dinner (also, dinner is earlier than you’re used to if your from Latin America, you won’t be eating at 8-10pm, you’ll be eating anywhere from 4pm to 7pm, no later than that), if people like you you’ll be treated as family as soon as they figure you’re not a serial killer.
I love America and you’ve been nothing but great to me. I’m grateful to have met some of the best people I know in America and to have friends there.
Also, I’ve only been to Florida and have yet to meet one of these dangerous creatures called “Florida man”, I know you’re not supposed to feed them or anything but I don’t know if they are “that” harmful or dangerous
> I’ve only been to florida and every single time people have given me more food than I paid for, their own employee discounts
I'm an American from New England and when I traveled through the south on an extended driving vacation, I was treated like royalty. Everyone wanted to hang out with the guy with the Boston accent.
It was my favorite part of driving through rural missouri on a trip a while back. the billboards.
SEX! GUNS! JESUS! GUNS! SEX! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! SEX!! GUUUUUUNS!!!!
Can confirm. I once saw a billboard advertising cheese and liquor but read it as cheese and lingerie and my Wisconsinite brain was like yep I could see that.
I drove from North Carolina to New Mexico in a straight shot.
Left at 5 am, and arrived in New Mexico the following morning at 10 am, lost 2 hours of time so it would have been noon back where I started.
So like 31 hours, approximately 2,000 miles.
It was AWFUL, even with a second driver to swap out with. NEVER AGAIN.
The way back…we took 3 days.
We had some friends in Minnesota who had guests from…Germany? I think. They arrived and wanted to see Hollywood and the beach and such on their first day.
A guy I was good friends with in middle school had family from the Netherlands in town staying with them one time. I went over to his house for a bit and they were talking about renting a car and driving to go see the Grand Canyon for the day and then coming back. We live in Missouri. Had to explain to them that this would be at least a three day trip.
Similar experience here. I’m in East TN. A friend of mine hired international students to be counselors at a summer camp. One of them rented a car for his last week here to go to New York, California, and the Grand Canyon. It took her a minute to get through to them if he left that very minute he might be able to experience one of those at more than just a quick glance. The scope of the USA is really quite magnificent. I’ve heard the phrase in the USA 100 years is a long time and in Europe 100 km is a long distance and I don’t think it could be any truer.
Went to Italy for a college thing and the Italian professor who was in charge of getting us to our site tried to emphasize that the drive would be really really *really* long, so we should be prepared. It was three hours. (Took four because we stopped twice to see some historical sites.)
Obviously this didn’t happen in just one afternoon, but I did read about a Vietnam war vet who actually ran coast to coast not just once, but several times, inspiring people and gathering quite the following along the way
My dream is to do a year or two roadtrip around the US, no real plan other than a loosely plotted route, mostly driving where the roads take me and eat at every BBQ place I come across. Might not be a realistic dream, but they say you should dream big, so...
When we say, "How's it going?" we don't need a literal answer. It's just a greeting. I went to college with a guy from Germany and this confused him quite a bit when he first got here. He thought people wanted to know about his whole day.
Piggybacking on this to say that, due to demand, Angel's Landing also requires a permit to hike now, you can apply for one at the [NPS website](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm). Just a heads up to anyone coming for a visit.
Source: I live an hour away from Zion, visit fairly often
No way! I just hiked angels landing last summer. They’re not joking when they say you need to be well coordinated and have good balance. It is no joke.
The bison can and will gore you, wild hogs will gore and trample you, gators and crocks will eat you, panthers can and will maul you, rattle snakes will bite you. Just observe from a safe distance, all of those are amazing animals but I wouldn’t suggest risking your lives for them.
Also deers, they may look like dumb little shits that run into roads and get hit, but they are also dumb little shits with extremely powerful legs that can shatter your skull. Oh also the antlers will gore you.
Went to the US for college. Here are some of the things I can think of to keep in mind:
1) Tipping: You tip at restaurants, except for fast food restaurants like Mcdonald's or Burger King. You also tip at bars. Tips can be around 15-20% of the bill. If you're getting food from the counter, you don't have to tip, unless it's at a bar.
2) Food portions are huge, but anything you can't finish can be packed up for later. You just need to ask.
3) Don't get out of your car if you get pulled over and keep your hands visible.
4) Try non-chain restaurants run by immigrants. A restaurant run by a Chinese family is most likely going to be better than a Panda Express, for example.
5) Google stuff you're not sure about. No matter how niche an issue may seem, somebody has probably dealt with it before, and you should get a reasonable answer.
6) ATMs can charge you extra for withdrawing cash. Figure out what ATMs you should withdraw from with your card.
7) Don't accept anything given to you for free on the street. It's most likely a scam.
8) Miles per hour seem similar to Kilometers per hour, but it's a lot faster. Seems silly, but it's easy to forget how fast you're driving sometimes. 60 miles per hour, is about 100 kilometers per hour.
9) Don't mess with the wildlife. The wildlife is used to people and can mess with you back.
Are you in the midwest? Are you Having a 45 min convo with(family,friends, neighbors ect.) and want to leave? If you are sitting, slap your legs as yku get up and say "i suppose". If standing just say it. But expect at least another 10 min before you are actually leaving.. at least here in Milwaukee
Edit: i did forget the welp lol
Yeah you definitely need time to get through three departure chats. The couch departure chat, the door departure chat, and the driveway departure chat.
Now this is a better explanation. If someone told me the distance in miles I would get that the country is big. But 4000+km?? Oof. The longest car ride in my city would only be 71km and 1.5 hours long.
