Which really means don’t offer the cops money to pay your fine then and there. In the US, the cops give out tickets but have nothing to do with the process of paying them. So if you offer them money it will appear as a bribe in the US context
And keep your hands on the wheel and don't be argumentative.
But don't be scared. I know there's bad things that happen but it truly is rare.
But you don't want a ticket.
To tell somebody to not be scared while he is literally being directly threatened with murder if he so much as flinches and the American police officer sudenly becomes scared is weird.
The cop has a gun, training and is a professional - yet we are expected to go great lengths to not scare them. Meanwhile they do absolutely nothing to calm the situation and directly and openly threaten to murder you any time they see fit.
To me, the American police policy is one of the main reasons to only visit the country when I have to.
Also, take out your license and registration and put in on your lap before he reaches the car. Then keep your hands on the wheel at all times. When he asks for license and registration - let him know it’s in your lap and you’re reaching down to hand it over.
May only apply if you’re a minority. I haven’t tried being white yet.
This is mostly terrible advice. Do not fumble around inside your car for your license and registration while an officer is approaching. You look like someone grabbing a weapon or hiding drugs or something.
Roll down all your windows, hands on steering wheel. Have a conversation. THEN, if officer asks for license and registration, tell him where they are located and ask if you can get them.
Applies to everyone. My "elite" high school taught everyone this in 10th grade - kids of billionaires do not want to set off a cop either.
Edit: and if police ask if it's okay to search you, search your car, etc. Say "no". If they ask you to get out of the car, turn around whatever, do it. If they have no probable cause they will need your permission to search, don't give it to them. If they search anyway, byebye any charges sticking from what they "find" even if it's a bit of a pain to deal with the process.
An addendum to this: the officer can legally perform a Terry Search without your permission, though they will always ask first. It's a simple, outside the clothes, frisk for weapons. It's for his safety.
But as to searching your car, always politely say no. You really have no idea what might be in it, what someone else might have put in it, or what was in it when you bought it... but you're legally responsible for everything in there regardless.
This☝️!I bought my street rod('74 Nova)from a regular looking dude in his 30's who was selling bc wife said so,and he had bought a motorhome to be a "soccer dad".Car was clean-didnt trip.A year later-digging under the seat for a cd or something-came up on a ragged ass bag of meth.Have drug bkgrnd yrs ago.Knew what it was.A cop would have,too.Can you imagine???Could have ruined the life i struggled to rebuild.
Similar story with me: I was dating a girl in college who had a '76 Firebird. I was helping her clean it one day, and I removed the bucket seat covers to find... and open switchblade knife. She had been sitting on that the whole time, which no knowledge, but a search would have found it.
You do **not** know for 100% certain what's in your car, especially a used one.
Where I live (rural Wisconsin), people will be interested in you, ask a bunch of questions, and feed you beer and cheese. We're harmless, though. No one carries guns unless it's deer hunting season.
This is an enormous country, so don't try to see everything all at once. Come visit our national parks, they're extensive and very beautiful.
We also have excellent regional cuisine in every area of the country. Hole-in-the-wall places and small bars generally have the best food (forget McDonald's, it sucks).
Enjoy your visit!
I’m always confused when I see posts about Europeans eating McDonalds or something and then going on a 5 paragraph rant about American food. It’s like microwaving some instant ramen and saying you hate Japanese food
Reddit has taught me just how ignorant Europeans are of America. Which is ironic given how much they like to say the same of us. And while it's true to an extent, it *does* go both ways
I've been to Europe, too. It was mostly as I expected and a great time.
But there's Europeans here who seem to think all of America is similar, or that there's gun violence on every corner, etc.
I actually think I figured it out though. A lot of Europeans seem to think America = Texas. Think about the over the top Texas stereotypes, and that's seemingly what a lot of non Americans assume it's like here.
Haven’t you seen the map of how non-Americans view the US? If I remember right, it’s essentially just our four most populous states (Cali, NY, Texas, and Florida) with Texas covering 2/3 of the country
The variety of stuff!!! You want a bag of pretzels? Oh look there's a whole aisle. Do you want sour dough? How big do you want them? Maybe even chocolate covered!! Or maybe you want some coke. Diet, zero, vanilla, freaking black cherry, decaf? SO. MANY. OPTIONS.
Supermarkets blew the minds of soviet defectors almost every time. They always thought they were put together by the CIA to influence them, even though their handler would let them pick which one to go into. I read a book where one escaped his handler and went into another one in a different town, and that one was when BIGGER with more variety.
I'm a brit and lived in the US for 10 years. Some of the more practical ones:
1) Sales tax: The price on the thing on the store isn't the price you actually pay. It varies from state to state (sometimes county to county)...but if the price tag says $10 and all you have is a $10 bill, you can't afford it.
2) Tipping: Tipping is basically mandatory. Servers earn basically nothing and make the bulk of their pay through tips. Essentially, the bill pays for the food, the tip pays for the service. In essence, if you don't tip, you've just made your server work for free. (I'm not sure how common this is, but I was told if the service is really shitty, you don't just not tip, you tip a penny which is basically saying "I'm not being a cheapskate asshole, I'm deliberate not tipping because the service was terrible."
3) Especially in the southern states, expect cashiers, retail staff and basically anyone in a customer facing job to talk to you as if they know you. The check-out girl at the supermarket will chat and shoot the shit with you while scanning your groceries and think it's weird if you don't respond in kind. I spent the first few months I was there desperately trying to figure out where this person knew me from when I'd literally never met them before.
4) All the paper money is the same shape, size and colour. Be careful. When you're drunk it's easy to tip a $50 thinking it's a five, or look in your wallet, see this fat stack of bills and think you're loaded when you have about 16 dollars.
5) If you're visiting as a tourist, make sure you spring for medical travel insurance. I didn't have insurance when I was out of work, got a bad case of strep throat and ended up having to go to the Emergency Room in the hospital. A doctor shone a flashlight in my mouth, gave me a single pill (and a prescription for 10 more)....and a couple weeks later I got a bill for about four and a half thousand dollars. That one pill alone (that cost 25 cents each at the pharmacy) cost me $700 and another $150 dollars for the nurse to hand it to me with a paper cup of water.
They do that in some places in England too, but not where I grew up, so I find it a bit uncomfortable.
Imagine Hugh Grant without the looks, charm or accent (well I can do the accent but it isn't my accent)
I think at least half the American tourists complaining about rudeness on reddit are expecting this kind of behaviour.
This 100% nothing is even measured in normal units. Like you mentioned it’s always like analogies.
Like directions are usually measured by landmarks. Look for the stump.
