When I first moved to America, I expected skyscrapers, fast food, Disneyland, and Hollywood. What I didn’t expect was being asked to tip for takeout or seeing people eat ice cream in a snowstorm. From personal space to drive-thru weddings, there are many cultural shocks, but I’ll talk about 10 of them. I’m leaving out music for now, I will write the whole article about music later and tell you how much Americans love music, so here are 10 American cultural shocks that left me utterly surprised as a new immigrant
After some time in a new country, you notice their ways of doing things that feel strange because they’re so different from what we’re used to back home. I felt the same when I came to the U.S. There are many things that stood out, but I’ll share only 10 customs/things/habits that are totally different from what we have in Pakistan or, you can say, the rest of the world.
Tipping Culture: One Of The Biggest merican Culture Shock
.One of the first American culture shocks I experienced was the tipping culture, which felt the strangest to me as a new immigrant. If you go to a restaurant—even for takeout—you’re expected to tip, and it can range from 15% to 25%. On top of that, if you take a taxi or an Uber, you’re also expected to tip whether or not you’re happy with the service.
In my home country, Pakistan, tipping is optional. You do it out of your own choice to appreciate someone’s effort, and no one forces you to do it. So, this whole tipping culture in the U.S. initially felt a little unusual to me.
Super Friendly Gesture
The other culture shock I noticed here, and I absolutely love, is how friendly Americans are. If you’re walking or at the gym, people will say “hi” or pass you a smile. In grocery stores, they’ll genuinely welcome you and even ask how you’re doing, like they’ve known you forever. Back home, it’s not like that. If someone doesn’t know you, they won’t ask anything, not even in the grocery store. And if they do, you’d probably think they’re about to ask for money or try to sell you insurance!
Using Cold Water in All Seasons
Can you believe that no matter how cold it gets—even if it’s snowing outside—Americans don’t stop using ice in the,eir drinks or eating ice cream If you’re at a restaurant, your water will always have ice. And if you’re at a grocery store, even when the temperature is below zero, you’ll see people buying ice cream like it’s the middle of summer. Back home, we save ice and ice cream for the hot months, so this was pretty surprising to me—ice and ice cream, no matter the weather
Bathroom Everywhere
I’ve noticed how much importance they give to customers in America. People treat you with respect and politeness everywhere. Plus, almost every store—whether it’s Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, or even smaller shops—has clean, well-maintained bathrooms for customers.
You rarely see this back home in Pakistan or in South Asia, where bathrooms are often only for employees and not customers. It’s a small thing, but it really shows the focus on customer care here.
Personal Spacing
Americans love their personal space. Personal space is the physical distance that you feel comfortable having between you and other individuals, and boundary setting is telling others how you would like to be treated and establishing boundaries for others in your personal space. In South Asia, personal space isn’t really a thing. We prefer handshakes and hugs for almost every greeting. Our gatherings are big, and we love being close to friends and family. Just look at our weddings—packed with people, no space, and everyone enjoying together!
Americans Are Blunt: True American Culture Shock
My other observation about Americans is that they keep things simple and to the point. Even if you’re good friends, they won’t sugarcoat things—they’ll tell you straight up if they don’t like something. They don’t hold grudges; it’s just part of their culture. Back home, though, saying something like that to someone’s face is often seen as rude.
No matter how good you are with them or in the company, when they decide to let you go, they won’t hesitate. They’ll simply say, “The company doesn’t need you anymore. We’ll call you if we need you in the future.”
Eating On The Go
After living here for a while, I’ve noticed how common it is for people to eat while walking, driving, or even at work. It’s just a normal part of life here. Back home, meals are a family affair—everyone sits together and eats. So, this felt quite different from our culture.
Appointment System
In America, appointments are a strict rule. Whether you need to see a doctor, get a haircut, or meet your child’s teacher, you must book an appointment. Walk-ins are rare, except for emergencies at hospitals. If it’s not urgent, you’ll have to wait for your turn. Back home, hardly anyone books appointments—we just show up! Planning ahead felt like a whole new concept to me.
Time Is Treated Like Gold
People here take time very seriously. If something is scheduled for 8 o’clock, it means exactly 8 o’clock—whether it’s a job, an appointment, or even a party. There’s no such thing as showing up two hours late like we do on “Pakistan Standard Time.” If you’re always late, you might lose both your friends and your job!
My American friend once texted me, “You okay???” because I was five minutes late for coffee. Five. Minutes.
Drive Through Everything
After living in America for a while, one thing that really stands out is the long lines of cars everywhere—outside restaurants, cinemas, coffee shops, and even weddings! The drive-through culture is huge here. In Pakistan, we like to be part of everything, not just sit in our cars. This shows how much Americans value personal space and prefer staying in their own little world.
Final Words,
Those are a few American Cultural Shocks; America has countless customs/habits like listening to music —some are amazing, and some are surprising.
Hospitals here are completely silent, while restaurants are loud—exactly the opposite of Pakistan, where hospitals are noisy, and restaurants are quiet.
A key aspect that I did not mention at the start is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees all citizens freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. Most Americans are well aware of these rights. In contrast, in Pakistan and perhaps other parts of South Asia, many are not aware of what our constitution guarantees in terms of these individual freedoms. This is also a cultural shock that people know their constitution, and they use it everywhere.
Another cultural shock in the United States is that emergency services like fire brigades and police respond quickly, much like scenes you’ve seen in movies. It’s rare to hear about issues with electricity, gas, or water. In contrast, in my home country and much of South Asia, these customs and services are different, making American practices feel like they’re from another world. If you’ve noticed any cultural differences that stood out to you, please share them in the comments. It will help others learn more about daily life in America.
These customs make America unique, and over time, people naturally become part of this society.
What cultural differences surprise you when you move to a new country? Let me know in the comments.