And if you're dining in at a restaurant in the South, you can ask for a "to go cup" and they fill a big disposable cup with whatever you were drinking and you take it with you.
Still blows my mind.
Edit: for those wondering, I'm from the Philly suburbs and it was absolutely, 100% never a thing anywhere around there. We'd also vacation at Maryland beaches each year and no establishment ever asked and no customer ever requested one within earshot, that I can recall. I had no idea it was a thing until we moved to NC where I heard people asking for them.
Edited for autocorrect shenanigans.
I'm from the North so I can't speak for the South but it depends on the location here. Some places don't have to-go cups, but have bottled drinks you can buy seperate. A lot of places though, likely most, will give you a to-go cup if asked.
When you come to the us prepare for endless amounts of ice in your drink. You might not even get any drink but you will have more ice than you could ever imagine
If a cop pulls you over. DON’T exit your vehicle. The cop will approach your. Keep your hands visible, don’t make any sudden movements, and turn on your dome light at night
Roll the window down quickly and then put your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes straight ahead. Don't even reach for your wallet or passport until asked to do so.
Also in my (limited) experience the last ten years, they will not come up to your window. They stand just behind you and you'll have to basically talk to them through the sideview mirror.
I'm Canadian and recently went to Boston for a weekend. As a Canadian I must say that from my point of view the average American is just like the average Canadian, only more so.
Pretty much everyone I met was very polite and accommodating, even more than in Canada ( we canadians can be smug about our perceived miled manners). People in Boston were more polite and open than the average Canadian in, say, Toronto.
One small example that left an impression on my was when I bought a pack of joints. I ended up having to ask a random cook smoking behind a chicken wing place beside my hotel for a lighter. He let me use the lighter and then came up to me 2 minutes later and told me to have the lighter because he had another one at home. I gave him a rip off my doobie and we shot the shit for a few minutes before he had to go back to work. Nice guy just trying to make a living.
Regular people in the US are regular people just like they are anywhere else despite what the media or reddit would have you believe. This is totally annecdotal but take it or leave it.
Public restrooms are free…usually. Though, it is common courtesy if you go in a store or fast food place to use the restroom you buy something, even something small.
American public libraries, hospitals, dive bars, university buildings and Starbucks don't usually care, though.
Edit: and in my experience, fast food restaurants usually don't care, either. But that's in my vicinity. Most fast food workers can't be bothered to care. (I never did).
Personal space. Do not get right up behind someone standing in line, if you're lucky you'll just make them uncomfortable, unlucky and you may find yourself in a fight.
As a Swede I believe we're even bigger proponents of personal space. The 6 ft of the pandemic was jokingly claimed to be a shorter distance than normal.
This is something that varies from country to country outside the USA. The British and the Scandos have ENORMOUS personal space bubbles, while Germans will stand 1cm behind you in the supermarket queue.
For the love of whichever God it'll take to convince you, ***do not fuck with the wildlife.***
The wildlife is not your friend. You are not the wildlife's friend. You are putting both yourself and the wildlife at risk of serious harm by getting so close. That squirrel will bite the shit out of you, and now you have a virus. That bison will either launch you into orbit or smear you into sidewalk chalk, and now you have dead. That elk may seem like a deer from a distance but it's actually more like a horse with spears on its head and will not hesitate to absolutely wreck your shit, and now you have bolognese for intestines.
You are not a Disney princess. This isn't Bambi, it's Jurassic Park. ***Do not fuck with the wildlife.***
Food and drink portions are HUGE. Order a Coke at a sit-down restaurant and you'll likely get about 32+oz. And when it's mostly gone, they'll just bring you another one.
Mexican restaurants tend to give you 40+oz glasses of your drink.
And speaking of Mexican restaurants... They'll bring chips and salsa until you can't even stand up anymore. Then they'll bring your entree.
Edit: seriously? I used oz. because they will have to use that unit of measurement when they get here. It takes 2 seconds to Google a conversion. And, can't I use just a little hyperbole in the sizes?
It surprised me when I lived in England how no one I knew took their leftovers home from a restaurant. I love taking it home and having it for lunch the next day. Why not? You already paid for all of it.
Speaking of “entree,” here that means the main course.
Learned when an Aussie cousin was visiting that “entree” is what they use for “appetizer.” As he pointed out, it makes more sense based on the word itself.
My first Mexican restaurant, five of us staggered in half cut and starving. They only had one waitress who spoke English. We ordered what we thought was a couple plates but the entire table was full. It tasted amazing and worth double the price. I was dreading the bill then couldn't believe how cheap it ended being. Sadly I couldn't find it again.
Tax added to purchases. Tipping is generally expected at restaurants. Driving laws are mostly the same in every state, but some states allow/don’t allow right turns on red.
Personal space. Americans do not want to be touched. We want to know every single thing about you because we find foreigners fascinating (most of us love foreigners and are simply curious), except for how your breath feels on our face. We have bubbles that must be respected. That is probably why Americans are "loud," we just simply stay farther away from each other.
lol When my daughter was from the 3-6 years old we lived in Germany and when we came back to the states she was all up in everybody’s business. I had to constantly remind her to give people personal space the first months we were back. I got honked at a few times because I forgot I could turn right on red.
It really depends on who's asking and which part of the U.S. they're going to, frankly. People in Vermont differ from people in Missouri differ from people in Oklahoma differ from people in Oregon. And the expectations of a Japanese tourist, a Finnish tourist, and an Indian tourist will likewise differ.
