26 Non-Americans Who Traveled To The US Share The Things They Did And Didn't Like About It

To learn more about the outsiders' point of view on this great Northern American country, we contacted Lisa Stentvedt, the woman behind the travel blog Fjords And Beaches. She's an expert on all things Norway but also constantly explores destinations all over the world.

"My expectations for the US all came from movies and TV I had grown up watching," Stentvedt told Bored Panda. "And for the most part, reality had lived up to them."

"However, as I have continued my travels to and in the US (and even lived there for a year), I realized that the impression you get from pop culture is mainly facade-related and does not go into the true American culture."

"For example, I was excited to find that streets were lined with identical homes, driveways, and lawns — just like on TV," Stentvedt explained. "There are drive-throughs for everything, even Starbucks (I had never seen a Starbucks drive-through before visiting Massachusetts). I was also surprised to find that it's not just on TV that people don't take their shoes off when they enter their homes!"

Other things that surprised the traveler were the sizes of meals and sodas in restaurants, tipping culture, and not being able to just walk anywhere you please unless it's a city. "I was met with shocked looks when I told security where I lived in Orlando that I was going to the grocery store by foot," she recalled. "They laughed at me when I said it was just a 10-minute walk because that 10-minute walk was along the I-4!"

Stentvedt is the author of the travel guide Moon Norway which shares the best hikes, road trips, and scenic fjords in her home country, so she's no stranger to putting herself out there. Because of that, she's collected a lot of amazing memories in the US.

"I loved my every visit. From New Orleans to Seattle, there are some epic places to explore there," she said. "I have great memories of road trips through several states, visiting the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville (a bucket list experience), and seeing Hamilton in Chicago."

"However, the lasting impression I have, and that I share with fellow Europeans who want to travel to the US, is that, again, whilst what you see on TV and in movies is a true reflection of certain parts of US culture, this only goes as deep as the facade of things."

"Yes, schools have football teams and cheerleaders, and yes, the school buses are yellow and stop along the streets to pick up kids that come running. However, the schools don't seem to teach a lot of important information about the world and other countries in their curriculum, and the school buses actually don't have seat belts (I was shocked to learn this — road safety in the US is a fascinating topic). There are still many things about the US I can’t wrap my head around (such as these), that even many of my American friends don’t understand! It is truly a fascinating country for travelers, and the longer you spend there, the more you see," Lisa Stentvedt shared.

The US is huge. With an area of 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million square kilometers), it is the third or fourth-largest country in the world (the ranks may vary depending on which territories you include or exclude in the calculations).

"Each of the 50 states is unique, so my advice for first-time tourists would differ depending on the one they choose to go to," Stentvedt said. "But generally, I would suggest to prepare to rely on taxis or a rental car, unless you are staying right in the middle of a big city like New York."

"Public transportation is seriously lacking compared to Europe. Take it from someone who tried to travel from Hollywood to Disneyland using only public transport!"

Lisa would also advise you to make sure that your travel insurance covers unlimited costs if needed, as the cost of medical care in the US can seriously damage your bank account.

"My absolute favorite thing about visiting the US is the diversity," the Norwegian added. "Every time I arrive at an American airport, and look around myself, I see people of different ethnicities, religions, shapes, and sizes, all in addition to hearing several languages."

"It's impossible not to smile there. I love that it's a cultural melting pot and that will always be why I keep coming back!"