discussion What isn't weird in your culture but weird in US culture?

[Scars]

27 minutes ago, Before Today said:

Asians also live with their parents. It's not that uncommon to live with them even if you're married and have kids. I know some couples who do that, though personally I'd move out. I'm 24 and still live with my dad  I'm lowkey thankful it's not a big deal here lol. Saving some money. And living alone is kind of lonely at times. I lived on my own when I was in college, so I'm using my time to spend some time with my parents. But I might move out and live with my bf next year which I'm excited about.

It's also not uncommon to see married couples living with their elderly parents in Latin America, especially in rural areas. People would rather take care of their old parents than to let them live by themselves in nursing homes.

 

It's so beautiful to see that despite our differences, many cultures across the Global South share many values. Family being a foundation to a life in community and sense of belonging seems to be a common factor. 

 

Living alone can look quite stressful and anxiety-inducing at times, but I'm applying to a grad school program in another city, so I'm kinda excited to have that experience next year. I've worked and study abroad before, but never for a really long period of time.

 

Wishing you and your bf the best! 

Edited September 18, 2022 by Scars

[popmusicisdead]

22 minutes ago, tonyle1911 said:

Living with parents after 18. Very common in Asia, even until you’re married and have kids. It’s just the way family members support each other. But in the US, living with parents considered a loser and weird.

 

https://youtu.be/si1CrbCaxjM

 

At 2:16, i love his response to Oprah’s question

this. no one moves out until they get married. and even then most of the time, the spouse of the child just moves in .

 

 

i'm experiencing the reverse of this because technically my mom lives in my house  

[Harrier]

You guys make great points about living with parents at an older age. In my country its kind of frowned upon too still, but its changing.
I'm very glad that it's becoming more normal and acceptable because of the influence of Asian cultures (and sky-high rent prices  ). I live alone, but I have friends in their 20s that live with their parents and its seen as pretty normal.

[Oxygen]

How often we use the word ‘cunt’, often as a term of endearment. 

[Subzero]

Not a very serious example but being dominican it's pretty normal for us to wear chancletas/sandals literally all the time. With jeans, shorts, no matter the outfit. 

 

I never knew it was considered "weird" until I went to school once and people kept asking why my dad wore jesus sandals and tank tops 24/7 when he'd pick me up from school, even in the winter

 

Even a teacher asked once if everything was okay at home because I had sandals on when it started getting kinda cold outside and I wasn't wearing sneakers  I had to explain that it was normal for us and I was just used to always wearing them all the time but after that I only ever wore sneakers to school 

Edited September 18, 2022 by Subzero

[BrokenMachine]

Going to a water canal with some trees and get drunk in there lol

 

1 hour ago, MingYouToo said:

another thing is that americans get so weirded out but eventually love how i always ask if they've eaten, where they wanna eat and how i always treat them out. its part of filipino culture (and latino by extension i think) to just feed people and make them feel cozy/at home.

Right, I can confirm this for latino culture too

[bliaz]

1 hour ago, tonyle1911 said:

Living with parents after 18. Very common in Asia, even until you’re married and have kids. It’s just the way family members support each other. But in the US, living with parents considered a loser and weird.

 

https://youtu.be/si1CrbCaxjM

 

At 2:16, i love his response to Oprah’s question

This is also common in Mexico. I am not sure if in all of LATAM 

[terrorblade]

I guess living with your parents well into adulthood and eating directly with hands

[bliaz]

I don't know if it's true, but someone told me that in the USA they couldn't listen to loud music at home because it was forbidden. In Mexico it is very common to hear loud music coming from different houses at all hours. Right now, for example, I am in my room and I hear music coming from everywhere, of all kinds, people shouting/singing, as if it were a holiday, and sometimes it lasts until the wee hours of the morning. If a neighbor has a party and doesn't let you sleep, it's not common to call the police, you just put up with it. And if the police come, they ask them to turn down the volume, but when they leave they turn the music back on 

Edited September 18, 2022 by bliaz

[Before Today]

