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Questions that you need answered: International version

115 replies

Timetogiveupnow · 08/02/2020 05:28

I believe there are people world wide on this site so how about asking those questions that others can answer?
America mumsnetters: without kettles how do you have hot water bottles? Or instant hot chocolate? Is it true you make tea in the microwave?

OP posts:
hennybeans · 08/02/2020 14:26

@isabellerossignol I've lived most my adult life in the UK, but I can remember if I was ill as a child we would go to a large hospital and just walk in and wait to see a pediatrician. It would never be the same one, although you could make an appt to see a certain person if you wanted. When I had acne as a teenager we made an appt directly with a dermatologist. I think a GP would be called a family doctor and I won't say they don't exist in the States, but we never used them. I think healthcare can be quite different depending on where you live and what your insurance is like. When I was just out of university I didn't have any healthcare because as soon as I graduated I was off my parents policy. I wanted birth control so I went to Planned Parenthood and they have me a prescription for a donation. I gave 20 dollars.

ippdipdo · 08/02/2020 14:31

In the US do people drive ridiculous distances to go out for meals? Somebody I vaguely know was saying they were going out for a meal 3 hours away from their house because it was a decent place to eat out. There's no way I'd drive 3 hours for a meal unless it was to meet some family who I wouldn't be able to see otherwise.

DreamingofSunshine · 08/02/2020 14:57

Admittedly it's been 10 years since I lived in NY, but I remember by friend was very excited by her new kettle. I couldn't see what was special about it but apparently electric kettles were very rare and most people boiled kettles on the job.

DreamingofSunshine · 08/02/2020 14:57

Hob!

hennybeans · 08/02/2020 15:03

Three hours for a meal out is a bit extreme, but in general the sense of what is far away is different. There is more space, things are further away. Here in the UK, we live ten miles from a medium city and maybe go once a month. Whereas in high school I worked in a restaurant in the weekends that was 30 miles from my house. My best friend lived 20 miles away ( we went to the same private school so there was no catchment) and I regularly went to her house after school. We lived in a city about 40 miles from a major city and would drive after school to the major city for shopping and dinner.

Something else to consider is that freeways are much faster and more efficient than motorways here and fuel is much cheaper too. When I was at university a gallon of gas cost 99 cents. I grew up in a different state from my university where gas was twice as much. What's that, like 10p a litre?!

IJumpedAboardAPirateShip · 08/02/2020 15:48

Nobody here drives 3hours for a meal out but I live in a city well known for its traffic

I also think coffee mate is disgusting but all processed food in America is full of sugar so they prob grow up with a much sweeter tooth than us

We do have a GP, we tend to go to him as our first port of call but if you had specific needs (like anything to do with lady reproductive bits so you see and ob-gyn) many people have those specialists and you often get immediate referrals for a specialist rather than constant care for one issue by your GP. The children have their own paeditrician and our healthcare plan allows for them and us to have a full body check up every year

IJumpedAboardAPirateShip · 08/02/2020 15:49

@hennybeans in our city the freeways are only fast and efficient at certain times of day and in certain directions - maybe some people here drive three hours to go for dinner but if that with the traffic on a Friday night it could just be a 10mile trip!

midwestfornow · 08/02/2020 15:50

The USA is a large country with lots of different experiences in it.
I live in a large city and have a very wide range of eating places with 10 minutes walk.
In the countryside I could imagine driving a fair way because rural areas are lightly populated.
I have only ever been given paper plates at a BBQ and even then melamine plates are frequently used.
Kettles are sold in Walmart (I'm not American but Americans must buy them sometimes)

ILikTheBred · 08/02/2020 16:00

For Danish posters - why are your babies’ prams so large? How do you fit them in a car?

TeenPlusTwenties · 08/02/2020 16:01

USA Question: Do all high schools do 'Drivers Ed' (as seen on various TV programmes)? Is that just basic theory, or is it full on learning to drive enough to pass a test?

IJumpedAboardAPirateShip · 08/02/2020 16:05

Oh yes the paper plates thing - I only see them used at large gatherings and picnic although I did know one family (Mormons from Utah, no idea if that has any relevance as they’re the only ones I know) who would use disposable plates and cutlery for every meal for their family of 7, made me so cross

2018SoFarSoGreat · 08/02/2020 18:34

Paper plates: for big parties only. I used them once but could not bear it. I've never met anyone who uses them regularly.

