Curious Conversations 03

Weird Things Humans Do (That We Don't Realize Are Strange)

C1-C2 Level | 50 minutes | 5 Key Expressions

Why Do Americans Smile at Strangers?

Every culture does things that seem "normal"
Until you see them from the outside...

When tourists visit America, one of the first things they notice is the smiling. Americans smile at strangers on the street, in elevators, at the grocery store. They ask "How are you?" to people they don't know and don't really want an answer from.

To Americans, this is ingrained in their culture—it's just being polite and friendly. But to many Europeans, Asians, and people from other cultures, it's completely alien to them. In some countries, smiling at strangers is seen as bizarre, fake, or even suspicious.

"Why are you smiling at me? Do I know you?" is a common reaction from people visiting from Russia, Finland, or many Asian countries.

Cultural Quirks Around the World:

Japanese Gift Wrapping

In Japan, how you wrap a gift is as important as what's inside. People spend 20 minutes carefully folding corners, tying perfect bows, and selecting the right paper colors. We take it for granted that wrapping paper is decorative, but in Japan, sloppy wrapping is seen as deeply disrespectful.

Nordic Silence

In Finland and Norway, comfortable silence is normal. Sitting with someone for 10 minutes without speaking isn't awkward—it's second nature to them. But Americans often find this intensely uncomfortable and feel the need to fill every silence with words.

British Queueing

The British are famous for their orderly queues (lines). Cutting in line is seen as one of the worst social violations. This behavior is so ingrained that British people will form a queue even when it's not strictly necessary. To outsiders, this obsession seems excessive, but to Brits, it's just a cultural thing.

American Small Talk

Americans talk to everyone—the cashier, the person next to them on the plane, people in elevators. "Nice weather today!" "Where are you from?" "Have a great day!" This constant chatter is completely alien to many cultures where talking to strangers is unusual or even rude.

Things That Surprise People:

👞 Shoes indoors
(Many cultures find this shocking)
🍽️ Tipping
(20% expected in US, insulting elsewhere)
🚽 Toilet paper vs. bidet
(Each side finds the other barbaric)
🤝 Personal space
(Varies wildly by culture)
👋 Greeting strangers
(Wave? Bow? Kiss? Handshake?)
🕐 Punctuality
(15 minutes late: rude or normal?)

Think About It:

  • What surprised YOU about other cultures when you traveled or moved?
  • What do people from YOUR culture do that confuses foreigners?
  • Have you experienced "reverse culture shock" returning home?
  • What "normal" things do you do that you now realize are culturally specific?

Talking About Cultural Habits

You just read about cultural quirks around the world. Let's learn how to talk about what's normal in your culture versus what seems strange from the outside.

Click each card to reveal the meaning and examples. Then try using it yourself!

1. "It's ingrained in our culture..."
Formality: Neutral to Formal
Meaning: Something is so deeply embedded in your culture that people don't even think about it—it's automatic, passed down through generations. "Ingrained" means embedded so deeply it's hard to change or even notice.
Example:
"Respecting elders is ingrained in our culture. We don't even question it—you just automatically stand up when older people enter a room, let them speak first, and listen to their advice."
NOW YOU TRY: What's ingrained in YOUR culture that you didn't realize was culturally specific until you met people from other countries?
2. "It's completely alien to me that..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: Something is so foreign or strange that you can't understand it at all—it feels like it's from another planet. "Alien" emphasizes how unfamiliar and strange something feels. Can express surprise, confusion, or fascination.
Example:
"It's completely alien to me that in some cultures, people eat with their hands. I grew up using chopsticks for everything, so eating rice with your fingers just feels... wrong to me, even though I know it's normal elsewhere."
NOW YOU TRY: What cultural practice from another country is completely alien to you? What did foreigners find alien about YOUR culture?

Quick Reference:

  • "It's ingrained in our culture..." – deeply embedded, automatic
  • "It's completely alien to me..." – foreign, strange, unfamiliar

What's Normal, What's Strange

Now let's look at how to talk about what we assume is universal—and what's actually just cultural.

3. "We take it for granted that..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: We assume something is true or normal without questioning it; we don't appreciate or notice it because it's always been there. Often used when realizing something you thought was universal is actually specific to your situation.
Example:
"We take it for granted that everyone shakes hands when meeting. But in my friend's culture, touching strangers—even shaking hands—is quite uncomfortable. I never thought about how physical that greeting actually is."
NOW YOU TRY: What do people in your culture take for granted that isn't universal? What did YOU used to take for granted before traveling or meeting people from other cultures?
4. "It's second nature to..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: Something you do automatically without thinking because you've done it so many times—it's become instinctive. Like a "second" instinct, beyond your first natural instincts. Implies deep familiarity and ease.
Example:
"Taking off your shoes when entering a house is second nature to me. I don't even think about it—my hand just automatically reaches for my shoes at the door. But my American friends have to consciously remember to do it at my place."
NOW YOU TRY: What's second nature to you that you've had to consciously think about when visiting other countries? What do you do automatically that confuses foreigners?
5. "That's just a cultural thing"
Formality: Informal to Neutral
Meaning: A casual way to explain that something is specific to a particular culture, not universal. Often used to acknowledge differences without judging them. Can excuse unusual behavior or explain confusion. Neutral and accepting tone.
Example:
"My coworker from Brazil stands really close when talking—at first it made me uncomfortable, but then I realized that's just a cultural thing. Personal space is different there. Now I'm used to it."
NOW YOU TRY: What have you learned is "just a cultural thing" that initially confused or surprised you? When have you explained your own behavior by saying "that's just a cultural thing"?

