SA Woman Living in the USA Lists 6 American Culture Shocks That Left Her Stunned

• A South African woman living in the United States posted a TikTok series about the American habits that caught her completely off guard
• From tipping culture to drive-thru pharmacies and windowless bathrooms, the list struck a chord with other South Africans abroad
• Fellow South Africans and Africans in the comments flooded the post with their own surprising American experiences

A South African woman now living in the United States left Mzansi talking after she shared a list of American habits that genuinely shocked her after the move. TikToker @rabia_mlauzi posted the multi-slide series on 9 August 2026, and the relatability of it quickly drew attention from South Africans living both at home and abroad.

The post, filmed from Atlanta, Georgia, walked viewers through several everyday American experiences that felt foreign to her South African upbringing.

American habits that left her stunned

Bathrooms with no windows, just an extractor fan, were one of the first things she flagged. For someone who grew up with natural ventilation as the norm, it still feels strange.

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American portion sizes also made the list. She described meals so large that one plate could seemingly feed a whole family, something that clashes sharply with the more modest servings many South Africans are accustomed to.

Tipping culture was another major adjustment. In the United States, gratuity is expected not just at restaurants, but for hairdressers, nail technicians, makeup artists, Uber drivers, food delivery, and even guided boat activities.

She also highlighted the flexibility of American return policies, where shoppers can buy, open, try, and return a product, including fast food, without much resistance. Drive-thru access was another standout: pharmacies, banks, and coffee shops all offer the service, prompting her to joke that America simply decided cars never need to be parked.

American high schools also surprised her. Back-to-school preparation there can include nails, lashes, and manicures for teenagers, a sharp contrast to South African schools, which often restrict nail polish, certain hairstyles, and hair colours, and almost universally require uniforms.

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Mzansi weighs in on the culture gap

South Africans in the comments had plenty to add on her TikTok post:

@🌻Mamami🌻 noted:

"Ironically America decided to make people get out of the car for gas."

@Orisha 𓋹 connected the dots:

"Portion size of food and drive thru for everything hence obesity is so prevalent."

@Nwa Mushavhi shared:

"There is a tip for boat rides, had my birthday at Miami on a boat tipped."

@Zim_M admitted:

"I would enjoy the drive thru."

@user2388439428361 said simply:

"American food scares me."

@Sethu Langa pushed back on the returns point:

"You can also return anything in SA though, it's just that most people think it's only reserved for non food items."

@Phi_Lani 🇿🇦🇿🇼🇨🇦🇺🇸 added a detail she left out:

"Make a mistake and get an American ID with your address. The amount of mail that they rely on. They are so loyal to paper mail."

See the full TikTok post that started the conversation below:

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More on South Africans and those living abroad

• Briefly News recently reported that South African truck drivers in Ireland brought a little taste of home to their shifts with a roadside braai that had Mzansi talking.
• American food creator Uncle Kent recreated a full South African braai at his US home, but viewers had plenty to say about his take on the local tradition.
• UK buyers have spent R15.9 million on a Cape Town holiday home, prompting South Africans to debate the impact of foreign property buyers.

Source: Briefly News