The 7 Strangest Things About America For Europeans, According To Harry Lloyd

6. Tax

Why is it not included in the price? You never know what anything costs, and the tax is different state to state so you can’t even work it out. Who needs to know the subtotal of what they’re going to buy? Is nuts.

https://www.tyracpa.com/bitcoin-sales-taxes/ Via tyracpa.com

5. How are you?

This is not a question in America. The correct response is also ‘How are you?’ And not ‘How are YOU?’ like the British say it, but a complete repeat: ‘How ARE you?’, ‘How ARE you?’ Once I’d worked this out, life became much simpler. I used to be at the shops and the teller would ask ‘How ARE you?’ and I would be so pleasantly surprised to be asked so earnestly that I would begin to really explain how I was. Unnecessary.

http://mrdiv.tumblr.com/post/2349592521/hello-how-are-you-click-for-larger-version Viamrdiv.tumblr.com

4. Scale

Americans just have a totally different idea of time and space. A nine-hour drive is not something just for truck drivers. People fly from New York to Chicago for dinner. 100 miles is round the corner. If you’re in the next door state, you might as well visit. It’s pretty cool actually, that.

http://compositedrawlings.blogspot.ca/ Via compositedrawlings.blogspot.ca

3. Accents

Why aren’t there more accents? Compared to Europe, and even to Britain, there are so few. There are drawls and twangs and regulars, and lots of little variations of these, along with foreign accents chewed into Yank-speak. But for the size of the place and the number of speakers it’s weird. People from thousands of miles away can sound the same.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-u-s/727741-accent-map.html#b Via city-data.com

2. Bacon

Even the thick-cut stuff is super thin. I understand a preference for crispy, but if you ever want pig with a bit of chew, you have to order ham. I really think the U.S. Is missing out. Some proper Danish or Dry Cured Smoked Back Bacon. Crispy outside, succulent centre. None of this snap it in half with your fingers business.

http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/will-always-love-bacon-bacon-fad/ Via ModernFarmer.com

1. World’s Largest…

While making Big Significant Things we came across a load of these roadside attractions. Some have been endorsed by The Guinness Book of Records but most are really the Country’s Largest. Or State’s largest. There are a whole bunch of World’s Largest Frying Pans in the U.S. alone. Guess you don’t need to worry about the rest of the world when you live in a country that big. My favourites are a World’s Largest Shoe we visited in Pennsylvania where you can stay the night and feel like the old woman with too many kids in the nursery rhyme. There’s something both awesome and sad about these monuments. They’re funny and inspiring, but after you’ve taken your picture, it’s often a bit awkward til you leave.

They are one of my favourite things about the country though. People doing funny little things for no reason, but on a massive unnecessary scale.

That’s America. Go big or go home.

http://www.visitnc.com/listing/world-s-largest-frying-pan Via visitnc.com

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You can catch Harry next in the film Big Significant Things, releasing July 24th in theaters, VOD, and digital. The trailer can be found here.