Questions for American and other international/non uk mners

[Graphista]

I love learning about other cultures and lifestyles. Lived in Europe myself for a while but a long time ago now. Never been outside Europe though.

Pure curiosity prompted by watching tv shows and films made outside uk.

What's the difference between a condo and an apartment?

Do you have semi detached houses in America? Terraced? I ask because I think they must be called something else there.

What's the equivalent of our going to Spain & similar on package holidays where you are? What type of holidays do ordinary families have?

What about things considered traditionally British? Do other countries do Sunday dinner? On Sunday's or different days?

As someone who was a mature student twice I've also noticed that this isn't something that's portrayed on American tv, or even particularly on Australian or New Zealand output so is that because it's not a "thing" outside the uk or just a weird skewing due to scriptwriters?

What about gap years? Again American shows seem to have youngsters going straight to uni from high school if they're going to go.

Also there's a lot of talk of saving for kids to go to uni but I'm guessing there's support for students from poorer backgrounds? How does that work?

What are bank holidays like where you live? What do people do for them? Are they called public holidays or something else?

Drink driving seems to be very socially acceptable in the states, is that accurate?

Is "soccer mom" slang for sahm?

I got the impression going to summer camp was a thing a lot of American kids did, but then a friend said she'd been a camp counsellor years ago (not American) and that they're quite expensive so it's better off families that do this?

What's childcare like where you are? Again seems to be that in America and also Canada that pretty much anyone can set up a daycare business or be a Daytime "babysitter" (what we'd call a childminder)? Is it not well regulated?

Do American families really tend toward having cooked breakfasts of some description? There seems to be a lot of making pancakes, waffles, eggs & bacon in tv shows (makes me hungry!)

For other mners living in various countries what is the usual breakfast where you are?

When I lived in Europe when I was in hospital the meals were of course based on the norm for where I was living, but for me as a Brit it still felt odd having breads/crackers, cheeses, relishes and pastries for breakfast (I'm veggie, for non veggies there was also deli meats, sausage). I'm fascinated when I read articles on breakfasts around the world and see things like pickled fish, rice dishes even stews!

But then as a Scot I'm reminded of that "highlander" movie script section (a bizarrely cast film where a Frenchman is playing a Scot and a Scot an Egyptian with a Spanish name and a broad Edinburgh accent!) where Connor describes haggis to Juan and Juan is disgusted at the sound of it! So yea I appreciate a glasgow fry which can of course include fried slice of haggis, along with Lorne sausage, tattie scones, black pudding, white pudding, bacon, fried eggs, fried bread, mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans.

Baked beans - that's another thing. It was one of the few things I bought at the naafi because British baked beans don't taste like baked beans from anywhere else. I Also bought marmite, white sliced (I liked European bread but sometimes our doughy white bread toasted and buttered was needed for the perfect beans on toast or fried egg sandwich)

So...tell me about real life in the rest of the world? I'm sure other mners will also have questions.

Those are definitely not smarties!

But even within the U.K. There's regional differences for what a things called.

Eg bread rolls and canvas gym shoes that aren't quite trainers? Loads of different names for these around the country, I've even known different towns within the same small county have different names for them!

"we aren’t here for the money (honestly!)" so why are you there?

"and a lot of your extremely strong prejudices are very misinformed" genuinely would like to know details on this, because my opinion on the subject is informed not only by news reports, reports by amnesty international and similar but from being told of the experiences of family and friends who have lived out there, or worked out there for long periods of time.

They were upfront about the money being the attraction, mostly work in the oil industry, but also admitted that once there they were very uncomfortable, even felt guilty upon seeing and learning of how certain groups were treated (most of them went out when less was known of this type of issue).

Are you really saying that this doesn't happen?

"and I’d actually go so far as to say that in many ways we have more freedoms here than we would in the UK." Genuinely interested in what freedoms you believe you have in the Middle East that Brits don't?

You even said yourself about locals getting highly preferential treatment which led to them being very entitled.

