9 Bizarrely Awkward American Questions That Baffle the Rest of the World!

“Wait, They Asked What?” Awkward American Questions That Leave the World Stumped

Ever asked a stranger what they do for a living in a foreign country? Get ready to laugh… and maybe cringe. Here’s what Americans get hilariously wrong abroad, and what NOT to say next time.

1. “So, What Do You Do?”

When I first moved abroad, I thought asking “What do you do?” was just good ol’ American small talk.

Little did I know, this innocent question can sound like prying into someone’s tax returns.

I’ll never forget asking it at a dinner in Ukraine.

A young guy sitting across from me just stared, narrowing his eyes like I’d demanded his deepest secrets.

He eventually muttered, “I do… business.” And that was it.

This, of course, only made me more curious. “Oh! What kind of business?”

I asked with a friendly smile, thinking I’d broken the ice. Big mistake!

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “None of your business.” Message received.

Lesson learned: Don’t ask personal questions right out of the gate.

There are safer questions to ask, right? Well, hold on…

https://medium.com/expats-planet/how-asking-what-do-you-do-abroad-backfired-spectacularly-7-lessons-i-ll-never-forget-67423cbc8dc5

2. “How Are You?”

In the U.S., this is as automatic as breathing. You ask someone how they’re doing, they respond, “Good, you?” and everyone goes on their merry way.

But in many parts of Europe, asking “How are you?” is apparently reserved for people you truly know.

Like, “really” know. If you ask it casually, strangers think you’re actually interested in a full rundown of their recent existential crises.

During one bar visit in the french coastal town of Dieppe, I tossed out a cheerful “How are you?” to the cool looking barman.

He paused, looked at me as though I had just offered him free therapy, and launched into a monologue about his disdain for his boss, his neighbor’s noisy dog, and his disillusionment with their new government.

Moral of the story? This one simple question could unlock a novel’s worth of unsolicited information. Speaking of personal details…

3. “Where Are You From?”

You’d think asking someone where they’re from is harmless, right? Wrong.

In some parts of the world, this question has the power to trigger epic tales of ancestral lands, cross-generational migrations, and the kind of family feuds you only hear about in old country ballads.

I once asked this to a Irish taxi driver, expecting a quick answer.

Forty-five minutes later, I had a detailed genealogy, a tour of the “ancestral” pubs in town, and a lecture on why the neighboring village is forever cursed.

Sure, I learned a lot, but I also missed my dinner reservation.

So, if you ever ask, be prepared for an answer that’s “much” more than you bargained for.

But if you think this is a conversational landmine, wait until you hear about the next one…

4. “How’s the Weather?”

This question may seem innocent, but it’s actually a risky proposition in many parts of the world.

Although in the UK, talking about the weather is considered proper “small talk”.

But, in certain places, bringing up the weather is like invoking the rain gods or confessing that you’re an amateur meteorologist.

In Norway, I made the mistake of mentioning how rainy it was. A man overheard and proceeded to school me on Norwegian micro-climates, glaciers, and even the concept of seasonal depression.

A light remark about the rain had snowballed into a climate science lecture.

Who knew weather could be so, well, intense?

From that day forward, I swore off weather talk, until a new problem reared its head. Ever asked someone about their family?

Let me tell you…

5. “So, How’s Your Family?”

In many countries, family questions are as precious as heirlooms. But to me, asking, “How’s your family?” was just showing polite interest.

Not in Italy.

When I asked my friend Lorenzo about his family, he proceeded to give me the “entire” history of every aunt, uncle, cousin, and great-aunt who’d ever made a memorable pasta sauce.

One “simple” question led me down a labyrinth of family scandals, engagements, and betrayals spanning generations.

Turns out, family is sacred, and I’d just pried open an emotional archive.

So, I’ve got a new rule: skip the family questions and stick to safe topics.

Or so I thought, until I ran into the next puzzler…

6. “How Much Did That Cost?”

In America, it’s normal to mention a bargain or compare deals. But in other places, mentioning the price of something is as rude as showing up to a wedding in jeans.

A friend of mine retold a story of their trip to Japan. They had innocently commented on how cheap a lunch deal was.

Their local friends just blinked, horrified, as if he’d just revealed some dark, hidden truth.

Asking about money is often seen as uncouth, personal, and just plain inappropriate.

So when traveling, keep your wallet closed, and your mouth about it too.

But if I thought that was uncomfortable, wait until you try to joke about politics…

7. “What Do You Think of [Insert Local Politician Here]?”

Back home, I could casually bring up politics, but overseas, this question is more explosive than fireworks on the Fourth of July.

In Greece, I mentioned a political figure to a local at an outdoor cafe while sipping on an after dinner ouzo, expecting a casual opinion.

Instead, he clenched his fist, his face turning red as he launched into a rant so passionate I thought he might overturn the table.

I learned that politics abroad is “not” cocktail-party fodder, it’s more like war-zone territory.

So unless you’re ready for verbal combat, steer clear.

But if politics gets this kind of reaction, asking about religion abroad is a whole different game…

8. “Are You Religious?”

In the U.S., this question can be as harmless as “What’s your favorite color?” Abroad? It’s more like setting off a fire alarm in a library.

I made the mistake of casually asking a backpacker in Turkey about his beliefs, hoping for a friendly chat.

Before I knew it, I was smack in the middle of a hostel-wide debate.

Suddenly, everyone in the common room was either passionately defending their faith or arguing against someone else’s.

Pro tip: if you don’t want to end up moderating an impromptu TED Talk, maybe avoid this question.

But that lesson still didn’t prepare me for the next one…

Speaking of which, let’s wrap this up with the most baffling question of all…

9. “Why Don’t You Smile?”

Here’s a tip: telling someone abroad to smile is “not” the compliment you might think it is.

In America, we toss around “smile!” like it’s a friendly gesture, but elsewhere, this phrase is met with raised eyebrows and confusion.

In Germany, I once said this to a waiter as a joke. He looked at me like I’d just insulted his whole lineage.

Turns out, in some countries, a smile is earned, not freely given.

Lesson learned: not every culture has the same obsession with showing pearly whites.

And if you take away one thing from this, remember that questions are anything but universal.

So, next time you’re abroad, think twice before you ask what seems like an innocent question.

You never know, you could end up with a history lesson, an impassioned debate, or a ticket to the endless monologue express.

Safe travels, and may your questions be carefully chosen!

How about you? Any stories of putting your foot in your mouth while traveling abroad?