What surprises foreigners when they come to America

[YosemiteSam]

I came across this article talking about the things that surprise foreigners when they come to America. Interesting read.

Anyone here have any stories of things that surprised them when they first come to the US?

 

[a_minimalist]

That was interesting.

 

[ethiostar]

....families shipping their elderly parents off to nursing homes, dog-owners kissing their pets,....prices are not up for negotiation,.... convenience culture, richest country in the world has hungry children,....not the wild-west/Bonanza-like.

I can generally relate to the above and I know many who do as well.

-The first is one most migrants have a hard time ever coming to gripes with. For most, no matter how long they live in the US. I believe the idea of retirement homes is pretty much unthinkable for most.

-People in a lot of countries have pets (I had a lot of different types of pets growing up) but the status pets hold in US households is also very different. I think to some extent, pets are considered a family member here.

-Set prices for most things almost everywhere was a bit unusual but it wasn't like there were no places back home where prices were not up for negotiation.

-Convenience culture was definitely a welcomed change from a place and time during which people had to stand in line for hours to get the most basic necessities in life.

-I think most people know there are poor people in every country but the level of poverty I encountered was much much higher than what I expected in the US.

-I didn't expect the wild-west but having moved to Texas when I came to the US, and having watched the Long Ranger, Bonanza, and old Western movies growing up, I expected a bit more of a western feel to the state than what I encountered. I somewhat expected some people to still use horses for transportation...LOL.

Now, keep in mind that I moved to the US in 1988. Things have drastically changed in many parts of the world, including my country of birth, and people are now much more connected and informed about one another than a couple of decades ago. So, I wouldn't expect more recent immigrants to have similar types of expectations as I or others who migrated to the US 2 or 3 decades ago.

One thing that struck me the hardest was the luck of respect some young people showed to their parents, teachers, and elders in general. I was completely blown away by this in the classroom (high school and college), friends house, or in public.

Another thing, was that everything was big. I mean everything. Houses, cars, roads, office buildings, grocery stores, etc....
and even people and I don't mean just those who are overweight.

Also, the amount of choices that are available for most things were just simply overwhelming. Walking into a grocery store looking for bread or milk and encountering a couple of dozen choices of each was a bit much for a log time.

Last thing, lack of pedestrians on the streets. Compared to where I was born and raised, the lack of people on the streets was somewhat alarming and made me feel isolated. I know many other migrants relate to this. Unless you go somewhere, i.e., school, work, grocery store, party, etc... there just aren't many opportunities to meet and observe people on the street. It seemed like everybody drove a car or used public transportation.

I will post more if something else comes to mind.

 

[Phoenix]

Just jumping into this thread and haven't read the article yet, but I would imagine our overall horrible driving habits, particularly on interstates (not staying to the right especially) are one thing that surprises people.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Just jumping into this thread and haven't read the article yet, but I would imagine our overall horrible driving habits, particularly on interstates (not staying to the right especially) are one thing that surprises people.

Have you seen shows that show people driving in other countries? It's mass choas compared to the US.

 

[Wimbo]

I recently had lunch with an Iraqi family that moved to the USA about 3 years ago. I asked them the same question. They indicated 2 things that surprised them:

1) The trees. They had never seen trees like we have in the SE USA & were amazed at how big they are & how many there are.

2) Lack of community living: In Iraq several families live in community together - sharing things, kids from many families playing together outside the homes, etc. It used to be that way in the USA, but not so much anymore. It was a big change for them.

The mother greatly missed her home country & wants to return. The kids (teens) love the USA and want to stay. The father has a great job & will not return to Iraq, so, the mother is grieving the loss of her country. Wonderful people.

 

[jobberone]

Just jumping into this thread and haven't read the article yet, but I would imagine our overall horrible driving habits, particularly on interstates (not staying to the right especially) are one thing that surprises people.

Americans are very orderly and civilized compared to many countries IMO. I didn't even want to get into a vehicle in Nigeria. The people in China drive all over the road, turn in front of you left or right, don't stop at stop signs generally, and basically drive on the edge. It's worse in other countries.

I've only seen road rage in the US though.

Many people who come here take awhile to understand how free we really are. That seems to amaze a few I know.

 

[joseephuss]

What do you mean I can't haggle?: In many parts of the world, prices on just about anything are up for negotiation, but in the U.S. it's basically limited to used cars and Craigslist. I've heard more than a few stories of well-meaning foreign shoppers taking a cashier's refusal to bargain as mere coyness. A Quora user said of his/her Russian relatives, "At one-off vintage shops and even restaurants, the idea of not talking out price left them a little upset and very surprised."