On a lighter note I couldn't cope with the heat! Body definitely not designed for it. Very interesting to read of the different housing styles, I did wonder if that's at least partly to ensure they're cooler? The main problem with a heatwave in uk is our buildings and businesses simply aren't designed to cope with it! I'm in an old Victorian tenement block which is great at staying warm in winter but last summers heatwave was a nightmare! And certainly most buildings don't have air con or even ceiling fans.

The walled compounds idea I find a little odd in a more anachronistic way. I've lived in villages in U.K. That still have remnants/remains of walls around the village from the times when animals and other valuables needed to be secured from thieves at night. Is security the reason behind the walls there too? Or is it a community thing?

For me drink driving is driving over the legal limit, in Scotland this in reality means almost any alcohol in the rest of the UK it would be fine to have one possibly two drinks.

I absolutely wouldn't touch alcohol if driving, I live in Scotland.
When I was in Australia the equivalent to 4 pints was seen as normal, and fine, a bit more was frowned upon, but just frowned upon.
Falling down drunk then no, you'd have your keys taken off you.
The law most definitely did not allow four pints worth though.

Keys taken off you by your mates btw, mainly because they didn't want you to get caught drink driving!

In the US, it is usually referred to as DUI or DWI, driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated, rather drink or drunk driving. And I think most people do interpret that to mean under the legal limit as opposed to having no alcohol at all.

In my family and friendship group, though, we always have a designated driver who commits to not drinking anything. I often volunteer because I am not much of a drinker. Maybe one glass of wine a week.

I watch a crap US reality show where a few of them have been caught, they say they have DUI's but I think they just get fined?
Also, they are constantly shown on their phones whilst driving and often not having their kids restrained properly, mainly rural areas if that makes a difference.

Not wearing a seatbelt (which reminds me - I think most parts of USA and other countries this is still not seen as a big deal?)

Seat belts are mandatory in all 50 states. However enforcement varies. In 35 states you can be pulled over and cited if you are observed not wearing a seatbelt. In 15 states you can't be pulled over simply because the officer observes you not wearing one, but you can be cited if you are pulled over for something else and are not wearing your seatbelt. The laws for minors who require car seats are much more strict.

Interesting distinction between 'drink driving' and 'drunk driving'. Personally, I'm such a light-weight that I don't drink even one drink and drive even though I'd be within the legal limit.

This may be interesting for those on this thread who imbibe. The legal limit in California is .08. However, you can still be cited even if you 'blow legal' if you're observed driving erratically. They just call it something else. IIRC it's call 'wet and reckless' or something like that.

Oops, meant to attach this online BAC calculator

dui.drivinglaws.org/calc.php

Aha! Yes, as others have said, it's common and acceptable to drive after drinking but under the limit. It is far less acceptable to drive over the limit. I knew someone who carried a little breathalyzer with her just to make sure that she was legal. You can get them on a keyring.

Andylion, in Chicago a house converted into two apartments would be a two-flat, and into three it would be a three-flat. I live in a Victorian house converted int a three flat.

There are also purpose built two and three-flats.

And also four and six-flats.

www.architecture.org/learn/resources/buildings-of-chicago/building/two-and-three-flats/

Wrt 'drink driving'
Americans perceive a difference between drink driving and drunk driving.

You can drink without getting drunk or anywhere even close to drunk.

The legal blood alcohol limit in my state is .08 for drivers over 21. For drivers under 21 and school bus drivers the limit is 0 - no alcohol is permitted.
For commercial drivers the limit is .04.
www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf

is there a certification system for home schooled children, i.e. what do they need to be accepted into College if they have been home schooled
Outsomnia

There are nationwide standardised tests that anyone can take no matter where their education is conducted.

They are the SAT, the ACT, the PSAT the NMSQT, and individual state standardised tests that are set to gauge levels of attainment in reading, maths, science.

They are variously administered by the private CollegeBoard organisation and by individual states.

If a homeschooled teen wanted to go to university he or she could easily be entered for these tests online, and would turn up at their assigned testing centre on the test date (there are several ACT and SAT dates each year) with two #2 pencils and hope in their heart. You can take the SAT and ACT as many times as you like.

For many homeschoolers the world of formal education at any level is not one they are interested in though there are some very conservative universities that may attract some homeschooled students. They would probably also do the standardised tests required by the universities they were interested in, if any were required.

