Weird Everyday Things That Surprised Me in the U.S.
It’s the Everyday Stuff That Feels the Strangest
When you move to a new country, you expect the obvious differences — the language, the food, the driving side of the road.
But no one warns you about the weird everyday things in the US that sneak up on you in everyday life. The stuff that feels so normal to everyone else, but makes you pause and go,
“Wait… what?”
Here are 7 of the weirdest, most everyday things that surprised me after moving to the U.S. from India.
1. Pajamas Are Apparently Acceptable Public Attire
I saw someone in fuzzy unicorn pajamas at Walmart. At 3 p.m.
No one blinked.
In India, even going to the local shop meant changing out of home clothes. Here? Pajamas in public are not just accepted — they’re a lifestyle. I was shocked… then slowly became one of them.
2. Drive-Thru Everything — Even Your Bank
Drive-thru food? Sure.
But drive-thru pharmacies? Banks? Coffee shops? Even wedding chapels?
The first time I saw someone do a full bank transaction without leaving their car, I thought it was a VIP thing. Nope. It’s just Tuesday.
3. Strangers Smile at You for No Reason
I kept wondering if people were flirting with me.
Turns out… they’re just being polite.
At stores, on sidewalks, even jogging past you — people smile or say “hi” like it’s totally normal. Back home, if someone smiled at you like that, your aunties would already be arranging a marriage proposal.
4. Air Conditioning That Could Freeze Your Soul
It’s 90°F (32°C) outside. You walk into a store… and BOOM — welcome to the Arctic.
Seriously, Americans love blasting AC. I now carry a hoodie even in summer.
Because hypothermia in July is real.
Want more funny differences I noticed? Check out Strange Everyday Things In The US.
5. Obsession with Exact Change
“Do you have 2 cents?”
“Can you give me 37 cents?”
WHY? Why are coins such a big deal?
In India, we just round up or say “keep the change.” Here, if you don’t have exact coins, you’ll feel like you’re committing a financial crime.
Also — who actually carries coins in 2025?
6. Bathroom Faucets That Are Playing a Prank
You’d think turning on a tap is universal.
Wrong.
Some twist, some pull, some wave like you’re casting a spell.
The hot water comes out of the cold side. The automatic toilet flushes while you’re still seated. I genuinely thought I broke a few toilets during my first month.
7. Unlocked Mailboxes — and People Don’t Steal?!
This one seriously messed with my head.
Your mailbox is just… open. Sitting by the road. With all your mail and packages.
In India, even your Amazon delivery might get “accidentally” picked up by someone else.
But here? No lock. No camera. No problem. People actually respect your stuff.
It felt like living in an alternate universe of default trust.
You Adjust, But You Never Forget
These weren’t the big cultural shocks — they were the quiet, silly, daily surprises.
And they were somehow the most memorable.
Over time, I stopped questioning them. I started blending in. I even smiled at a stranger while wearing pajamas… in a drive-thru… holding a hoodie in summer.
Living abroad is weird. But weird becomes normal. And that’s kind of beautiful.
You may also like my story A Day In The Life: Adjusting To Everyday Life As An NRI.
