Crossing into an American city is like visiting a cousin who looks just like you, but has a completely different personality. Everything from city layouts to restaurant chains will look eerily similar when you cross into the United States.
However, there are a handful of things that Canadians can guarantee will surprise you as soon as you set foot in an American city. Here are 10 things about America that surprise many Canadians (according to a recent survey of some Canadians visiting the US).
The right-turn-on-red rush
In Canada, turning right on a red light is something drivers do carefully: they double-check both directions, come to a full stop, and cautiously enter the street.
However, Americans believe that they must go immediately. If they stop for more than a second to make sure it’s safe to turn, they’ll be bombarded with car horns.
For some reason, Americans treat the red light as more of a “yield” sign instead of a full “stop” sign, which can feel quite aggressive to polite Canadians behind the wheel.
The great milk mystery
Many Canadians are used to milk that comes packaged in three plastic bags within a larger bag. Once these Canadians walks into an American grocery store, those bags are nowhere to be found.
Instead, they find aisle after aisle of humongous plastic jugs with handles. Many Americans call these containers “gallons.” To many Canadians, they look like containers used for windshield washer fluid.
Pennies are everywhere
Canada stopped using the penny years ago, so they round the cash amounts to the nearest five cents. However, Americans love pennies.
In the US, you will likely receive a fistful of these ancient coins as change after paying for something. It almost feels like you’re carrying around ancient history in your pocket.
Additionally, it’s easy to forget you have them until you have to awkwardly count them out at your next purchase.
There are flags everywhere
In Canada, you mostly see the national flag hung up at schools or government buildings. American cities love their flags.
Literally every American city will have the “Stars and Stripes” waving proudly on buildings. They’re on car dealerships, fast-food bags, hanging from front porches, or shooting up huge poles in the middle of parking lots.
It’s amazing how many flags there are compared to Canada; the city instantly feels more “patriotic.”
Medicine drug commercials are on TV
Drug companies in Canada have laws forcing them to make their commercials extremely rare.
In the U.S., you’ll watch a fun commercial with smiling people popping pills. Then the last 30 seconds of the ad are somebody robotically telling you all the horrific side effects.
Billboards galore
Driving down a highway in Canada, you’ll mostly see trees and every once in a while, a sign reminding you that Tim Hortons is nearby and sells coffee.
American highways are continuously lined with jumbo billboards for miles at a time: religious messages, lawyers, chain restaurants advertising their gigantic 72 oz steak meal, etc. It’s enough mental clutter to make your drive feel way busier.
Prices and tips are never what they seem
In Canada, people know the price on the tag isn’t the final price because of tax, but the U.S. takes this to a new level. Not only is the tax different in every state, but the “tipping culture” is much more intense.
You might be prompted to leave a 25% or 30% tip at a simple coffee shop or a sandwich counter. Between the tax and the tip, a $10 lunch can easily turn into $17 before you know it.
Portion sizes are ridiculously huge
It’s true what they say about everything being bigger in America; their drinks are massive. The “small” size in the U.S. is often the same size as a “large” in Canada.
This goes for food, too. One restaurant meal in an American city is usually enough to feed a Canadian family of two for at least two days.
Sidewalks stop randomly
Cities in America are made for cars, not pedestrians. You might be enjoying your stroll down a sidewalk that suddenly ends in a pile of grass or an eight-lane highway.
Canadian cities are usually designed so that you can walk to your local shops. However, in American cities, if you don’t own a car, you’re basically stuck.
Casual conversations with total strangers
American cities have a heightened culture of spur-of-the-moment high-energy small talk with strangers that may come across as alarming to Canadians.
Canadians are just more focused on keeping that “polite distance” and bubble. Oftentimes, we will exchange a quick nod or grunt an apology if our eyes happen to meet someone else’s in the hallway.
Americans, on the other hand, aren’t afraid to make conversation with the cashier at the local grocery store about the items in their cart or ask that random stranger who just entered the elevator a personal question about their day or outfit.
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