I'm Paraguayan, and here in Paraguay there are small businesses that would be warehouses or pantries, little markets the size of a room. They function like small markets that only have the essentials for living, but what happens HERE is that they are not small markets that are within a franchise or chain of markets or controlled by a mega-corporation. They are usually family-owned businesses, independent of others, and usually named after a person who works there. Do you Americans have the equivalent of these mini-markets, independent of mega-corporations or franchises, which are exclusively family-owned businesses?

Bill Cosby was once a very respected comedian and actor before he was convicted of rape and some stuff in his shows, films and comedy routines may have aged poorly, while I absolutely condemn his crimes I love his animated shows Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids and Little Bill but I never watched any of his other shows nor any of his films.

Hi, I have a little silly question, but it’s been bugging me for a while - everyone (arguably the entire world) hates on Jeff Bezos yet everywhere I go I hear “yeah, I bought that from amazon”. Why do people keep using amazon, fully aware of everything that’s wrong with it? Whatever happened to “eat the rich”…

I saw a reel about this and it reminded me of my own experience in the US.

So the woman was asking about Uber but said it more like "Uba" so staff didn't understand, but when it was said in an American accent the staff understood. I wonder if this is a common thing.

Is it because of the rhotic/non-rhotic divide (the R sound at the end of words), or is it just that the accents are very different? Also I normally find I can understand Americans because of the insane amount of everything that comes from the US (except for really southern accents).

Hi, I ll be visiting America next month for the first time from Australia. What are some of your must try foods and snacks you think I should look for.

Hi all, we're planning a long USA road trip in the autumn, my husband is American but we've lived overseas for over 20 years so things have changed! What is the tipping culture for fast food - both drive-thru and counter service? In the 90s we never tipped for these but is it expected now? Are there any other places we should tip that we might not expect? Thanks.

As far as I know I don't have a "Wells Fargo credit card", is this something real or a scam.

I’ve been to the States once before and tried the obvious names like Chipotle, In-N-Out and Five Guys. This time I’d love to find those proper local food spots or regional dishes you just can’t get back home in the UK.

Any must-try meals, snacks or hidden gems? Also open to any general tips for making the most of a short work trip over there.

Also happy to meet up for coffee, dm me and we can swap information!

I wanna order some and since the prices are higher i wanna pick the best tasteful ones! So what are the best for y’all?

I just watch it, and I was curious about it. I mean, it's a 2007 extreme comedy film, but it also gives the vibe of what the real lifestyle of someone from a small city would look like. But I don't know if this still true in 2025. Not only that, but I have never been io America to begin with, so I don't have any idea.

Edit: I know some obvious thing aren't like real life like the extreme unprofessionalism from the cops or how the fat guy steals like 10 litres of beer in two, containers? (idk how it's called) of detergent, and everyone is just chill about him carrying two containers of detergent like nothing. But i wonder if shops look like in the movie, or high schools also look like in the movie. Plus, people do parties like in the movie in 2025? I mean, it's a teen comedy that doesn't aim to be realistic, but it also has more down to earth protagonists that totally give the vibes of losers/people that would get bullied in real life

I’m Korean, and in Korea, when you go to a restaurant, water is usually free. Even at bars or cafés, there’s always complimentary filtered water available.
It’s been a long time since I last visited the U.S., so I’m curious how it works there. Does it differ between fine dining and casual places, or even by region?

From what I’ve found online: in New York, servers often ask “still or sparkling?” (which are paid options), but you can request free tap water. In LA, it seems that if you ask for iced water, they usually give you complimentary filtered water, but ordering lemon water costs extra. (In that case, does that mean hot water without ice is also free?)

I’m a bit confused, so I’d like some clarification. How do locals usually handle this? Thanks in advance!

I’ve been a smoker for years and find it really hard to quit. I’m moving to the US soon from Europe, and I just realized how different the culture around smoking is there. From what I’ve seen, there aren’t really cafes/bars/outdoor areas where you can sit, smoke, and drink/eat like we do back home.