Just now, bliaz said:

I don't know if it's true, but someone told me that in the USA they couldn't listen to loud music at home because it was forbidden. In Mexico it is very common to hear loud music coming from different houses at all hours. Right now, for example, I am in my room and I hear music coming from everywhere, of all kinds, people shouting, as if it were a holiday, and sometimes it lasts until the wee hours of the morning. If a neighbor has a party and doesn't let you sleep, it's not common to call the police, you just put up with it. And if the police come, they ask them to turn down the volume, but when they leave they turn the music back on 

It's not illegal where I live but I live in a pretty good area where houses are quite far apart. I use my amplifier at 2AM and no one will hear any noise. However if I'm staying in a place close together, or like an apartment, I will sure complain. Noise pollution is ANNOYING  

[Before Today]

1 hour ago, Scars said:

It's also not uncommon to see married couples living with their elderly parents in Latin America, especially in rural areas. People would rather take care of their old parents than to let them live by themselves in nursing homes.

 

It's so beautiful to see that despite our differences, many cultures across the Global South share many values. Family being a foundation to a life in community and sense of belonging seems to be a common factor. 

 

Living alone can look quite stressful and anxiety-inducing at times, but I'm applying to a grad school program in another city, so I'm kinda excited to have that experience next year. I've worked and study abroad before, but never for a really long period of time.

 

Wishing you and your bf the best! 

Despite our messy politics/economy we're blessed in the good hospitality and food departments.

 

And thank you. Best of luck to your grad school too  The freedom/independence from living alone is nice, but also comes with its own problems (like loneliness) and responsibilities that you have to deal on your own. Overall, I can't live alone lol. Even at home I always have a chat with my parents or annoy my siblings.

[Archetype]

2 hours ago, MingYouToo said:

im filipino-american and one of the biggest weird things for me (i grew up with both cultures so no culture shock per say) is how americans are so weirded out by the mano mano which is like putting your forehead on the elderlys or lolo/lola/abuela's palm and the kissing of the cheek, i even kiss my parents on the lips when i was a kid... here in the US it gets sexualized as hell like with tom brady and his son.

 

another thing is that americans get so weirded out but eventually love how i always ask if they've eaten, where they wanna eat and how i always treat them out. its part of filipino culture (and latino by extension i think) to just feed people and make them feel cozy/at home. oh and as much as possible i pack rice in a lunch box whenever i go for fast food because i cant stand eating kfc chicken with mashed potatoes, i need my rice!

 

what ive come to learn is that americans have no sense of community (at least in urban areas) and are so hyperindividual (even i am sometimes) that they forget to be nice to the rest of the community.

 

ive been harassed at one point by strangers for just looking at them and smiling, like they're always thinking im mocking them or smth, i move between the philippines and the us frequently every semester break so i guess its just a habit ive learned from the philppines.

 

oh and HYGIENE some americans are just so reliant on deodorants they'll not wash for weeks!!! ive accidentally scraped friends arms and the nasty dark sweat/idk dirt that accumulates on their pale ass skin is so

My partner is Filipino and I'm Italian, and our cultures are pretty much the same when it comes to topics brought up in conversations (food food food), offering food to house guests, offering to pay for friends and family, etc.  We both spent most of our lives in the NYC area and it's very diverse, so I think it depends on where in the US you're living.  However, I have second cousins who live in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania and we visited them once (driving many hours) and they didn't even think to offer food or drinks.  We had to emphasize how hungry we were and they ended up asking us to split the bill for crappy delivery pizza.  My mother vowed to never visit them again. 

 

17 minutes ago, bliaz said:

I don't know if it's true, but someone told me that in the USA they couldn't listen to loud music at home because it was forbidden. In Mexico it is very common to hear loud music coming from different houses at all hours. Right now, for example, I am in my room and I hear music coming from everywhere, of all kinds, people shouting/singing, as if it were a holiday, and sometimes it lasts until the wee hours of the morning. If a neighbor has a party and doesn't let you sleep, it's not common to call the police, you just put up with it. And if the police come, they ask them to turn down the volume, but when they leave they turn the music back on 

Depends on the area.  In more urban areas, yea it's very impolite to listen to music loudly at home or in public (even though some people do) because other people can hear you.  Especially in large US cities, it's common to call the police on loud neighbors and people who play music loud because most cities have laws regulating noise levels (including noises from vehicles).  In more suburban and rural areas, things aren't as strict.

