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31 Lessons the United States Could Learn From the Global Community

Hope you’re taking notes, America

31 Lessons the United States Could Learn From the Global Community

September 07, 2024

We know it’s hard to hear, Uncle Sam, but things are done much differently in other countries. Get out there and see for yourself. Take a stroll down some cobblestone roads in far off lands with an “oh, that’s interesting” look on your face. That look tends to come with a hearty dose of judgment, but if you open up that star-spangled brain of yours, you might see that other countries are onto something.

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31

CRACKED BALI'S DAY OF SILENCE. In Bali, New Year has 24 hours of silence and meditation known as Nyepi. There is no talking, travel, work, or activities, and the only people outside are the Pecalang - Security enforcing the rules. Doesn't this sound better than a hangover at brunch? — Source

30

CRACKED NO WATER WARS ON EASTER. In Poland, Smigus-dyngus (aka Wet Monday) is an ultimate water fight held each year on Easter Monday in Poland and Ukraine. This could be huge in The U.S. — Source

29

CRACKED WORLDWIDE DRINKING AGES. 64% of the world's drinking age is 18 or under. Canada is split between 18 and 19, but America's age of 21 is only behind the Eastern African nation of Eritrea (25 years old) and, of course, the 11 countries where alcohol is banned altogether. — Source

28

CRACKED BOSNIA'S FESTIVAL OF SCRAMBLED EGGS. The U.S. might celebrate spring with a spring cleaning, but Zenica, Bosnia, kicks off the season with Čimburijada - a tribute to scrambled eggs. They cook them in a large pan in a city park, then spend the day partying, BBQing and jumping in the river. — Source

27

CRACKED THANKSGIVING IN THE U.S. IS WEIRD! Canada has an even older Thanksgiving than the U.S., and most countries who celebrate Thanksgiving do so in early October, to give thanks for the last harvests. The U.S. holds it way after the harvest, and is the only one that involves Pilgrims. — Source

26

CRACKED WEARING SHOES IN THE HOUSE. The rule is household to household in the U.S., but it's considered rude and offensive in most of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. — Source

25

CRACKED THE UKRAINE TAKES A BREATHER BEFORE A TRIP. In Ukraine and Russia, it is traditional to sit down as a family for a few minutes before leaving on a trip. This grants good luck on the journey, and leaves an opportunity to remember anything you may have forgotten. — Source

24

CRACKED BLACK CATS DON'T HAVE TO BE BAD LUCK! Germany has a different take on luck with black cats. It's only bad luck if they cross your path right to left. Left to right is good luck, so there's a silver lining not given in the U.S. — Source

23

Riding in the back of a taxi is inherently American. W E ALL 100 A In Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Scotland, taxi drivers will consider you rude if you don't sit in the front seat. GRACKED.COM — Source

22

On workdays, 53% of Americans get fewer than seven hours of sleep. Those numbers are considerably lower in other Western countries - 39% in the UK, 36% in Germany, 30% in Canada, and 29% in Mexico. CRACKED.COM — Source

21

AMERICANS ARE MOSTLY MONOLINGUAL. Only 20% of students in the USA study a foreign language as compared to 90% of European students. Gemon Langen- German scheidt Spa scheidt Langen- CRACKED.COM ITALIAN — Source

20

CRACKED COM In the US, it's normal to go to college for four years. BIOLOGY HISTORY ENGLISH sociology POLITIC GEOMETR MATHEMATICS ELIGION ECONOMY PHYSICS TUC ARTS OG EDUCATION MISTRY In Europe, it's usually just three years, as lots of the general education that US students take is taken care of in high school. — Source

19

Almost 80% of American boys are circumcised. In Europe and South America, however, this number averages below 20%. GRAGKED.COM — Source

18

FOR TRIPS OF LESS THAN ONE MILE... 70% OF AMERICANS WILL DRIVE. 70% OF EUROPEANS WILL WALK, BIKE, OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT. CRACKED.COM — Source

17

The United States is the only modern democracy to elect its president via Electoral College CRACKED COM — Source

16

Most of the world uses the A series of paper sizes; doubling in size but maintaining the same aspect ratio throughout. Neat. 841 Best A1 594 594 x 841 AO cametime AZ 1189 841x1189 A3 297 - 420 A2 420 x 594 A5 - A4 297 -210 AT AL Meanwhile, the US only uses two sizes of paper: Letter, and Legal, which is slightly longer than letter-sized. GRACKED.COM — Source

