1. Drive-Thru Everything
In the U.S., drive-thrus aren’t just for burgers—they’re for pharmacies, coffee, banks, liquor stores, and even weddings in Las Vegas. It’s totally normal to handle major errands without ever stepping out of your car. Abroad, this concept can feel downright futuristic, or just plain absurd, especially in countries where walking or public transit dominates daily life. The efficiency is real, but to outsiders, it’s like America optimized daily life for people who hate leaving their car seats.
Many countries simply don’t have the infrastructure for drive-thrus, especially in dense urban areas or places with stricter zoning laws. In Japan or much of Europe, the idea of a drive-thru pharmacy sounds like a sci-fi concept out of a Jetsons episode. Americans just treat it as another part of suburban convenience culture. But elsewhere, people still walk inside for these errands—imagine that!
2. Massive Grocery Stores Open 24/7
American supermarkets like Walmart or Kroger can feel overwhelming to visitors from countries with smaller, more specialized shops. Not only are they huge, but many are open all day, every day—even at 3 a.m. It’s hard to overstate how wild this seems in places like Germany or France, where stores usually close by 8 p.m. and Sundays are a retail no-go.
To Americans, late-night grocery runs are just part of life, especially for shift workers or night owls. But for someone visiting from abroad, it can feel like a scene from a dystopian novel where society never sleeps. The sheer scale and accessibility of these stores make it feel like you’re shopping inside a logistical wonderland. It’s convenience culture on overdrive.
3. Mailboxes That Send and Receive
In many American neighborhoods, the mailbox outside your home isn’t just for receiving mail—it’s also for sending it. You can just stick an envelope in there, raise the little red flag, and the postal worker takes it when they come by. That small plastic box does two jobs without anyone having to go anywhere. It sounds simple, but to many foreigners, it feels like a clever life hack out of a futuristic sitcom.
In most other countries, you have to go to a dedicated postbox or post office to send mail. The idea that you could do both from your front yard feels like a subtle kind of magic. The U.S. Postal Service’s flag system is unique, and while not high-tech, it’s surprisingly effective. To someone used to queueing up just to send a letter, it feels almost too easy to be real.
4. Tipping as an Expected Part of Income
In America, tipping isn’t just polite—it’s part of how many workers earn a living. Waitstaff, bartenders, and even hairdressers often rely on tips to make up for low base wages. In some states, the tipped minimum wage is under $3 per hour, with the expectation that tips will cover the rest. For visitors from countries where service charges are included, this feels like a glitch in the system.
In places like Japan or Scandinavia, tipping can even be seen as rude or confusing. The idea that you’re personally responsible for funding someone’s livelihood feels like a moral dilemma wrapped in a dinner check. Americans grow up learning the social rules of tipping, but for many travelers, it feels like navigating a hidden economy. It’s not exactly high-tech—but it is systemically alien.
5. Air Conditioning Everywhere, All the Time
Walk into any American building in the summer—whether it’s a grocery store, movie theater, or office—and you’ll likely be hit with a blast of Arctic air. Centralized air conditioning is standard across much of the U.S., and it’s expected, even in temperate climates. Abroad, however, AC is often a luxury or considered wasteful, with many countries preferring fans, open windows, or architectural cooling. For international visitors, it can feel like America is climate-controlling itself like a spaceship.
In Europe, for example, it’s common to sweat through a summer day at work or school without complaint. The U.S., on the other hand, seems determined to refrigerate every square foot of public space. The fact that this happens automatically, invisibly, and almost everywhere gives it a sci-fi edge. It’s not just comfort—it’s infrastructure-level climate engineering.
6. Free Refills and Endless Ice
Order a soft drink in an American restaurant, and it’ll probably come in a jumbo cup filled to the brim with ice. Finish it? No problem—your server will refill it for free, often without even asking. This level of beverage generosity is almost unheard of in most of the world. To visitors, it’s like unlocking some hidden hospitality perk.
In countries like Italy or the UK, ice is minimal (if present at all), and refills are almost never free. The American obsession with cold, bottomless drinks feels oddly futuristic, like a utopian soda-based society. It’s not about the technology—it’s about the abundance. And abundance, in a global context, can look a lot like sci-fi.
7. School Buses That Stop Traffic
In the U.S., when a school bus puts out its stop sign, all traffic—on both sides of the road—has to halt. This isn’t just a courtesy; it’s a legal requirement in all 50 states. The bright yellow buses, flashing red lights, and swing-out signs create a little force field of safety around kids getting on and off. To someone unfamiliar, it looks like a high-level security protocol.
Most countries don’t give school buses this level of power, and it can be jarring to watch an entire road freeze because one child is stepping onto the curb. It’s a safety-first feature that feels high-stakes and high-tech, even if it’s just an old bus with a folding sign. The U.S. treats school transport like a national security concern. For foreigners, it’s like watching a tiny VIP motorcade pass through suburbia.
8. Enormous Portions Everywhere
From restaurant plates to fast food combos, American portion sizes are the stuff of legend—and they live up to the hype. It’s not just that meals are big; it’s that they often seem engineered to overwhelm. What Americans think of as a “medium” drink could be considered comically oversized elsewhere. For many visitors, it’s like America serves meals calibrated for astronauts burning 10,000 calories a day.
In places like France or South Korea, meals are portioned more modestly, often with a cultural focus on balance and presentation. The American norm of taking leftovers home in a box, or getting free bread before a meal even starts, can feel like sci-fi-level abundance. It’s not just food—it’s the assumption that more is always better. To outsiders, that mindset feels like something out of a dystopian food experiment.
This post 8 Totally Normal American Things That Feel Like Sci-Fi Abroad was first published on American Charm.
