7 Things That Make Americans Feel Like Tourists in Their Own Country

Can you experience culture shock traveling in your own country?The U.S. is not homogenous. It has 50 states and 14 territories (although just five are inhabited), and everywhere you go, you might find a local flavor. Not just with the food, but also with slang, accents, and mannerisms. This diversity can sometimes surprise American travelers, too, so when a Reddit thread asked Americans to share what makes them feel like they’re away from home in the U.S., hundreds of people pitched in. 1 OF 7 The Weather Humidity comes up again and again for people. Houston, for example, has denser and all-year-round humidity levels, so much so that one person said, “It can suck the life out of you.” Cities in Florida, Michigan, and Mississippi also have oppressive humidity, and people notice the difference instantly. And it goes both ways—people who live in humid cities notice its absence right away, and those who haven’t experienced it feel it like a shock.It can also be a shock to the system: “And every time I’ve been to the high desert, I’ve woken up with a nosebleed because the air is so dry. I’m from the sticky humid mid-Atlantic.” 2 OF 7 The Landscape A Reddit user from a mountainous state visited Florida and was surprised by the flat land. The sweetest response to the question was this: “I remember being with a friend from a flat state when he arrived. He looked out the window and asked ‘Are those mountains?’ I looked, ‘Where? That thing? No, that’s just a little hill.’ He was blown away by mountains. Then we went to the beach and he was flabbergasted by the ocean; standing at the water’s edge, he felt like the waves were going to come up over him.”People who see mountains or the coast for the first time are often surprised by it. Those who live in mountain towns are surprised by their absence; some are also taken aback by their position. “When you leave the endless suburbia of Los Angeles County and see the pine trees of the San Gabriel Mountains or the cactus of the desert, you are no longer home.”But others reflected that low-hanging clouds, alligators in the backyard, clear skies, sunsets on the other side of the beach, and trees and animals have also surprised them when visiting other American states. 3 OF 7 The Groceries People pointed out that seeing different grocery stores also gives them the feeling that they’re not in their home state. “Different grocery stores. Or sometimes the same grocery, same logo, but a different name. Super weird feeling.” But it’s also strange to see stores that closed in your state still operating in others. Piggly Wiggly is one market that has closed several stores in the country.Fun fact: Three U.S. states (Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming) do not have a Costco, while Trader’s Joe is absent in eight states. 4 OF 7 And of Course, Food Some things are hyper-local, like a particular brand or dish, or the style of cooking. Sweet tea and biscuits and gravy are definitely something that Southerners miss when they’re away. “I live in the Midwest, and when I was driving west for the first time, there was a stop I made in Wyoming where they had ‘fry sauce’ on the table, which I had never heard of. Every restaurant after that had fry sauce.”For many, breakfast is the last bastion of regional culture in the U.S., so breakfast foods are evidence that they’re not home.Related: The 22 Best Hot Dog Stands in the United States 5 OF 7 The Alcohol Many U.S. states have their own liquor stores that sell alcohol. Local laws may even restrict alcohol sales to certain hours, or completely prohibit it on Sundays. Pennsylvania exemplifies regional ordinances: state-run stores sell wine and spirits, licensed distributors sell beer, and grocery stores may sell alcohol with a license, but only with limitations.In the U.S., you also can’t drink in public, except in a few places like Vegas or New Orleans. Meanwhile, Ocean City, New Jersey, is a dry city, so you can’t buy alcohol or drink at bars or restaurants within its limits. So if you’re traveling to a state with different drinking laws, you’re in for a culture shock. 6 OF 7 The Ads The media is different from state to state (or city by city), including billboards, radio, and TV. “I’m from a suburban area and visited a classmate’s family (in a very rural area) after high school. The adverts for fertilizer and tractors really caught my attention.” Did you know that billboards are banned in four U.S. States (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, and Vermont)? Someone pointed out that when they spot them, it feels strange. The types of ads are just as surprising, especially when liberals go to conservative towns with religious ads. 7 OF 7 The Driving One person said it succinctly: “I can tell when I’m in a different region because there is a whole new set of (usually unwritten) rules of the road.” It can be aggressive in bigger cities with limited patience, and chill in rural areas where you need to wait for people (or animals) to pass. Road signs also change in shape or color, and drivers start noticing the condition of the roads. Different street lights have also thrown people off.When you have to drive at all–or, on the contrary, if you have to take public transport–then you definitely know you’re in a different state.