30 Tourists Answer What Shocked Them The Most When They Visited America
Expectations vs. Reality: 'Murica Edition
No matter how much research you do before visiting any country, it's an entirely different reality once you get there. It can either be better or worse than what you expected, but it will be an interesting experience either way.
Traveling will always be a gamble, but one can argue that the mystery is all part of the fun. We know more information about some countries than we do about others, thanks to their presence in mainstream media.
When it comes to the U.S., we're fortunate that there are TV shows that provide a glimpse into the country and its people. However, even these films and TV shows do not accurately depict what you'll experience when you visit the land of milk and honey.
If we were to believe what we see in these shows, we might expect Americans to be loud, cheerful, and burger-loving people, while New Yorkers are portrayed as rude, standoffish, and always in a rush.
But seeing America on TV and experiencing it firsthand are wildly different things. Well, at least according to tourists who've actually been there.
These eye-opening experiences were recently shared on Reddit, and they were interesting, to say the least. Whether they make America and Americans look bad or good is for you to find out!
Original question posted in a sub-reddit:
Miserablemermaid1. Everything is huge!
salderosan99Also, LA traffic
KirkMouse, radioactive_muffin
2. The sheer amount of advertisements in shows
VodkaMargarine
3. Lawyer commercials telling people they can sue if so-and-so thing happened to them
RegnumRico
Here's an explanation for it
VulfSki
VulfSki
5. Food advertisements everywhere
UnAccomplished_Pea26
6. Medical advertisements urging you to talk to your doctor about this medicine
DifferentAd154, thecolourofchai
4. All of those commercials were found to be a bit obnoxious
Grapezard
7. Unlimited refills on soda fountains in humongous cups
Lord_Disagree
8. The serving size of food
Jimm__y
9. Super polite waitstaff
LucTempest
LucTempest
10. Bulk-sized items at the supermarket
pillemille
The miracle that is Costco
IFuckTheDrummer
11. Flavored sodas
howwouldiknow--
12. Inefficient public transport, huge buildings, and wide spaces
ScotchSirin
13. Air conditioning and indoor temperature control
un_saumon
14. Americans take care of their teeth
WhitePhatAss
15. Friendly people who make you feel welcome
Red_Ranger75, e2a0s1
16. Early mornings for everything
helicoptercici
17. Americans love their flag
Conocoryphe
18. Thoughtful road workers
madkeepz
19. It's legal to turn right on red, and people honk at you if you don't
klonricket
20. Each person pays for what they ate
ListenOrElse_
21. Tipping is expected...
wristconstraint
...a livable wage is not
Joessandwich
22. Seeing the person in the stall next to yours
litsto
23. Americans love their sweets
manjeete
24. Guns and the strong feelings Americans have about them
HDUdo361
HDUdo361
25. Not pedestrian-friendly places
rioting-pacifist
26. People asking, "How are you?"
barsknos
27. Negative political advertising
horaul14
28. Spray cheese in cans
ItsACaragor
29. Tax is not included
bad_nugget20
30. Americans' love for their men and women in uniform
89Hopper
The United States of America is a place you must visit at least once in your life. Apparently, it's large enough to accommodate all of us.
The people may be loud, but they are friendly, and meeting strangers will feel like being welcomed by family. Keep in mind that the best thing to pack while traveling is an open mind.