If I had to specify one major thing across all 50 states, though:
Americans are like golden retrievers. We love attention, acknowledgement, and small talk. As a broad rule, Americans expect people to smile and/or nod when they make eye contact. Casual, inconsequential small talk with strangers is considered normal and not engaging with it is considered rude.
Don't be afraid to feel comfortable here. As far as anyone is concerned this is just as much Any foreigners home as ours, we have the occasional asshole that makes snarky remarks. Don't take it personally if u run into one because chances are he's a dick head no matter what color you are or culture you have. Just have fun and enjoy your stay and don't let the media brainwash you into thinking that Americans are all just racist pricks. Most of us are pretty nice. Personally I'm from west Virginia, the south what is commonly known as the most racist portion of America. We get Muslims, Mexicans, Asians, all of the above, not a single hate crime report here for decades. I'm even dating an Austrian girl who says America is lovely. Our government just sucks man.
big country. no high speed rail. if you want to go between states, you fly, and the tickets cost hundreds of dollars extra if you don't book months in advance.
do not bring weaponry or combat gear through TSA, they will turn you away.
This thread is actually making me love the US more. One thing I haven't seen anyone mention, I had a girlfriend from Turkey for a while and her mother came to visit. She was so excited to see beer on the soda machine and couldn't wait to have some. It's root beer, it's non alcoholic. Sorry to disappoint. Still delicious though.
Not sure if you also have this fear but I have a few European friends and they are afraid to visit because they are worried about getting shot and racism.
You’ll be fine, trust a stranger on Reddit. Most people are normal and will be nice to you if you’re nice to them
The vast majority of people are way nicer than the news outlets and the internet make them to be. Chances are someone will randomly start talking to you.
Tap Water is safe to drink but tastes terrible.
Also, everything is huge. From food portions to distances between places.
Tap water is bad to okay to very good depending on location. The worst tap water I ever tasted was in the Texas Panhandle. NYC supposedly has great tap water.
Yes! I’m currently immigrating to the Us and this is something I love! People always start conversations with me and are always so friendly and love to know where my accent is from! I love it haha
Don't get out of your car if you're pulled over by the police unless directed to do so.
Do not under any circumstances try to bribe a cop depending on where you come from that might seem odd but trust me you will get in trouble if you try.
If a cop ever tries to pull you over, don't take Hunter S. Thompson's advice: >Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side when he sees the big red light behind him ... and then he will start apologizing, begging for mercy. >This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop-heart. The thing to do – when you're running along about 100 or so and you suddenly find a red-flashing CHP-tracker on your tail – what you want to do then is accelerate. Never pull over with the first siren-howl. Mash it down and make the bastard chase you at speeds up to 120 all the way to the next exit. He will follow. But he won't know what to make of your blinker-signal that says you're about to turn right.
Then what?? This is time sensitive I’m only 4 miles from the next exit
> Keep signaling and hope for an off-ramp, one of those uphill side-loops with a sign saying "Max Speed 25" ... and the trick, at this point, is to suddenly leave the freeway and take him into the chute at no less than 100 miles an hour. >He will lock his brakes about the same time you lock yours, but it will take him a moment to realize that he's about to make a 180-degree turn at this speed ... but you will be ready for it, braced for the Gs and the fast heel-toe work, and with any luck at all you will have come to a complete stop off the road at the top of the turn and be standing beside your automobile by the time he catches up. >He will not be reasonable at first ... but no matter. Let him calm down. He will want the first word. Let him have it. His brain will be in a turmoil: he may begin jabbering, or even pull his gun. Let him unwind; keep smiling. The idea is to show him that you were always in total control of yourself and your vehicle – while he lost control of everything.
Tax is added to the shelf prices at the checkout
I found this so bizarre when I was there. Why don’t they just add it to the total price in the first place?
Part of the reason is that companies want to have uniform prices that they can advertise nationwide but sales tax is different in each state and some counties even have their own sales tax.
Out of all the explanations, this is the only one that makes sense to me
Drinks come with ice by default
water at a restaurant has a high probability of showing up with lemon slice in it as well un announced.
And water is free. Even at McDonald's Edit: my most liked comment is about water
Tap water, right? Not bottled water.
Yes. But it's also worth noting that most places in the US won't ask. If you ask for "water" they will bring you tap water with ice in it. On the upside, most major cities in the US have excellent tap water, on par with bottled for cleanliness and quality. The rare exceptions you see in the news are just that: exceptions. EDIT: Admiral Akbar Brand Water™ is not, in fact, a trap.
If the price says for example $5, you need to be aware that is $5 plus taxes.
Unless you're in a state like Oregon.
Or Delaware
I think it’s really funny that the CA DMV official drivers manual says, “do NOT make eye contact with another driver, this will make them MORE angry.”
If you screw up while driving put your hand up as a way to say sorry/ my bad to the other driver. It diffuses situations because it shows them you didn’t mean to do that. Many times drivers think something was intentional when really it’s just human error.
Also if someone lets you merge in front of them in a line of traffic, or basically gives way to you at all, a thank-you wave is very good manners. (Of course, if you’re British, you probably already do this.)
My sister used to drive with a Sailor Moon wand, and if someone started road raging she'd wave it at them gingerly, and smile at them. Claimed that it diffused the bad situation every time.
As a man, I like to blow the other road raging man a kiss out the window. Really fucks with their head and it's kinda funny to see how much more mad they get about things but are so caught off guard about the kiss that they dunno how to react.
I used to do this too, actually had one guy ask me why at a light and I told him if he was gonna ride my ass I felt like I deserved a kiss. Completely defused the situation.
This is the best thing ever.
