Things in the USA That Make NO SENSE to Norwegians (American Reaction)

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]What's going on everyone? Uh, I'm just a typical average American here today to react to some things in the United States that make no sense to Norwegians.

[00:00:23]So today I thought it'd be fun to take a look at this list that a Norwegian created while she was living here in the US. And this is a list of things that us Americans think are pretty normal that are apparently uh very weird, at least from a Norwegian perspective.

[00:00:58]So, I want to take a look at this and uh I don't know, see if we really are weird or maybe I can explain some of these things. So, let's take a look. It says things in the US that confuse me as a Norwegian. Okay, so number one is you literally need a car for anything.

[00:01:24]Yeah. I mean, yeah, that's So, um, like, let me walk, please.

[00:01:33]This just seems like a big difference between, uh, the US and Europe. Like, I've heard in Europe you guys walk like all the time and take the train or so.

[00:01:47]To me, that's weird. But I guess like is it weird for Norwegians like that you can't? Yeah, it it is true. Like especially if you're not in a big American city, like if you're in just any normal town or or regular city in the US, you need a car. You really Yeah.

[00:02:09]I There's I can't really walk to the store. That would take like like 30 minutes or something, which for Americans that is we're okay with cars.

[00:02:22]Walking is unheard of. I actually sometimes when I'm driving and I see somebody walking somewhere, I actually like think are they okay? Like do they need help? So I know it's it I guess it it seems kind of lazy or what? Like we but it is true. We just don't like walking places. I like driving my car and I can I can go anywhere and it certainly is a waste of gas and but this is true. Yeah, it it would be very it'd be like impossible to like go about your life in the US without a car like which I guess that's not good. That should be an option. H okay. I I I see what you mean there. That's a good point. But I don't remember the last time I walked somewhere. Oh my god. Um, that is weird to think about. The breakfasts are basically dessert.

[00:03:27]So, yeah. Yes. Yes.

[00:03:31]Does this need any explanation? Isn't that great? Delicious. Yes. But please, I have no self-control. I'm sure in Norway you must have like donuts, right?

[00:03:43]like um I don't think it's any secret in the US we are known for being unhealthy and I guess you know this is why this is true in the US like breakfast is a a cereal or a donut or um not everything is like dessert. Some people have bacon and eggs and stuff but also pancakes which is pretty Yeah. What do you guys have in Norway? like much healthier like bread or something like that, right? Um, so I think it's because Americans just don't really care about health. That's really the answer. And dessert tastes great. Maybe we just don't have self-control.

[00:04:34]That's what I'm starting to think explains a lot of. And yes, we are aware of a of of like this is bad for us, but a lot of Americans just don't care that it's as simple as that. It's weird to say out loud. Um, why are there carpet floors everywhere? Um, jeez, I've never noticed. Like, we also have tile. Carpet is pretty I don't I don't know.

[00:05:06]Like I don't know cuz it's not necessarily easier to clean, is it?

[00:05:12]I think the US is starting to get away from carpet a little bit and we're starting to go towards tile floors. Um, this is a good question. I don't know why carpet. Yeah, it's not even that good looking. H, okay, fair enough.

[00:05:31]The weather has mood swings. It can go from sunny to stormy in two seconds.

[00:05:37]Yeah, this kind of depends on where you live in the United States. It really depends. Um, is it not like this in Norway? I think if you live in like sort of the middle of the US cuz cuz north would be kind of cold. South would be like warm like Florida. If you're in sort of the middle, I don't know what it is, but yeah, the weather can just be totally random. rain, cold, freezing in the morning, then warm. Like you need a jacket in the morning and then a t-shirt in the afternoon. It's We're used to it.

[00:06:12]Like you just check the weather app and is it just more consistent in Norway?

[00:06:21]Like I I picture like Scandinavian countries as like obviously we think of cold. Um, I guess when you're that far north, maybe the temperature is more regulated or Norway is next to a big body of water. Water can regulate temperature, right? As well, too, right?

[00:06:41]I don't know. I've just kind of accepted that as normal. I don't know why the weather the weather can be crazy. Um, okay. Let's move on to part two. Why Why do I get asked to tip for everything, you guys?

[00:06:58]You guys don't really tip in Norway if if I remember correctly. You don't really tip, right? Tip it. This is correct. I mean, not only are you expected to tip for a restaurant in in the US, even like when there's no waiter, you get asked to tip. Even if you go get a coffee at Starbucks in the drivethru window, they ask to tip. They will ask you to tip the person who cuts your hair or fixes your car. Or why do I get asked to tip for everything? Because in the US, we Okay, I will say a lot of Americans do not like the tipping. But it is expected and it is a normal part of our culture. So, we are used to it. For waiters, they don't get paid enough. Like literally, they get paid less than minimum wage. I don't know how that's possible, but waiters depend on tips to survive. So, we feel obligated. And also, waiters in America literally try harder for a tip. So, they actually give you better service. Like, they're trying to earn a better tip.

