# Things Americans don't do that other countries do **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242 "2017-07-14T13:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/61 "2017-07-14T19:24:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In the US I notice (and am annoyed by) people in restaurants being in a hurry to place their order, eat, pay, and leave. Once they finish eating they look around anxiously for their check. > > In the Caribbean (and according to my gf, much of Europe) meals are enjoyed in a much more leisurely manner. In the Caribbean especially, a server brings your check only when you go out of your way to request it. It drives me crazy if I have to wait more than 5 minutes for the check after eating. If I ever eat in other countries I’m leaving the money on the table and leaving. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/62 "2017-07-14T19:26:42Z")
No Christmas Goose. Personally I don’t care, but it seems weird to me. No Clotted cream. Unavailable in the US. Blood pudding. Never seen it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/63 "2017-07-14T19:29:21Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > It drives me crazy if I have to wait more than 5 minutes for the check after eating. If I ever eat in other countries I’m leaving the money on the table and leaving. Why not sit and sip some amaretto on the rocks while you wait? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/64 "2017-07-14T20:24:31Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Seriously, who gives a flying fuck how people use their utensils? Do whatever makes you happy. This is very much an on-point point. Life’s too short for that kind on nonsense. I’d go as far as to say that if someone wants to lick their plate clean in a restaurant (I’ve been tempted…) then go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/65 "2017-07-14T20:26:36Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > If I ever eat in other countries I’m leaving the money on the table and leaving. Another thing Americans do that irritates the rest of the world - expect American culture to be understood and adopted everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/66 "2017-07-14T20:27:36Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > It drives me crazy if I have to wait more than 5 minutes for the check after eating. If I ever eat in other countries I’m leaving the money on the table and leaving. Once you ask for the bill it comes quickly. The wait staff isn’t going to rush you out the door, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/67 "2017-07-14T20:45:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Holding and using utensils, for one. Blame the UK/USA spat that gave rise to our first Canadian expats. –G! [q.v. Burt Wolfe] ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/68 "2017-07-14T20:52:46Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I love Japanese food, but one dish I don’t order is udon. Not because it isn’t good, but because it’s normally served _extremely_ hot; I’d swear the broth is brought out just below boiling. The usual way of eating it (the Japanese way) is to grab some noodles with a spoon and chopsticks, and suck them into your mouth along with air to cool them off. But I- like many Americans- have been taught since the day we stopped needing mom and dad to spoon-feed us that eating noisily is extremely rude. So even though I might be in a noodle shop and everyone Japanese around me is going “SLURP!” “THWWP!” and so on because it’s the done thing, all those years of programming mean I can’t bring myself to do it. Ever seen the movie [_Tampopo_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm_ubnnZusc)? (In this skit, a woman is teaching a few students how to eat spaghetti in the proper, quiet American way–until they see a westerner in the resturant eating spaghetti very messily, and dig in the same way. Ideally, I wouldn’t have to spell that out, but the auto-generated caption text that thinks it is listening to English is a tad on the “unhelpful” side.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/69 "2017-07-14T21:30:16Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > So if you have mashed potatoes, you put down the knife and fork, and then pick up a spoon to eat a bite of potatoes? No, you mound a bit of mashed on the back of your fork and use it as “glue” to hold your peas in place between plate and mouth. Really, nothing is served on a plate that can’t be picked up with a fork. If it’s in a bowl, _then_ you reach for the spoon. I think Americans are aghast at the European style of eating because it precludes shoveling mass quantities in minimal time. Smaller bites? Why, that’s **Un-American**!! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/70 "2017-07-14T21:35:06Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Well, it annoys me in that it “harshes my buzz” to see their tension being exhibited. > > I’m never bothered by lingering diners. We will be waiting at the bar enjoying a before dinner cocktail when the table we’ve reserved opens up.😃 Many American restaurants don’t accept reservations, accepting diners in the order they’ve arrived and as the correct size table (for 2, for 4, etc.) becomes available. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/71 "2017-07-14T21:53:41Z")
