You don’t need to cross international borders to learn about alternative perspectives on life. As one Reddit discussion shows, this can be achieved by simply stepping into other people’s homes.
It started a few days ago, when platform user Mango-Chocolate asked everyone, “What is the biggest cultural shock you experienced when going to someone else’s house?” They immediately started receiving interesting answers, and as of today, there are over 1.2K comments, many of which illustrate that broadening your horizons isn’t that hard. If you keep an open mind, of course.
From the words we use to communicate with our family members to peculiar eating habits, here’s what folks noticed.
#1
When I was a teen, I was genuinely shocked to see that other families actually loved each other and wanted to interact and say nice things to each other. I kept expecting it to turn dark, and when it didn’t I had no idea what to do and felt completely ashamed and out of place.
Image credits: MTBeanerschnitzel
#2
As a kid, I visited some friends who had scary “yes sir/no sir” fathers who were quick to use a belt on them. None of those guys turned out well as adults, I might add. The funny thing is – *my* dad was an Army platoon sergeant, yet he was a jovial and easy-going father.
Image credits: p38-lightning
#3
That other people’s parents smiled at them, were nice to them, and seemed to enjoy having them around. I rarely experienced any of that. I thought everyone’s parents were angry all the time and didn’t like them much.
Image credits: t_portch
#4
Saying a prayer before a meal. I live in eastern Germany. I had never seen a religious person before. I thought that was just like a childrens tale like santa.
Image credits: Mad_Moodin
#5
My friends parents would *make* them finish their meals, even if they said they were full. The meals looked *huge* to me, and my friend was overweight. It felt depressing. If I was full at home, I’d never be pressured to eat absolutely everything if I didn’t want to.
Image credits: nightsofthesunkissed
#6
When my friend’s mum used salt, pepper and herbs in her cooking. It was my foodie awakening.
Image credits: Yooustinkah
#7
Back in high school, I visited a friend’s house and had to use the bathroom. I asked her where the toilet paper was in the bathroom and she said ”we don’t really wipe our butts in this house”. Girl what?!
Image credits: Silent-Bird-4474
#8
I went to a friend’s house when I was about 8. They were serving macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. I hate hot dogs always have. I asked politely before she made up my plate if I could only have the mac n cheese.
This lady was furious. She wouldn’t let me eat, actually made me sit outside on the deck every meal I happened to be at her house after that too. That was a shock.
Image credits: DesolationRuins
#9
My parents are really good cooks. I would eat dinner at friends homes and be horrified.
Image credits: littlemybb
#10
I’m an international student in the USA. I lived with my grand uncle for 6 months and one of the cultural shocks that surprise me was that he had carpeted floors in his bathrooms. And also the lack of bidets in America.
Image credits: cassiemoonnana
#11
A giant glass thing fermenting outside. They were Korean. I think it was kimchi but I was so confused as a kid.
Image credits: pizzzadoggg
#12
They share one towel.
Image credits: Friendly-Abies-9302
#13
My ex’s family used one cup towel as a communal napkin. No paper napkins or paper towels. No individual washable cloth napkins. One cup towel for everyone, even at large gatherings for holidays. And there was this weird peer pressure to use it whether you needed to or not. I learned to eat carefully so I wouldn’t need to wipe my mouth — or I’d stash a napkin or paper towel in my pocket to use discreetly.
Image credits: Mindless_Log2009
#14
Went to a friend’s house at maybe age 9 and was floored that she didn’t share a bedroom with her little sister.
On top of this, she also had a double bed and a small TV in her room hooked up to a PS2.
Image credits: LittleMsBlue
#15
When my friends Russian grandmother chased me with a shoe and yelled at me in Russian. I didn’t know why she was angry but all my friend would say is that it had something to do with where I put my shoes when I entered the house.
Image credits: ArmyRepresentative88
#16
More of just weird, I went to my boss’s house. She made us take off our shoes and socks and put on brand new white socks that she kept by the door. We also had to sanitize our hands and wear latex gloves. This was way before Covid.
Image credits: Nacho_Bean22
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