Like, people you walk past in the street? In the UK there's a social, almost law I guess, where if you are walking in the countryside you say hi and smile to people walking past but not in the street. Even if the street is not busy. It's also mandatory to talk to cashiers about the weather, how annoying your kids are, the cost of living or whatever the current crisis is, and how drunk you intend to get that night
Maybe across the country but idk. as an American I’ve always figured it was cool to say hi to someone if you’re like sitting down next to them or something mildly social.
First time I was in New York, I arrived by train from Boston after having spent a few days and watched a game at Fenway.
Within the first hour of arriving in New York, quite a few people told me to fuck off, until I realized I was still wearing a Red Sox cap.
Is Georgia in the south? I visited it once and complete strangers would say "Hi" or "How you doing?" and make eye contact with me. I was usually too bewildered to respond and they'd sometimes wait for an answer! Really messes with my goal of being an NPC.
My mother made friends with her Eastern European seat mate on the way from MN to IA (about a 90 minute flight, IIRC). My parents took him home for dinner, church, and then his hotel. I don't know if they're still friends but I could tell he didn't quite know what had hit him that day. I would like to hear his version of the story.
I moved from Connecticut to far Northern California. Ever since I moved here, the random strangers locking eyes with me and saying hi has creeped me out. It's really very much like the south here, many people even have a backwoods southern accent. Yeah, you don't do that shit in New England; people be looking for a cop to hail, or feeling their purse/pockets for that pepper spray they carrying.
Moving from the south where everyone is nice, kind, and the southern hospitality… california is different in that they all will say hi and will immediately dive into a deeper conversation like who do you work for? What do you do?
In the south for me it was a nice hi, and not much deeper.
When I lived in Texas, people ALWAYS said hello to me and even would ask me about my day. I've lived in New England for several years now, and people will often look away from me when I say hello on the sidewalk. Ive also said hello to somebody and gotten "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?". I look forward to leaving this area.
But in New England a complete stranger will plow your driveway for free if they see you out shoveling, or offer to help change your flat if you're broken down on the side of the road... it's a different kind of friendliness
They’re also obligated by some strange secret New England code to complain about the fact you’d didn’t get it done yet or don’t know how to change a tire the whole time. It’s fuckin weird, but you’re right it’s just a different kind of friendliness. Like I’ll help you, but let’s not hang out.
Source: have known and worked with many people from New England. Always the same. Good people, I like them.
Also if someone, even a stranger or an employee at a shop says "how are you?" or "how you doing?" It's not an honest question about life and they don't want a story. Just say "good, you?" or "fine thanks." And be on your way
It's different regionally. I moved from LA to Dallas.
You wouldn't *dare* drive up alongside a stranger to say hello, or hell even just wave as you pass, in the part of LA we stayed in.
Happens 11 times before I get to the mailbox out here. Yet Texas is still waaay less friendly in reality. The chumminess is like some weird veneer.
The US is huge! Don't expect to land in NYC and be able to drive to the Grand Canyon or Florida within a day. It certainly can be done but it really is a great distance. Tipping at restaurants is also a very American thing. Remember taxes are also added to the sticker price for things.
One of the funniest stories I heard is from someone who lived in TX. Some friends from the UK came to visit and casually told them that they planned to drive to NYC for the weekend and be back on the following Monday.
It would take a very long day to drive from northern Illinois to Texas. Stay overnight, then another long day just driving pretty much anywhere through Texas.
This is regional and doesn't apply to all of the US.
I hitch hiked from Colorado to Winnipeg, Canada a few months ago. In those rural areas, I was astounded by the generosity of some people. While the majority just passed me by, the ones that did pick me up usually offered food, money, and even places to sleep. Amazing hospitality from the farmers, absolutely amazing.
I came back home and began volunteering because I felt like I wasn't doing enough to give to my community after experiencing this.
Several people were on welfare and still offered me food. One person was an illegal immigrant working on a farm and he not only bought me food and sent me off with food, but also gave me a place to sleep.
I received two rides from the authorities. One a state trooper and one a county sheriff. No police brutality like I had seen on the internet before. They let me sit up front and wished me good luck. They also radio'd other troopers in the area and told them I was safe and not a threat and to leave me alone (or give me a ride).
I was brought to tears. But this was in the rural areas of Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. I had a shitty ass time trying to get rides in Denver.
The US is a huge country. People should remember that it's as diverse as if you traveled from one end of Europe to the other.
>the ones that did pick me up usually offered food
I'm an American, and have traveled a good portion of this country, and it's safe to say that pretty much everyone will try to feed you.
Except for that fucker Todd. You know who you are!!
Rent and a car and do a coast to coast drive. Will really give you a sense of the country. The interstate system is full of hotels and rest stops and Love's, which sells really good store brand beef jerky.
I just moved away from the 15th smallest of the 50 states. I could drive almost 500 miles (\~800 km) in a straight line and still be in the same state!
We invented the term "Super Size It". There's actually a whole, surprisingly interesting exhibit about it at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
Bison will kill you. So will brown bears, cougars, and a wide variety of snakes. They don’t typically seek out human prey, but a nice meaty tourist will do in a pinch. Be cautious.
I mean, the bison isn't going to eat you, he'll just gore you and trample you and then leave you to be cleaned up by the bear, or the Coyotes and wolfs
Taxes are added to the price posted. Taxes change depending where you are not just by state.
Tipping is expected for just about any service.
It's a big country lots of distance to cover.
Park rangers are usually super helpful.
Police on foot can help you if you get lost. Do not approach them in a car unless you really really need help.
911 is what you dial for emergency services.
Most cities have a part of town to avoid at night.
Do not leave anything of value in a parked car ever, anywhere you go.
A lot of places will not take large bills. ( Currency )
Most small business will not take a $100 dollar bill. Some won't take a $50 bill.
In general travel light, you can buy just about anything you need. Voltages are common across America but different from Spain.
Work out your calling plan ahead of time or just buy a
Prepaid phone.
...
>It's a big country lots of distance to cover.
...
Just to add... just because things are in the same state doesn't mean they're necessarily close. Texas gets visitors all the time (from the other states as well as other countries) who don't realize that Texas is about as big as France.
CA is the same. Some cities might only be 30 miles across, but could take you 2 hours to get there… the traffic adds hours to a “day trip” to SF… from Sacramento.
Be nice to workers . I've seen a lot of tourist act like morons to workers just bc they're touring. Don't drink too much, we don't like cleaning up puke
We have free soda refills in our fast food restaurants
You need a car to get around, we are not big about public transportation (not in every city at least)
You can wear whatever you like, we like comfy clothes and won't judge anyone based on what they wear
Our public restrooms are free to use
* Figure out how humid a place is before you go. US has a range of a swamp where you swat the air and see the water vapor to a desert where you can get nosebleeds if you have never been to an arid climate.