Religion. Americans will talk about religion to people they work with, and perhaps even strangers. As a Canadian, this is quite weird. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/72 "2017-07-14T22:11:16Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Religion. Americans will talk about religion to people they work with, and perhaps even strangers. > > As a Canadian, this is quite weird. Gotta say, one of the only places I ever had antisemitic slurs shouted at me was by a group of people as we entered a synagogue in Montreal. My Toronto cousins have had quite a bit of antisemitism thrown their way too. They may not talk about, but they sure have some strong opinions about it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/73 "2017-07-14T22:19:42Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Gotta say, one of the only places I ever had antisemitic slurs shouted at me was by a group of people as we entered a synagogue in Montreal. My Toronto cousins have had quite a bit of antisemitism thrown their way too. > > They may not talk about, but they sure have some strong opinions about it. I’m sorry you experienced that, but rest assured that kind of behaviour is only exhibited by an extremely small portion of whackos, which unfortunately every country has. I certainly have never seen anything like it in person. Although, yup it comes up in the news here: synagogues being spray painted with swastikas, headstones being pushed over, bricks thrown through mosque windows. It saddens me. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/74 "2017-07-14T22:22:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’m sorry you experienced that, but rest assured that kind of behaviour is only exhibited by an extremely small portion of whackos, which unfortunately every country has. > > I certainly have never seen anything like it in person. Although, yup it comes up in the news here: synagogues being spray painted with swastikas, headstones being pushed over, bricks thrown through mosque windows. > > It saddens me. Thanks. Sad to say that it’s been a common experience for my Jewish family that lives in both Ontario and Quebec, over the decades. My cousins actually had to go to private school in the 1970s, because of the problems in the public schools. I don’t think it’s worse in Canada, but I don’t think Canada is as welcoming of religious diversity as people may expect (and not talking about religion casually doesn’t make it a non-issue, it seems). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/75 "2017-07-14T22:27:36Z")
Things Americans don’t do that other countries do: use their rearview mirrors when driving, and keeping right except to pass. Some American drivers do, but many (most?) do not. After 3 weeks in Europe, mostly Italy but some in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and others, it was refreshing to see drivers pull aside to let someone behind them pass. The fast lane was for faster traffic, and no matter how fast one is driving someone else might be going (or wanting to go) faster. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/76 "2017-07-14T23:57:25Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Another thing Americans do that irritates the rest of the world - expect American culture to be understood and adopted everywhere. Good point. Just the other day, a family in Indonesia refused to park in the driveway and drive on the parkway. I was fucking _incensed._ ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/77 "2017-07-15T00:17:13Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I used to work at a plumbing supply store and they had a TOTO Washlet in the stores restroom. It was certainly very nice. I miss it but can’t seem to justify the price for my home. Was this in San Francisco? I went to a retail plumbing supply place when I was considering remodeling our bathroom, and they had a Washlet in their public restroom. Very smart, gives the customer unfamiliar with the practice a chance to use it and see if they like it without making them commit to the purchase and installation. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/78 "2017-07-15T01:01:00Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > No Christmas Goose. > Personally I don’t care, but it seems weird to me. Some Americans do eat goose, but more often people have turkey or ham. They’re both easier to come by here. > [@furryman](#): > > Blood pudding. Never seen it. Depends on where you are in the US. I can buy blood pudding. I wouldn’t, because the idea horrifies me, but it’s in the local grocery store seasonally. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/79 "2017-07-15T01:52:35Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > No Christmas Goose. Personally I don’t care, but it seems weird to me. > No Clotted cream. Unavailable in the US. > Blood pudding. Never seen it. Three additional reasons for the American Revolution. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242/80 "2017-07-15T01:59:54Z")
Americans don’t shoot off fireworks on Christmas eve. They don’t give wine to children at family meals. They don’t wash clothes by hand and hang them from the balcony. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-americans-dont-do-that-other-countries-do/791242.md?page=5)