American abroad for years shares 13 "oddities" he noticed after coming back

A New Jersey man who has spent the past decade exploring the world, visiting over 30 countries before settling in Brazil nearly a year and a half ago, has shared the culture shocks he found when returning to the U.S.

In a thread on X with millions of views, Peter Worth, 31, shared the 13 things that stuck out when he went back to the U.S.

Worth explained that his experiences, and his relationship with his Brazilian girlfriend, have reshaped his understanding of the everyday norms in the U.S.

"Having a girlfriend from a different country makes your eyes open up to seemingly obvious things," Worth told Newsweek. He recounted watching football when there was a deluge of pharmaceutical advertisements on TV. "To which my girlfriend replied, 'Is this normal in your country?'" he said, noting how commonplace quirks of U.S. culture stand out in contrast to his current surroundings.

Among the notable so-called "American oddities" Worth noticed were frequent pharmaceutical advertising, expensive food, car dependency and the surprise of the sales tax.

Parker Worth's 13 American Oddities

Worth shared the following examples of things he noticed when he returned to the U.S. in a series of posts on X.

1. Pharmaceutical Ads – "Every other TV commercial promotes prescription medications, with cheerful people frolicking while listing lethal side effects. Almost nowhere else allows direct-to-consumer ads."
2. Expensive Meals – "I took my mom to breakfast. Coffee, 2 omelets, pancakes, and hashbrowns cost $50. Even fast food is pricey!"
3. Loss of Small Businesses – "Small family-owned businesses are disappearing, replaced by fast food and chain restaurants."
4. Confusing Food Marketing – "'All Natural,' 'Super Food,' 'Protein-Enhanced.' The health claims are funny. The side effects? Not funny."
5. Waivers Everywhere – "Everything requires a waiver—yoga, painting class... soon you'll need a stool sample to avoid getting sued."
6. Car Dependency – "Cities are designed for cars, not people. It feels backwards after living in pedestrian-friendly places."
7. Cheese Overload – "There's cheese sticks, cheese spray cans, and 'cheese balls' that aren't even cheese. Is this real?"
8. Bathroom Stall Gaps – "The gaps in bathroom stalls seem designed to make awkward eye contact."
9. Sales Tax Surprise – "Prices never include tax. That $9.99 item costs more at the register. Other countries wouldn't stand for that."
10. Drive-Thrus Everywhere – "Drive-thru banks, pharmacies, and soon, funeral homes. Leaving your car has become optional."
11. Wearing Shoes Indoors – "People lounge on couches with shoes on. Shoes carry E. coli, pesticides, and other nastiness."
12. Gas Station Treasures – "WaWa has everything: energy drinks, phone chargers, rainbow lemonade, and rainbow bagels."
13. 24/7 Everything – "America's 24/7 culture represents more than convenience. It's a reflection of national character."

It wasn't all negative though, Worth acknowledged that some conveniences of American life are hard to replace. "I miss having gas stations full of protein and energy drinks—that was instantly recognized," he said.

Still, his time in Brazil has encouraged a simpler, more grounded lifestyle. "Living on the beach in Brazil, life is a lot more simple," Worth said. "In the States, I'd eat out every day, drive to the gym, sit in traffic... There was a lot of time wasted on things I didn't really need. Where I live now, I walk to everything and cook at home. I'm a lot less distracted and don't try to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak."

Despite enjoying his life abroad, Worth plans to return to the U.S. in the near future. "Honestly, I'll probably move back in a few years," he said.

"I think things are so good nowadays that we tend to hyperfocus on the bad things. It's fun to poke at the bizarre things—like bathroom stall gaps—but all in all, I miss the country, the landscape, and the incredible opportunities the U.S. offers. It'll always be home to me."