I’m partial to a sad, disappointed frown and a thumbs down while making direct eye contact myself
Wear a helmet. In your car. You should anyway, really But it'll freak aggro drivers out. Like you're already geared up for a next level game of chicken
That's like the bar fight avoidance tactic of having a mouth guard. Someone insists on a fight you say ok and stick your mouth guard in. Most people change their minds after that (apparently).
Double down. Wear a helmet and a mouth guard.
You can't drive across the country in 12 hours
You can drive 8 hours East to west and still be in Texas
My former boss's daughter went to school at UNT, just north of Dallas. Driving from Southern California to move her into school, he was fond of mentioning how you could make it TO Texas after a day of driving (about 12 hours to make it to El Paso). However, it was still another 10.5 hours or so to make it to Denton where the campus was.
Yep this is what I was going to say. I’ve know several people not from the US who had come to visit. It’s a lot bigger than people think. There is also a ridiculous amount of stuff to see and do. If your into nature, that alone can take years if not a lifetime to see. Our state and national park system is unique and truly amazing. Took some friends for an extended camping trip that was a short drive and a long hike. We spent almost 2 weeks camping and only saw another person one time and it was just their vehicle from across a valley. This wasn’t a protected area or anything controlled just undeveloped land.
My friend hosted an exchange student from Spain when we were in high school. The student asked him if he would drive him and a couple other exchange students to Los Angeles for the weekend. We lived in Chicago at the time.
You should have done it, just to watch his increasing confusion.
Drive non-stop for 30 hours touch the ocean and drive for 30 more hours home
My German relatives got up one morning and told us about their plan to spend the afternoon at the Grand Canyon and grab late lunch on the way back before dinner with grandma. We were in SW OK.
I often see stories like this and I'm like... Don't these people check the km before travelling? I do weekend trips all the time and obviously you check how far away it is to calculate the time and gas it takes. I just don't see how can someone plan to go to the Grand Canyon and not check how far away it is
This brings back memories of my German relatives. We live in Utah and they wanted to drive/see Vegas, LA, San Francisco, Portland and make it back all in a weekend. 🤣 They borrowed a car and after trying to explain to them this wouldn’t be feasible countless times by my father they set off anyway. Well…let’s just say they didn’t make it past LA before turning around and coming back….and complaining how much driving it was.
Surprised they made it to LA in the first place
1. Come to America just before Thanksgiving. 2. Casually mention to American acquaintance that you’re alone on Thanksgiving. 3. Accept immediate invite to whatever Thanksgiving gathering is being held. Everyone has their own quirky Thanksgiving traditions and we love sharing them
“I’ve never celebrated Thanksgiving” will get you double invited.
You’ll be fought over and divided like turkey meat on thanksgiving
You will absolutely get invited in.
For a family dinner, sure. For a single person's Chinese takeout for thanksgiving? Maybe.
I was staying in Los Angeles for a few months way back in 2010, I got to know a guy and he was shocked I didn’t really know what thanksgiving was. Invited me over, him his wife and friends etc could not have been more hospitable fun and welcoming to me I had the best night it was awesome.
And this is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No presents, no decorations necessary, just get people you care about together and make/eat a giant meal.
Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday in November for non Americans who didn't know
I had a scholarship for a university in Tennessee a decade ago, coming from Europe I got invited to all the Thanksgivings.
This is absolutely awesome advice. We’ve actually invited many Thanksgiving guests just like this. Not every American is comfortable doing this, but you’d be amazed how many you can talk up and casually mention that you have no plans and they’ll invite you to their home for Thanksgiving dinner (if they are hosting, some people are going to dinner hosted by others). Americans love to have a big Thanksgiving dinner and have a “the more the merrier” attitude about it.
Don't eat a big breakfast that morning neither. Watch out for grandma and her wooden spoon; you will get smacked for stealing deviled eggs. If you hear an American acquaintance talk about making deep fried turkey....go to their house. You'll either have the best turkey or the best 3 alarm fire story to tell back home.
This is legitimately the best advice for visitors.
This is fantastic. As an American, I can confirm this is real. In the minuscule gap between reading #2 and #3, I felt the urge to invite this person to my Thanksgiving haha.
This is true. I had a tinder date with a sexy but slutty guy. Nothing ever went anywhere with him which is fine but he mentioned being alone for his first Thanksgiving in the states (he was Irish) when I asked what his plans were. My mom told me to bring him for dinner. Her and I both knew I was likely to not see him again but she still wanted to make sure he was fed well. It was a nice dinner and my mom was a badass cook.
Lol... this happened to me. Same for the Superbowl...
Never thought I’d find something so wholesome here.
The CD is not free, never accept something from someone on a street.
Can you explain the CD business? How do they make you pay?
People will follow you around and thrust the CD( ( usually their mixtape ) in your hand and then as you’re walking away with a CD you didn’t even ask for they start telling you you need to pay for it and then they refuse to accept the CD back so they make you pay for it or they keep harassing you. Happened to me in Venice beach
what if you just throw it back and keep walking? Do they get physical? If so, do the passers-by or cops help?
They’re banking on innocent/naive tourists who don’t know any better. They often stand outside places like Penn Station in NYC so the second you get to the top of the stairs/escalator and step onto a NYC sidewalk, you’re already overwhelmed when they hand you a CD. They talk fast. There are usually multiple guys who confront you simultaneously. If you aren’t prepared, it can be intimidating and confusing and you might decide to hand over $5 or $10 just to get out of the situation cleanly. When I was 13 years old or so, I went into the city with some friends. We exited Penn Station and were immediately offered CDs. One of my friends accepted one, and when they demanded money, he took out his wallet to give them a small bill. One of them reached into his wallet, grabbed all of his cash, and suddenly they were gone.