While it isn't nearly as common to be able to haggle everyday prices in the U.S., there are opportunities you can negotiate better deals. If you are shopping for electronics and other big ticket items and such you should always ask someone what discounts are available.

 

[joseephuss]

Americans are very orderly and civilized compared to many countries IMO. I didn't even want to get into a vehicle in Nigeria. The people in China drive all over the road, turn in front of you left or right, don't stop at stop signs generally, and basically drive on the edge. It's worse in other countries.

I've only seen road rage in the US though.

Many people who come here take awhile to understand how free we really are. That seems to amaze a few I know.

Go to Youtube. There are videos of road rage from all over the world. Earlier this week there was a thread about one incident from Russia.

 

[ethiostar]

Just jumping into this thread and haven't read the article yet, but I would imagine our overall horrible driving habits, particularly on interstates (not staying to the right especially) are one thing that surprises people.

I don't know about that, man. I've been to a few countries and 'lanes' are barely a suggestion of how and where people should be driving. In most places I've been, nobody pays attention to them at all and most drivers do not use their turning signal. People drive extremely close to each other, almost pushing each other out of the way:laugh2:. Going back home and driving after living in the US for 10, 15, or 20 years can be nerve racking. I know it takes me a while to get back into the rhythm of things every time I have gone back home.

I recently had lunch with an Iraqi family that moved to the USA about 3 years ago. I asked them the same question. They indicated 2 things that surprised them:

1) The trees. They had never seen trees like we have in the SE USA & were amazed at how big they are & how many there are.

2) Lack of community living: In Iraq several families live in community together - sharing things, kids from many families playing together outside the homes, etc. It used to be that way in the USA, but not so much anymore. It was a big change for them.

The mother greatly missed her home country & wants to return. The kids (teens) love the USA and want to stay. The father has a great job & will not return to Iraq, so, the mother is grieving the loss of her country. Wonderful people.

I can't believe I forgot to mention this. The idea of the isolated and self-sufficient nuclear family is very particular to the US and a few other countries/culture groups. In most places, nuclear families are imbedded in larger units, i.e., extended families including uncles, aunts, cousins, grand parents, etc... who maintain contact almost on a daily basis and in some cases living under the same roof. Neighbors also play a very active role in each others daily lives.

 

[jobberone]

Go to Youtube. There are videos of road rage from all over the world. Earlier this week there was a thread about one incident from Russia.

Don't doubt that at all. I only been to about 20 countries or so.

 

[03EBZ06]

You don't have to be a foreigner to be surprised by some Americans and some of American way of life. How many times we shook our head in disgust, or at unbelievable things occur in USA?

I've been to over 25 countries around the world and it was nice to visit those countries, but there is nowhere like USA, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

 

[CliffnDallas]

How many forigners there are here?

 

[CliffnDallas]

I don't know about that, man. I've been to a few countries and 'lanes' are barely a suggestion of how and where people should be driving. In most places I've been, nobody pays attention to them at all and most drivers do not use their turning signal. People drive extremely close to each other, almost pushing each other out of the way:laugh2:. Going back home and driving after living in the US for 10, 15, or 20 years can be nerve racking. I know it takes me a while to get back into the rhythm of things every time I have gone back home.



I can't believe I forgot to mention this. The idea of the isolated and self-sufficient nuclear family is very particular to the US and a few other countries/culture groups. In most places, nuclear families are imbedded in larger units, i.e., extended families including uncles, aunts, cousins, grand parents, etc... who maintain contact almost on a daily basis and in some cases living under the same roof. Neighbors also play a very active role in each others daily lives.

Well. As someone once said. It takes a Village.

 

[YosemiteSam]

How many forigners there are here?

 

[DallasCowpoke]

-The first is one most migrants have a hard time ever coming to gripes with. For most, no matter how long they live in the US. I believe the idea of retirement homes is pretty much unthinkable for most.

-People in a lot of countries have pets (I had a lot of different types of pets growing up) but the status pets hold in US households is also very different. I think to some extent, pets are considered a family member here.

-Set prices for most things almost everywhere was a bit unusual but it wasn't like there were no places back home where prices were not up for negotiation.

US, Japan, Iceland, Denmark, Netherlands, Canada, UK, France and Italy, all have numbers that are within percentage points of each other in relation to elderly care facilities and beds occupied. And China is climbing that list fast!

As far as the "kissing your dog thing" the US pales in comparison to the UK. Youtube some videos of British dog training shows and prepare to be gobsmacked.