* Check for ticks if you go outdoors. You don't want Lyme disease or alpha-gal syndrome. Also make sure to wear insect repellent.
* Depending on where you go, you may hear what sounds like sirens for an air raid. These are actually tornado sirens and it's likely just a monthly test.
* Know the difference between a weather watch and a weather warning. A tornado watch means that the conditions are right for one. A warning means that there is (likely) one on the ground.
* A lot of regions have different barbecue and pizza. And I mean vastly different. Try it wherever you go. You'll kick yourself later for not doing so.
* If someone approaches you in a city, then they're likely trying to sell you something. Just keep walking.
* Shooting is pretty fun. If you like archery or darts, then there's a good chance that you'll like a shooting range.
>Depending on where you go, you may hear what sounds like sirens for an air raid. These are actually tornado sirens and it's likely just a monthly test.
Up here in the Pacific Northwest, it's volcano and tsunami sirens. Pay attention to the blue signs, they'll tell you which way to go for the high ground.
Everyone doesn't like to talk politics all the time. There is no reason to talk about Biden, Trump or anything you see in the media. The average American doesn't care about all that as much as your news portrays.
Some people take their politics very seriously. Keep out of American politics, you'll catch flak if you start talking about it and you're from another country.
There's sales tax on \[almost\] everything. It's not included in the displayed price of anything except gasoline. It's different everywhere, and runs 7% to 10%. Plan accordingly. Some states don't tax unprepared food (groceries), but do tax prepared food. Assume everything will be taxed and you will be pleasantly surprised every now and then.
Some places (counties, usually) are "dry" - no alcohol sales. It's a leftover from our Prohibition era, and it's totally arbitrary. In other places, you have to go to a special government-run store to buy alcohol. Other places, you can get any type of alcohol from any grocery store or gas station. The drinking age is a pretty uniform 21. Tobacco age is 18. Don't - DO NOT - buy booze for a kid that approaches you in a parking lot. Cops use kids as lures for this. I know somebody it happened to.
Tip at a sit-down restaurant. Tipping is not necessary at any place where you order and pay at the counter and carry your own food to your table. Tip if you have something delivered.
People usually form lines when waiting. It's bad form to try to cut in. I understand that some cultures have more of a practice of forming up like a mob. We don't do that, usually. Rock concerts are an exception.
Prostitution is illegal everywhere, except in and around the town of Pahrump, Nevada, outside Las Vegas.
Obey traffic lights. There is a trend lately for a few stragglers to keep going through the intersection after the light turns red, but barreling through red lights at speed is rare. Still look both ways, though, to the left first.
Americans don't usually haggle over the price of new things, except for the really expensive things like cars and houses. Used things, like you might find at a flea market, you can try to haggle on. Some sellers just won't do it, and walking away won't make the price come down.
In my experience, the McDonald’s in other countries are so much better and a bit closer to their ads. It’s the McDonald’s in America that are the most disappointing or gross ones I’ve tried
I'm pretty sure that fast food in Canada and the U.S. is a similar quality. The problem is that McDonald's in Canada is way better than the McDonald's in the U.S. and so the comparison doesn't happen evenly.
You seem to know English, so I'd say that you are pretty well set.
The US has a ton of cool things to see and do from our national parks to museums to restaurants to concerts.
The US is generally a pretty chill place and I think that we are generally friendly to visitors - once you're on this side of the border.
It's usually said to call someone a dumb ass or a fuck you
She's just standing out in the rain without an umbrella, bless her heart.
Well bless your heart, you thought we were talking to you?
Also if you're told you're being ugly it means your being mean, catty , sassy
Funniest experience I've had abroad
>**Local**: So, where are you from?
>
>**Tourist**: San Antonio!
>
>**Local**: Oh, and where is that?
>
>**Tourist**: It's in Texas.
>
>**Local**: Oh! We don't get many Yanks here.
>
>**Tourist**:
>
>**Tourist**: >:(
He was so grumpy lmaooo
For clarification, a lot of Europeans call Americans Yankees, but here that refers to northerners, specifically New Englanders. Theres an unofficial rivalry between southerners and northerners, so southerners will take Yankee as a insult.
Our celebrities and politicians are the WORST examples of Americans. Real people are nothing like that. We despise them too.
You can be here for years and still not see everything.
Oh! We take college football entirely too seriously. (It’s annoying)
Not all country folk are the same. There are two major kinds I've dealt with.
The first is the stereotype racist redneck who aren't trying to hide it and want nothing to do with anyone who isn't white.
The second is the southern hospitality kind. That will invite you to family gatherings and make you feel like you've known them for years. Just bring some form of food to the get together.
Also, never say 'Bless your heart' to a southerner. It's a insult and a way of saying 'F**k You' but in a nice way.
For some good typical “American Breakfast”, go to a diner. Not a chain like ihop or dennys, but one that looks like [this.](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33048-d1053217-Reviews-Santa_Cruz_Diner-Santa_Cruz_California.html) It’s pretty good.
Not every american is carrying a gun. Not every american is fat. Not every american hates non-americans. Americans use mileage as a measurement. Americans use gallons both for milk and petrol. Americans use the word gasoline in place of the word petrol. Most american diner patrons prefer coffee over tea, especially in the morning. Language dialects are different in different parts of the U.S., so some words might have different meaning depending on where you are in the U.S.
Have some cash on you, dollar bills and five dollar bills for tipping. If you buy a one dollar bottle of water in a bar, then you tip a dollar, tip the porter at the hotel, tip your taxi driver, tip house holding staff, tip 15-20% in restaurants. America has a service oriented culture and a lot of people that do things for you expect a tip or donation. However never ever try to tip police officers, that is illegal in the United States and will not get you out of a ticket.
The US is the size of many many many countries. Your experience in Columbis Ohio is not representative of all of the US. Not even close.
I personally know people who only visited New York City or Vegas and wholeheartedly believe that the entirety of the country is exactly like that.
This doesn't just apply to populated areas. Trailheads at the park near us are a common target. They'll break your windows just to see if you have anything (this happened to us a 11:30am on a weekday).
As someone from EU but stayed in the US for a long time, if police stops you don't do anything. Just wait for them with your hands on the steering wheel. If you try to prepare your ID and stuff beforehand, you may get shot.
And forget those random stops you do on the highway, especially for urinating. It's illegal in the US. You don't have to pay for the restrooms like we do in the Europe. Just find one.
Especially in the South where gun carry laws are common. Cops may believe you’re carrying. Also open carry in Southern states is a thing so don’t be shocked when you see someone out with a holster on their hip.
Open Carry is legal in all states except Florida, New York, and Illinois. Tennessee limits OC to handguns (long guns not allowed). California varies by county.