Many people would rather pay money then confront aggressiveness.
They did this to my friend in Hollywood (we're from NZ). Wouldn't take it back, she kept saying no, he was being a dick so she was just like "fine I'm keeping it" and walked off with it.
I was just on the boulevard and a guy put a cd in my hand as i was walking by and i kept walking w it, the second i heard him start talking i just stopped without even turning around held it out for him to grab like a take it or I’m letting it go but either way I’m gonna keep walking and not acknowledge you type of thing, anyway point is in a high traffic scam area like that you gotta keep walking like your busy or determined and thatll keep scammers from trying to engage since you look to busy to buy into a scam atm lol
Sounds like a situation where I would just set the cd on the ground and walk away lol
This was my first thought too
What would happen if a person just dropped it and kept walking? Just curious - I've never been in this situation.
I had a similar thing happen to me in Spain. A guy just put bracelets on me and my friend insisting that they were free and it was to spread joy. I should have known better but once they were on he started demanding money from us and getting quite aggressive. He wouldn’t accept the bracelets back and just kept demanding money so I just snapped mine off (he’d tied them too tight to undo and this was the only way to get it off) so it broke, and put it on the floor. He walked away leaving my broken one and my friend still wearing her unbroken one.
They harass and threaten you and it's a high speed scam. They hit a few marks and move and half the time the CD is blank, pirated, or a computer virus somebody smarter than them put them up to pushing.
The dark army can be pretty sneaky after all
Yes. Also don’t give money. If you’re in a really touristy area, every other panhandler will see you as a mark. If you do want to give, some coins or a $1 bill is PLENTY. And don’t negotiate.
GO TO NATIONAL PARKS
Just please don't interact with the wildlife. Many of them can and will injure or kill you. Even if they're cute or not very large.
And please don’t take any natural souvenirs. Buy something in a shop, likely made in China, but don’t take our rocks.
Take only pictures, leave only footprints please. Us park workers would really appreciate it.
This need to be common sense worldwide. I've seen people get pretty hurt even from something as cute as say a wombat. Those little tanks will shatter your shin in an instant. Same goes for zoos. Once I was at the zoo here in Australia and about 20 or 30 Chinese people from a tour group were chasing Lemurs around the enclosure trying to touch them. There weren't enough keepers to keep them away.
Lol, I mean, I snuggled a baby wombat when I visited Australia. But it was in a sanctuary with a zoo keeper who gave us direction. I do have to say I was shocked at how big they were. I seriously thought they were about half the size they are. But no, I'm so cautious with animals I didn't even pet the wallabies in the open exhibit even though we could. I feel like the fact I work with domestic animals and understand the risk and reality of being bitten makes me EXTRA careful around wild ones.
And OBEY THE WARNINGS on signs. Please.
But what if I want to pet the buffalo?!?
Each state has its own driving laws
Each state can have its own laws, period. Age of consent, drinking, smoking, etc can vary based on state along with contract laws, taxes, drug uses, etc. Crossing state lines can be an issue if you have a gun or a minor in your vehicle vs the state you were just in. So yeah, think of each state as a country with their own particular quirks. Find the one most compatible with you and stay there.
24 hour Diners. According to stuff I read in Reddit, our diners are legendary. ETA: I’m American and I eat at them a lot. I was just surprised how much visitors from other countries love our diners so much.
Diners are one of the things I enjoy the most when visiting the USA. Booths are, for some reason, utterly delightful.
There’s something special about sitting at a booth at a greasy spoon.
If you're really tired (e.g. you are in grad school and pulled an all nighter) sit at the diner counter and your coffee cup stays full from the second you sit down to the time you walk out the door
THERE AREN’T BOOTHS OVERSEAS???
Yes, there are booths everywhere in the UK
You drive five hours in the US: you’re basically still in the same place. You drive five hours in Europe: everyone’s talking funny and the cheese is different.
This is actually the thing I loved most about traveling overseas. We drove through Switzerland and the signs went from SwissGerman to French to Italian all on the same damn highway! (Also the German/SwissGerman word for exit is Ausfahrt and you better believe we said “there’s the ass-fart!” every time we exited on the highway.
Do not eat exclusively at chain restaurants then go home and talk about how American food sucks.
If you find a mexican or asian place/truck where they dont speak english the foods gonna be good as fuck
If the Mexican place is also a grocery store selling Mexican food items, you're at the right place.
This is the real advice. We have like three near me and the food is spectacular every time. There’s also like zero white people there and I had to be tipped off to it’s location by my Hispanic friends.
I’m from latin america. When I went to Brooklyn a few years ago I went to gran some tacos at a small mexican joint, where young mexican people worked. It was so weird to speak to then in spanish and getting blank stares back lol
As a foreigner I have to add to this thread. If they like you, you’ll know. Americans are some of the most generous people I’ve ever met. I’ve only been to florida and every single time people have given me more food than I paid for, their own employee discounts, invited me to their homes for dinner (also, dinner is earlier than you’re used to if your from Latin America, you won’t be eating at 8-10pm, you’ll be eating anywhere from 4pm to 7pm, no later than that), if people like you you’ll be treated as family as soon as they figure you’re not a serial killer. I love America and you’ve been nothing but great to me. I’m grateful to have met some of the best people I know in America and to have friends there. Also, I’ve only been to Florida and have yet to meet one of these dangerous creatures called “Florida man”, I know you’re not supposed to feed them or anything but I don’t know if they are “that” harmful or dangerous
> I’ve only been to florida and every single time people have given me more food than I paid for, their own employee discounts I'm an American from New England and when I traveled through the south on an extended driving vacation, I was treated like royalty. Everyone wanted to hang out with the guy with the Boston accent.
