22 Cultural Norms From Around The World That Felt Completely Foreign To Outsiders

When you travel to new places, you're bound to notice some norms, customs, and traditions that drastically differ from those back home. Well, redditor u/Quick_Ask_5727 asked, "What's something you experienced in another country that completely shocked you, even though it's normal there?" Here are some of their responses, along with others from members of the BuzzFeed Community.

1."When I visited Japan, what blew my mind was how quiet public spaces are — like, people don't talk on the subway at all. Everyone's either reading, on their phones, or just silently existing. Coming from the U.S., it felt so weird at first when public transport sounded like a mix of phone calls, loud music, and life stories being shared with strangers. But honestly? After a few days, I kinda loved it. Imagine riding the subway without hearing someone's entire relationship drama at 7 a.m."

2."The traffic in Vietnam. There don't seem to be any rules except which side of the road to be on. It's mostly mopeds, and everyone's weaving in and out of lanes. People cross where they can, and traffic seems to slide around them. I expressed to a guide there that it was amazing there aren't more accidents, but he told me about 30 people die each month in traffic accidents in his city alone."

3."Walking over steaming manholes in the streets of NYC. I genuinely thought that was just something they did for movies."

4."I moved from the States to France. I went to a local basketball game, and it was so quiet. It was not silent, but people were more interested in having casual conversations with each other during the game instead of watching. It felt like more of a social gathering to mingle than to watch a basketball game. I couldn't hold back; I yelled at the referees and players throughout the game! You can see it in the Olympics! When France's men's basketball team plays, the audience applauds, and you can hear chit-chat but no yelling or getting up out of seats like the US."

5."When I was traveling on a train in Japan, a Japanese man left his suitcase, bag, and open laptop to go to the toilet. As a Londoner, I was taken aback and couldn't help but watch his belongings for him while he was gone. Funnily enough, nobody batted an eye, and his things were exactly as he had left them when he came back!"

—Anonymous

6."In Germany, people will approach you and tell you when you've done something out of line. In one case, I went to a park and set up a hammock, as I saw others doing. After a while, a man approached me and indicated he had a problem with how I attached my hammock, which didn't have padding around the tree..."

7."When I lived in the UK, I would get dirty looks whenever I said 'bless you' to a stranger who sneezed. My British friends told me you generally only say this to people you know."

—doofenshmirtzevilinc

8."I moved from California to Brazil, and I was shocked by how feral dogs are allowed to run freely in public housing and cities. They survive on the goodwill of the people for handouts and hang out with other dogs of similar circumstances. They are surprisingly friendly and know how to maneuver traffic intuitively."

9."Hot chocolate in Spain. It's not so much a beverage as it is something to dip churros into. Although I drank the rest anyway because it is delicious."

10."Moved from the UK to Switzerland a couple of years ago. In the UK, if you're walking down a busy street and someone is walking towards you in your path, you'll tend to do a sort of 'dance' of both moving out of the way and sometimes both moving to the same side, then having a little chuckle or smile, and generally being very/overly polite about giving the other person space and right of way..."

"...Not the case here — I've been shoulder-checked several times by people walking towards me if I didn't get out of the way in time, and they don't even register it. Initially, it shocked me, and my British politeness was affronted! Now I'm used to it and don't feel too bad if I collide with someone in the street — they don't even look back."

—Anonymous

11."Eating at a person's house like it's a restaurant. Cuba, early 2000s. Many people would have side gigs to make money off tourists. I had one of the best meals: Pressure-cooked pork chops with rice and beans. Simple but perfect."

12."I moved from Canada to the Netherlands. One of the things the Dutch don't do is small talk. In Canada, small talk is almost a universal social norm. It makes you feel safe interacting with strangers..."

"...The Dutch have no time for that. If you ask them a question, they are just as likely to ask you why you are asking the question as they are to answer... And if they DO answer, it will be with as few words as possible, and it will be followed up with a dead-pan stare. The younger generations are easier going in this respect, but the older people are, the more mindful you need to be to ask only relevant questions to which you need an immediate answer."

—Robert, 58, Canada

13."I grew up in Hawaii, and I visited Canada. Did you know they have snow inside the cities?! Where people live!? They have to push it to the sides of the roads so they can drive places. Sure, I saw it on TV. But this was real. It was soooo cold. And everyone was walking around like it was no big deal."

14."When I moved to the US from Europe, I was shocked that everyone here called me by my first name even if they met me for the first time. In Europe, you must be very well acquainted with someone to call them by their first name. And there is no way in Europe to call your supervisor by their first name without their approval."

—Anonymous

15."When I moved to Italy, I noticed one of the biggest cultural differences was how people perceive time. Being a bit late to a meeting or social event is normal and not seen as rude at all in Italy. Meanwhile, back home, punctuality was super strict. Adapting to a more relaxed attitude towards time took some getting used to. It's a nice change, though — it's all about enjoying the moment and not stressing over the clock!"

16."A member of our family moved from Greece to California when he was in his twenties. He said the most difficult thing to get used to was using toilet paper instead of bidets."

17."I'm from the US and have traveled repeatedly to Italy. The first time I shopped in a boutique, I removed an item from the shelf to examine it. My daughter, who was living in Florence at the time, cautioned me. No, she said, you do not touch whatever you want here. You ask the shop attendant..."

"...Then, when I paid for the item, my daughter cautioned me again not to touch the cashier's hand but to put my Euros down so the cashier could pick it up and vice versa with the change. The cashier puts it down; then you may pick it up. None of them are putting money straight into their hands or getting change in yours like here in the US!"

—Linda, 70, New Jersey

18."Realizing that in Japan, tipping in general is seen as a sort of taboo. Some Japanese people even feel insulted if you tip them. This is a big difference from other parts of the world like the US, where tipping is essentially mandatory."

19."Going to Brazil and being told I needed to put my used toilet paper in the trashcan, not the toilet. That takes some getting used to."

—Scott, 57, Texas

20."When I lived in Korea, I could save my seat at a Starbucks by just leaving my phone at a table. No one touched it or stole it. Nothing. People left the table alone, too, even when it was busy."

21.In Europe, restaurants have communities for those who eat alone. You automatically meet and chat with people from other walks of life and often make friends that you may keep up with afterward, sometimes for a while, some for years. It's such a kind and friendly custom."

22."A teacher friend visited Japanese schools and was struck by students (all of them) cleaning up before they were dismissed. Books and toys are put away, floors are swept, desks are straightened, etc. Respect."

Do you have something to add? What is something you experienced in another country that completely shocked you, even though it’s normal there? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.