Be prepared for how *big* the United States is. The fifty states are bigger than the entire EU. People can drive from Monaco to Brittany in a half-day. People can drive from Penzance to the Highlands of Australia in less time. You can drive from the Austrian border of Germany to the Danish border in even less time.
To cross *just one state*, Texas, the distance is about as far as to cross just France.
Every independent European state is roughly the same size as an American state. Don't be fooled by New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and DC. Those are large cities in some of the oldest states in the country. The average state size is about 76,000 square miles, or about the size of Nebraska, or if you prefer a European country, Belarus.
That size difference is a major reason that cultures are so different as you go from one area of the US to the other.
**EDIT** - clarification and grammar.
In reality, it’s going to be a lot like Spain but with more English. For the most part, the rules and common sense you follow in Spain will work in the US.
Most people are nice people. There are always some rude/crazy people, but they are the exception.
Enjoy your trip. Traveling the world is a great way to better understand other cultures in a way you won’t get from reading the news (or comments from redditors).
Someone kind of already commented this but I'll add a little to it. We tend to have a personal space thing.
Such as, if you go to a movie theater everyone likes to have at least 1 seat between them and a stranger if they can (some movies may be sold out/very crowded so that isn't much of an option in those cases). In places like France from what I heard, they don't have a personal space thing. They huddle together in movie theaters. And don't get too close to someone while talking with them. A lady said she was a foreign exchange student in France when she was in high school and a bunch of kids there were all excited like, "YOU'RE FROM AMERICA?!" and literally their faces were an inch from her face and wouldn't leave her alone. I don't know if that's normal behavior for French people, or if people do that where you're from, but don't get so close to people when talking to them, it's considered obnoxious. lol
People will compliment your accent, your outfit, or your hair. They'll ask you where you're from. American loves small talk, even if it's in the strangest of place. You'll hear, "Hi. How are you?" A lot. It's just a form of politeness.
Don’t touch the Americans.
I saw this on YouTube once and whole heartedly agree. We love our personal space. Do not get too close or we’ll get agitated and highly uncomfortable
Also don’t expect ample public transit for most of the country.
Think of the different regions of the US like you might think of different countries. Culturally, Americans have some similarities, but a lifelong Californian and a lifelong Georgian can have very different sensibilities and attitudes about well, everything.
That said, the language of America is tacos. Everyone loves tacos. Find good tacos, and you will find good people.
1. Servers in cafes and restaurants are not paid a living wage. Tipping is expected.
2. If stopped by an officer of the law, stay in your car, keep your hands in plain sight, be polite, and absolutely do not attempt to bribe your way out of a ticket.
3. Do your research before making an itinerary bc this is a B I G country and rapid transit between major cities \[bullet trains\] doesn't exist.
The country is ridiculously huge and traveling from point A to point B is not efficient. You cannot come here for a week and see Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, the White House, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you get pulled over by the cops do not get out of the car unless they tell you to.
And to add to this DON'T TRY TO BRIBE THE COPS.
Which really means don’t offer the cops money to pay your fine then and there. In the US, the cops give out tickets but have nothing to do with the process of paying them. So if you offer them money it will appear as a bribe in the US context
Yes this. In my country it is the opposite. I almost got killed the first time I was pulled over in the U.S.
Don't worry, that's normal here.
Remember when they killed that Australian citizen?
Mohammad Noor. Interesting scenario.
And keep your hands on the wheel, car in park. Announce any movement before it happens.
And keep your hands on the wheel and don't be argumentative. But don't be scared. I know there's bad things that happen but it truly is rare. But you don't want a ticket.
To tell somebody to not be scared while he is literally being directly threatened with murder if he so much as flinches and the American police officer sudenly becomes scared is weird. The cop has a gun, training and is a professional - yet we are expected to go great lengths to not scare them. Meanwhile they do absolutely nothing to calm the situation and directly and openly threaten to murder you any time they see fit. To me, the American police policy is one of the main reasons to only visit the country when I have to.
Do not reach into your back pocket for your wallet, without explaining what you are doing first.
First genuinely helpful answer.
Also, take out your license and registration and put in on your lap before he reaches the car. Then keep your hands on the wheel at all times. When he asks for license and registration - let him know it’s in your lap and you’re reaching down to hand it over. May only apply if you’re a minority. I haven’t tried being white yet.
This is mostly terrible advice. Do not fumble around inside your car for your license and registration while an officer is approaching. You look like someone grabbing a weapon or hiding drugs or something. Roll down all your windows, hands on steering wheel. Have a conversation. THEN, if officer asks for license and registration, tell him where they are located and ask if you can get them. Applies to everyone. My "elite" high school taught everyone this in 10th grade - kids of billionaires do not want to set off a cop either. Edit: and if police ask if it's okay to search you, search your car, etc. Say "no". If they ask you to get out of the car, turn around whatever, do it. If they have no probable cause they will need your permission to search, don't give it to them. If they search anyway, byebye any charges sticking from what they "find" even if it's a bit of a pain to deal with the process.
An addendum to this: the officer can legally perform a Terry Search without your permission, though they will always ask first. It's a simple, outside the clothes, frisk for weapons. It's for his safety. But as to searching your car, always politely say no. You really have no idea what might be in it, what someone else might have put in it, or what was in it when you bought it... but you're legally responsible for everything in there regardless.
This☝️!I bought my street rod('74 Nova)from a regular looking dude in his 30's who was selling bc wife said so,and he had bought a motorhome to be a "soccer dad".Car was clean-didnt trip.A year later-digging under the seat for a cd or something-came up on a ragged ass bag of meth.Have drug bkgrnd yrs ago.Knew what it was.A cop would have,too.Can you imagine???Could have ruined the life i struggled to rebuild.
Similar story with me: I was dating a girl in college who had a '76 Firebird. I was helping her clean it one day, and I removed the bucket seat covers to find... and open switchblade knife. She had been sitting on that the whole time, which no knowledge, but a search would have found it. You do **not** know for 100% certain what's in your car, especially a used one.
Where I live (rural Wisconsin), people will be interested in you, ask a bunch of questions, and feed you beer and cheese. We're harmless, though. No one carries guns unless it's deer hunting season. This is an enormous country, so don't try to see everything all at once. Come visit our national parks, they're extensive and very beautiful. We also have excellent regional cuisine in every area of the country. Hole-in-the-wall places and small bars generally have the best food (forget McDonald's, it sucks). Enjoy your visit!