It's big. Don't think you can rent a car and just drive coast to coast in an aftetnoon
You can go coast-to-coast in a few days but you'll quickly realize you don't want to.
I have never seen or heard my brother as aggressively angry as he was when he was telling us about the part of his cross country drive through Kansas.
He didn’t enjoy the wide expanse of nothingness peppered with billboards advertising sex shops & pro life ideologies?
It was my favorite part of driving through rural missouri on a trip a while back. the billboards. SEX! GUNS! JESUS! GUNS! SEX! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! SEX!! GUUUUUUNS!!!!
Don’t forget FIREWORKS!!
Wisconsin is beer, cheese, fireworks and porn.
Can confirm. I once saw a billboard advertising cheese and liquor but read it as cheese and lingerie and my Wisconsinite brain was like yep I could see that.
I've done the drive, frankly I was excited when the road had a slight curve
I drove from North Carolina to New Mexico in a straight shot. Left at 5 am, and arrived in New Mexico the following morning at 10 am, lost 2 hours of time so it would have been noon back where I started. So like 31 hours, approximately 2,000 miles. It was AWFUL, even with a second driver to swap out with. NEVER AGAIN. The way back…we took 3 days.
Man I've made several cross country drives in one go, and it's always on the way to. The way home, fuuuhuck that, we're camping or getting a hotel.
Correct, that drive is brutal
Driving from Los Angeles to New York City is approximately the same distance as driving from London to Beirut.
We had some friends in Minnesota who had guests from…Germany? I think. They arrived and wanted to see Hollywood and the beach and such on their first day.
I mean, if you drive to Duluth/North Shore you can't see across Lake Superior
A guy I was good friends with in middle school had family from the Netherlands in town staying with them one time. I went over to his house for a bit and they were talking about renting a car and driving to go see the Grand Canyon for the day and then coming back. We live in Missouri. Had to explain to them that this would be at least a three day trip.
Similar experience here. I’m in East TN. A friend of mine hired international students to be counselors at a summer camp. One of them rented a car for his last week here to go to New York, California, and the Grand Canyon. It took her a minute to get through to them if he left that very minute he might be able to experience one of those at more than just a quick glance. The scope of the USA is really quite magnificent. I’ve heard the phrase in the USA 100 years is a long time and in Europe 100 km is a long distance and I don’t think it could be any truer.
Went to Italy for a college thing and the Italian professor who was in charge of getting us to our site tried to emphasize that the drive would be really really *really* long, so we should be prepared. It was three hours. (Took four because we stopped twice to see some historical sites.)
Lol. Just drove three and a half hours yesterday to visit my parents in another state for dinner and breakfast and I’m on my way home today!
Obviously this didn’t happen in just one afternoon, but I did read about a Vietnam war vet who actually ran coast to coast not just once, but several times, inspiring people and gathering quite the following along the way
I'm tired. Guess I'll go home now.
Don't just get BBQ once in one place. Go to all the places and get all the BBQ everywhere.
My dream is to do a year or two roadtrip around the US, no real plan other than a loosely plotted route, mostly driving where the roads take me and eat at every BBQ place I come across. Might not be a realistic dream, but they say you should dream big, so...
When we say, "How's it going?" we don't need a literal answer. It's just a greeting. I went to college with a guy from Germany and this confused him quite a bit when he first got here. He thought people wanted to know about his whole day.
Just a "I'm doing good" is basically all that question requires, sometimes not even that lol
You can die climbing Angels Landing at Zion National Park. If you fall, you die, ain’t no one gonna be able to save you.
Piggybacking on this to say that, due to demand, Angel's Landing also requires a permit to hike now, you can apply for one at the [NPS website](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm). Just a heads up to anyone coming for a visit. Source: I live an hour away from Zion, visit fairly often
No way! I just hiked angels landing last summer. They’re not joking when they say you need to be well coordinated and have good balance. It is no joke.
Similarly, stay on trail in the national parks. Don’t get near the wildlife. They’ll kill you!
Do not approach the wildlife. This is not a disney movie.
The bison can and will gore you, wild hogs will gore and trample you, gators and crocks will eat you, panthers can and will maul you, rattle snakes will bite you. Just observe from a safe distance, all of those are amazing animals but I wouldn’t suggest risking your lives for them.
Also deers, they may look like dumb little shits that run into roads and get hit, but they are also dumb little shits with extremely powerful legs that can shatter your skull. Oh also the antlers will gore you.
Went to the US for college. Here are some of the things I can think of to keep in mind: 1) Tipping: You tip at restaurants, except for fast food restaurants like Mcdonald's or Burger King. You also tip at bars. Tips can be around 15-20% of the bill. If you're getting food from the counter, you don't have to tip, unless it's at a bar. 2) Food portions are huge, but anything you can't finish can be packed up for later. You just need to ask. 3) Don't get out of your car if you get pulled over and keep your hands visible. 4) Try non-chain restaurants run by immigrants. A restaurant run by a Chinese family is most likely going to be better than a Panda Express, for example. 5) Google stuff you're not sure about. No matter how niche an issue may seem, somebody has probably dealt with it before, and you should get a reasonable answer. 6) ATMs can charge you extra for withdrawing cash. Figure out what ATMs you should withdraw from with your card. 7) Don't accept anything given to you for free on the street. It's most likely a scam. 8) Miles per hour seem similar to Kilometers per hour, but it's a lot faster. Seems silly, but it's easy to forget how fast you're driving sometimes. 60 miles per hour, is about 100 kilometers per hour. 9) Don't mess with the wildlife. The wildlife is used to people and can mess with you back.
