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No two places are alike, and even countries that seem similar can feel very different once you actually go there. However, when Isabel Semb went to the United States, she noticed more cultural differences than she had imagined, including aspects of public place design and various social norms.

So, the Norwegian — who is dating an American — decided to share her experiences with others. She started a series on her TikTok account, listing the things that surprised her most and inviting people to discuss them.

#1

A woman in a neon-lit room looking surprised, with text asking "Taxes not included in the price?". A completely normal US thing.

@isabel.semb5 Report

LinkTheHylian
Community Member
1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun fact: blink-182 are blink-219 with tax.

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    #2

    A woman walking, questioning why Americans don't use duvet covers, highlighting things normal only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because our bedspread is already the color we want. And the whole thing is washable if it gets dirty.

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    #3

    Young woman with a text overlay "Healthcare is SOO expensive" at an American protest, reflecting things normal to Americans.

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    LinkTheHylian
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually, healthcare is really cheap. If you're Elon Musk.

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    #5

    A blonde woman walks on a path, asking, "No one walks??". This highlights things normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    fly on the wall
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get a kick out of watching people circle the parking lot looking for a spot close to the door of the gym, pool, rec- center

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    #9

    A woman with wide eyes questions high college costs in the US, discussing things normal only to Americans.

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    LinkTheHylian
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    U.S. Government: "Pay this for your education." Students: "Okay, but teach us all of this." U.S. Government: "How 'bout no, ya crazy Dutch b*****d."

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    #10

    A bathroom stall door with a large gap. Text asks about HUGE gaps in public bathroom doors, something only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    Otto Katz
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Again with the bathroom gaps. I don't know where this picture was taken. The bathroom stall I was in 2 days ago had no gap, I KNEW I should have taken a picture! I will for the time this picture shows up NEXT WEEK.

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    #12

    A woman takes a mirror selfie. Text overlays ask, Why do people wear shoes INSIDE? I find it so nasty. A normal American habit.

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    Otto Katz
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We don't, and no one I know wears their shoes inside.

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    #16

    A young blonde woman reacts with surprise to something completely normal to Americans: "People still pay with checks??"

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, they do, especially older people who don't understand technology. Mind your own business.

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    #17

    A sidewalk abruptly ends at a muddy patch next to overgrown bushes, a common sight in the US that only Americans find normal.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    AtMostAFabulist
    Community Member
    Premium
    58 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because, That's where the sidewalk ends.

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    #19

    Smiling woman asks "Why do Americans put ice in EVERYTHING?". US-shaped ice trays, a drink with mini American flags, and a denim jacket. Only to Americans.

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    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do you drink everything at room temperature? Yuck.

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    #21

    A smiling woman in a field with autumn trees, text asks about two political parties. Seems normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have quite a few, it's just that the big two get all the attention.

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    #22

    Blonde woman in front of trees, posing with her tongue out. Text asks about huge gallons, a thing normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tori, when the food is real and fresh, you NEED to go every other day or it will go bad, food that will last till the end of time is not the flex u think it is. your foods are poisons.

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    #23

    A blonde woman discusses Fahrenheit/miles/inches. Text states: I don’t even bother learning it, why do you have to be different? Normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    fly on the wall
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So we can have 3 sets of wrenches.( metric, sae, brit)

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    #24

    Car rearview mirror reflects a sunset over palm trees at a drive-through, questioning things normal only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they even have drive thru weddings in Vegas lmao. these ppl would drive 100 feet to the shop.

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    #25

    A woman is shown with a huge meal in the US. This seems completely normal to Americans, but surprises her.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    AtMostAFabulist
    Community Member
    Premium
    55 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me too. Food for tomorrow! 😋

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    #28

    A young American woman in a cockpit, wearing headphones and smiling, with text asking about clapping when a plane lands, illustrating things normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    because they are childish morons. honestly, if we were all broken down into Star Trek races, they would be the Pakleds with a brain injury.

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    #30

    A young woman smiling, holding a diagram explaining AM and PM, illustrating a normal thing to Americans.