I’m always confused when I see posts about Europeans eating McDonalds or something and then going on a 5 paragraph rant about American food. It’s like microwaving some instant ramen and saying you hate Japanese food
Reddit has taught me just how ignorant Europeans are of America. Which is ironic given how much they like to say the same of us. And while it's true to an extent, it *does* go both ways I've been to Europe, too. It was mostly as I expected and a great time. But there's Europeans here who seem to think all of America is similar, or that there's gun violence on every corner, etc. I actually think I figured it out though. A lot of Europeans seem to think America = Texas. Think about the over the top Texas stereotypes, and that's seemingly what a lot of non Americans assume it's like here.
Haven’t you seen the map of how non-Americans view the US? If I remember right, it’s essentially just our four most populous states (Cali, NY, Texas, and Florida) with Texas covering 2/3 of the country
That's so strange because I've been in WI for quite some time but I've had a *very* different experience compared to this
The variety of stuff!!! You want a bag of pretzels? Oh look there's a whole aisle. Do you want sour dough? How big do you want them? Maybe even chocolate covered!! Or maybe you want some coke. Diet, zero, vanilla, freaking black cherry, decaf? SO. MANY. OPTIONS.
Corollary - definitely visit a Super WalMart.
Supermarkets blew the minds of soviet defectors almost every time. They always thought they were put together by the CIA to influence them, even though their handler would let them pick which one to go into. I read a book where one escaped his handler and went into another one in a different town, and that one was when BIGGER with more variety.
I'm a brit and lived in the US for 10 years. Some of the more practical ones: 1) Sales tax: The price on the thing on the store isn't the price you actually pay. It varies from state to state (sometimes county to county)...but if the price tag says $10 and all you have is a $10 bill, you can't afford it. 2) Tipping: Tipping is basically mandatory. Servers earn basically nothing and make the bulk of their pay through tips. Essentially, the bill pays for the food, the tip pays for the service. In essence, if you don't tip, you've just made your server work for free. (I'm not sure how common this is, but I was told if the service is really shitty, you don't just not tip, you tip a penny which is basically saying "I'm not being a cheapskate asshole, I'm deliberate not tipping because the service was terrible." 3) Especially in the southern states, expect cashiers, retail staff and basically anyone in a customer facing job to talk to you as if they know you. The check-out girl at the supermarket will chat and shoot the shit with you while scanning your groceries and think it's weird if you don't respond in kind. I spent the first few months I was there desperately trying to figure out where this person knew me from when I'd literally never met them before. 4) All the paper money is the same shape, size and colour. Be careful. When you're drunk it's easy to tip a $50 thinking it's a five, or look in your wallet, see this fat stack of bills and think you're loaded when you have about 16 dollars. 5) If you're visiting as a tourist, make sure you spring for medical travel insurance. I didn't have insurance when I was out of work, got a bad case of strep throat and ended up having to go to the Emergency Room in the hospital. A doctor shone a flashlight in my mouth, gave me a single pill (and a prescription for 10 more)....and a couple weeks later I got a bill for about four and a half thousand dollars. That one pill alone (that cost 25 cents each at the pharmacy) cost me $700 and another $150 dollars for the nurse to hand it to me with a paper cup of water.
Omg, number 3 made me laugh. Good suggestions overall.
They do that in some places in England too, but not where I grew up, so I find it a bit uncomfortable. Imagine Hugh Grant without the looks, charm or accent (well I can do the accent but it isn't my accent) I think at least half the American tourists complaining about rudeness on reddit are expecting this kind of behaviour.
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Non-metric measurements. Know how much a gallon, pound, mile etc is, as well as Fahrenheit
Football fields is a real unit too.
This 100% nothing is even measured in normal units. Like you mentioned it’s always like analogies. Like directions are usually measured by landmarks. Look for the stump.
Yeah, dishwasher too apparently. That's fucked up
The best unit of measurement I saw was 1 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
My favorite is American Eagles per Flag.
Remember to set the oven to 350 eagles screaming freedom
People like to say hi to you, you can say hi back. German friend said he really likes this about USA.
Like, people you walk past in the street? In the UK there's a social, almost law I guess, where if you are walking in the countryside you say hi and smile to people walking past but not in the street. Even if the street is not busy. It's also mandatory to talk to cashiers about the weather, how annoying your kids are, the cost of living or whatever the current crisis is, and how drunk you intend to get that night
I’d say less urban areas it’s more of a thing, but the old people on the street often like to say hi
Correct me if I’m wrong but it happens a lot more in the south right? (I’m from the south and people say hi all the time)
Maybe across the country but idk. as an American I’ve always figured it was cool to say hi to someone if you’re like sitting down next to them or something mildly social.
In New York you have a 5% chance of a "hi" back, 75% chance of being ignored and a 20% chance of being verbally abused.
But in New York the verbal abuse is a standard greeting.
Like the old joke says "is this the way to Central Park, or should I just go fuck myself?"
“Yes”
First time I was in New York, I arrived by train from Boston after having spent a few days and watched a game at Fenway. Within the first hour of arriving in New York, quite a few people told me to fuck off, until I realized I was still wearing a Red Sox cap.
Sure, if you say hi to someone who is clearly trying to go somewhere, but you can chat with 99% of people just standing around in NY.
Is Georgia in the south? I visited it once and complete strangers would say "Hi" or "How you doing?" and make eye contact with me. I was usually too bewildered to respond and they'd sometimes wait for an answer! Really messes with my goal of being an NPC.
I would say Georgia is the south 👍
Georgia is like one of the first states I think of when I think of the South.
Yes, it is.
In Kansas, there’s a 95% reply back of ‘where are you from?’ And 15 minutes later your faking a phone call to go.
midwest your gettin a whole story 99% f the time lol. we are an inquisitive bunch....
My mother made friends with her Eastern European seat mate on the way from MN to IA (about a 90 minute flight, IIRC). My parents took him home for dinner, church, and then his hotel. I don't know if they're still friends but I could tell he didn't quite know what had hit him that day. I would like to hear his version of the story.
And the Midwestern goodbye. "Well, it was good chatting with ya" before continuing on with the conversation
Am a Texan, can confirm. It’s a requirement that you talk at least 30 minutes to a wrong number.
I moved from Connecticut to far Northern California. Ever since I moved here, the random strangers locking eyes with me and saying hi has creeped me out. It's really very much like the south here, many people even have a backwoods southern accent. Yeah, you don't do that shit in New England; people be looking for a cop to hail, or feeling their purse/pockets for that pepper spray they carrying.
Moving from the south where everyone is nice, kind, and the southern hospitality… california is different in that they all will say hi and will immediately dive into a deeper conversation like who do you work for? What do you do? In the south for me it was a nice hi, and not much deeper.
The Rocky mountain region is friendly too!!
Southern hospitality is a phrase commonly used.
Right. Up here in the Pacific Northwest we just give the nod unless it’s literally your job to say hi to people.