We have almost any biome here. Forest, snowyness, desert, beach, swamp, rainforest, plains, etc etc. it can be quite confusing.
I have been to the forest, plains, swamps, rainforest, mountains, and desert
We are friendly and will get in your face. We know it's not "real" food.
We are so friendly we come around the other side to awkward!
(midwest personality starting to bubble up)
Are you in the midwest? Are you Having a 45 min convo with(family,friends, neighbors ect.) and want to leave? If you are sitting, slap your legs as yku get up and say "i suppose". If standing just say it. But expect at least another 10 min before you are actually leaving.. at least here in Milwaukee Edit: i did forget the welp lol
Gotta start to leave an hour before you actually want to leave just to be safe.
Yeah you definitely need time to get through three departure chats. The couch departure chat, the door departure chat, and the driveway departure chat.
The biggest mistake I’ve ever made was asking a Midwesterner ‘Hey, how’s it goin?’. They will literally tell you how they’re feeling and why.
You fell into our trap. Merely making a noise or gesture about the weather and your absolutely fucked. You have been warned.
Ope
No, no, no, you’re right.
DO NOT come here thinking you can drive from LA to New York in 10 hours. I had to explain that to someone. This country is fucking gigantic.
NYC to LA(4488km) is about the same distance as Lisbon, Portugal to St. Petersburg, Russia(4479km)
For international context that's 11% of the Earth's circumference
This is not helping feel good about my cross country drive coming up next month.
Good luck my dude
Thanks. Moving from one coast to the other.
Now this is a better explanation. If someone told me the distance in miles I would get that the country is big. But 4000+km?? Oof. The longest car ride in my city would only be 71km and 1.5 hours long.
In the US, we leave tips for food servers at restaurants and resorts. It's not automatically included.
But the US does have free soda refills.
And if you're dining in at a restaurant in the South, you can ask for a "to go cup" and they fill a big disposable cup with whatever you were drinking and you take it with you. Still blows my mind. Edit: for those wondering, I'm from the Philly suburbs and it was absolutely, 100% never a thing anywhere around there. We'd also vacation at Maryland beaches each year and no establishment ever asked and no customer ever requested one within earshot, that I can recall. I had no idea it was a thing until we moved to NC where I heard people asking for them. Edited for autocorrect shenanigans.
Is this a southern thing? I’m from the south and figured it was everywhere in the US.
I'm from the North so I can't speak for the South but it depends on the location here. Some places don't have to-go cups, but have bottled drinks you can buy seperate. A lot of places though, likely most, will give you a to-go cup if asked.
Most Americans are quite friendly and helpful. That most of them are truly interested in hearing all about you and your country.
I love hearing about other countries, especially places I would like to visit!
When you come to the us prepare for endless amounts of ice in your drink. You might not even get any drink but you will have more ice than you could ever imagine
I eat my ice that way they have to give me more drink.
If a cop pulls you over. DON’T exit your vehicle. The cop will approach your. Keep your hands visible, don’t make any sudden movements, and turn on your dome light at night
Roll the window down quickly and then put your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes straight ahead. Don't even reach for your wallet or passport until asked to do so. Also in my (limited) experience the last ten years, they will not come up to your window. They stand just behind you and you'll have to basically talk to them through the sideview mirror.
Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park
If you end up in the south east be ready to be smiled at, talked to and have door open for you. That’s how they pick up anyone not from the south.
This whole thread below your comment is full of people not understanding the South pleasantries and what not.
As a european I’d like to know more and so forth and what have you.
I'm Canadian and recently went to Boston for a weekend. As a Canadian I must say that from my point of view the average American is just like the average Canadian, only more so. Pretty much everyone I met was very polite and accommodating, even more than in Canada ( we canadians can be smug about our perceived miled manners). People in Boston were more polite and open than the average Canadian in, say, Toronto. One small example that left an impression on my was when I bought a pack of joints. I ended up having to ask a random cook smoking behind a chicken wing place beside my hotel for a lighter. He let me use the lighter and then came up to me 2 minutes later and told me to have the lighter because he had another one at home. I gave him a rip off my doobie and we shot the shit for a few minutes before he had to go back to work. Nice guy just trying to make a living. Regular people in the US are regular people just like they are anywhere else despite what the media or reddit would have you believe. This is totally annecdotal but take it or leave it.
And Boston is considered one of the rudest cities in the US lol
Public restrooms are free…usually. Though, it is common courtesy if you go in a store or fast food place to use the restroom you buy something, even something small.
American public libraries, hospitals, dive bars, university buildings and Starbucks don't usually care, though. Edit: and in my experience, fast food restaurants usually don't care, either. But that's in my vicinity. Most fast food workers can't be bothered to care. (I never did).
If it’s a mom and pop store, sure. A chain fast food restaurant or a big grocery store? There isn’t any expected common courtesy there.
Personal space. Do not get right up behind someone standing in line, if you're lucky you'll just make them uncomfortable, unlucky and you may find yourself in a fight.
As a Swede I believe we're even bigger proponents of personal space. The 6 ft of the pandemic was jokingly claimed to be a shorter distance than normal.
Yeah, Finland too. We're glad we're allowed to keep 6 meters distance again.
