Things that baffle you about another country

[Soubriquet]

America:-

Why are the gaps in the toilet doors so wide? Do you really enjoy an audience?

Why can’t tax be included in the price? If I want to buy something for a dollar it should be a dollar! Not dollar plus tax!

Australia:-

Still weird that you have Christmas in summer.

Wonder if they have different Christmas songs there.

Can’t see walking in a winter land being a big hit.

More like hiding from a hot heatwave

On the GMT thing, I'd always wondered myself how global time came to be based on it; apparently the argument was that it benefited the largest number of people at the time and it's stuck ever since

The display the the Meridian's a disaster though - a tatty LED strip you can stand over, some ancient charts and a boring clock collection. How much better a job the Americans would have made of it, with interactive displays, accessible info and all the rest ...

Do yes I'm baffled about the UK and their total arrogance and disregard for their colonial attitude.

Unfortunately, this is not just a British thing. France passed a law in 2005 forcing all schools to teach the benefits of French colonial rule in Africa. It has since been repealed, but the majority of French adults were in favour of the law! I expect a lot of other colonising countries are the same.

"Oh I've just thought of one - hole in the ground loos. Not much good for women unless you are wearing a skirt and no knickers"

But then how do you assume men use them? That they stand up and pee into them? The pee would go everywhere.

You pull your trousers down about your knees, squat, ensuring you stick your bottom out and then pee. I actually find it way more hygienic as you're not sitting in other people's pee (seriously what are other women doing in the bathroom? If you pee on the seat, clean it up.)

[quote mumwon]@Pythonesque I remember that! but I think it may have links to - umm - Rolf Harris (yep - just checked) isn't it sad, not just terrible because of his horrible actions & taking advantage of vulnerable people, but also because it stains the lovely songs & memories - I wasn't that shocked at Jimmy Saville, I always thought he was a bit creepy, but Rolf, I actually liked.[/quote]
Same here.
Rolf was a real shocker.

Savile was an utter creep.

@LillianGish

Why do you have to "validate your ticket"? Why isn't it already "valid" when you buy it? this isn't just a thing in Germany. It's so you can't use it again or pass it on to someone else to use it again.

Yes, you sometimes see people not putting their ticket in the machine on public transport until they see the inspectors coming. The inspectors will know because of the time stamp, but won't be able to give them a fine.

UK - You just wipe your bum with dry paper and that's it? No bidet? No hose attached to the cistern? No fancy in-toilet spray like they have in Japan? Just a dry paper wipe. Eugh!

Germans giving tea to babies.

That's not black tea though, it's usually something herbal, like fennel or chamomille.

"Invite only funerals - so odd that anyone who wants to pay respects or support bereaved can't just turn up."

I think you can technically, outside Covid times, and if the funeral is in a church, same for a wedding. Obviously if the notice says family only, you wouldn't go, but I don't know if they can really refuse you entry to a church.

"UK - You just wipe your bum with dry paper and that's it? No bidet? No hose attached to the cistern? No fancy in-toilet spray like they have in Japan? Just a dry paper wipe. Eugh!"

To be fair, much of the world does the same, it's not just the UK.

As the owner of a bidet, I also find it gross, but it's hardly just British people.

[quote NomadNoMore]@skybluepinks don't know about there, but in my French hamlet I incurred the wrath of the postman for not realising my name had washed off my letterbox. My address is hamlet name followed by the postcode of a town five kilometres away! No road name...[/quote]
We don't have names on ours. When you have post boxes made from microwaves, milk churns and whatever else you fancy you are very distinctive.

@Gwenhwyfar

"Invite only funerals - so odd that anyone who wants to pay respects or support bereaved can't just turn up."

I think you can technically, outside Covid times, and if the funeral is in a church, same for a wedding. Obviously if the notice says family only, you wouldn't go, but I don't know if they can really refuse you entry to a church.

I think you're right that you wouldn't be refused entry, but no one wants to do something that will make the bereaved uncomfortable. So while at home if a good friend's parent died, even if I didn't know that parent, it would be totally normal for me to attend the funeral. I wouldn't dream of it here. I might ask the friend if they would like me to attend, but I would not assume she would want me there.

Similarly, at weddings at home after the ceremony everyone more or less swamps the bride and groom to say congratulations. Here, at formal weddings, there's a receiving line. Which I can 100% get behind. But I've been to a few weddings here where there's no receiving line and the bride and groom then come out of the church and stand around looking lonely because no one wants to go up to them.

But then how do you assume men use them? That they stand up and pee into them? The pee would go everywhere

I assume they just pee as usual. And yes it goes everywhere, as it does with normal toilets. One of the examples of "nudge" theory was Amsterdam airport drawing pictures on the inside of toilets to get men to aim their pee more accurately. And it worked!

I've lived in both US and UK, and in the US you can get some of the best health care in the world, but there isn't a system for delivering it equitably across the country. A lot of the pros and cons of US v UK health systems have been discussed upthread already, and it boils down to a fundamental cultural difference between the two countries - in the US individual liberties come first and the common good is second, in the UK and Europe it tends to be the other way round.

A bafflement I have is the prevalence of vocal fry amongst so many of my female US colleagues. I know I probably sound old-fashioned but it's really croaky and unpleasant to my ears. I want to channel my old music teacher and tell people to use their diaphragm not their throat to push the air out when speaking.