Because of that, I’ve been trying to cut down before I move. But honestly, I’m kind of freaked out about how socializing will feel without constantly having a cigarette in my hand. Back home, all my friends smoke, and whenever we hang out, we sit outside and chain smoke together. I hate sitting and talking with nothing in my hand,it makes me feel restless and like I can’t concentrate on the conversation.

I even tried hanging out with a friend recently without smoking, and it was way harder than I expected. People suggested fidget toys or holding something else, but I’m not sure that would do the trick.

So my question is: if I can’t fully get over my addiction before moving, how difficult is it really going to be for me in the States? Is smoking really as restricted there as it seems? And do you have any advice for handling social situations without relying on cigs?

PICTURE

I mean, If you can tell by just looking. This is Illinois if that matters. Box for scale.

This is coming from someone in Asia where it's extremely normal for families to pass down houses or bank deposits to their children as it is a way to help them and keep the family running.

I keep seeing in reddit and instagram where millennials complain their parents don't let them stay in their second house or blowout all the savings in old-age (without leaving anything for kids) and hence they're are struggling very much. Is this very common? Is it also true they often sell their land/extra house for money rather than give it to the kids as a starter home?

Just curious about all this. No judgement

As a person who grew up in Asia, from my perspective people who they arrest were not aggressive or physically overpowering in most cases. Even if they have to make arrest, less force would be as effective. It doesn’t make sense. I do not have any political ideologies just curious about why putting so much effort of the same thing can be achieved with less force.

As someone from a Southeast Asian country, I found Home Economics when I learnt it a really interesting class subject, and I wish my country had something like that.

However, I am fully aware that it’s not as common today as it was decades ago, which is kind of sad to be honest. But I do know that there are still a few schools which offer these courses in their schools.

So I would like to ask, how difficult or rare is it to find a school or district that provides a Home Economics class (or similar classes) in your state?

I watch a lot of true crime stuff on YouTube and the one I've just watched said that this person had an easier time in jail than in prison. So what is the difference.

Why americans don't usually like black liquorice? As a finnish person, we love black liquorice and specially salmiakki 🫣 also, some finns don't like salmiakki but most people love it here! I just wondering that, when i watch youtubers testing finnish candy they say its taste horrible... but ofc everybody has their own opinion 🤣

Hello Reddit,

I am very confused on how service workers (in restaurants) earn their pay check.

I live in England. I work part time and i am in full time education.

The law states that for my age i get a set amount of money per hour work, and this goes up as i age and once i leave education i get a salary job instead of hourly pay.

However i see online a lot that, this isn’t the case for American workers.

I went to New York recently for a trip with my school. And when at a diner, we had been asked if we’d like to tip. Sure the adults accompanying us paid and said it’s uncommon for children to tip, but me and my four friends sat at a different table (there were 50 of us on this trip) so we all placed about a dollar or so each and it came to a 12 dollar tip for a pre-paid order of food for our large group.

The waiter seemed ecstatic that he got given this 12 dollar tip and it had left me wondering why.

If anyone could please explain this to me, i’d greatly appreciate it! 😁

I know medical treatment is very expensive in the US, have you ever moved to a different country to get the treatment? Why or why not?

Americans, what level of trust do you place in dentists? Do you feel their treatments and recommendations are just money making scams?

I found https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_conferences and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States, which I presume lists most of them.

My understanding is that, after ranking heavily research-oriented universities into either R1 or R2, the other big groups of research-oriented universities are the Ivy League, the Big 10, the ACC, and the SEC.

Hi! I live in the UK and I’m taking on a new job in the UK with an American colleague. Looking for some advice.

The team I’m leading includes a man in his 50s who held a senior position in the USA. Now he does the same job but at a lower level in the UK (recently moved for family). I’m guessing he’s Texan because his accent is the same as my Texan friend who is an architect. I’ve only briefly been introduced so haven’t got to know him yet.

I am in my 30s and will be in a more senior position, basically doing the job he used to do.

Are there any books or resources about US workplace culture that might be helpful for a foreigner like myself to understand his perspective? I am looking to work together well and avoid offending him or misrepresenting myself generally.

For instance if I offer to buy him a coffee would it be patronising or well received? It’s something I would do occasionally as a treat for colleagues in the past.