"It Costs Me Almost $0 For This": Americans Who Moved To Another Country Reveal The Biggest Culture Shock They've Experienced

While a lot of Americans might be considering moving out of the US right now, some already have. So when Reddit user Apprehensive_Gas3160 asked: "For Americans that left America and went to go live in another country what has been the biggest culture shock for you?" a lot of people provided their personal experiences. Here's what they said below.

1."Every toilet included a bidet (washlet-style) in Japan. Very nice."

2."Switzerland. Stores closing at 6 or 7 p.m. and not being open Sunday."

—grayf0xy

3."From when I lived in Germany, it was how few businesses were open late (except bars, some of which almost never closed) and, of course, nearly everything is closed on Sundays. Also, how few businesses accepted cards as payment (this was 11 years ago, and I suspect that's changed significantly since then)."

4."I lived in Germany for ten years. Of course, there were many moments of 'Oh, okay, this is different,' like trying to bag groceries as they throw them at you rapid fire, tipping the Kloputzfrau, etc. In retrospect, the biggest shock to my female American system, and the one I could never fully adjust to, was feeling safe."

—Maleficent_Scale_296

"Same. I could go out after sunset and not have to worry about potentially running into a person with a gun or some person's rabid dog running up to the fence. It was so nice taking walks at night to clear my head."

—Crotalus__atrox

"Or sitting in your apartment and having some random bullet come through the wall/floor/window. My daughter walked the two blocks to school alone when she was eight; I would get arrested for that here."

—Maleficent_Scale_296

5."It costs me almost $0 for hospital visits, birthing kids, available rides, and anything related to children’s health. I’ve considered taking the kids and husband back to the US for a few years (family reasons), but I just cannot justify that part of it all. My 5-year-old broke his foot, had to have like 10 different X-rays, two moon boots, and a wheelchair, and it was zero dollars. My family back home was just floored. I’m not paying health insurance or anything; that’s just the public healthcare."

6."I have been to several Central American countries, and they walk as many abreast as the sidewalk is wide. They do not care that people are walking in the other direction on the same sidewalk. They do not yield or observe the right away. They will sit on the stairs and not move if you need to climb them. No special consideration for the elderly or handicapped who need to get by. Basically, just no manners. How hard is it to comprehend an orderly, single-file line? They park with their front bumpers blocking the sidewalks and rarely leave enough space between cars to fully open your door. They drive like they're in NASCAR, no turn signals and riding your ass."

7."In Ireland, when you request a specialist doctor appointment, they send you the time and date in the mail, usually only a few days before. There's no effort whatsoever to find a mutual time; it's on you to make it work. As far as I can tell, there's a lingering cultural expectation that the mother doesn't work and will be free to manage such things, even decades after that was last commonly true."

—HonoraryCanadian

8."My parents are French, but I have grown up/lived in the US my whole life. We lived in France for one and a half years when I was in elementary school and spent several summers there. It does not matter that our parents are French, that we summer there, that we can speak French, people make it clear that you are American. My parents can obviously blend in much better, being French, but my siblings and I found it harder to navigate. As an adult, it doesn’t bother me, but I only go on holiday versus living there."

9."I live in Sydney, Australia now. It’s better here than in the US, and I always thought we had it so good at home. Also, the coffee here is so good, and I’ve been spoiled forever."

—Tiny_Garden_1533

10."An American who traveled a lot back in the '80s and '90s — Lack of ice water. I’m not sure how much, if any, it has changed now, but as an American, I grew up being able to go to any restaurant, and first thing, before they even take your order, they bring you a refreshing glass of complimentary ice, cold, clean tap water. In most of the other places I’d travel to or lived in, if you ask for a glass of water, they bring you an empty glass and a $3 bottle of mineral water. When you explain that no, what you would like is a glass of ice cubes filled with flat water, they look at you like you’ve asked for a plate of jellied tothecurds in a prismic purée."

—varthalon

"In Australia, they give you water. Ice is pushing it, though. "

—IsaidWhatever2869

11."UK: No screens in windows. Windows just open up to the great outdoors. Makes it difficult to sleep with the windows open in summer because I don't want insects to get inside. On the other hand, mosquitos aren't nearly as bad as in the US."

Americans who moved to another country or who travel extensively, tell us the biggest culture shock you experienced in the comments below.