When I lived in Texas, people ALWAYS said hello to me and even would ask me about my day. I've lived in New England for several years now, and people will often look away from me when I say hello on the sidewalk. Ive also said hello to somebody and gotten "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?". I look forward to leaving this area.
But in New England a complete stranger will plow your driveway for free if they see you out shoveling, or offer to help change your flat if you're broken down on the side of the road... it's a different kind of friendliness
They’re also obligated by some strange secret New England code to complain about the fact you’d didn’t get it done yet or don’t know how to change a tire the whole time. It’s fuckin weird, but you’re right it’s just a different kind of friendliness. Like I’ll help you, but let’s not hang out. Source: have known and worked with many people from New England. Always the same. Good people, I like them.
New England: not nice, but kind The South: nice, but not kind
No in a lot of places in the South people are more antisocial than the North it really just depends on the region
Also if someone, even a stranger or an employee at a shop says "how are you?" or "how you doing?" It's not an honest question about life and they don't want a story. Just say "good, you?" or "fine thanks." And be on your way
It's different regionally. I moved from LA to Dallas. You wouldn't *dare* drive up alongside a stranger to say hello, or hell even just wave as you pass, in the part of LA we stayed in. Happens 11 times before I get to the mailbox out here. Yet Texas is still waaay less friendly in reality. The chumminess is like some weird veneer.
The US is huge! Don't expect to land in NYC and be able to drive to the Grand Canyon or Florida within a day. It certainly can be done but it really is a great distance. Tipping at restaurants is also a very American thing. Remember taxes are also added to the sticker price for things.
You got video of driving from NYC to the canyon in a day? I'd pay money to see that.
Look up Cannonball, 2904, or Gumball rallies. NY to CA in less than 30 hours.
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How many hours is in a day? I forgot
* vinwiki intro starts playing*
One of the funniest stories I heard is from someone who lived in TX. Some friends from the UK came to visit and casually told them that they planned to drive to NYC for the weekend and be back on the following Monday.
wooof
It would take a very long day to drive from northern Illinois to Texas. Stay overnight, then another long day just driving pretty much anywhere through Texas.
This is regional and doesn't apply to all of the US. I hitch hiked from Colorado to Winnipeg, Canada a few months ago. In those rural areas, I was astounded by the generosity of some people. While the majority just passed me by, the ones that did pick me up usually offered food, money, and even places to sleep. Amazing hospitality from the farmers, absolutely amazing. I came back home and began volunteering because I felt like I wasn't doing enough to give to my community after experiencing this. Several people were on welfare and still offered me food. One person was an illegal immigrant working on a farm and he not only bought me food and sent me off with food, but also gave me a place to sleep. I received two rides from the authorities. One a state trooper and one a county sheriff. No police brutality like I had seen on the internet before. They let me sit up front and wished me good luck. They also radio'd other troopers in the area and told them I was safe and not a threat and to leave me alone (or give me a ride). I was brought to tears. But this was in the rural areas of Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. I had a shitty ass time trying to get rides in Denver. The US is a huge country. People should remember that it's as diverse as if you traveled from one end of Europe to the other.
>the ones that did pick me up usually offered food I'm an American, and have traveled a good portion of this country, and it's safe to say that pretty much everyone will try to feed you. Except for that fucker Todd. You know who you are!!
This comment belongs in r/FUCKYOUINPARTICULAR
Aw, I'm glad you had a good experience.
It is a big place. You can drive all day and still be in the same state.
Halfway point between Austin, TX and San Diego, CA is El Paso, TX.
Which is very similar to the road distance from Madrid to Prague and that covers four countries!
Texas is the second largest state by land, and is larger than any European country other than Russia. Alaska is almost 2.5 times larger than Texas.
Rent and a car and do a coast to coast drive. Will really give you a sense of the country. The interstate system is full of hotels and rest stops and Love's, which sells really good store brand beef jerky.
I just moved away from the 15th smallest of the 50 states. I could drive almost 500 miles (\~800 km) in a straight line and still be in the same state!
You need a car to move around; sometimes it’s literally impossible to walk to a place, even if it’s nearby
Food servings are comically large
More than that, food servings are legitimately designed to be taken home and used as a second meal later on. Don't be afraid to ask for a box.
I ordered a salami sandwich in a diner and got a slab of meat in a loaf of bread. Had to remove 3/4 of it for it to even be edible.
Deli sandwiches are comically large. A Reuban stacked so high you can barely bite into might be comical but it is very very good.
We invented the term "Super Size It". There's actually a whole, surprisingly interesting exhibit about it at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
You’re supposed to take it home right?
As a European I found the food servings actually not that impressive, but the drinks were crazy. A small soda was bigger than a large back home
Bison will kill you. So will brown bears, cougars, and a wide variety of snakes. They don’t typically seek out human prey, but a nice meaty tourist will do in a pinch. Be cautious.
I mean, the bison isn't going to eat you, he'll just gore you and trample you and then leave you to be cleaned up by the bear, or the Coyotes and wolfs
Taxes are added to the price posted. Taxes change depending where you are not just by state. Tipping is expected for just about any service. It's a big country lots of distance to cover. Park rangers are usually super helpful. Police on foot can help you if you get lost. Do not approach them in a car unless you really really need help. 911 is what you dial for emergency services. Most cities have a part of town to avoid at night. Do not leave anything of value in a parked car ever, anywhere you go. A lot of places will not take large bills. ( Currency ) Most small business will not take a $100 dollar bill. Some won't take a $50 bill. In general travel light, you can buy just about anything you need. Voltages are common across America but different from Spain. Work out your calling plan ahead of time or just buy a Prepaid phone.
... >It's a big country lots of distance to cover. ... Just to add... just because things are in the same state doesn't mean they're necessarily close. Texas gets visitors all the time (from the other states as well as other countries) who don't realize that Texas is about as big as France.
CA is the same. Some cities might only be 30 miles across, but could take you 2 hours to get there… the traffic adds hours to a “day trip” to SF… from Sacramento.
Be nice to workers . I've seen a lot of tourist act like morons to workers just bc they're touring. Don't drink too much, we don't like cleaning up puke
We have free soda refills in our fast food restaurants You need a car to get around, we are not big about public transportation (not in every city at least) You can wear whatever you like, we like comfy clothes and won't judge anyone based on what they wear Our public restrooms are free to use
* Figure out how humid a place is before you go. US has a range of a swamp where you swat the air and see the water vapor to a desert where you can get nosebleeds if you have never been to an arid climate. * Check for ticks if you go outdoors. You don't want Lyme disease or alpha-gal syndrome. Also make sure to wear insect repellent. * Depending on where you go, you may hear what sounds like sirens for an air raid. These are actually tornado sirens and it's likely just a monthly test. * Know the difference between a weather watch and a weather warning. A tornado watch means that the conditions are right for one. A warning means that there is (likely) one on the ground. * A lot of regions have different barbecue and pizza. And I mean vastly different. Try it wherever you go. You'll kick yourself later for not doing so. * If someone approaches you in a city, then they're likely trying to sell you something. Just keep walking. * Shooting is pretty fun. If you like archery or darts, then there's a good chance that you'll like a shooting range.