It's certainly not the widely done practice here as it is in a majority of other countries, it's way more acceptable, and successful, than a LOT of ppl realize. If you simply ask, especially if you're polite, don't act like you're trying to get by with something outlandish and can deal with an owner or manager w/o making the salesperson feel belittled, you'd be surprised how successful it can be.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Few observations or stories.

Echoing most others here...as bad as some of the driving and traffic is here it is much better than the places I have been.

S.Korea was just terrible. People would pass you going up hill and around a turn with no way of seeing what is coming in the other lane.

I have to tell this story as I still find it funny. My main job was a medic in the army. However while stationed in Korea I had to also be a part time driver for an LT. So he signed out a cutv (basically a 80's chevy blazer). I am driving him and a Capt to another base. The Capt is sitting in the front seat, I am driving and the LT is in the back.

A korean passes me going up hill, around a turn and into a tank trap area that narrowed the road and gave no way to pull off the road. In doing so the Korean almost hit a car coming from the other direction and I had to hit the breaks very hard in order not to crash...how I did not cut the will to pull off as normally would be instinct is beyond me but I got us stopped.

I was mad and the Capt was mad. So I start driving again and the Capt is cussing like a sailor and somehow we wind up getting caught up to the fool who passed us and he starts yelling...Hit him, ram him and I am in the moment and still mad and start hitting the gas and say Yeah...thankfully the LT had a cooler head and told me to stop and we did not hit the guy. Of course later the LT said it was not the idea of being safe that made him order me to stop...it was the idea that he signed out the vehicle and did not want to have to pay for it. :laugh2:

Couple of other things I noticed over there. Seemed like there was a much higher number of trucks and buses vs individual cars which can make for some hairy situations when you are driving in the middle of Seoul in an Hummer ambulance and the buses are so close to each side of you that you can reach out and touch them with out stretching your arm out the window.

Another thing...While over there I rarely saw female drivers. I asked one of the koreans it one day and he said that if you seen a woman driver it meant they came from an extremely wealthy family as it was not the norm to have women drivers. Of course that has probably changed a great deal since the late 80s.

One last thing about korea....It was a shock to see a family of 2-5 people on a single moped. Or see a person on a moped with a LARGE number of boxes or crates on it. Never see that kind of thing state side.

Recently got back from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and the cab drivers down there made my butt cheeks clinch the seats. Crazy Crazy Crazy Drivers...also strange that they are a US territory but they drive on the wrong side of the road even though the steering wheel is on the correct side. Just really weird but scary driving up and down those mountain roads in such a crazy manner but at least they were not passing people like crazy.

====

I had a buddy that married a girl from Germany while he was stationed there.

So when his tour was up he came state side and was stationed in Ft Polk. He told us a story about how the first few days his wife was in the USA he had one really funny story. They were driving around looking for a place to live off post and as they were going up and down the road/streets his wife said...Awww that is so sweet (or something like that). He said what is sweet.
She said, that sign back there said slow children playing. He replied...well they just want people to be careful so they don't hit any children who might be playing. This is when he realized she did not read it as slow down, there are children in the area...she read it as there were children playing that were mentally slow.

 

[ethiostar]

US, Japan, Iceland, Denmark, Netherlands, Canada, UK, France and Italy, all have numbers that are within percentage points of each other in relation to elderly care facilities and beds occupied. And China is climbing that list fast!

As far as the "kissing your dog thing" the US pales in comparison to the UK. Youtube some videos of British dog training shows and prepare to be gobsmacked.

It's certainly not the widely done practice here as it is in a majority of other countries, it's way more acceptable, and successful, than a LOT of ppl realize. If you simply ask, especially if you're polite, don't act like you're trying to get by with something outlandish and can deal with an owner or manager w/o making the salesperson feel belittled, you'd be surprised how successful it can be.

With the exception of Japan, all of those countries are 'Western' countries so they share some similar characteristics. Even Japan now is considered very 'Westernized'.

Haggling exists here, that's for sure. You can get discounts for some items in many stores if you point out that the item is somewhat less than pristine, for example. I just got a great deal on a car and to a large extent my upbringing helped prepare me to negotiate with the sales person. Well, that and countless hours of online research

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Have you seen shows that show people driving in other countries? It's mass choas compared to the US.

yeah driving in the US is not a problem

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

What always surprises me is how no matter what airport you are at, there are always a ton of soldiers travelling around. I am also shocked how a country born out of revolution and whose citizens want the govt out of their lives, willingly roles over for "security" measures and how the richest country in the world has citizens who will do whatever they can NOT to check luggage including shoving the equivalent of grand pianos in the overhead bins.