Americans Are Sharing The "Culture Shock" Moments They Had While Traveling To Another State

Photo byBuzzfeed

Americans can all agree on one thing: the United States is a country of incredible diversity. Every state boasts its own unique character, traditions, and ways of doing things, so traveling from one state to another is sure to bring a few surprises along the way. I recently reached out to the Americans from the BuzzFeed Community to share their most memorable "culture shock" moments while exploring a different state, and the responses were quite fascinating. Here are some of the culture shocks that, depending on where you're from, you might find either completely normal or utterly bizarre:

• 1. "My family is from the West Coast, known for our big appetites, and I was taken aback by the massive portion sizes in the Midwest. A single to-go plate could easily feed me for two or more meals.

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2. "Originally from Upstate New York, I moved to Pennsylvania and then to Pittsburgh. There's this thing called the 'Pittsburgh Left' there. It's when you take the left lane at a green light, even though you don't have the right of way. Back home, it's seen as aggressive and rude. Apparently, it's a common practice in Massachusetts too."

3. "Transitioning from New England to the South, I was puzzled by the term 'water bubbler.' It's just another way of calling a water fountain, which is something you'd expect in New England".

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4. "While teaching in Kentucky, I picked up a cookbook from the school band's fundraiser. It included recipes for BBQ raccoon and baked opossum. That was definitely a culture shock moment."

5. "Growing up in the dry desert of Arizona, I've spent most of my adult life in Texas. My recent trip to Florida was a shock, especially seeing all the houses with screened-in backyards. It was like the entire yard was screened off. That's when you realize the mosquito problem is out of control."

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6. "I'm from a predominantly white town in Kentucky. Moving to LA, I was suddenly a minority, which was a whole new experience for me."

7. "I've lived in New York for the first 21 years of my life. Moving to Colorado at 21, I quickly learned that strangers on the street would just smile at me. It took a while to get used to it and not think they were trying to start a fight."

8. "Hailing from San Francisco, California, my first trip to Texas was a bit strange. I noticed that none of the public restrooms had seat liners."

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9. "I hail from Washington. My trip to Texas was filled with Texas flags at every turn; Texans take immense pride in their state! In Washington, we might catch a glimpse of our state flag on a government building occasionally, but being a Washingtonian isn't a significant aspect of our identity. Texans are deeply rooted in their Texan identity."

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10. "I come from New York City and recently had the chance to visit Cincinnati, Ohio. The love for Skyline Chili is off the charts; it's almost considered a food category. Another cultural surprise for me was my visit to South Dakota, where I stumbled upon a single-stop destination offering 'liquor, gas, and casino.' It was quite revealing. The 'casino' was really just a small room with video poker machines."

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