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    Roman Arendt
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @tori Ohno: Counting past 12 all up to 24 confuses you? And Norwegians for example might like a word. So would maybe Alaskans... 😉

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    #34

    A person in a denim jacket dabs, frustrated by a multiple-choice exam, highlighting things normal only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    trump said he loves the poorly educated.

    #35

    Night scene with a thatch-roof bar and trees draped in lights. Text asks, "Why do people say 'how are you' and just keep walking." Normal in the US.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It means the same as Hello. It's just a figure of speech type of greeting.

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    #36

    A young woman asks about free soda refills, a common thing in the US, near the Washington Monument, discussing things only Americans find normal.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    all chemical muck anyway, look at Fanta in the USA, then in Europe., really, go google the pics.

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    #37

    Young woman asking a question about school grades and birthdays in the US, highlighting things that seem normal only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What? Grades? I think you might mean enrollment dates?

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    #39

    A girl stands in a parking lot with text asking, "Why do you call football 'soccer'?". A normal thing, but only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    Ye Olde Dirty Grumpy
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Foot ball is any game played with a ball on foot. Socker is a dumb as field hockey and cricket

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    #40

    A woman holding a Lay's chips bag, looking bewildered by its large size. This seems normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    you seen the price of them now? i swear they are being screwed for everything out there. and the p**o n**i blames the world for it, maybe you should never have made a corporation the same as a person.

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    #41

    Meme showing a blonde woman beside a painting of a toddler driving, captioned Why can you drive at 16? - only to Americans.

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    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they have child marriages in America, rare thank F. but still have em.

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    #44

    A Target store, an example of things normal to Americans. Text: "Why are all the buildings Just big boxes?"

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    LinkTheHylian
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Pentagon and that pyramid in Vegas called dibs on being the only buildings that aren't boxes.

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    #45

    Person in a car, playing on a laptop with pizza, text says Why are there SO many bad drivers? Not complaining tho, a normal thing only to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    AtMostAFabulist
    Community Member
    Premium
    53 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I complain about that all the time.

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    #47

    Two young people smile on a beach at sunset, showing things that seem normal only to Americans, like friendly strangers.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is one of the good things to be fair, Scottish ppl are like this too.

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    #48

    A puzzled woman reacting to a video of someone dipping fries in a milkshake. This seems completely normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    Mark Alexander
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We'll eat anything if it has enough fat and sugar. If it doesn't, we come up with combos like this.

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    #49

    A young man puzzled by cheap US gas prices at a Loves station, highlighting things normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    ADHD
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this aged well lol yes, MAGA scum, why is gas so cheap right now?

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    #50

    Close-up of a person's eyes and mouth with a text overlay: Why are your political parties a donkey and an elephant?? A common question from those not Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thomas Nast, cartoonist, created those symbols. Also created our version of Santa Claus.

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    #51

    A young blonde woman in a car, wondering about US traffic laws like turning right on red, things normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can't everywhere, it depends on which state you're in.

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    #53

    A young woman smiling in a museum with a large space shuttle. Text asks about long breaks. Things that seem normal to Americans.

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    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who gets a month at Christmas? Our kids get two weeks. And summertime off is because our society used to all be farmers. They needed their kids to help in the fields. They need to abolish that and move to an all year school year.

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    #54

    A squirrel eating on a brick wall, with text asking Why are there squirrels everywhere? This is normal for Americans.

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    Roman Arendt
    Community Member
    54 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The European squirrel is abundant where I live. And I love those red-brown sneaky little dēvils!

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    #55

    A young woman making a peace sign, addressing the American experience of different school classes. Things Americans find normal.

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    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What? I need clarification on what information you're looking for.

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    #56

    A young woman in a car asking, "Why do you guys honk SO much??" a question about things normal to Americans.

    @isabel.semb5 Report

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Have you seen how people drive? That's why we're angry.

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    #57

    A smiling woman in a sports jersey with a stadium background. She reflects on "things in the US" that seem normal.

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    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's likely based on the weather if it's an outdoor sport.

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    #59

    A woman in a denim jacket and a person in a baseball jersey at a game, showing things normal to Americans.

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    Roman Arendt
    Community Member
    52 minutes ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That could be said for more and more countries around the world with CCTV anywhere... 😐 (I know that's not what she meant)