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2 weeks ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
When it comes to filling up, you’ve probably been lied to more than once. Going to the gas station in Nevada should be a straightforward experience, yet it’s littered with ill-informed myths. In some ways, this makes sense. Americans are desperate to save a few cents per gallon where they can. If filling up in the AM or slowing down the pump can help, we’re all too willing to try. Sadly, more often than not, gas station hacks are pure fiction.
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3 weeks ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
America may be the Land of the Free, but that doesn’t mean all of us are comfortable taking advantage of our liberties. There are many situations that are perfectly legal, and yet, Georgians and residents across the U.S. are racked with guilt when we experience them. From driving with an open coffee cup to calling out sick when we have the flu, Americans often try to avoid situations that just feel wrong, even when they’re not.
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3 weeks ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
America has an interesting relationship with alcohol. We love our wine, beer, and whiskey, but our puritanical roots sometimes make it hard to enjoy. At one point, we banned the stuff altogether (hello, prohibition). And, while Iowa and most of the country are fairly permissive about a tipple or two today, strange laws still remain on many state books. From prohibiting TVs in taprooms to regulating alcohol sales by temperature, state legislators have found many weird ways to restrict consumption.
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3 weeks ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
We get it. Water can be bland, boring, and, frankly, not very enjoyable to consume when there are so many other yummy drink options in Oregon. But like it or not, we need water to survive. Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, and, eventually, even organ failure. The good news? You don’t have to drink glass after glass of water to meet your daily hydration needs.
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1 month ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
Nearly every country and jurisdiction has its fair share of strange laws. Often, these pieces of legislation come from specific historical periods, during which they made a lot of sense. Case in point? In some states in America, it’s illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket because criminals used to lure horses with them. While Australia has many laws like that, it also has a few more modern rulings that seem downright strange to Pennsylvanians and other Americans.
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1 month ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
Working in the restaurant industry isn’t as easy as it may seem. Serving tables is hard work, and sometimes guests inadvertently make it more difficult. Before making your next reservation in Virginia or elsewhere in the U.S., ensure you’re avoiding these not-so-polite restaurant habits. When you walk into a restaurant and see an empty table, why not snag it and save the hostess the trouble of seating you? While this might seem like a polite thing to do, it’s usually not.
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1 month ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
The United States encompasses over 3.5 million square miles of land and is home to countless natural and manmade landmarks. So, perhaps it’s forgivable that Americans have trouble identifying where some of them are. Then again, the landmarks on this list are among the most popular sites in North America. They include places that reflect the nation’s history, as well as some of the most majestic natural settings on the planet. Some believe the education system is to blame.
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1 month ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
On June 14, 1775, the U.S. Army was born. It’s the oldest branch of the military and was founded to fight the Revolutionary War. Even if you consider yourself well-versed in Army culture, you might be surprised by a few of the facts on this list. As it turns out, the U.S. Army’s lengthy history is full of interesting tidbits. Before WWII, U.S. Army members in the 45th Infantry Division wore a swastika patch on their left shoulders. The patch was to honor Native Americans.
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1 month ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
Maybe you already know the U.S. Navy is the largest navy in the world. You might also be aware that it celebrates its birthday on October 13 every year. Still, the Navy is over 200 years old. It’s had a lot of time to build up legends, lore, and customs. So, even if you call yourself a Virginian Navy expert, there are probably a few facts you don’t know. You might not be surprised by every piece of trivia on this list, but we’re guessing at least one or two tidbits are new to you.
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1 month ago | 
mindfullyamerican.com | Lauren Sakiyama
Taboos are, by definition, tough to talk about. They’re the unspoken things that our social customs forbid. We may not discuss them openly, but we all know when someone breaks one. If someone stands too close to you while talking, is having an affair, or peels a hardboiled egg on a plane, you might give them a disapproving look (or more). Even though we don’t typically discuss the forbidden social practices on this list out in the wild, they’re worth reading about.
