Weird Everyday Things That Surprised Me in the U.S.

Strange Things About America That Surprised Me After Moving Abroad

When you move from India to the U.S., you expect certain changes — new food, new systems, new routines. But no one prepares you for the strange things about America that hit you in the small, everyday moments.

Moving abroad reveals so many strange things about America that no one warns you about until you experience them yourself. The life differences between India and USA aren’t always dramatic. Sometimes they’re funny. Sometimes confusing. And sometimes they make you pause and think, “So this is how people live here?”

I moved to the U.S. in 2013 at age 13. I didn’t choose the move — I simply packed my school bag and followed my parents. What followed were unexpected things about living in America that shaped how I see people, culture, and even myself.

Here are the strangest everyday things that stood out — and the personal stories behind them.

1. Strangers Smile at You for No Reason

Walking down the street in Pennsylvania, people smiled at me. Complete strangers. No conversation. No introduction.

Just a friendly smile and a “Hi.”

At 13, I genuinely thought people were flirting with me or confusing me for someone they knew. In India, if someone smiles at you like that, your aunties start preparing a marriage proposal.

But here?
It’s just normal American politeness — nothing more.

Later, I learned this isn’t just my observation. Many international travelers say the same thing. In fact, a Business Insider feature highlighted that “smiling at strangers” is one of the most commonly mentioned strange things about America, especially by people coming from countries where smiling is more reserved.

Today, I smile back without thinking. But It was one of the first strange things about America that caught me off guard, which eventually became normal.

I later wrote more about these surprising everyday habits in Weird Everyday Things That Surprised Me in the U.S., where I go deeper into the small details that confuse most newcomers.

2. Everyone Owns a Pet — And They Treat Them Like Family

Another shock: almost everyone had pets. Dogs everywhere. People walking them, buying treats for them, celebrating their birthdays, taking them to “dog parks.”

In India, some families have pets — but here it feels like every household does. And they’re treated like children. I once saw a family pushing a dog in a stroller.

That’s when I realized:
“Okay, America is on another level.”

3. Air Conditioning That Feels Like the Antarctica

One of the biggest American culture shocks for Indians is the AC.

Let me tell you — Americans LOVE cold.

You walk into a store in the middle of summer, already feeling cool outside… and inside it’s freezing like you’ve entered the ice age.

Why? Because what Indians consider “cold,” Americans consider “comfortable.”

They’ve lived in cold climates their whole lives, so blasting AC feels normal. Meanwhile, I learned to carry a hoodie in July.

4. Boys and Girls Are Extremely Open with Each Other

This shocked me the most in school.

Back in Indian villages and small towns, boys and girls keep a polite distance. It’s not written anywhere — it’s just understood.

But here?
They joke together, sit together, hang out after school, and share everything.

At 13, it felt like a different universe. I wasn’t used to seeing such casual, open friendships. Over time, though, it helped me understand communication, confidence, and comfort around others.

5. Silence Everywhere — And No Familiar Faces

When we first moved, the silence in Pennsylvania was the hardest thing to adjust to.

No cars honking. No neighbors chatting. No street vendors calling out. No familiar faces saying “Kem Cho?” when you walked past.

I remember going for walks with my dad and thinking,
“Where is everyone?”

In India, the noise is the heartbeat of daily life. Here, quietness is the default. And for a long time, it felt emotionally heavy.

I missed people. I missed connection. I even started watching Indian movies — something I rarely did in India — just to feel closer to home.

If you’ve ever felt torn between two cultures, my post Indian Traditions To Keep Living Abroad explains how we hold on to our roots even in the middle of so much silence and change.