Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Kaymie Wuerfel relocated from Florida to Sydney after getting married to her Australian partner and has been learning to live in the Land Down Under.

To pass the extra free time that came with the pandemic, she began documenting the differences between life in the US and Australia in a series of TikTok videos which have grown her audience to 242.8K followers.

In a recent clip, for example, Wuerfel admitted that she realized garbage disposals and ranch dressing were quintessential American symbols only after she moved abroad and saw that other places don’t really care about them. Who could’ve known!

Continue scrolling to check out what other cultural nuances the TikToker has noticed.

More info: TikTok | Instagram

Kaymie Wuerfel left her home in Clearwater, Florida for Sydney to be with her Australian husband

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image credits: kayywuerf

She adjusted to Aussie life quite well and is now working on a TikTok series, naming all the things she realized are super American

#1 Pharmaceutical Ads Everywhere

Especially the ones where people look super happy while they list the 25 ways it might kill you

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#2 Buying Cigarettes At The Pharmacy

“Hi! I’m here to pick up my medication & the cigarettes I shouldn’t be smoking while I’m taking it…”

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#3 Doing Math At Check Out To Calculate Sales Tax

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#4 The Ice Obsession

We put TONS of ice in practically everything. We probably get away with this because we have free refills. But before I moved abroad I literally wouldn’t drink something unless it had lots of ice

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#5 Halloween

“For Halloween!!! It’s in 43 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes”
“.. are you being serious?”
“Yes. 100%”
“Halloween is for kids..”

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#6 Bathroom Stall Gaps. (We Are The Only Country This Silly)

I have literally been conditioned to look down the entire time I’m inside

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#7 Pumpkin Spice Latte

And pumpkin flavored everything…

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#8 Root Beer & Dr. Pepper

“Sorry we don’t have that”
“Dr.Pepper then?”
“We don’t have that either”

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#9 Ranch Dressing. Because It’s A Salad Dressing.. But We Put It On Everything

We flavor chips with it. Put it on potatoes. Use it as a veggie dip. Chicken wing dip. Some people even put it on pizza

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#10 Currency That’s Pretty Much All The Same Color

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#11 Sorority Girls + College Parties/Sports

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#12 Garbage Disposals(Other Countries Just Don’t Usually Have Them)

They will never be terrorized by the sound a spoon makes when it’s left inside when you turn it on

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#13 24 Hours Diners

I could really go for some 2AM pancakes. “Yeah, which of the ten 24 hours places nearby do you want to go to?”

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#14 Red Solo Cups

It’s not just a thing in the movies.. You’ll see these at almost an American party

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#15 College Sports Being A Huge Deal

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#16 Putting Cheese On Everything

Broccoli, potattoes, salads, eggs, fries

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#17 The 7-Eleven Big Gulp

The big gulp is 3.785 ML (McDonald’s Large in Australia is 650ML) And we still get free refills

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#18 Calling Everyone Mr. & Mrs.

family, friends, teachers, neighbors,

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#19 Grocery Shopping At Target

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#20 Cheap Breakfast Combos

That’s not to say other places don’t have breakfast combos… But in America you’d get all of this for like $12

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf

#21 Canned Whipped Cream

And canned anything actually

Woman Shares 21 Things That She Didn’t Realize Were “American” Until She Moved Abroad

Image source: kayywuerf