1 week Ago
There are a lot of perceptions of American culture and daily life by people who don't live in the US, especially these days. And while some may be true, others are just myths. So when redditor Khrime asked Americans to share the aspects of daily life in the States that the rest of the world doesn't know about, a lot of folks chimed in with their views on what it's actually like living here.
Here's what they had to say. 1. "We actually have access to farmer's markets, where people sell produce out of the back of their trucks.
" — JimBones31 "During the warm half of the year, we go weekly and grab some local fruit, veggies, and baked items. Believe it or not, a lot of communities have street vendors selling prepared foods, too. With a bit of legwork, not everything is Walmart and Costco here.
" — Bogmanbob 3. "When I had European friends visit for the first time, we took them out to a chain restaurant. They were shocked at the end of the meal when the server brought out to-go boxes.
They had finished their entire meal (of huge portions) without realizing we sort of expected to have too much food and take the extra home." — Due_Tomorrow7768 "Yeah, people hate on with our huge portion sizes, but I basically plan on restaurant meals being at least two meals with leftovers. It's an advantage to me; I have lunch or dinner for the next day.
" — snuffleupagus7 5. "Honestly, our lives are kind of boring. The vast majority of working Americans wake up, make coffee or some sort of energy source, drive 10–30 minutes to work, work for 8–10 hours, and go home to have leisure time.
Some nights, I’ll keep to myself and take care of chores and groceries or watch sports. Others, I’ll meet up with some friends for drinks/video games or go on a date with my soon-to-be wife." — msflagship 7.
"I feel unfathomably rude if I don't acknowledge a stranger passing me on the street or through a door with at least a half-hearted smile. I also feel rude if I don't hold the door open for people, and I judge a little if they don't hold a door." — Gertrude_D 9.
"I think the biggest thing is that all 50 states are so different from each other. Outsiders/people from other countries think if you're an American, then you're like what flashed across the TV that day. One state will have lotteries and gambling and liquor sales 24/7.
Another state thinks all that is a sin and limits or denies access to all of those things." — Whitestealth74 11. "How much variety there is in our diets.
We regularly get questions about a 'typical' American meal that presupposes a homogeneity that simply doesn't exist." — royalhawk345 13. "I lived in Europe in the '90s while serving in the military.
It always caught me off guard that, based mostly on TV shows from the US, they seemed to think that all Americans are filthy rich. In truth, most people I met there lived a much more comfortable lifestyle than I ever had. I think it would surprise most outsiders how much the average American struggles to just get by financially from day to day.
" — smpenn 15. "My husband is German, and I met him when we lived in the US. The biggest shock for him (and the other German expat friends I made through him) was people saying, 'We should hang out sometime,' but not meaning it because they didn't want to schedule a time right then and there.
They also complained about people asking, 'How are you?' and not actually wanting to know or not meaning it because you're just supposed to say 'good' and ask how they are." — napalmtree13 17. "We don't consider driving three to four hours to do something/see someone to be far.
Today after work, I'm driving an hour to spend a few hours at a con, then driving an hour home. Next weekend, I'm driving three and a half hours for a weekend getaway with friends, driving back, and going straight to work. I drive five hours to get to my tattoo artist.
Oh, and all of those things are still in my state." — ABelleWriter 19. "Americans are generally really nice, welcoming, and tolerant people.
Whatever you see online about America that shows the opposite is not true for the vast majority of interactions in everyday life. For example, most people are not willing to turn away their friends and family because of their politics. Things stay civil for the most part, and we love our neighbors regardless of their opinions.
Of course, this has lessened to a degree over the last decade. But again, the majority of people are civil and nice to each other." — Uncle_Chael 21.
"I live in suburban Texas. We spend a lot of time driving. We drive 20 minutes each way for daycare drop-off every day.
The gym is another 15 minutes away on the days we go. Our church is about 20 minutes away. I spent about an hour driving each day.
My husband does as well. At least twice a year, we drive six hours each way to visit my parents." — tom_sawyer_mom 23.
"How empty the Western US is. Draw a line running north to south from about one degree of longitude west of the North Dakota/Minnesota state line — 80 PERCENT of the US population lives east of this line. Now draw another (curvier) line that runs along the spine of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Mountain ranges in the Western US.
Another 15 PERCENT of the American population lives west of this line, between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean (and most of those people are in California). This means that the vast, middle portion of America — nearly 50 percent of the lower 48 United States — has about five percent of the population." — UJMRider1961 25.
"Americans know more about the metric system than we're given credit for. If I use my food scale, I prefer to do it in grams. Everyone has a sense of one and two liters because of soda bottles.
My science classes always did every measurement in metric." — tivofanatico 27. "I've had friends from Germany remark with surprise at how orderly everyone takes turns at the many four-way stop intersections nearby.
They seemed surprised that everyone doesn't just try to drive through at the same time. We all learn the priority rules when getting our license, and, for the most part, everyone follows them without much thought." — No-Donut-8692 Are there any other aspects of daily life in the US that you want to set the record straight on? Comment below or fill out this anonymous form .
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity..
