13 Etiquette Rules in the US That Surprise Tourists
323,892
Published 2019-07-03
Are any of these Americanisms different or the same in your country? And to all my fellow Americans, can you add anything to the list?
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TIMESTAMPS
Feel free to ask for some condiments 0:32
Always tip! 1:11
Clean up after yourself at fast food restaurants 2:01
Open gifts immediately in front of the giver 2:46
Be ready for small talk 3:26
Expect a lot of smiles 4:16
Respect the bubble 5:00
No kissing! 5:37
Being loud is (usually) ok 6:07
Indirectness is politeness 6:45
Sit in the backseat of a cab 7:21
Feel free to keep your shoes on inside 7:55
It’s ok to keep it casual! 8:40
SUMMARY
- If you’re eating out and your food is tasting a little bland, it’s completely fine to ask for salt, pepper, or sauces to add a little zing to your meal.
- A lot of Americans feel guilty about not leaving any tip. The rule is 15-20% of the bill, so get ready to do some mental math each time you eat out.
- If you’ve finished eating and your tray is now full of wrappers, used napkins, and empty boxes, take it to the trashcan and dispose of the garbage yourself.
- I was pretty surprised when I found out that opening a gift as soon as you get it is considered bad manners in certain parts of the world.
- Americans love small talk, so don’t be surprised if a stranger just starts chatting with you while you’re waiting in line or sharing an elevator.
- Let me bust the myth that Americans constantly walk around smiling ear-to-ear. Nobody does that because that’d be weird.
- The unspoken rule is to stand about an arm’s length away when you’re talking with someone.
- There might be some Americans who greet the European way, but overall, we don’t kiss each other as a way to say hi.
- The stereotype of the loud American tourist might ring true most of the time since we tend to project our voices, even out in public.
- “No” means “no” even if it’s said indirectly and super politely.
- You should ride in the backseat because the driver might give you a weird look otherwise.
- There are plenty of families here that have a “No Shoes Indoors” policy, although I’d say the majority don’t.
- If you’re ever out and about in the US, you’ll see a lot of people running errands in sweatpants, gym shorts, baseball caps, or even their PJs! But it’s not just about clothes either – we often keep it on a first-name basis even with people that are generally referred to more formally in other countries.
#usafacts #americanrules #brightside
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All Comments (21)
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Hey there, BrightSiders! Which country are you from? Let’s see who is who:-)
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in the US if you accidentally bump someone it's it's very important to say excuse me or pardon. I noticed in Asia they bump into others all the time and keep going and that's not acceptable in the US
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A big one I learned when served a mission in Peru... in the United States it's OK to toss things across the room instead of handing it to the other person directly if you are close with them. Your wife/son/roommate may ask you to toss them the keys. This was considered offensive in Peru and if you ever try it without warning them usually they won't even lift their hands up and they'll watch the keys travel across the room and smack them right in the face. Honestly I think it's because we play baseball in the U.S. so you're taught how to throw from very young.
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I’ve lived in this US for my whole life and i didn’t know my country is unique
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For #2, you should have explained that servers are not paid minimum wage. They're paid much less by the hour, so tipping is not only polite, it helps pay their wages. Yeah, if the waiter stinks, don't tip, but most of them are fine.
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Any other Americans watching to see if these are true? Also, almost always take your shoes off in Asian households...
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In USA the pedestrian has the right of way on the road and drivers follow the traffic rules. Cutting in line is rude.
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OK, I'll add more even tough I'm half Brazilian. I was raised in the US. 1. There is a time and place for smoking but make sure you watch the signs. People WILL get mad at you. 2. 2 things to never talk about in polite conversation (outside of family or friends) gun safety and politics. You will cause fights 3. We use the imperial system. Literally, the only metric system we know is 2 litre bottles of soda. 4. You will be glad to know 24 hour stores exist. You will need them when you travel
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Thank you for mentioning that you need to dump your own trays at fast food. I’m disgusted with customers leaving everything behind because it could take me hours to finally get a little down time to catch up with the cleaning before more customers come.
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I love the concept of personal bubble..i wish everyone would follow that...some of my family members forget..its so annoying....life would be so much better if everyone respects the personal bubble :) Smiling..that too..all for it..people should do that more often..to keep this world a happy place for all...
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Eye contact should be added. Americans expect direct eye contact whether you’re arguing with the person, laughing or having a talk. .....Lack of eye contact in the USA, generally means you are lying , doing something wrong or up to no good. 👌🏽
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I don’t think it was mentioned but we don’t generally tip at fast food restaurants. We tip waiters because they’re underpaid and rely on tips
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More things are 1) free refills at almost every restaurant 2) it's not impolite to listen to music with head phones out in public if you're visiting you'll see a lot of that 3) SERVICE DOGS America (and Canada) have service dogs for mental disabilities and physical disabilities (not just for the blind unlike most countries) so if you see a well trained dog (most likely with a vest on) in a restaurant or other areas that you think ad dog shouldn't be it's fine the dog is supposed to be with the handler at all times 4) it's impolite to lift up your bowl or plate when eating
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Not all Americans are friendly and wanna talk and smile all the time. Like me for example. I'm quiet and could go a whole day with no talking and when I talk everyone tells me I talk to quiet or to fast
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As to personal space, many of us are "touchy-feely" with our friends. Also, you should have mentioned that a handshake is a standard way to meet someone. Offering your hand when being introduced to someone is expected.
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#8 is missing details - like Americans consist of multiple cultures so depending on if you recognize the culture and they regularly greet with kisses, then it's ok. But in general, girls will hug, and men will shake hands and a man and woman will shake hands or wave.
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Well in Europe you need to clean up after eating in fast food...
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I know that in Latin, Central, and South America, it’s rude to refer to the US as America instead of “North America” since the other Americas are technically American too; it’s makes us sound like we are the one and only American country. I learned that the hard way. They call us “The States”
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A hint if a household takes off there shoes is if there are shoes at near the door, but when in doubt ask.
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"Are you just gonna ignore someone if you share the space with them?" Yes. I have social anxiety
