Last year a viral Reddit thread asked Europeans what most perplexed them about American culture.

The results were enlightening and sometimes hilarious and gave anyone with a truly open mind a chance to consider just how different cultures can be.

Here are 20 of the most popular answers to the “WTF?” question posed to those who have visited America:

1. Our enormous portion sizes

It’s no surprise that the United States has an obesity problem and it has a lot to do with how much we eat in one sitting.

In fact, some think “value” is the same thing as quality and balk at small servings.

You can certainly overeat in Europe, but when your entree comes, don’t expect to see a whole bunch of food on the side as well.

2. Our love of air conditioning

Americans love their air conditioning. In fact, plenty of people wear sweaters to work in the summer because we crank it up so high.

That’s not the case in Europe. In many places you’ll have to deal with whatever a fan can do.

3. Prescription drug commercials

Europeans (who generally get free healthcare) could not believe that medication would be marketed to patients instead of doctors. And they were also horrified at the list of side effects (including death) that were nonchalantly rattled off at the end.

If you think about it, it really doesn’t make sense.

4. Bathroom stall gaps

One particularly hilarious answer about what makes America weird is that we often have such big gaps in our bathroom stalls that it hardly feels private at all.

Come to think of it, it would be nice to have a real door!

5. Our love of ice

In the U.S., you have to ask for a drink without ice unless you want your glass full to the brim with the stuff.

Good luck asking for ice in Europe, where you might just get a perplexed look.

Apparently, Americans just like everything cold.

6. Our price tags don’t include tax

Europeans expressed some confusion about American price tags and the fact that sales tax was not included on them.

And come to think of it, it really would be nice if we could just print the total price on things.

7. Political attack ads

It’s not just political ads that perplex Europeans but the fact that a politician would waste air time talking about what the other candidate does wrong.

If you think about it, we really don’t learn many useful things from these types of ads, they’re just meant to confirm our biases. Maybe we’d be better off without them!

8. Flags

Every country has a flag, but Europeans are surprised that nearly every place of business has one out front in the U.S.

It’s simply not something they’re used to seeing.

9. Our obsession with cars and driving

There are plenty of traffic-congested cities in Europe, but the amount of time Americans spend in their cars is something the Europeans on the Reddit thread commonly reacted to.

People are much more likely to walk, bike, or take public transit to most destinations in European countries.

10. Thinking the customer is always right

The idea that a customer can simply argue with a store manager and have people apologize to them was shocking to some.

Europeans insisted that in their countries, if you weren’t owed an apology or refund, you simply wouldn’t get one.

11. Tipping

American wait staff does not make a living wage, but the service industry in Europe compensates people properly and therefore they rarely engage in tipping. In fact, in some restaurants it would be considered insulting.

When Europeans come to the U.S., many are shocked that they’re expected to pay another 15-20% on top of their bill, even for bad service.

12. Handing over your credit card

In Europe, you’re handed a machine and you enter your card and final amount at the table or counter – it’s rare to hand your card over to a clerk or waiter who then walks away with it.

And, to be honest, it makes sense to be wary.

Redditors combined this confusion with that of tipping and one summed it up perfectly: “What? You’re going to log my card details and then when I leave I’m supposed to trust that you’ll charge the amount I wrote down on a piece of paper? And I’m supposed to be fine with that?”

13. Asking “how are you?”

We don’t really want to know the ins and outs of how most people are doing when we ask the question, so Europeans were perplexed that we asked it at all.

Imagine if everyone was honest or you had to listen to them go on and on every time you asked “how are you?”

We’d never get anything done!

14. Calling all black people “African American”

This one is truly strange especially when Americans do it overseas.

Some people just blindly think of it as the “polite” way to address the color of someone’s skin, but what if a black person is from the Caribbean or not an American at all?

15. Small talk with cashiers

In Europe, you exchange brief pleasantries and get on with your life while going about your errands. Stopping and chatting with a clerk who is a complete stranger just isn’t a thing, especially in larger cities.

Europeans expressed some surprise when store clerks tried to engage them in a longer conversation during their visits.

16. Pick-up trucks

Americans really do love their large vehicles and the vast majority of us don’t even need our gas-guzzlers.

Europeans tend to have smaller cars with a smaller carbon footprint – and that’s often out of necessity.

Can you imagine parking this thing in London or Rome?!

17. Commercials

We are constantly bombarded with commercials when we watch network TV, especially towards the end of a show.

Europeans found it very annoying – and the Americans responding agreed!

18. Salad dressings

You are not going to hear a list of salad dressings at a restaurant in Europe (and you’re most likely not getting ranch).

A salad will have some sort of oil, vinegar, and herb concoction and it will be lovely.

19. Oversharing

Apparently, Americans share a bit too much personal information in the course of conversations.

And while not everyone does it, we have to admit that TMI is very American.

20. Calling it a “restroom” or “bathroom”

No one rests there. No one takes a bath.

It’s a toilet.

Just call it what it is.

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Source: AppleberryJames via Reddit