9 Outrageously Strange Things I Saw Abroad That Would Never Fly In America!

When “Normal” Takes a Vacation

From babies napping in the cold to grandparents turning metro stations into dance halls… these culture shocks had me smiling and stopped me in my tracks.

I once watched a dog stroll into a pharmacy in Dieppe, France like he had an appointment.

No leash, no human in sight, just a confident little guy on a mission to sniff the vitamin aisle.

The pharmacist glanced down, gave him a nod, and kept ringing up someone’s ibuprofen.

No one screamed.

No one pulled out their phone.

In the U.S., that dog would’ve been tackled by a mall cop and turned into a viral TikTok clip titled, “Why America Has Rules.”

But that was just the beginning.

In Kyiv, Ukraine, on every Friday and/or Saturday night, grandparents turned the underpass at Zoloti Vorota Metro into a pop-up ballroom.

Someone would fire up an old record player, cue the waltzes, then they’d dance, from fast to slow, graceful and completely unbothered.

Passersby, rushed or not, often stopped to watch, drawn into a moment that didn’t care about time.

In Georgia, a friend casually offered me homemade wine at lunch… on a Tuesday… in the middle of the day.

In Poland, a former colleague told me his sister let her newborn nap on the balcony… in January!

Baby bundled, -2°C outside, totally normal.

Apparently, that’s just what you do.

When living abroad (and occasionally just surviving it), you start to realize that America has some deeply held assumptions about what’s “normal”.

And many times, these “assumptions”…. just don’t travel well.

This article isn’t about bashing the U.S. or glorifying everything foreign. 

But after years of life in Ukraine, Albania, Georgia, France and a dozen other places where I either lived, taught, or narrowly avoided deportation, I’ve come to one startling conclusion:

Other countries aren’t weird. 

They’re just… not us.

And honestly? Sometimes, that’s a very good thing.

Here are 9times I caught myself thinking, “That would never happen in the U.S.”, and why I was unexpectedly, refreshingly glad.

1. Dogs in Restaurants (and Pharmacies)

In France, I watched a tiny scruffy dog wander into a bakery and sniff around like he was quality control, then curl up under a table where two old men were arguing about cheese.

No one flinched.

In the U.S., the health inspector would’ve been called, the Google Maps reviews would’ve exploded, and someone would’ve written a blog titled “Why My Gluten-Free Muffin Deserves a Dog-Free Zone.”

In Spain, same thing, dogs under tables, not barking, just existing. Peacefully.

It works because people treat dogs like companions, not furry toddlers or lawsuit liabilities.

And you know what?

The vibe is better for it.

Bottom Line: Not every public space needs to be sterilized.

Sometimes, a chilled-out pup adds more warmth than any candle or jazz playlist ever could.

2. Wine at Lunch… On a Tuesday 

The first time I was offered wine with lunch in France, on a weekday, I thought it was a special occasion.

Turns out, Tuesday is the occasion. In France, Georgia and parts of Spain, a glass of wine mid-day isn’t frowned upon, it’s practically cultural hydration.

And it’s not about getting buzzed.

It’s about pausing. Tasting. Enjoying.

You don’t chug. You sip. You talk. You breathe.

Bottom Line: Lunch doesn’t have to be a rushed transaction with a protein bar and an email.

Sometimes, life’s better with a cork popped at noon.

3. Babies Napping Outside in Freezing Weather

Okay, this one isn’t mine, I have a friend from Poland (former teaching colleague in Kraków) who told me his sister would wheel her newborn out onto the balcony every afternoon… in January. It was -2°C.

Apparently, it’s a Nordic and Eastern European tradition to let babies nap outdoors to “build their immune systems.”

I asked him if the baby survived. “She’s six now,” he said, “and she’s had the flu once. You?”

There ya’ go!

Bottom Line: Just because something seems insane by American standards doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

Sometimes, resilience starts with a stroller and a little frostbite.

4. Grandparents with a Dance Floor and Zero Apologies

One freezing night in Kyiv, I ducked into the underpass at Zoloti Vorota Metro just to warm up, and walked straight into a full-blown pop-up dance hall.