All 5 Expressions:

  • "It's ingrained in our culture..." – deeply embedded, automatic
  • "It's completely alien to me..." – foreign, strange, unfamiliar
  • "We take it for granted that..." – assume without questioning
  • "It's second nature to..." – do automatically without thinking
  • "That's just a cultural thing" – specific to a culture, not universal

Your Turn: Choose What to Discuss

Click 2-3 discussion topics below. These will naturally use the expressions you just learned.

What Surprised You
What cultural practices from other countries seemed completely alien to you at first? What surprised, confused, or shocked you when you traveled or met people from different cultures?
Use: "It's completely alien to me that..." / "We take it for granted that..."
Your "Normal" Culture
What's ingrained in YOUR culture that foreigners find strange? What do you do that's second nature to you but confuses people from other countries?
Use: "It's ingrained in our culture..." / "It's second nature to..." / "That's just a cultural thing"
Reverse Culture Shock
After living abroad or spending time in another culture, what felt strange when you came back home? What did you suddenly notice about your own culture that you used to take for granted?
Use: "We take it for granted that..." / "It's second nature to..." / "It's ingrained..."
Greetings & Goodbyes
How do people greet each other in your culture? Handshakes, bows, kisses, hugs? What's ingrained in your greeting style? What greeting customs from other cultures are alien to you?
Use: "It's ingrained..." / "It's second nature..." / "It's completely alien to me..."
Food & Table Manners
What food customs or table manners are ingrained in your culture? Chopsticks, hands, forks? When is it polite to start eating? What food behaviors from other cultures seem alien to you?
Use: "It's ingrained..." / "We take it for granted..." / "That's just a cultural thing"
Time & Punctuality
Is punctuality important in your culture, or is being 15-30 minutes late acceptable? What do you take for granted about time that's actually cultural? What time-related behaviors from other cultures confuse you?
Use: "We take it for granted..." / "It's second nature..." / "It's completely alien..."

Your Selected Topics:

Click 2-3 cards above to select discussion topics...

Remember to use:

  • "It's ingrained in our culture..."
  • "It's completely alien to me that..."
  • "We take it for granted that..."
  • "It's second nature to..."
  • "That's just a cultural thing"

Deep Dive: Extended Discussion

Your Challenge:

Choose one question below and speak for 3-5 minutes. Try to use at least 3 of the expressions you learned today. Share specific examples and stories from your own experience.

The Realization
Describe a time when you realized something you thought was universal was actually just cultural. What was it, and how did you discover this? How did it change your perspective?
The Foreigner's View
If a foreigner visited your country for the first time, what cultural behaviors would seem completely alien to them? How would you explain these things that are ingrained in your culture?
The Boundaries
What aspects of other cultures do you find fascinating versus those you find difficult to understand or accept? Is everything "just cultural" or are there limits? Where do you draw the line?
Select a challenge above to begin
3:00

Expressions to use:

  • "It's ingrained in our culture..."
  • "It's completely alien to me that..."
  • "We take it for granted that..."
  • "It's second nature to..."
  • "That's just a cultural thing"

Wrap-Up: What You Learned Today

5 Expressions for Discussing Cultural Differences

  1. "It's ingrained in our culture..." – deeply embedded, automatic behavior
  2. "It's completely alien to me..." – foreign, strange, unfamiliar
  3. "We take it for granted that..." – assume without questioning
  4. "It's second nature to..." – do automatically without thinking
  5. "That's just a cultural thing" – specific to a culture, not universal

Quick Reflection:

  • Which expressions did you use most naturally today?
  • Which ones feel harder to use in conversation?
  • Did this discussion make you more aware of your own cultural assumptions?

Using These Beyond Culture:

These expressions work for ANY situation involving habits, assumptions, and automatic behavior:

  • "Checking my phone first thing in the morning is second nature to me now"
  • "We take it for granted that everyone has internet access"
  • "Remote work culture is completely alien to older generations"
  • "Multitasking is ingrained in modern work culture"
  • "Oh, that's just a generational thing" (similar to cultural thing)

Final Thought:

The things that seem "weird" to us are usually just unfamiliar. And the things that seem "normal" to us are usually just what we're used to. Every culture has logic—it's just not always our logic. That's what makes the world interesting!

Next Lesson: The Best Advice That Actually Worked
(Wisdom you ignored at 20 but understand at 30)

Great Conversation Today!

Keep noticing cultural differences with curiosity, not judgment—you'll see the world differently now.