Yes , the No . 1 answer was how nice us Americans are , but there were a few others I was not expect .
It goes without saying that for people who have never visited the US, it’s natural to form overly generalized opinions about what the country is like based on TV, music, movies, news stories, social media posts, and, of course, what others who have visited have said about it.
And recently, I stumbled upon thisReddit threadfrom a couple of years ago where userCrazy-Lemurasked: “Non-Americans of Reddit, what is something about America that surprised you in a good way?”
1.“The amount of unused/untouched countryside.”
2.“How much cereal selections you have!!!”
3.“Free refills at restaurants.”
4.“Alcohol is super cheap. And your national parks are beautiful and big, although very crowded.”
5.“I went to the USA as an exchange student. Loved how the teenagers were so open-minded and the people were really nice.”
6.“I was surprised how friendly Americans are in general, and the willingness to help with accurate directions.”
7.“Growing up in the UK, the stereotype I always heard was Americans are really nice…too nice…fake nice. Except New Yorkers. For me the good surprise was I expected this ‘fake niceness’ to piss me off, but it’s actually really uplifting when everyone around you isn’t miserable.”
8.“My BF is non-American, and he says it’s the ability to get food at any hour.”
9.“I like how much Americans value their regional cultures.”
10.“The air is so clean in the United States. Only when you come from a country with massive amounts of pollution (Beijing, China) do you really appreciate how blue the sky is and how fresh the air is.”
11.“That each state is a LOT bigger than I realize, especially compared to England.”
12.“Brunch culture!”
13.“How kid friendly it is. Like, 99% of bars and restaurants are genuinely happy to accommodate kids.”
14.“The width of the lanes on the highway!”
— lezgihopkins
" I ’m an American living overseas , and I miss this the most . That , and how full-strength most roadstead are since so much of the country is vapid . I have to drive twisting , winding , narrow-minded roadstead with no guard rail where I go now , and it makes me appreciate American road sooooo much more . "
— [ deleted ]
15.“My God, if you’ve never tried an American burger and milkshake, make it your first priority upon arrival. And don’t get me started on Texas BBQ!”
16.“I’m from Russia. I lived in America for a month, and the most surprising thing was how many flags of their country they have displayed everywhere. It’s very patriotic!”
17.And lastly: “The Cheesecake Factory!”
You can read the full thread of responses onReddit.
Note : Some answer have been edited for distance and/or clarity .
