American reveals five things in the USA that Britons would find weird (including homeowner groups that dictate the height of lawn grass)

'America is unhinged.'

So wrote travel blogger Kalyn Franke after posting a YouTube video in which she reveals 'five American things that Brits find weird'.

Kalyn is originally from Florida but has now lived in the UK for over 10 years.

However, there are some aspects of American life that are seared in her memory, as her post reveals, from homeowner associations that dictate how high your grass can grow to haunting mock car crashes created to warn students about the dangers of drink-driving (that even feature real parents brought in to wail with grief).

Would Kalyn like to see any of the five weird things imported to the UK? She told MailOnline: 'I like the UK just as it is, so I wouldn't want any of these imported over. They work in America, but should be left there.' Read on for more on each entry in Kalyn's list…

HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS

Homeowner associations can rule on what colours houses can be painted, maximum grass heights, the type and size of Christmas decorations that can be displayed and more

Kalyn describes 'homeowner associations' as 'the weirdest' of the five concepts she lists on the video.

She explains that these 'self-governing bodies', which cost from $100 (£80) to $1,000 (£800) a month, are popular in American suburbs and can dictate the aesthetics of neighbourhoods.

For example, they can rule, according to Kalyn, on what colours houses can be painted, maximum grass heights, the type and size of Christmas decorations that can be displayed, the type of mailbox you have and 'anything else that would change the exterior of the house, including landscaping, additional storage options and parking… as well as noise and occupancy rules'.

Why?

'This is all to preserve the "feeling of the neighourhood" and the surrounding property prices,' Kalyn tells MailOnline.

She adds: 'They are made up of your own neighbours, who can turn on you if they get on a power trip.'

MOCK PROM CRASH 

Kalyn, above, is originally from Florida but has now lived in the UK for over 10 years

Kalyn explains that to discourage those attending high school proms from drinking and driving some schools stage extremely realistic car crashes, with students deployed to play the victims.

Kalyn explains: 'At my school the juniors and seniors were called out of class on a random day before the prom and taken to the football fields where we'd see this wrecked car and the drama kids presenting the moment right after the crash.

'The car is burning or whatever and there's the kid who's playing the dead person and their friends in real life playing their friends - and essentially you see this entire plotline of your classmate dying and the police coming.

'A hearse takes the dead kid from the field and they get the real parents involved, pretending to mourn their child.

'And it doesn't end there. After this person gets taken away in a hearse and the parents are screaming and crying… a video memorial for the dead classmate is played over the TVs in the classrooms.'

Kalyn accepts that it's 'effective' but 'a little strange'.

TAILGATING PARTIES 

Tailgating, in the U.S, is a pre-American-football-game communal barbecue get-together on a grand scale

In Britain, 'tailgating' is when a driver bullies a car in front by driving very close to it.

But in America, tailgating is a pre-American-football-game communal barbecue get-together on a grand scale.

They 'happen at big universities throughout the country', says Kalyn, and 'often the alumni groups will get involved, but it's not a commercial operation'.

She says: 'If you have never been to America you have to get yourself somehow involved in a tailgating experience - it's so beyond what would happen here in the UK.'

Participants bring their cars, tents, TVs and 'tons of food'.

Kalyn adds: 'It's next level.'

JUDGEMENT HOUSE

Judgement House is an American Halloween season 'presentation' – 'and the craziest thing I've been to in my entire life', says Kalyn.

The concept, which she explains was particularly popular in the early 2000s, involves people watching a walk-through presentation in a church about 'people's choices and the consequences of those choices'.

Kalyn explains that in this presentation there are two actors playing people who have 'died' in some sort of disaster and those watching 'follow them through their journey to heaven or hell'.

Kalyn continues: 'The presentation is always dramatic, there are sounds of people screaming and some dress up like the Devil himself.'

The idea is to persuade people to action certain decisions and 'not be banished to hell'.

Kalyn explains that the 'judgement house' is a concept that takes the place of Halloween celebrations in areas where Halloween might not align with prevailing religious beliefs.

The YouTuber, who went to a judgement house when she was around 10 years old, adds: 'They seemed to be more popular in the South, and are particularly associated with Baptist churches.

'It was definitely scary. They did a good job at evoking emotion and sending out their message through the presentation.'

HOMECOMING 

Homecoming is a week of activities, including parades and dances, that culminates in a Friday-night football game

Homecoming, explains Kalyn, 'kicks off the American high-school football season… and it's a big thing'.

What does it involve?

Kalyn explains that it's a week of activities, including parades and dances, that culminates in a Friday-night homecoming football game.

She tells MailOnline: 'Homecoming is extremely popular and most people and kids look forward to it. Americans are big into community spirit and getting involved. You aren't forced to participate in the activities, though - you don't have to attend the homecoming game or dance if you don't want to - but many people do.'

For more from Kalyn visit www.youtube.com/@GirlGoneLondonofficial and girlgonelondon.com. To see the original YouTube post click here.