15

Individually, Americans use more cocaine than any other country. The percentage of users in America is only a tenth of a percent higher than Brazil, but Americans use 36% of the world's cocaine, compared to Brazil's 18%. CRACKED.COM — Source

14

The U.S. is 1 of only 4 countries in the world that does not require paid maternity leave. The U.S. ranks last among developed countries when it comes to paid parental leave. While many U.S. companies offer paid parental leave, the United States is the only advanced country without a federal law mandating it. CRACKED.COM — Source

13

Unlike many other countries around the world, America doesn't officially embrace the tradition of napping. It's a cultural expectation in places like Italy, Spain, Greece, the Philippines, Nigeria & others, but viewed as slacking here. CRACKED.COM — Source

12

CRACKED COM There are currently three countries that do not use the metric system-Burma, Liberia, and the United States. 81 LI 10FEET 3m 4 3 Many U.S. industries have been slow to adopt the metric system, but it is becoming standard in certain areas of science, medicine, and government. — Source

11

The United States, China and Japan US are the top three oil 20% consumers in the world. CHINA 11.7% Americans use more JAPAN oil than China and Japan 5.3% COMBINED. GRAGKED.COM — Source

10

The United States is the only nation that hasn't ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which means that American children may be treated by the criminal justice system as adults, including being arrested and serving life sentences. CRACKED.COM — Source

9

Americans have more faith in hard work than people from other parts of the world. A Pew survey found that 73% of Americans said hard work is very important to getting ahead in life. Among the other 44 nations surveyed, a median of 50% had the same response. CRACKED.COM — Source

8

Americans are extremely obsessed with their flag. The U.S. is pretty much the only country where flying a flag year-round is common. In France, the flag is associated with aggressive nationalism and the far right. In the UK, flying a flag outside your house would be kind of embarrassing-it's just not done. In Germany, the flags on the parliament building are almost the only ones flown, by anyone. CRACKED.COM — Source

7

In the US, the number of vacant houses are six times greater than the number of homeless people. USA Europe Homeless 3.5 million 4.1 million people Vacant 18.5 million 11 million houses The ratio in Europe is less than half that. CRACKED.COM — Source

6

America is one of the only countries that refrigerate eggs. WHY? FOR ASABEA RUS - OH be TESS Fresh Form Eggs Because the FDA makes were eco us XL GOOSS ADE A EGGS wash off the hen's natural Tray coating that protects the egg from salmonella. CRACKED.COM — Source

5

CRACKED.COM Drugs are more expensive in the US than other nations. A month's supply of diabetes medication Januvia costs $168.61 after discounts in the US. Canada pays the next highest price ($68.10), which is not discounted and still $100 less. — Source

4

There are almost as many cars in the U.S. as there are people. The average for all 50 states is 910 cars per 1,000 citizens. The numbers for the European Union countries are much lower-587 cars per 1,000 citizens. CRACKED.COM — Source

3

BUTTER 1 FIRST QUALITY 1 NET WT. 4OZ. (113g) BUTTER START MEASURE HERE 1/4 CUP _ 1/3 CUP 1/2 CUP _ TABLESPOON MEASURE: 1 2 3 7 4 5 6 8 THIS UNIT NOT LABEL ED FOR RETAIL SALE THIS ISN'T NORMAL MOST COUNTRIES MEASURE BUTTER BY GRACKED.COM WEIGHT. — Source

2

CRACKED.COM Only the U.S. has widely adopted in-sink garbage disposals. insinkersborg food waste disposed Because of how much water they use and the burden they put on sewage systems, in-sink garbage disposals are really unpopular outside the U.S. For example, nearly half of U.S. households have in-sink garbage disposals, but only 5% of U.K. ones do. They used to be banned in Japan and Australia, and still are in Austria, Portugal, and the Netherlands. — Source

1

CLEARANCE AMERICANS ARE TERRIFIED OF STRANGER DANGER, A FEAR NOBODY ELSE UNDERSTANDS In other countries it's not abnormal for a stranger to greet, hug, or pick up a child they don't know. A server at a restaurant moving an unruly child in a stroller into a designated room without asking the parent's permission would not be given a second thought. CRACKED.COM — Source

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