65 Travelers Couldn't Believe These Things Were Completely Normal In Other Countries

When I was in Japan and saw little 4 year old kids taking the train to school by themselves, girls walking alone at night, leaving my camera on a bus bench and it still being there 3 hours later. I felt ashamed of my own country seeing how safe another was.

Moving to the US and seeing so much religious psychosis. It’s insane to me.

When I saw girls in Singapore, drunk AF, laid out at bus stops... Skirts hiked up, one shoe on, purse somewhere in the bushes.... And they slept that liquor off, peacefully because they knew with 100% certainty they wouldn't be attacked or bothered in the least bit. People even left little water bottles for them when they woke up. I'm from America so I couldn't fathom how inherently safe that place was. Wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes, multiple times while I was there.

Bartering *anywhere*. I normally just opt out because it’s so stressful (I pay the first number they say if I really want the thing). Recently in Tunisia, I found EXACTLY what I had been searching for at the medina in Sousse. The vendor named a price of 150 dinar, about $50, which was right within the budget I had set. I eagerly handed over 150. He rolled his eyes, heaves a huge sigh, packed up the purchase…and handed me back 40 dinar along with a giant cold bottle of water.

I lived in Mexico City with a Mexican family when I was 13 and was surprised at how much the entire extended family loved children. It was like being in a warm love bath.

When I was in Sweden...first of all, I noticed tons of families with multiple children. And most of the time, the man was pushing the stroller or carrying the baby. I even saw a man by himself in a park on a blanket with his baby. Very opposite of typical American men.

When I visited Japan I realized how awful and disrespectful it is to be loud in shared spaces. Whether it’s watching videos, a call or talking… that’s when I discovered I’m over sensitive to loud noise. I’m Mexican born and raised.

Babies in strollers left outside coffee shops in Denmark.

I backpacked through Europe. I was gravitated to other people with Canada flags sewn to their items. I started talking to a guy on a train. He had Canada flags sewn to almost everything he had, but spoke with a very American (southern) accent. I said, "you're not actually Canadian are you?" He said, "No. I'm from Mississippi, but I heard Europeans hate Americans, but love Canadians." It blew my mind that American tourists false flag themselves like that.

My first (and only) trip to Europe, we were having dinner in Munich, and I noticed the number of languages being spoken. I closed my eyes and started to count and found 8 different sounding languages being spoken at tables nearby. It was so cool, beautiful, and overwhelming as my brain tried to decipher/catalog the languages I was hearing.

Just returned from Spain (Barcelona & Madrid). The body positivity of women, old and young, all sizes and shapes, is incredibly healthy and refreshing. You wear what you want as long as it makes you feel good. No gawking. No rude comments. Just minding one’s business and living life.

When I was in an unfamiliar city in Portugal with my daughter and realized I was not concerned about potential violence.

When I moved to the US I was shocked how many obese people I saw.

I took my almost 3 year old to Iceland. No one ever made us feel like she wasn’t wanted or a bother or anything other than a delight. Chefs offered to cook kid-friendly food, people smiled at us, a server went and found her crayons and paper. I hadn’t realized until that trip how much in America that I felt like I had to apologize for taking her in public and how incredibly silly people are for doing that.

Went to Scandinavia and I was shocked to see all the dads with their small kids. Alone or in groups with other dads.
Looked it up when I got back home and Caffe Dad is a whole movement.

Level of pollution in China.
Sophistication of technology in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Average size of people in USA.

was a street over. The butcher was close by. A Cafe every couple of blocks.
A man came by every day selling fresh produce out of his truck. You yelled down at him and sent the bucket down with money and he'd put the food in the bucket for you to pull up.
People were always in the streets, walking, talking, sweeping, gaming. I always felt safe.
It was a slow life. I miss it every single second of every day.

Turkey. We were having a layover and got to the hotel around 2am from the airport in a full bus. Because we were travelling with our 2yo daughter, we were not fast, so by the time we had our luggage out, the line to check in was already outside. Hotel staff sees us, waves us past the line and we got to our room among the first. No one complained. For my nordic bum this was unheard of.

When I moved 10 years ago to the US, I was genuinely shocked on how many teens were pregnant in a western country. Especially because I moved from germany where it was such a taboo thing to have somebody in such a young age pregnant.

Businesses closing down for siesta time in Spain. ES When I came back, I decided I too need siesta time abd blocked my calendar.