A group of grandparents had set up an old record player, cranked the folk tunes, and were waltzing in heavy coats like the cold didn’t exist.

They danced fast, slow, always graceful, completely unfazed by the weather or the people rushing by.

Scarves flying, cheeks flushed, moving like the city above wasn’t frozen solid.

After that night, I made it a point to pass through that underpass every Friday or Saturday, just to see if they were there, holding court under the city, reminding everyone that having fun doesn’t wait for good weather.

Bottom Line: Some people hide from winter. Others throw on a coat and dance through it.

5. No A/C… and No Complaints

In France, I stayed in an apartment during August where the air conditioner seemed decorative.

I asked the owner about it. “It makes noise,” he said, “but if you open both windows, you get a nice breeze.”

That “nice breeze” felt like Satan’s breath, but you know what? After a few days, I adjusted.

Locals sipped cold mineral water, sat in the shade, and didn’t seem to notice the heat.

Meanwhile, I was melting into my shirt like a sad grilled cheese.

Bottom Line: Maybe comfort shouldn’t come at the cost of electricity bills…

Sometimes, all you need is a fan and a good attitude.

6. Three-Hour Dinners That No One Rushes

In France, I once made the mistake of trying to order dessert before I’d finished my coffee.

The waiter stared at me like I’d asked to borrow his shoes. Meals aren’t to be hurried, they’re a slow seduction.

Same in Spain. Dinner isn’t fuel. It’s the event. People talk. Plates appear slowly. Courses surprise you.

And by the end, you’ve actually connected with people, not just checked a social box.

Bottom Line: Slow dinners aren’t inefficient, they’re intelligent. Sometimes, lingering is the point.

7. No Tips, But Great Service 

In France and Spain, I’ve had some of the best service of my life… without tipping.

I once tried to leave extra change in a café in Pamplona.

The server brought it back, confused. “Did you forget this?”

In Italy, the food was late once, and the waiter apologized with a free dessert.

No extra charge. No tip jar guilt trip.

Just pride in the job.

Bottom Line: Maybe good service doesn’t need to be financially blackmailed.

It just needs respect, fair wages, and a culture that values hospitality.

8. Taking Vacation Seriously

The first time I tried to contact a French friend in August, I thought he’d ghosted me.

Turns out, everyone disappears in August.

It’s vacation season, and not the kind where you sneakily check email by the pool.

In Italy, I saw “closed for holidays” signs… for three weeks straight.

Bottom Line: Vacation isn’t a luxury. It’s a reset button.

And maybe Americans should stop treating burnout like a badge of honor.

9. Bureaucracy… with a Human Face

In Tbilisi, during the tail end of Covid, I needed an official vaccination certificate to fly to France.

I already had one dose from the U.S., but now I needed a booster, and both had to be recorded on a single Georgian document to be accepted for travel.

I braced myself for chaos. 

Instead, I got a dedicated section at the hospital just for non-citizens, complete with English-speaking staff who actually smiled and walked me through the process.

The booster? Quick.

The paperwork? Flawless.

The government office that issued the final document? Efficient. Friendly.

Also spoke English.

Start to finish, it was smoother than anything I’ve dealt with back home.

Bottom Line: Meanwhile, back in the U.S., the DMV needs six forms of ID, a blood sample, and the patience of a monk just to upgrade your license to “Real ID.”

In Georgia (the country, not state), I got international travel clearance in an afternoon, with a smile.

Bureaucracy doesn’t have to break you.

Sometimes it just works.

What if normal is just what you’re used to?

These moments didn’t make me hate America. They only reminded me how much of our culture is learned, and not universal.

Sometimes, other places just do things better.

When something feels “weird” abroad, look again.

You might just think it would never happen in the U.S… And be happy it doesn’t.

Your Turn

What’s something you’ve seen abroad that would never fly back home, but somehow made total sense there? 

I’m getting ready to pack my bags once again for my 3 month Visa resetting trip.