I have a primary care physician. You can choose your own. That's the person I make appointments with, but can also go right to a specialist with their recommendation.

Gertie75 · 08/02/2020 19:53

To anyone living in a country with poisonous creatures such as spiders or snakes, is it a daily worry?
Can you relax and let your kids play out where they may get bitten?

midwestfornow · 08/02/2020 20:21

I have lived in country with poisonous spiders, scorpions etc.
Every three months the house and garden were fumigated.

Re USA driving tests I had to drive round the block, literally one block. Then drive forwards into a space. I don't see how anyone can fail.

midwestfornow · 08/02/2020 20:23

Also re poisonous animals dc learn not to turn over stones etc and leave insects alone.

NeonSalamanda · 08/02/2020 20:25

MULTINATIONAL ONE

What is your favourite "street food"?

Lipperfromchipper · 08/02/2020 20:29

Doubles (Trinidadian street food) omg 🤤

NeonSalamanda · 08/02/2020 20:33

Lipperfromchipper I had a university peer from Trinidad and she was always going on about these, you've just brought back so many happy memories.

Will try and find a recipe to make them!

elQuintoConyo · 08/02/2020 20:39

NeonSalamanda I'm in Spain. Churros with hot chocolate dip and sprinkled with sugar. The mutt's nuts!

I'm binge-watching the Mentalist and every house where there's been a murder seems to have a whistling kettle for Patrick Jane's tea Grin

Veterinari · 08/02/2020 20:52

Hoppas (Sri Lanka)

WalkingInTheAir13 · 08/02/2020 21:29

The Netherlands:
Why is it that the thousands of cyclists I saw riding in Amsterdam do not wear protective headgear?

HoldMyLobster · 08/02/2020 21:40

I'm a British American in America. Everyone I know has a kettle of some kind. Often it's one that sits on the hob. Electricity here is 110 rather than 240 volts so an electric kettle is slower.

I know no one who uses disposable plates and cutlery every day, or even at all other than at parties.

We have a primary care physician (called a PCP). Usually they refer us to specialists. Many specialists want a referral, but some you can just call and arrange to see. Your PCP might be a paediatrician if you're a child, an ob-gyn if you're a woman of reproductive age, a geriatrician if you're older, etc.

Re USA driving tests I had to drive round the block, literally one block. Then drive forwards into a space. I don't see how anyone can fail.

I took my test in Seattle 25 years ago and even back then it was far more than just driving round a block. Two of my kids have recently taken the Maine driving test and it's nothing like that - in fact it's very much like my UK test taken 30 years ago. Approx 2/3 fail.

USA Question: Do all high schools do 'Drivers Ed' (as seen on various TV programmes)? Is that just basic theory, or is it full on learning to drive enough to pass a test?

In my state... No ours doesn't do that. At age 15 you can sign up with a drivers ed company and do 35 hours of theory classes, then take your theory test. Then you get a learner's permit, and you do 70 hours of supervised driving, then once you're 16 you can take your test. Then your driving is restricted for 9 months - no friends in the car with you, zero alcohol tolerance, no driving 12pm to 5am, etc.

No - I wouldn't generally drive 3 hours for a meal and I don't know anyone who would. There is one place upstate that's very famous and in the middle of nowhere, but I haven't been able to bring myself to drive 3 hours for it. My limit is about 3/4 hour.

TeenPlusTwenties · 08/02/2020 22:06

re The Netherlands.

Not Dutch but used to work for a Dutch company.

  1. if a cyclist hits your car, it's your fault
  2. so many cyclists everyone is looking out for them
  3. most of the time cycle lanes are properly separate, not just a painted line on the road
ChanChanChan · 08/02/2020 22:17

@NeonSalamanda fav street food: fish balls on a stick in HK.

Q: why the obsession with the class thing in the UK?

Frosty26827 · 08/02/2020 22:25

ChanChan. I’m in the UK and not obsessed with the class thing. Why do you think we all are?

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