@Siepie

Do yes I'm baffled about the UK and their total arrogance and disregard for their colonial attitude.

Unfortunately, this is not just a British thing. France passed a law in 2005 forcing all schools to teach the benefits of French colonial rule in Africa. It has since been repealed, but the majority of French adults were in favour of the law! I expect a lot of other colonising countries are the same.

Definitely, the Dutch, the Portuguese, the Italians, there is a lot of denial everywhere.

I think there has been some good progress in Germany. They already have so much education and awareness around the Holocaust and other atrocities, it's easier to extend that to cover colonial atrocities. But it's still not nearly enough.

"UK funerals are weird to me too. I see threads asking things like should I go to see my father at the chapel of rest and so many people say not to!"

That's not the funeral though is it? That's going to look at a dead body. We are quite removed from death now. I had a horrified colleague who married a Latin American and had to kiss the face of his dead grandmother.

@Boredofitallnow

Really puzzled by the washing up bowl comments. Think it's because I'm not clear if the suggested alternatives are:

1. Fill the sink with hot soapy water instead (in which case what's the difference apart from using more water and having - in a single sink situation - nowhere to pour away liquids as you go along: OR

1. Wash up in running water? (If the bowl objections are that the water gets dirty as you go along).

Are all you bowl objectors (or at least the ones without dishwashers) washing up in running water? If so how does the soap stay on to clean them?

I may have totally misunderstood or missed the point 😂

I think the people who don't understand it probably have double sinks.

I love this!

Americans - is it true that you spend on average £10k a year per person for health insurance?
Why does everyone carry guns and why is restricting them such a big deal?
Is it true it's normal to drive an hour to the supermarket, to work etc?
What is the hype about Target? Is it like a big Asda?

Europeans -
Do your kids really have 10pm bedtimes?
Do they really eat as late as 9pm?
Why do they seem so placid/well behaved?

@prettypebbles

Spain - why do you eat out so late? When we were on holiday we held out until 9.30 to arrive, but were still often the only people in the restaurant. It can't just be a hot weather thing, because other southern European countries don't seem to do it.

We usually have a siesta until about 3pm, therefore everything in the afternoon/evening gets shifted back by several hours.

I find since living in the uk and therefore not having siesta, I am a lot hungrier and get tired earlier, after siesta, I genuinely wouldn’t be hungry enough for a full meal at 7pm, and wouldn’t be tired enough for bed until midnight at the earliest.

"I assume they just pee as usual. And yes it goes everywhere, as it does with normal toilets. One of the examples of "nudge" theory was Amsterdam airport drawing pictures on the inside of toilets to get men to aim their pee more accurately. And it worked!"

Certainly not the case in Asia, everyone squats there (though getting less common in more developed countries/area)

2. Wash up in running water? (If the bowl objections are that the water gets dirty as you go along).

Are all you bowl objectors (or at least the ones without dishwashers) washing up in running water? If so how does the soap stay on to clean them?

I hold the dish (or whatever) under the tap to wash off all debris, then I remove it from the running water and rub it with a soapy sponge to really clean it, then I put the dish back under the running water to wash off the soap.

It's pretty much like how a person washes in a shower, I guess.

Marking for a proper read later

A bafflement I have is the prevalence of vocal fry amongst so many of my female US colleagues. I know I probably sound old-fashioned but it's really croaky and unpleasant to my ears. I want to channel my old music teacher and tell people to use their diaphragm not their throat to push the air out when speaking.
I hate this too and it means I can't listen to what they are saying. I often turn the radio off it is so uncomfortable to listen to.

Sweden

• the backwards dates - so today is 210201

• having to quote your tax office registration number everywhere - school, healthcare, picking up parcels etc etc

• high school "isvak" where kids learn about safety on the ice by literally jumping through a hole cut in the ice

• initially I didn't get having to RSVP for funerals to the funeral director but understand now (I think) that it is for catering as the funeral director does everything including the tea/meal after and helps with probate.

• not being able to buy wine or spirits in the supermarket (only at state owned off licence)

GreenlandTheMovie - I have never had this happen to me in Sweden - it sounds really scary and strange. The only thing I would say is that some of the motorway lay by areas between Malmö and Gothenburg have been used by Eastern European robbery/burglary gangs who shoot up and down the motorway and then leave the country - in particular they target tourists (especially those sleeping in vehicles).

@TheGravelRoad

2. Wash up in running water? (If the bowl objections are that the water gets dirty as you go along).

Are all you bowl objectors (or at least the ones without dishwashers) washing up in running water? If so how does the soap stay on to clean them?

I hold the dish (or whatever) under the tap to wash off all debris, then I remove it from the running water and rub it with a soapy sponge to really clean it, then I put the dish back under the running water to wash off the soap.

It's pretty much like how a person washes in a shower, I guess.

You don't have a water metre then, I assume.

*Oh I've just thought of one - hole in the ground loos. Not much good for women unless you are wearing a skirt and no knickersyou just need good thigh muscles. If I can do it drunk in a Kenyan bar in trousers, most sober people will be fine 🤣. Push your bum out and put your found your knees trousers the other way