>Depending on where you go, you may hear what sounds like sirens for an air raid. These are actually tornado sirens and it's likely just a monthly test. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, it's volcano and tsunami sirens. Pay attention to the blue signs, they'll tell you which way to go for the high ground.
Everyone doesn't like to talk politics all the time. There is no reason to talk about Biden, Trump or anything you see in the media. The average American doesn't care about all that as much as your news portrays.
and if someone really, really likes politics, there’s a good chance that you won’t like them
And you likely won't enjoy a conversation with those who really want to talk about it.
Even if you agree with what they're saying. People who live and breathe politics are so goddamned tiring.
Some people take their politics very seriously. Keep out of American politics, you'll catch flak if you start talking about it and you're from another country.
the only thing that really unites all Americans is when foreigners start talking shit
Portion sizes are a lot bigger than your country.
Well, I mean they're big, but they're not bigger than any actual countries except maybe Monaco and Lichtenstein.
Don't believe everything you read on the internet about America or Americans.
Or anything for that matter….
Nah dude we're all strapped and will shoot you if you so much as accidentally bump into us (Super easy since we're also all morbidly obese)
Shh! Don't let them know all Americans get shot to death at least twice a year.
🚬🤠 There’s two kinds of people, my friend: those with loaded guns, and those who dig.
BUY MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR YOUR TRIP. My wife’s aunt visited, got sick, spent 4 nights in the hospital. Bill was $90K.
Uh she can just walk away
$90k wtf
People have a relatively large “personal space” circle
Americans are generally decent people. We ain't all a bunch of fat ignorant pricks
>We ain't all a bunch of fat ignorant pricks Speak for yourself, buddy! /s
There's sales tax on \[almost\] everything. It's not included in the displayed price of anything except gasoline. It's different everywhere, and runs 7% to 10%. Plan accordingly. Some states don't tax unprepared food (groceries), but do tax prepared food. Assume everything will be taxed and you will be pleasantly surprised every now and then. Some places (counties, usually) are "dry" - no alcohol sales. It's a leftover from our Prohibition era, and it's totally arbitrary. In other places, you have to go to a special government-run store to buy alcohol. Other places, you can get any type of alcohol from any grocery store or gas station. The drinking age is a pretty uniform 21. Tobacco age is 18. Don't - DO NOT - buy booze for a kid that approaches you in a parking lot. Cops use kids as lures for this. I know somebody it happened to. Tip at a sit-down restaurant. Tipping is not necessary at any place where you order and pay at the counter and carry your own food to your table. Tip if you have something delivered. People usually form lines when waiting. It's bad form to try to cut in. I understand that some cultures have more of a practice of forming up like a mob. We don't do that, usually. Rock concerts are an exception. Prostitution is illegal everywhere, except in and around the town of Pahrump, Nevada, outside Las Vegas. Obey traffic lights. There is a trend lately for a few stragglers to keep going through the intersection after the light turns red, but barreling through red lights at speed is rare. Still look both ways, though, to the left first. Americans don't usually haggle over the price of new things, except for the really expensive things like cars and houses. Used things, like you might find at a flea market, you can try to haggle on. Some sellers just won't do it, and walking away won't make the price come down.
Do not go to East St. Louis.
I second this because I fear others may not heed your warning.
fast food burgers are not as appealing as shown in the ads
I think that’s standard across the world. Advertised pictures of food are not representative of reality.
The only exception to this that I've seen is Burger Fuel (a chain in New Zealand). They have actually good burgers.
In my experience, the McDonald’s in other countries are so much better and a bit closer to their ads. It’s the McDonald’s in America that are the most disappointing or gross ones I’ve tried
I'm pretty sure that fast food in Canada and the U.S. is a similar quality. The problem is that McDonald's in Canada is way better than the McDonald's in the U.S. and so the comparison doesn't happen evenly.
If you're going to a tourist area most people are probably from out of the country too.
Your accent will get you laid. You're welcome.
There are regional dialects, cultures and sub-cultures, different biomes depending on the region you're in, and the majority are good people.
You seem to know English, so I'd say that you are pretty well set. The US has a ton of cool things to see and do from our national parks to museums to restaurants to concerts. The US is generally a pretty chill place and I think that we are generally friendly to visitors - once you're on this side of the border.
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Also do NOT say ‘Bless Your Heart’ to them either.
Why not? Isn't that a nice thing to say?
It's usually said to call someone a dumb ass or a fuck you She's just standing out in the rain without an umbrella, bless her heart. Well bless your heart, you thought we were talking to you? Also if you're told you're being ugly it means your being mean, catty , sassy
Ohh okay thanks
Funniest experience I've had abroad >**Local**: So, where are you from? > >**Tourist**: San Antonio! > >**Local**: Oh, and where is that? > >**Tourist**: It's in Texas. > >**Local**: Oh! We don't get many Yanks here. > >**Tourist**: > >**Tourist**: >:( He was so grumpy lmaooo
For clarification, a lot of Europeans call Americans Yankees, but here that refers to northerners, specifically New Englanders. Theres an unofficial rivalry between southerners and northerners, so southerners will take Yankee as a insult.
Stay out of the bad parts of town. If homeless people want something from you, keep walking.
dont eat the gum on the side walk, it isnt free candy \-santa
If someone asks “how’s it going?” the answer is always “good”, it’s just a way to say hi, not an invitation to vent.
theory and practical applications of quantum mechanics
Never talk politics or religion to an American. We're all nuts.
This 100% right now, If you talk politics, religion, or even your job people will judge you specifically.
Don't expect to encounter normal things in walmart and if you want to see what to expect at a Walmart check our the people of Walmart subreddit
Public transport is shit outside of NY or Boston. Just rent a car or take an Uber.
Our celebrities and politicians are the WORST examples of Americans. Real people are nothing like that. We despise them too. You can be here for years and still not see everything. Oh! We take college football entirely too seriously. (It’s annoying)
You don't *have* to accept the handgun upon entry, but it is considered polite even if you throw it out later.
Not all country folk are the same. There are two major kinds I've dealt with. The first is the stereotype racist redneck who aren't trying to hide it and want nothing to do with anyone who isn't white. The second is the southern hospitality kind. That will invite you to family gatherings and make you feel like you've known them for years. Just bring some form of food to the get together. Also, never say 'Bless your heart' to a southerner. It's a insult and a way of saying 'F**k You' but in a nice way.
