The US is so big and diverse that sometimes it feels like moving between states is like hopping between different countries. Recently, Reddit user LostPoet-AtTheBar asked, “What is something the west doesn’t know about the east and vice versa?” and, wow, the responses did not disappoint. From sweet tea obsessions in the South to cheese curds in the Midwest, some of these culture shocks are hilarious, while others make you wonder if we’re all living in the same country.
Let’s dive into 33 of the funniest and most unexpected examples that Reddit users shared—prepare to laugh, cringe, and maybe even learn something new!
1. “Woke up early on vacation in Florida and the sidewalk outside my hotel was absolutely covered in lizards and it was amazing”-SnakePeele
“I live in Florida. The little guys are pretty awesome, until your cat brings you a dead one”-TheLadyWeaver.
2. “Chinese in US. Eating some groceries in the store before you’ve even paid for them (i.e. being thirsty so you open a bottle, drink it, and pay for it at checkout. or you’re waiting in the checkout line so you take a few bites out of your french bread). Also, being able to read a book in a store without having to pay for it.”
This reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon from a long time ago. There’s a guy at a cashier at a store and he says: “What do you mean I can’t buy a barbeque here?! What kind of drugstore is this?”
3. “The way in LA food came with warnings like may cause cancer, antibiotics used when buying things with meat in”
4. “Everything being wildly huge. Literally. Road lanes, groceries, soda sizes. Especially distances: where i come from, 3 hours of driving are enough to cross half of the country, in the US it’s just a small drive to go to see a relative or something.”
You can drive for 11 hours in Los Angeles and still be in Los Angeles. – KirkMouse
5. “That even with really great insurance I still have to pay for things all the time. Co pay; deductible; coinsurance. It took me years to wrap my head around it to have any confidence in what my expected costs might be.”
Its also the reason why Healthcare is tied to employment, it keeps people tied to a job they hate/is toxic if you leave you have pay COBRA rates or have a 90 day gap between your old insurance and your new. – ShadowWingLG
6. “I was at a McDonald’s in the U.S. and no one kicked my ass for wearing my futuristic computer glasses.”
7. “I have a friend from the czech republic who is always amazed at how wasteful we are and how much garbage is everywhere.”
8. “Rite-Aid – I can get a flu shot, a bottle of tequila, snickers bars and pizza pockets all from the same store. Awesome.”
This reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon from a long time ago. There’s a guy at a cashier at a store and he says: “What do you mean I can’t buy a barbeque here?! What kind of drugstore is this?” – Duuuh
9. “How obnoxiously big the cars are. I’m Italian.”
“Everything to the state of California is known to cause cancer lol” – justthatguy119
10. “Why did you decide that toilet’s doors had to hide absolutely nothing?”
The trick to the gap between the doors is to intentionally try to make eye contact with anyone who walks by. – heyimrick
11. The massive amount of advertising and upsells. As soon as you get on a plane back to the US, it’s all “sign up for this credit card” and “watch these ads before and after the safety briefing” and “you can pay later for all this, no payments today.”
As a Canadian it always drives me nuts that there’s audio ads at gas stations… – Anton-sugar
12. “I asked for a simple iced coffee in Texas, and they handed me something that tasted like it was 80% sugar and 20% regret.”
13. “People waved at me while driving in Alabama. I panicked because I thought my car was on fire or something.”
I am Southern- politeness is drilled into us from birth. Genteel speech is always desired- even when you are telling someone off you do it politely. IMO it’s a holdover from the class based antebellum society when one’s social status was very apparent by the way they spoke and behaved. Hospitality, manners, and kindness are important because speaking or behaving in a rude manner is perceived as very low class. Trashy even. – gooberfaced
14. “I went hiking in Colorado and realized that in Florida, the highest ‘elevation’ I ever climbed was a speed bump.”
You think FLA is flat? oh man you haven’t been to Texas! – Telnet-to-the-Mind
15. “I asked where the recycling bin was in Arizona. They laughed like I’d just told the best joke of the year.”
16. Illinois to Louisiana “Moved to Louisiana and discovered ‘crawfish boils’ are practically a religion. I’m not sure if I was eating dinner or attending a ritual.”
17. “Sweet tea in Georgia isn’t just tea—it’s a life-altering sugar high served in a Mason jar.”
18. “I said ‘You betcha’ in Hawaii, and someone asked if I was quoting a movie. No, that’s just how I talk.”
