Why is America always the benchmark?
We're always curious about how people live in other countries. We may seem similar, but we're so different: culture, everyday life, mindset, climate, religion... The list goes on. We can't cover everything, but we've gathered the most interesting and unusual facts about America for you. Even if they're not immediately useful in everyday life, you'll always have fascinating topics for discussion.
Did you know that in America, things aren't quite like anywhere else? A woman might take offense at receiving just a bouquet of flowers on a date, it's often impossible to do laundry in your own apartment, and having children out of wedlock is absolutely normal and natural.
We've compiled 20 interesting facts about various aspects of life in the USA: how many credit cards the average American has, where atheists are barred from working, how Native Americans live in the 21st century, and much more.
First Ten Fascinating Facts
- 01.Children Born Out of Wedlock
The US has a high number of children born out of wedlock. Statistics show that nearly 40% of citizens are born outside of marriage and even stable relationships. There are far more American couples in informal relationships than those who are officially married. In the 1960s, the "married" rate was a record high — nearly 75% of all adults, today it's below 50%. Despite most Americans considering themselves religious, they see nothing wrong with cohabitation and having children from casual or short-term relationships. - 02.The Bible Belt
But there are places where they do see it differently! In America, there's a region known as the Bible Belt. This is a group of southern states where the influence of religion on private and public life thrives, along with conservatism and missionary work. The Bible Belt includes states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Georgia. - 03.Restrictions for Atheists
In most states of the Bible Belt, atheists are not allowed to hold public office or work in schools. - 04.Living on Credit
The US is a credit-driven society. Every sixth American uses more than 10 credit cards, and every third person even pays for food and minor daily purchases with credit cards. Creditors instill more fear in people than the police. - 05.Flowers as a Gift
Giving flowers to women is seen as a sign of poverty. Flowers are quite cheap in the US and sold in supermarkets. Showing up on a date with just flowers can seriously undermine your image. The woman might think you're not willing to spend not just money, but also time on selecting a gift. Flowers are usually brought to those in hospitals and the elderly. - 06.Greeting Cards
However, giving a pre-written greeting card is perfectly normal. - 07.Neighborhood Watch
Social control in American society even extends to the personal lives of others. There's a special term for this—Neighborhood Watch. The closest analogue in Russian would be "neighborhood patrol," which in reality means ordinary snitching. If your neighbors notice something supposedly abnormal in your lifestyle, they will definitely report it to the police and other authorities. - 08.Making Money Out of Nothing
Americans are world champions in making money from nothing. A significant percentage of people live on unemployment benefits, while others earn by participating in lawsuits and receiving compensation for allegedly unsatisfactory goods and services. You can make a business out of anything here. - 09.American Beliefs
Over 45% of Americans believe in the existence of aliens, ghosts, and other mystical beings. At the same time, the US publishes the largest number of scientific papers in the world. - 10.American Flag
The flag of the United States has changed 26 times, and the designer of the modern star-spangled banner was just a high school student. In 1958, 17-year-old Robert Heft submitted a flag design with then 50 stars (for the number of states, later to become 51) and 13 stripes (for the number of colonies) as a school project and initially received a grade of B-. His teacher said he would give an A only if the authorities recognized the flag. Unexpectedly, his work won a national Congress competition, and the grade was corrected. Since 1960, the US flag has remained as we know it today.
Second Set of Fascinating Facts
- 11.Flag Manufacturing
Interestingly, U.S. military legislation mandates that national flags be manufactured exclusively in the USA. Military units could face court-martial for using flags made in countries like China or Pakistan. - 12.Flag Etiquette
Handling the flag involves a significant ceremonial process. For instance, it is strictly forbidden to lower the flag as a sign of respect to anyone. It must be folded in a specific way to achieve a triangular shape for storage. - 13.Native American Tribes
What about Native Americans who may not hold the flag in the same regard? Currently, 556 tribes are officially recognized, living in reservations primarily in the western United States. These reservations occupy 2.3% of U.S. territory. Residents are subject to both U.S. laws and their tribe's laws, are exempt from certain taxes, and manage their lands independently. However, the benefits end there; they are frequently relocated due to mining and the construction of gambling facilities, face high child mortality rates, loss of native languages, and rampant unemployment. - 14.Laundry Facilities in Apartments
Not all apartment buildings include washing machines. Often, there is a communal laundry room (laundry) in the basement, or nothing at all — just public laundromats. Seeing people with bundles of laundry and basins on the street is not uncommon but rather a norm. - 15.Culture of Food vs. Dieting
The U.S. harbors two opposing cults: the cult of food and the cult of dieting. Given the objective obesity of the nation, one might think the former has prevailed, but this is not the case. The mass culture invariably touches on the aspect of losing weight, with shedding extra pounds considered a heroic act. - 16.Taxi Drivers are Immigrants
According to statistics, 60% of all taxi drivers in the U.S. are immigrants. In New York and Los Angeles, this figure rises to 90%. The same goes for gardeners: over 85% of garden helpers or agricultural workers are Spanish-speaking. - 17.Population in Chinatown
The Chinatown in San Francisco is home to more Chinese people than anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. - 18.Most Popular Fast Food
The most popular fast food in America is not hamburgers or fries but pizza, which is even included in school lunches. - 19.Film Industry and Influence
The U.S. film industry accounts for nearly 70% of the global cinema market and is the main driver of industry progress. Annually, the states release about 650-700 feature films — that's roughly 1-2 movies per day. - 20.Pricing and Taxes
Price tags do not include tax amounts. Essentially, you end up paying more than the price listed on the tag, and you only learn about the accompanying tax at the checkout. This is because taxes on goods vary by state — a branded pair of sneakers in Illinois will cost less than the same branded sneakers in New York.
Certainly, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding America and Americans. The experts at American Butler believe that the most important and interesting insights can only be gained by immersing yourself in the everyday life and language environment. If you are considering traveling or moving to the U.S., don't hesitate to contact us for assistance or advice.
We are always eager to recommend the best places and offer advantageous solutions to fulfill your plans.
Share
