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15 Things Foreigners Are Surprised by in America
DestinationTips.com ^ | 2-5-15 | Sloane Emerson

Posted on 04/19/2015 8:29:54 AM PDT by TurboZamboni

One of the most exciting things about traveling to or living in a foreign land is learning a new culture, especially if the culture is vastly different from your own. Those who have visited or lived in the United States have reported being shocked and overwhelmed by a number of the country’s customs and practices. Here are the top fifteen things foreigners are surprised by in America. 1. The Use of Credit Cards

(Excerpt) Read more at destinationtips.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: foreigners; immigrants; merica
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1 posted on 04/19/2015 8:29:54 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
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To: TurboZamboni

I’d like to go read them but these days Chrome takes ANY excuse to crash and burn. Any way you can bulletize the 15 in summary?


2 posted on 04/19/2015 8:34:47 AM PDT by txhurl
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To: TurboZamboni

Sorry, it may well be a fascinating article, but I’m not going to click 15 times to get 15 points.


3 posted on 04/19/2015 8:37:33 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (So to speak.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I did, merely stated the obvious—obvious to us, not foreigners.


4 posted on 04/19/2015 8:39:09 AM PDT by Fungi (So you think you know anything about evolution? Think again.)
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To: txhurl

1. The Use of Credit Cards
2. Food Portions
3. Patriotism
4. High School Sports
5. Size of the Country
6. Treatment of Pets
7. Widespread Obesity
8. Amount of Waste
9. The Coffee Culture
10. Emphasis on Physical Fitness
11.Tipping
12. Quality of Customer Service
13. Walmart
14. Size of cars
15.Return Policies


5 posted on 04/19/2015 8:44:14 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: TurboZamboni

Surprised that “Not everyone is carrying a gun” isn’t listed


6 posted on 04/19/2015 8:51:25 AM PDT by goodnesswins (I think we've reached PEAK TYRANNY now.....)
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To: TurboZamboni

WHat??? Nothing about guns and religion? What type of foreigners are these?


7 posted on 04/19/2015 8:51:39 AM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: TurboZamboni

16. All you can eat places - nonexistent in Europe and I’m sure most of the rest of the world.


8 posted on 04/19/2015 8:52:10 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: TurboZamboni

Years ago I hosted foreign exchange students. They were astonished by the “free refills” at the fast food joints.


9 posted on 04/19/2015 8:55:50 AM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
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To: TurboZamboni

A man by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville once visited, and marveled at, America, after which he wrote his book, “Democracy in America.”

de Tocqueville:

“In the United States, on the seventh day of every week, the trading and working life of the nation seems suspended; all noises cease; a deep tranquillity, say rather the solemn calm of meditation, succeeds the turmoil of the week, and the soul resumes possession and contemplation of itself. Upon this day the marts of traffic are deserted; every member of the community, accompanied by his children, goes to church, where he listens to strange language which would seem unsuited to his ear. He is told of the countless evils caused by pride and covetousness: he is reminded of the necessity of checking his desires, of the finer pleasures which belong to virtue alone, and of the true happiness which attends it. On his return home, he does not turn to the ledgers of his calling, but he opens the book of Holy Scripture; there he meets with sublime or affecting descriptions of the greatness and goodness of the Creator, of the infinite magnificence of the handiwork of God, of the lofty destinies of man, of his duties, and of his immortal privileges. Thus it is that the American at times steals an hour from himself; and laying aside for a while the petty passions which agitate his life, and the ephemeral interests which engross it, he strays at once into an ideal world, where all is great, eternal, and pure.

“I have endeavored to point out in another part of this work the causes to which the maintenance of the political institutions of the Americans is attributable; and religion appeared to be one of the most prominent amongst them. I am now treating of the Americans in an individual capacity, and I again observe that religion is not less useful to each citizen than to the whole State. The Americans show, by their practice, that they feel the high necessity of imparting morality to democratic communities by means of religion. What they think of themselves in this respect is a truth of which every democratic nation ought to be thoroughly persuaded.”


10 posted on 04/19/2015 8:56:20 AM PDT by EternalVigilance ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." -- Benjamin Franklin)
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To: TurboZamboni

seems to me 7 and 10 are in conflict.


11 posted on 04/19/2015 8:56:53 AM PDT by spokeshave (He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people,)
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To: TurboZamboni
0)...Guns

16)...Lot of old folk working

12 posted on 04/19/2015 8:57:49 AM PDT by spokeshave (He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people,)
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To: TurboZamboni
Summary:
1. Use of Credit Cards (high),
2. Food Portions (large),
3. Patriotism (prevalent),
4. High School Sports (strong),
5. Size of the Country (big),
6. Treatment of Pets (generous),
7. Widespread Obesity (see #2?),
8. Amount of Waste (lots of packaging?),
9. The Coffee Culture (Starbucks et.al.),
10. Emphasis on Physical Fitness (see #s 2& 7),
11. Tipping (everywhere),
12. Quality of Customer Service (great to invasive),
13. Walmart (& Home Depot & Costco etc.),
14. Size of Cars (Bigfoot?),
15. Return Policies (beyond other cultures)
13 posted on 04/19/2015 8:58:09 AM PDT by SES1066 (Quality, Speed or Economical - Any 2 of 3 except in government - 1 at best but never #3!)
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To: TurboZamboni

Years ago, I had a friend whose extended family lived in Czechoslovakia. The Grandmother was finally allowed to come to the US and see her son/his family. The Mom took her with her for all sorts of errands and they finally went to the grocery store. “Where does it come from? What happens when it is all gone? Why aren’t people grabbing things off the shelves?” What was sad (and a wonderful reminder to me at the time) was this woman lived in a Communist country that was so humbled by food that they had to stop the shopping trip. The poor woman couldn’t stop crying.. it was just too much for her.


14 posted on 04/19/2015 8:59:02 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: TurboZamboni
I once worked with a guy whose family immigrated to the U.S. from Latin America.

The thing he could never get over was how so many dumb people in the U.S. could become successful and wealthy.

15 posted on 04/19/2015 9:00:11 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("It doesn't work for me. I gotta have more cowbell!")
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To: Alberta's Child

They’re called Congresscritters.


16 posted on 04/19/2015 9:01:04 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: TurboZamboni

I gave ‘em the clicks just to see how long it would take to get to the cars and trucks. In my interactions with dozens of foreign visitors this is far and away the #1 amazement, and it starts at the airport and all the way to what co-workers drive. The sight of a solo American driving a 4WD pickup to work just about gives them apoplexy...

And it’s not just the size of the portions but the quality of food. Especially anyone from the British Empire, who has probably never eaten food that wasn’t either boiled, fried, or beaten with a stick.


17 posted on 04/19/2015 9:06:38 AM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: spokeshave
"...seems to me 7 and 10 are in conflict."

Peaceful coexistence...


18 posted on 04/19/2015 9:10:08 AM PDT by moovova
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To: momtothree

God has truly shed his amazing grace apon thee oh America, and why should thee forget the hand that has begat thee Oh America and guided and guarded thee through out all these years oh America.

God has not forgotten thee oh America so least thee should not forget about him...

Wow, I was just inspired to write that from God.

God hasn’t given up on America just yet...


19 posted on 04/19/2015 9:11:21 AM PDT by American Constitutionalist (BeThe Keystone Pipe like ProjectR : build it already Congre)
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To: txhurl

The site is just another click-bait exercise in add-on, data gathering futility. I hate them.


20 posted on 04/19/2015 9:12:57 AM PDT by Gaffer
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