Normally private universities want a combination of GPA plus standardised test scores plus a detailed resume of your extra curricular activities plus a personal essay and maybe also a resoonse to a writing prompt. A homeschooled student would be missing the GPA but the rest of the application should shed light on their strengths and weaknesses.

State/public universities are generally more interested in a brief statement outlining your interest in whatever major you are focusing on or whatever school you are applying to in that university plus your GPA and your standardised test scores.

Some universities have moved to SAT/ACT optional as it is recognised that there is a major industry focused on preparing students for these tests and results may reflect years of intense prepping and the money it takes to do that.

Obviously your breathalyser result will depend on your weight too.

A man weighing 240 lbs will be able to drink more than a woman weighing 105 lbs and get away with it if not driving erratically.

Using your phone while driving is far more frowned upon. My state introduced a law making it illegal to even hold your phone while driving from 1 July (tomorrow). Drivers under 18 will not be able to use even bluetooth or hands free phones while driving.

There have been many campaigns against texting while driving, numerous news reports emphasising fatal accidents. Kids doing drivers ed in school have the message about phone use/distractions while driving drummed into them.
I anticipate a lot of cracking down on this over the summer.

Seatbelt laws are rarely enforced. I see many people (usually trashy, to be quite frank) driving along with children clearly not belted in, nor are the drivers themselves for that matter. Also babies in carseats that are simply wedged into the car with no attempt to secure the carseat with a seatbelt. Nothing to clip the carseat into either.

The state police here tend to enforce moving violations on the motorways much more frequently at night, from 11pm on.

My local municipal police are very assiduous about moving violations all the time time but at night they crank it up a notch.

This thread has been so interesting!

I have a question for everyone:

How much annual leave do you get per year? And are there any rules about when you can take it / how much you can take in one go?

It's totally dependent on the job, Strava.

Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians btw.

Thank you, @BestIsWest.

Thank you, Best

There's no mandatory/statutory annual leave in the US or any of its states.

Many companies give a week to two weeks. I think the average is ten work days.

Law firms, on the other hand, tend to require their attorneys to have a certain number of billable hours. (Note That not every hour worked is a billable hour, so a big firm's 2300 hours a year often translates into 65-80 hour work weeks.)

In my first job, I got five or six days off from work a year, plus one sick or vacation day a month. So if you wanted to take the day after Thanksgiving as well as Christmas Eve and Boxing Day off, you couldn't take off any other time for the entire autumn.

There isn't any statutory paid family or maternity leave either.

Those in elite jobs either have great benefits, great salaries, or both. (That first-year attorney working 70+ hours a week may well be making $160k+ a year—last year the highest firm starting salary was $190k plus benefits—so, just north of £150k, for a 25-27 year old.)

Those in bad jobs work three part time contracts at once without healthcare or vacation.

It's really a stratified society.

In the US, if you're in a union job the amount of annual leave is per the union contract. If you aren't in a union job, you're at the mercy of your employer.

However, family leave is regulated via federal law, the FMLA (Family & Medical Leave Act) and employers with more than 50 employees are required to allow up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for qualified family events. Individual states can pass laws that exceed the FMLA allowances or require it from smaller employers, but they can't pass laws that reduce any of the provisions.

Such an interesting thread this. Love reading about differing social mores and laws.

Those well paid lawyers are expected to bill 3600 hours annually, so they will be working at least 80 hours per week and will barely have time to eat and sleep, let alone spend any of their money. The biggest salaries for new associates are at the most prestigious firms - most make a good deal less, elsewhere. Not all of those making the big bucks will be kept on after their first few years. Few will make it to partner and enter the world of bullet proof wealth - it's a really greasy pole.

Hello to all

I live in the Cayman Islands. The drink drive limit here is 0.100%.
As you can imagine, driving under the influence is rife.

Because we have such a huge mix of nationalities here, October - December is pretty much constant holiday celebrations.
It starts with Canadian thanksgiving in October, then Halloween which is massive here, US Thanksgiving and then Christmas and we also have 11 public holidays a year.