When I moved to the mainland I once showed up for work an hour late and my boss was like “you didn’t change your clocks for daylight savings huh?” I had never heard of such a thing. – JungleBoyJeremy
19. “Fahrenheit….Like Why!”
Related to this, most Celsius thermostats allow setting to the half degree, so they are more precise. – rc1024
20. “In Kentucky, strangers called me ‘darlin’’ at the grocery store. I wasn’t sure if I was flattered or being scouted for a reality show.”
I was born here, went to college here, have lived abroad and in other states. I keep coming back. I’m a homer but I think KY is truly one of the most wonderful states in the US. Yes we have issues, but who doesn’t. – catsby90bbn
21. “In Michigan, I learned ‘going up north’ is a sacred tradition. Turns out it’s just code for sitting in a cabin and drinking beer.”
22. “I mentioned composting in Oklahoma, and someone said, ‘You mean you put trash in dirt on purpose?’ Guess I’ll keep my worms to myself.
23. “I am from Canada and briefly went to school in the US and was surprised by how many people thought Canada was in Europe”
I was trying to order at a Whataburger in San Antonio and the person taking my order couldn’t understand a word what I was saying. No he wasn’t an immigrant lol. White, high school kid. He said my accent (Canadian) was too thick ? – ravenstarchaser
24. “The pledge of allegiance is very dystopian ans extremely weird.”
25. “Tipping culture is definitely insane in the US; Is this new? I delivered pizza for years for $2/$3 tips. I’m not tipping a $#@king barista or sandwich maker. Serve me at a table and I’ll tip you, drive food to my house and I’ll tip you.”
I bought a bottle of wine today at a store. The credit card machine gave me the screen asking for a tip. I pressed zero and it didn’t work lol. I told the cashier I didn’t want to tip so they fixed it. But come on! I’m not tipping a store cashier! – AbrasiveSandpiper
26. “Food stamps I understand what they are, like vouchers, but when and how do you get them? And what are you able to buy with it? I know it’s only essentials but what income bracket and how do you qualify? Are they hard to get? I don’t have that in my country”
They are called SNAP. You get a card that’s reloaded every month. You can use it to buy any food or drink that’s not a hot prepared food. The application process varies by state.- weightmonster
27. “As a dude born and raised in Cali, the year I spent living in Alaska was a huge culture shock. Seeing people ride snowmobiles to the store, 4 feet of snow outside and kids still walking into school, my brother in law casually telling me how he killed a grizzly bear that was on his friend’s property, learning that people up north keep a porch torch to melt the ice out of their lock on particularly cold days.”
28. “Miami feels like a different country compared to the US.”
I’ve only visited Miami once, it was amazing. The architecture, the nightlife, all the tourists. I was young and clubbing at the time though. Probably the best vacation I’ve ever been on. – KU76
29. “As a Russian immigrant to the US, I remember being overcome with childhood nostalgia after being told by a Brighton Beach storekeeper to buy something and get out of her face.”
Brighton Beach is essentially a Baltic State. – Batchagaloop
30. “As a Korean, I will never take our healthcare for granted. When I found out how much it cost my friend to get her wisdom tooth removed in the U.S. (vs. the $20 it cost me to remove mine), I was floored. It’s a big “but” in my thought process about considering moving back to the U.S.”
If someone trys to take your universal healthcare fight it like your life depends on it, because it does. – Videogames5life
31. “Zimbabwean, moved to go to Drexel. I was told to never, ever go west of 40th street after sun down. In my time in Philly, I’ve been thoroughly disappointed by the fact that I’ve never come across a couple of guys up to no good, starting to make trouble in my neighborhood.”
crazy to hear they’re still telling people this, i thought universities stopped pushing that narrative 20 years ago. go ahead and venture into the harmless, crunchy neighborhood with all of their scary yoga mats and special needs dogs. they can’t hurt you. – bellaugly
32. “Mammoth, UT. All the houses have outhouses and it feels like if you stop, they will shoot you”
They are mostly good folk. Hard life. Have to truck your own water in. My father born and raised there – garagej
33. “Northern Nevada, the Basque and Mormon shape the local cultures, not in a large way anymore like 25 years or more ago, but both have been here for more than 100 years and they still own property, ranches and many small casinos, their influences still run deep fron Reno to Elko.”
That’s a Wrap—Only in America!
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