Is there an AMA American thread?

[upskilledotter]

I have so many (probably really boring) questions to ask of Americans (USA) but don’t know if a suitable thread exists.

Milk with dinner -
Only for small children, ime.
Tipping -
Only for restaurant service and for bar staff.
Most American?
Impossible to say.
Free school meals -
Yes, in public schools.
During the covid lockdown, the local public school districts continued to provide food for all students getting fsm and also to anyone who wanted to put their name on the list. Instead of hot breakfast and lunch, a week's worth of imperishable foods were handed out - pasta, rice, jars of sauce, canned soups, canned fish, canned veg and fruit, cereal, dried fruit, uht milk, bread, cooking oil, condiments, etc. and a limited selection of fresh fruit and veg (carrots, cabbage, apples, oranges, bananas).

My DM, whenever she visited, was always horrified by the idea that anyone could walk up onto my front porch and stare in the windows at us. No fence around the front yard, curtains left open at night...

This is not a preoccupation of any suburban Americans I know.

The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. Charleston too. Washington, DC—-so much to see and do!

Yes.

There are not many fences in my neighborhood, except for the houses that have dogs.

Yep.

Yes.

How long are the summer holidays in the UK?

YES. I think he’s incompetent, corrupt, a dangerous, criminal narcissist. I so hope that Congress invokes the 25th Ammendment and that he is ultimately put in prison. I believe the rest of the world sees him as an unhinged buffoon. But, of course, a surprising number of my fellow Americans believe he is divinely appointed by God.

Americans are startled by how easily and often the British sling the word “cunt” around. In the US it’s incredibly harsh and insulting.

It’s a disgusting word. Please don’t think every Brit says this word.

Okay. Maybe I watch too much Jimmy Carr.

6 weeks.

This is not a preoccupation of any suburban Americans I know.

It wouldn’t be if it’s your normal though.

@maxsliceIve been to the GC, it was amazing.

Some more questions please?

Here it’s very popular to have the kitchen opening out into the garden but I don’t see that so much on American TV.

Why do some houses have so many bathrooms? Is that representative or just some areas?

Is buying in bulk & lots of food storage more normal or just preppers?

For anyone else who has a little fascination with America (like me 😆) there are two YouTubers I like, Nic and Joes Road Trip and Peter Santanello. They drive around different states, chatting to people and finding out the history etc.

Kitchen opening into garden: it really depends where you live. What in the UK is called a suburb is what most people would call “living in the city”. There are houses but they’re more likely to her row houses (terraced houses) with the kitchen above garden level. What in the UK is called rural would be what’s called “suburban” here: think no pavements, huge lawns, detached homes, definitely one or more cars. Here the kitchen will likely open into a porch or deck rather than straight onto ground level. You do get them, but people like basements here so often the kitchen isn’t at ground level.

Bathrooms: because why not?! Why share when you have the space to have more? Energy prices are significantly lower here than in the UK, and until you come here it’s difficult to grasp just how much space there is. Americans find the UK small and tight and cramped, with small furniture and low ceilings and narrow rooms etc. It’s just different. Americans generally will also not have their washing machine in the kitchen! I confess I find it weird too now. Why would you want your laundry where you cook?! If space is an issue isn’t the bathroom better?

Bulk buying: see above re difference between suburban and rural and how houses tend to have more space. Here, you can live in the suburb of a town pretty much anywhere, and you’d have to get in your car and drive however long to get to the supermarket. When you’ve got the space for two fridges and freezers, why not go to Costco or Sam’s Club, bulk buy and freeze once a fortnight or month, instead of wasting time driving in/out of town to the supermarket every few days.

So are bathrooms actually bathrooms or toilets?

I didn’t realise rural here was suburban there. I’m a Londoner & I would always give up space for pavement, walking to everything. That’s what I assumed re bulk buying, it makes sense.

I just assumed washing machines were in the kitchen to be closer to the yard/kitchen for hanging out but separate utilities are becoming more common here.

This is area dependent, overall housing is one of the few things that I think is actually cheaper in the US. So with more space there are more bathrooms/toilets.
In crowded urban areas there are obviously fewer but I think they still try and squeeze more in although sometimes just a powder room ( toilet).
The USA is huge and with really significant differences.
My experience in urban Chicago is going to be very different to a suburban or rural experience in the south.

I will add that bifold doors and outdoor seating/eating areas are very popular in urban Chicago. But often it is either too hot/humid or too cold to use them.

A bathroom does not have to have a bathtub in it to be called a bathroom. For example, a real estate agent would describe the house I live in as a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom house, the .5 being a "powder room" that has a toilet and a sink.

Generally speaking, Americans avoid using the word "toilet" at all costs, unless absolutely necessary, and then only for the actual porcelain receptacle, as in "Honey, can you bring the plunger; the toilet is stopped up."

Also, "restroom" is used as well, more for facilities in commercial and business settings, but "bathroom" is also used in these settings.

Thanks.

Do they use the word loo?