[00:08:14]It's kind of weird. It's kind of like a weird performance where they're trying to like get you your drink refilled fast to get a better tip. And I'm not gonna lie, that can be kind of nice. Like I think the waiters in America try really, really, really hard because they know they can get a good tip. So it's kind of a that's an interesting aspect to it.

[00:08:37]But um a lot of Americans don't like tipping, but I don't think it's going to change anytime soon. You don't have to tip. Like if it's like at the drive-thru window, you don't even tip. But if you don't tip in Norway, I'm kind of jealous cuz it's a whole weird system that makes everyone feel kind of awkward. So, I I actually agree with that. Why is the tax not included in the price?

[00:09:05]It It should be. You're right.

[00:09:10]These are all actually like good observations. These are This is what happens like when you live when you live in the US. If you're an American and it's your whole life is here, you don't even think about that. This is weird.

[00:09:26]Um, they should include the tax so that you know cuz they don't include the tax in the in the price. So, you're always like adding on a few extra dollars. You're kind of guessing, which is kind of stupid that you have to guess, right? This is another thing that we just don't even think about.

[00:09:49]We've just accepted it. Huh? We should do that. Why is the AC on max everywhere?

[00:09:58]Um, is it? I don't There are If some place is really cold and the AC is really on max, I think I'd notice and I'm like, what the heck? It's cold in here. But I think because certainly in public areas, public buildings, more people would complain if it's too hot. So they just make it too cold.

[00:10:24]I think that's actually the thought process. Um people prefer to be too cold than too hot. And yeah, certainly in the US, we love our air conditioning. We love it. So H I haven't I stopped noticing that. Why are the bathroom gaps so big? Oh my god.

[00:10:47]Have you noticed this in the US? This is a thing. Like inside the bathroom when you're when you're on the toilet, like the gap between the floor and the stall, also the gap between the door and the door frame. You can literally see people like pooping. Like you can I mean you shouldn't you shouldn't look but you could accidentally see somebody in a bathroom stall cuz I don't know why they manufacture them like this. I've heard in other countries the the gaps are like you don't have gaps. You can't see people's feet or their head or through the door.

[00:11:34]This is a good example of like there's no ex there's no explanation. There's no excuse. You're right. I don't know what I don't know. I don't know why these are good. Why do people say how are you and just keep walking?

[00:11:50]Um Americans are friendly but we're very like not committal. Like I know in Norway you guys don't like to bother each other. or you don't like small talk. You don't want to you don't want a stranger saying something. In the US, strangers will say something, but it's not a commitment. So, I actually like that people will just say, "How's it going?" and keep walking. It you It's not like a big thing where you have to be like in a big conversation. And I actually like that because you don't always want to be bothered or you don't always want somebody asking you how you are or talking to strangers or so in the US we kind of have both where someone will say how's it going and you just say good and that's the end of it. So it's like a little miniature conversation. Um and that's totally normal like you do not it. Yeah. I don't know. Is that weird? I kind of like it.

[00:12:54]Um, why do people think Norway is in Sweden?

[00:13:00]I'm going to disagree with this. I don't think most Americans don't know where Norway and Sweden are.

[00:13:10]I didn't know for a very, very long time. Well past school, I didn't know where Norway and Sweden are. Um, I don't think Americans know where any of that is. So, I don't think we don't think Norway is in Sweden. We think we think Norway and Sweden are similar, but we don't know where they are. So, it's a little different from what you think.

[00:13:35]Why is everything a drive-thru? Cuz they're a Cuz it's awesome. What? What do you mean? Cuz it's amazing. This I I I see what you're saying with the cars.

[00:13:46]Like, maybe we we drive cars. We're too reliant on cars. Fine. Okay. But drivethrus don't drive-thrus are awesome.

[00:13:57]Drive-thru fast food, drive-thru banks, you can drive up to the bank. You don't have to get out of your car. You can drive up to the pharmacy. You can get your medicine. You don't have to get out of the You don't have to get out of the car. It's convenient and it's quick.

[00:14:13]We've kind of mastered it. I think it's great. Like, no. Is it What? I I think this is a good thing. Drive-thru. It's just we're we're lazy. Fine, we're lazy.

[00:14:24]There you go. Why are the squirrels everywhere?

[00:14:30]Is there an animal in Norway that's everywhere? Do you have an equivalent to this? I don't even notice squirrels.

[00:14:36]Like, you try not to run over them in your car. There are squirrels literally everywhere. They're very luckily they're cute and they don't really bother you.

[00:14:47]So, I think if you're gonna have like an animal, invasive animal everywhere, a squirrel is actually a good thing to have. Um, Americans explain, "I tried.

[00:14:59]That's my best attempt. Some of this stuff is like, you're right. There's no excuse. Like, some of the stuff we do doesn't really make sense when I think about it." But I will defend some of the things we do like drive-throughs. So, anyway, this is pretty funny. It's actually really cool seeing like what America looks like from a outside perspective, a Norwegian perspective. So, this was fun. So, anyway, if you enjoyed this, feel free to give this video a like or leave a comment with your thoughts on these things in America that are actually weird.

[00:15:40]We just don't know it. Um, and if you're interested in more videos like this, feel free to subscribe for more. And until then, thanks for watching and see you next