[GraceRandolph]

4 hours ago, MingYouToo said:

oh and HYGIENE some americans are just so reliant on deodorants they'll not wash for weeks!!! ive accidentally scraped friends arms and the nasty dark sweat/idk dirt that accumulates on their pale ass skin is so

Is this a thing? Most Americans shower daily, and some overdo it.

[Nip Tuck]

using the word ***** and general swearing in australia

 

also living at home throughout university / college is the norm here

 

[Cleanromantic]

Living with your parents. It's the norm here to live with your parents untill you're married (unless you go to school/work in an other state), it's also normal for some people to continue living with their parents after marriage. You're seen as a failure if you do that in the US. 

 

How teens are seen as completely developed adults as soon as they turn 18. Here, your parents still get a say in your life when you're in your 20s/30s.

 

Virginity shaming. It's a shock to Americans if you're like 25 and still a virgin because they start having sex at like 15 . 

Edited September 18, 2022 by Cleanromantic

[Bloodflowers.]

Having no gunshots in schools

[Robburro]

taking a bath 2 times everyday 

[BlackStar_93]

I think anyone not from the UK find our Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes night) really weird, which I guess it is. 

[slik]

12 hours ago, anklebiterrs said:

Wearing other culture’s clothing. In my country we even have a day to celebrate the cultural diversity by having kids wear cultural outfits from other ethnicities to school. This would be seen as cultural appropriation in the US. 

I think that's a really great idea actually and would like to see that in the U.S.

[slik]

4 hours ago, Bloodflowers. said:

Having no gunshots in schools

I think this is the best answer in this thread and I wish we could get that to happen here

[Hobbes]

10 hours ago, Oxygen said:

How often we use the word ‘*****’, often as a term of endearment. 

Same in the UK. It's probably not as commonplace as in Australia but definitely more widely used than in the states. 

 

OT: From what I understand - the drinking culture. In the UK you can start drinking at midday on any day of the week, no special occasion, and it wouldn't be questioned to be honest. It's so built into our culture that a good portion of us are basically high-functioning alcoholics but everyone is in the same boat so no one bats an eyelid. 

[Almighty Gaga]

Living with your parents beyond 18.

 

Not being forced to work during summer breaks. The whole idea of being forced to have a job before finishing university really.

[KatyPrismSpirit]

eating with your hands

eating on the floor

being loud asf

parents cursing themselves out if theyre mad 

also using diseases as curse words. like cancer lol

Edited September 18, 2022 by KatyPrismSpirit

[Oceania]

12 hours ago, The7thStranger said:

Dual national here. Some things I've noticed:

 

In Italy, kids aren't all in bed early. It's not uncommon for them to be out in the streets playing until midnight (or even later).

 

And because there are so many Italians/Italian-Americans in the States (and no, the two camps are not nearly as different as the native born care to admit), this next one might not be as weird or unknown. But in Italy, you can have an argument with somebody Karen-style and then be their best friend two seconds later at the drop of a hat. Being extremely blunt is a part of the culture in Italy, whereas, in the States, it's a major sign that you weren't raised right.

Well, then you should know that Italy is far from being a cultural monolith.

I've never been to the US but, as a northern italian, I know I have nothing in common with the average italian-american I see portrayed in the media.

 

OT: Male circumcision apparently. 

[Raptus]

Living with parents  after you turn 23-25 sounds like a nightmare. And i love my parents So im glad in european culture its not popular (excluding  Italy). But  my parents bought me an apartament in the city I chose to live so I kinda see that  someone  without the  funds would prefere living in parents house rather than renting some small room in shared flat.