14 things the world thinks about America

People outside of America have a lot to say about our country, and here are fourteen of the most common things they think about the USA.

That first impression

People outside America think you don’t have to start a conversation here. Just make eye contact. There’s a good chance an American will smile at you. It turns out, there’s a reason they think that way.

Americans show positive emotions way more openly than people in other countries. It’s a little surprising for some Europeans and Asians. They’re used to smiling a little more carefully. To them, our love for smiling at strangers is over the top.

The paperwork never ends

Try explaining the U.S. healthcare system to someone abroad. Chances are, they’ll have a few things to say. People abroad love talking about how bad our healthcare system is. At least, it is in their eyes. They’ll talk about how expensive and unfair it is.

Sure, we spend more per person on healthcare than any other country. But there’s so much more to the story than foreigners realize. All they care about is the cost, though.

The map problem

Okay, the rest of the world got us here. They think that Americans don’t understand geography or know how to read a map. They’re sort of right. Unfortunately, many American adults can’t answer basic questions about the globe. 

They can’t find important countries, either. But it’s not an American exclusive. It’s unfortunate that this one sticks around, especially thanks to social media.

It comes out fast

We have a habit of being direct during conversations. Perhaps a little too much. People from other countries have noticed it, and they think we’re too forward sometimes. It makes sense, though.

Research shows we’re in a low-context culture. In other words, Americans rely more on clear words than on hints. Foreigners hear us talking, and they immediately get that we’re more direct than them.

Silence rarely lasts

A common stereotype about us Americans is that we’re loud. Like, really loud. People from other countries think that we’re always talking. We can never leave a pause in a conversation to exist.

It’s connected to ours being a low-context culture. We have more explanations and more back-and-forth. It’s a bit too much for anyone used to more silence in conversations. They notice the difference pretty quickly.

You’re always selling

There’s a real pressure in the United States. You’re supposed to sell yourself practically all the time. Honestly, it feels like being in a job interview all the time. A lot of people abroad know all about that.

They think all we care about is self-promotion. That’s hard to deal with when you’re not from somewhere like this. The truth is, people from other countries are more used to downplaying their achievements. 

The future still sounds bright

Sure, things don’t always go great. But foreigners think that Americans talk like they will be. Yes, they think we’re positive in every single situation. Most of them can’t really handle that kind of positivity. 

They’re used to being more cautious with expectations. Of course, that’s not to say that Americans ignore the problems. We just have a habit of staying hopeful with our language. Is that so bad?

The food looks suspect

Spend a minute online, and you’ll see it. People keep questioning what’s in American food. According to them, our food isn’t real. It’s poisoning us. They look at all the things allowed here, but not allowed there, and assume it’s a bad thing.

Sure, some dyes and additives are restricted in Europe. Yes, a lot of ultra-processed food doesn’t make it over there. But that doesn’t mean our food is completely unsafe. It’s just different food, that’s all.

The frame stays centered

Apparently, there’s a pattern with how we talk about ourselves. People abroad think that we’re very self-centered. They think we only care about putting ourselves in the middle of the story. But why is that a bad thing?

It’s a fact that the U.S. is a top global power. It’s natural for conversations to go back to us. Sure, we might not always start talking about America. Yet it’s our reference point for a lot of conversations. There’s nothing wrong with that.

It has to be easy

You don’t have to wait long in the U.S. Whether it’s food or packages, everything comes easily. That makes foreigners think we’re lazy. They can’t think of another reason why we’d love convenience. 

It’s true that we love convenience. The research shows that. But it’s not like everything here is built to stop people from trying. People outside assume that we hate anything that requires effort.

English is taken for granted

Code-switching is normal in many parts of the world. What is it? It’s when you switch languages, depending on who you talk to. But ask anyone abroad, and Americans don’t know how to do that. We supposedly care only about speaking English.

That opinion ignores the fact that we have so many bilingual speakers here. English is obviously the biggest language here. However, pretending it’s the only language we speak or care to speak? That’s plain wrong.

Every step has a price

So many foreigners think living in America is expensive. They’re not totally wrong. After all, ticket prices change at the checkout, and service fees appear at the last second. These junk fees are pretty common.

In fact, it’s so serious that U.S. regulators have stepped in to deal with the issue. It’s no wonder visitors feel like everything is trying to charge you more in America. Because, in a way, it is.

Guns are everywhere

No other country has a gun culture like we do. That’s pretty much a fact. It’s because of this that many foreigners think that we’re gun-obsessed. They think everyone has a firearm, or at least has access to one.

It’s not completely off the mark. There are around 120 guns for every 100 people living here. Still, the idea that we’re all gun-crazy isn’t fair. There are just as many people against them as there are in support of them.

Nice to see, hard to choose

You might hear some people from abroad talking about how much they’d love to visit the U.S. They want to see New York. They want to experience California. But as for living here? A lot of them say, ‘no thanks.’

Many people abroad think our country’s a great place to visit. That’s all. They think living here isn’t worth it, or that it comes with too many problems. It’s one of those places for a vacation only.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.