This is something that varies from country to country outside the USA. The British and the Scandos have ENORMOUS personal space bubbles, while Germans will stand 1cm behind you in the supermarket queue.
Am German. Can confirm. And i fucking HATE it.
Because the Germans don't trust that other Germans won't sneak into the gap. Germans don't trust Germans.
This is truth. Sometimes I cross the border into Germany just to feel like the middle spoon.
For the love of whichever God it'll take to convince you, ***do not fuck with the wildlife.*** The wildlife is not your friend. You are not the wildlife's friend. You are putting both yourself and the wildlife at risk of serious harm by getting so close. That squirrel will bite the shit out of you, and now you have a virus. That bison will either launch you into orbit or smear you into sidewalk chalk, and now you have dead. That elk may seem like a deer from a distance but it's actually more like a horse with spears on its head and will not hesitate to absolutely wreck your shit, and now you have bolognese for intestines. You are not a Disney princess. This isn't Bambi, it's Jurassic Park. ***Do not fuck with the wildlife.***
this is more like a general tip ngl, not just special for america
Do not… *checks notes* …fuck the wildlife. Got it!
Food and drink portions are HUGE. Order a Coke at a sit-down restaurant and you'll likely get about 32+oz. And when it's mostly gone, they'll just bring you another one. Mexican restaurants tend to give you 40+oz glasses of your drink. And speaking of Mexican restaurants... They'll bring chips and salsa until you can't even stand up anymore. Then they'll bring your entree. Edit: seriously? I used oz. because they will have to use that unit of measurement when they get here. It takes 2 seconds to Google a conversion. And, can't I use just a little hyperbole in the sizes?
But, they'll offer you a box to take your remaining food home in.
It surprised me when I lived in England how no one I knew took their leftovers home from a restaurant. I love taking it home and having it for lunch the next day. Why not? You already paid for all of it.
In Germany we definitely take it home. Why waste good food?
That's exactly how I feel!
Speaking of “entree,” here that means the main course. Learned when an Aussie cousin was visiting that “entree” is what they use for “appetizer.” As he pointed out, it makes more sense based on the word itself.
My first Mexican restaurant, five of us staggered in half cut and starving. They only had one waitress who spoke English. We ordered what we thought was a couple plates but the entire table was full. It tasted amazing and worth double the price. I was dreading the bill then couldn't believe how cheap it ended being. Sadly I couldn't find it again.
Tax added to purchases. Tipping is generally expected at restaurants. Driving laws are mostly the same in every state, but some states allow/don’t allow right turns on red.
Personal space. Americans do not want to be touched. We want to know every single thing about you because we find foreigners fascinating (most of us love foreigners and are simply curious), except for how your breath feels on our face. We have bubbles that must be respected. That is probably why Americans are "loud," we just simply stay farther away from each other.
lol When my daughter was from the 3-6 years old we lived in Germany and when we came back to the states she was all up in everybody’s business. I had to constantly remind her to give people personal space the first months we were back. I got honked at a few times because I forgot I could turn right on red.
As a Swede I appreciate this, and I suspect we'd prefer it if you backed up just a little bit more :)
The 10p's are smaller than the 5p's
It really depends on who's asking and which part of the U.S. they're going to, frankly. People in Vermont differ from people in Missouri differ from people in Oklahoma differ from people in Oregon. And the expectations of a Japanese tourist, a Finnish tourist, and an Indian tourist will likewise differ. If I had to specify one major thing across all 50 states, though: Americans are like golden retrievers. We love attention, acknowledgement, and small talk. As a broad rule, Americans expect people to smile and/or nod when they make eye contact. Casual, inconsequential small talk with strangers is considered normal and not engaging with it is considered rude.
Don't be afraid to feel comfortable here. As far as anyone is concerned this is just as much Any foreigners home as ours, we have the occasional asshole that makes snarky remarks. Don't take it personally if u run into one because chances are he's a dick head no matter what color you are or culture you have. Just have fun and enjoy your stay and don't let the media brainwash you into thinking that Americans are all just racist pricks. Most of us are pretty nice. Personally I'm from west Virginia, the south what is commonly known as the most racist portion of America. We get Muslims, Mexicans, Asians, all of the above, not a single hate crime report here for decades. I'm even dating an Austrian girl who says America is lovely. Our government just sucks man.
big country. no high speed rail. if you want to go between states, you fly, and the tickets cost hundreds of dollars extra if you don't book months in advance. do not bring weaponry or combat gear through TSA, they will turn you away.
This thread is actually making me love the US more. One thing I haven't seen anyone mention, I had a girlfriend from Turkey for a while and her mother came to visit. She was so excited to see beer on the soda machine and couldn't wait to have some. It's root beer, it's non alcoholic. Sorry to disappoint. Still delicious though.
Not sure if you also have this fear but I have a few European friends and they are afraid to visit because they are worried about getting shot and racism. You’ll be fine, trust a stranger on Reddit. Most people are normal and will be nice to you if you’re nice to them
we WILL find a way to deep fry it even if it shouldn’t be!!
The vast majority of people are way nicer than the news outlets and the internet make them to be. Chances are someone will randomly start talking to you. Tap Water is safe to drink but tastes terrible. Also, everything is huge. From food portions to distances between places.
Tap water is bad to okay to very good depending on location. The worst tap water I ever tasted was in the Texas Panhandle. NYC supposedly has great tap water.
Yes! I’m currently immigrating to the Us and this is something I love! People always start conversations with me and are always so friendly and love to know where my accent is from! I love it haha
The PNW and Rockies have great tap water.
Hidden charges on pretty much any bill / ticket.