From tipping culture to trying to use dollars in every country: Travellers reveal the things that Americans DON'T know about the rest of the world 

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The US is famous for its people's effusive friendliness, its world leading entertainment industry and its jaw-dropping landscapes. 

So it's hardly surprising that many Americans choose never to leave the land of the free. But the inevitable problem with this, is that it can lead to not knowing many crucial facts about the rest of the world.

From different tipping cultures to everything being much smaller, Americans and non-Americans alike have taken to an online forum to reveal the top things about the rest of the world that US natives don't seem to know.

Americans and non-Americans alike have come together to discuss 'What are the top things Americans don't know about the rest of the world?' on online forum, Quora. Tipping culture was one of the points raised

English isn't the only language 

In the Quora thread, commentators praised the linguistic prowess of those who can speak several languages, reminding US citizens that this is quite common. 

The nation were also criticised for being baffled over foreigners who cannot speak English.

Miranda Marcus, from America, pointed out that according to a study of smart phone users, the USA has the second lowest per centage of people able to speak more than one language at just 13.8 per cent - Australia is the lowest at 12.5 per cent.

Avid traveller, Ben Santhouse admitted: 'The whole Anglosphere is bad at learning languages, but some effort is generally appreciated (and that goes beyond just slowing down what you're saying).

Tipping is optional

In America many waiters and waitresses depend on generous tips from customers to boost their income but elsewhere in the world staff don't expect such hefty sums and certainly don't rely on living off tips. 

'Nobody else likes the idea of tipping 20 per cent or having sales tax added as an extra. Nobody,' Thomas L. Johnson from Minnesota observes bluntly. 

Tommy Wisseau from New Jersey also has strong opinions on the matter: 'Tipping. I think it sucks and stupid and useless (along with the penny, but that's another debate), but gratuity is already included. The restaurants usually get the dumb Americans who don't realise this and tip in spite of the fact.' 

US dollars aren't a global currency

The US may be a huge country with a dominant currency but that doesn't mean it can be used anywhere on the planet.

One thing Indian citizen Rithvik Chelasani thinks Americans believe is 'that American currency is supposed to impress anyone abroad. 

'I once saw to my delight a man take out a US dollar to pay for something at a store and act like he was handing over a treasured gift only to have it be denied because it wasn't in Euros.'

Africa is a continent, not a country 

It's a widespread problem that many Westerners refer to Africa as a whole, forgetting it is made up of 54 different countries. 

Furthermore, many locations are more affluent and developed than others realise.

Okenna Chine from Nigeria says: 'Not everyone in Africa is poor or lives in jungles or lives with wild animals.

'I’ve lived with 4 walls and a roof my whole life in Nigeria with food, electricity and so on and the only place I’ve seen big wild animals is in a zoo at London. 

Everywhere else is much smaller

Americans are used to driving everywhere and not many realise how convenient public transport is to travel shorter distances 

America is big in every way- not just its portion sizes but its distances and the sheer space available.

Despite what some may think, public transport is a perfectly normal way of getting around for those who live in European countries and is often much more convenient than driving from A to B. 

Malcolm Mead from New York said: 'Americans don't realise just how big everything we have and do is ... most European countries are all jam-packed into every available space - elbow to elbow ... while we drive around in cars the size of a house.' 

Other countries get much more paid annual leave 

Americans get the least paid vacation time in the world, research of developed nations has revealed.

While employees in other countries enjoy as many as 40 days off a year, US workers are legally entitled to no paid vacation, although many get ten days of national holidays, the studies found. 

One anonymous Quora user found this particularly alarming: 'Other countries find it crazy that Americans only get two weeks of standard holidays. Or really the entire obsession with work or money. When is there time to explore the rest of life or spend time with your family before you retire?'

Health care is much more affordable in Europe 

For Americans getting ill is not just bad for your health but also for your bank balance. It is routinely the most expensive place to buy medical care, with many procedures and drugs costing much more than abroad

For Americans getting ill is not just bad for your health but also for your bank balance. It is routinely the most expensive place to buy medical care, with many procedures and drugs costing much more than abroad.

As Thomas L. Johnson points out: 'Not everybody in the world lives with the fear that a medical problem will send them into poverty.'

Harsh Vardhan from California is also angered by the way healthcare is managed in the States: 'Contrary to popular belief, the rest of the world does do quite a bit of medical research without charging $100 for a pill that costs $0.25c to make.'