As an American who’s lived abroad for over 4 years, I can confidently say that everyone has an opinion on my home country. No matter where I go, I’ll be met with assumptions, stereotypes, political commentary and sometimes, just genuine curiosity. Yes, we love peanut butter. No, not everyone is rich. And yes, you probably do know more about the U.S. than most Americans know about your country. That’s just what happens when your nation is unavoidable in the media!
But this can also lead to some hilarious encounters. Americans on Reddit have recently been recalling the funniest comments people from other countries have ever made about the U.S., so we’ve gathered the best ones down below. From questions about the American diet to assumptions that we all know one another, enjoy scrolling through these silly stories. And keep reading to find a conversation with Angela Hanyak, an American living in Germany!
#41
My 6-year-old cousin from the mountains of Zakopane, Poland visited Philadelphia awhile back.
We were driving them around and he says to his mom, in Polish, “Woooow I had no idea how rich everyone was in America. Look at how big their houses are!”
She translated to us, and we were like… what lol. And then he said, “I just don’t know why they need so many doors and windows for their houses”.
He was looking at our row homes. He thought a block was one big house. When she explained to him that they were all separate houses he was like “….oh.”.
We were driving them around and he says to his mom, in Polish, “Woooow I had no idea how rich everyone was in America. Look at how big their houses are!”
She translated to us, and we were like… what lol. And then he said, “I just don’t know why they need so many doors and windows for their houses”.
He was looking at our row homes. He thought a block was one big house. When she explained to him that they were all separate houses he was like “….oh.”.
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35points
#42
A Chinese exchange student in college could not grasp the concept of “yo mama” jokes. He ran into the room in nothing but a towel and yelled “YO MAMA F**K BAD HEHEHEHEEEE” and shimmied off.
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34points
#43
My coworkers all wished me a "happy holiday with my family" before st Patrick's day..... I am not Irish just the only white person on the team 😅.
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34points
#44
Was at a pub in Italy with a friend and some of the guys found out we were American. Proceeded to take shots with them toasting ‘to the Ohios!’… we’re not from Ohio lol.
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33points
#45
My brother had a college roommate from Yemen he brought home for Christmas one year. It was really snowy and he wanted to go out and do some "cookies" took us awhile to figure it put, but he meant donuts in the van. Like 20 years ago and I still laugh.
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30points
#47
I was telling a group of Czech people about a time I drove to Manhattan, and one of them asked me if that was possible because it's an island. I let her know that it has bridges.
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29points
#48
I've had Irish guys in a cafe tease my sister and me for being California girls who want almond milk for their lattes. The whole restaurant laughed because honestly it was pretty funny and true.
When I went to St. Lucia, the cab drivers would ask where I was from and when I said California, they would say "Kobe Bryant! The Governator!" 😂
Edit: For more context, the Irish guys worked at the cafe in Dublin and we were on their turf.
When I went to St. Lucia, the cab drivers would ask where I was from and when I said California, they would say "Kobe Bryant! The Governator!" 😂
Edit: For more context, the Irish guys worked at the cafe in Dublin and we were on their turf.
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27points
#49
I used to work in a kitchen at a Mexican restaurant and two of the cooks (they were brothers) were learning English. They were in HS at the time so they were learning a lot of slang too and they thought it was very weird how we say “I feel you” when you agree with somebody. Every time I say it now I can’t help but think how weird it actually is lmao.
24points
#50
A Japanese man told me that American men can crush apples with their bare hands.
He asked me if I could. He seemed like he really wanted me to say yes. I probably can't, so I honestly said I never tried in order to avoid disappointing him, I guess?
Luckily neither of us had an apple on hand.
He asked me if I could. He seemed like he really wanted me to say yes. I probably can't, so I honestly said I never tried in order to avoid disappointing him, I guess?
Luckily neither of us had an apple on hand.
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24points