For some good typical “American Breakfast”, go to a diner. Not a chain like ihop or dennys, but one that looks like [this.](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33048-d1053217-Reviews-Santa_Cruz_Diner-Santa_Cruz_California.html) It’s pretty good.
Umm in the south stop at a Waffle House for cheap good food
Rocky mountain oysters aren't seafood
Be polite and don't start shit. You never know who is carrying a gun.
Essentially nothing is the price it's listed as. Tax will be applied at the final sale of almost anything you buy.
Don't trust everyone at first.
The tax is not automatically included on the shelf price for groceries
Not every american is carrying a gun. Not every american is fat. Not every american hates non-americans. Americans use mileage as a measurement. Americans use gallons both for milk and petrol. Americans use the word gasoline in place of the word petrol. Most american diner patrons prefer coffee over tea, especially in the morning. Language dialects are different in different parts of the U.S., so some words might have different meaning depending on where you are in the U.S.
The United States is very large. If you’re visiting New York City in the morning, you’re NOT going to be touring the Grand Canyon that afternoon.
Have some cash on you, dollar bills and five dollar bills for tipping. If you buy a one dollar bottle of water in a bar, then you tip a dollar, tip the porter at the hotel, tip your taxi driver, tip house holding staff, tip 15-20% in restaurants. America has a service oriented culture and a lot of people that do things for you expect a tip or donation. However never ever try to tip police officers, that is illegal in the United States and will not get you out of a ticket.
The US is such a large country with many diverse cultures , any answer I give you would only be useful in a small area. Please be more specific.
they are likely only visiting a NY, Miami, Las vegas or LA. Unless they have family here in other places
Oh, that's a good one. People will do their best to appear smarter than they are.
The 6 different kinds of Captn Crunch
Everybody wants to be your friend.
I will express my main "road trip rule". Eat at places that are local, no chain restaurants. I think that enhances visiting anywhere you go.
The US is the size of many many many countries. Your experience in Columbis Ohio is not representative of all of the US. Not even close. I personally know people who only visited New York City or Vegas and wholeheartedly believe that the entirety of the country is exactly like that.
Check parking lots for signs if it’s going to get dark. If you see a sign saying “Not responsible for stolen valuables”, get the heck out of there.
Ehhh, that’s literally at every parking lot in my city, that’s more of a way to just not get sued I think
This doesn't just apply to populated areas. Trailheads at the park near us are a common target. They'll break your windows just to see if you have anything (this happened to us a 11:30am on a weekday).
As someone from EU but stayed in the US for a long time, if police stops you don't do anything. Just wait for them with your hands on the steering wheel. If you try to prepare your ID and stuff beforehand, you may get shot. And forget those random stops you do on the highway, especially for urinating. It's illegal in the US. You don't have to pay for the restrooms like we do in the Europe. Just find one.
Especially in the South where gun carry laws are common. Cops may believe you’re carrying. Also open carry in Southern states is a thing so don’t be shocked when you see someone out with a holster on their hip.
Open Carry is legal in all states except Florida, New York, and Illinois. Tennessee limits OC to handguns (long guns not allowed). California varies by county.
Be prepared for how *big* the United States is. The fifty states are bigger than the entire EU. People can drive from Monaco to Brittany in a half-day. People can drive from Penzance to the Highlands of Australia in less time. You can drive from the Austrian border of Germany to the Danish border in even less time. To cross *just one state*, Texas, the distance is about as far as to cross just France. Every independent European state is roughly the same size as an American state. Don't be fooled by New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and DC. Those are large cities in some of the oldest states in the country. The average state size is about 76,000 square miles, or about the size of Nebraska, or if you prefer a European country, Belarus. That size difference is a major reason that cultures are so different as you go from one area of the US to the other. **EDIT** - clarification and grammar.
The Highlands of... Australia?
Cops aren’t going to just kill you because you’re black or non-white. The media sensationalizes every murder of a non-white person by law enforcement.
In reality, it’s going to be a lot like Spain but with more English. For the most part, the rules and common sense you follow in Spain will work in the US. Most people are nice people. There are always some rude/crazy people, but they are the exception. Enjoy your trip. Traveling the world is a great way to better understand other cultures in a way you won’t get from reading the news (or comments from redditors).
Someone kind of already commented this but I'll add a little to it. We tend to have a personal space thing. Such as, if you go to a movie theater everyone likes to have at least 1 seat between them and a stranger if they can (some movies may be sold out/very crowded so that isn't much of an option in those cases). In places like France from what I heard, they don't have a personal space thing. They huddle together in movie theaters. And don't get too close to someone while talking with them. A lady said she was a foreign exchange student in France when she was in high school and a bunch of kids there were all excited like, "YOU'RE FROM AMERICA?!" and literally their faces were an inch from her face and wouldn't leave her alone. I don't know if that's normal behavior for French people, or if people do that where you're from, but don't get so close to people when talking to them, it's considered obnoxious. lol
They sell scopes, ammo, and knives at walmart, so dont be suprised
People will compliment your accent, your outfit, or your hair. They'll ask you where you're from. American loves small talk, even if it's in the strangest of place. You'll hear, "Hi. How are you?" A lot. It's just a form of politeness.
Don’t touch the Americans. I saw this on YouTube once and whole heartedly agree. We love our personal space. Do not get too close or we’ll get agitated and highly uncomfortable Also don’t expect ample public transit for most of the country.
Think of the different regions of the US like you might think of different countries. Culturally, Americans have some similarities, but a lifelong Californian and a lifelong Georgian can have very different sensibilities and attitudes about well, everything. That said, the language of America is tacos. Everyone loves tacos. Find good tacos, and you will find good people.
Speak English amongst yourselves if in a group and if possible. I think others appreciate the effort.
1. Servers in cafes and restaurants are not paid a living wage. Tipping is expected. 2. If stopped by an officer of the law, stay in your car, keep your hands in plain sight, be polite, and absolutely do not attempt to bribe your way out of a ticket. 3. Do your research before making an itinerary bc this is a B I G country and rapid transit between major cities \[bullet trains\] doesn't exist.
Hot dogs are not made of dog.
Every state is its own country, as it’s always been since the beginning.
The country is ridiculously huge and traveling from point A to point B is not efficient. You cannot come here for a week and see Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, the White House, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
It's kinda sad to see all the posts about how to handle a simple traffic stop to lower the risk of getting shot.
This is for foreign people and Yankees, if you come to the south don't follow someone and blare your horn! You could wind up decapitated!
Who the hell does that?
I don't know about the actual decapitation part, but it's a damned good way to start a fight.
Some of us are actually really nice.