10 American Habits Brits Will Never Understand

sorry, that should be behaviour for the Brits on the site.

I'd vouch to say we do 9 out of the 10 in Canada.

We don't really do #5. I've seen Americans do it, and it's something we Canadians don't really do.

I'd say that for the most part they are pretty strange behaviours to most Brits.

Not sure that #7 (drinking milk) is that odd.  I didn't drink anything except water and milk till I was in my teens.  Don't drink it now but my husband does (though strangely he does this much more since we lived in the US!)

I would only consider getting leftover pizza boxed up, otherwise it is weird and icky.

And I disagree that eating breakfast as a family is weird.  We sort of do it most days (except for Dai because he has to get to work).  And we generally eat together at weekends.  What we don't do is go out to eat breakfast.  There just isn't really anywhere I'd want to go and do that.  Locally the choices are McD's, Costa coffee and maybe a motorway service station  8-P

When I see those fully-intact large families in which four generations hang together as holders from the age of family, which I see destroyed everywhere.

I'm American, and it surprises me that Brits would find some of those things strange. Taking home leftovers is weird? Why waste it?

Drinking milk is an American thing? I thought that practice went back hundreds if not thousands of years before the USA even existed. That said, I don't like drinking milk. I haven't had a plain glass of milk since I was a child.

Starting conversations with strangers seems like it would come down to more of your personality type than the culture of the country you're in. I usually don't start conversations with strangers and would probably only respond to be polite if one started one with me.

As for eating breakfast together, I would say the majority of families don't actually do that...it just looks that way on TV. In reality, most families' schedules differ too much and a lot of people skip breakfast anyway.

#1 - flossing?  ???

I feel nasty if I don't floss.

Actually, this explains a lot.  :D

http://theshef.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/powersteeth.jpg

http://image.take40.com/300x225/amy_winehouse_bad_teeth_400x300.jpg

http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/bad-teeth-tony-blair.jpg

#1 - flossing?  ???

I feel nasty if I don't floss.

Actually, this explains a lot.  :D

http://theshef.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/powersteeth.jpg

http://image.take40.com/300x225/amy_winehouse_bad_teeth_400x300.jpg

http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/bad-teeth-tony-blair.jpg


I hope they floss.

This is also interesting:

10 Things Brits Do That Drive Americans Nuts

http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/05/17/10-things-brits-do-that-drive-americans-nuts/

Or this

10 Things Americans Do That Drive Brits Nuts

http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/05/15/10-things-americans-do-that-drive-brits-nuts/

I'd vouch to say we do 9 out of the 10 in Canada.

We don't really do #5. I've seen Americans do it, and it's something we Canadians don't really do.


I'm going to have to disagree with you on #5. We do get rowdy as well.

As a Canadian, I say we fall somewhere in between with these habits...

1. I actually floss at least twice a day. I can't imagine NOT flossing (eww!).
2. Maybe our cakes and pies aren't as lavish, but we do like to bake.
3. We do that too but are probably more humble.
4. We're probably more reserved but some of us do make small chit-chat with strangers.
5. Yep
6. Seems to only happen among acquaintances.
7. We do drink that here except for me. I only use it in cereals and recipes since I can't stand that white stuff.  8-P
8. Our portions are a little smaller, which is a good thing.
9. Don't see any problem with leftovers.
10. Sometimes just on the weekends.